Monroe Elementary School

210 North Madison Street

School District

Hinsdale Central Consolidated 181
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:11
Type

public

School Map for Hinsdale Central Consolidated School District 181

GreatSchools Rating

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on May 24, 2022

Monroe is a wonderful school with a great community of teachers. We’re in our last year there and will be sad to leave.
Submitted by parent on January 05, 2022

The school's principal, Kristin Reingruber needs to go, she is NOT a leader. Administrative staff are walked all over and lack the freedom to do their job on a daily basis. The principal spends far too much time micro-managing others and asserting her authority over staff and families making Monroe an undesirable school within the community. As a result of the personal attacks on parents children suffer and lack excitement to learn or even be at school. Sadly the district turns a blind eye to her actions and how she treats the families in the community.
Submitted by parent on June 21, 2016

Pulled my child from Monroe after 1 year. There is no gifted program in the district, due to being completely dropped in 2012. There is little in class differentiation. Everytime I visited the class room, my child was either a) sitting in a corner reading by himself while other students were bring instructed, or b) Paired with the bottom end of the bell curve ( remedial) and 'teaching' that child. The teacher did go above and beyond to try to challenge my kid, but without a structure or support system in place for the high end of the curve, there wasn't a lot that she could do. She had a large class of other kids to look aftee. My experience is that they teach to the middle of the curve at this school. Several other public schools seem to be able to address both ends of the curve better.
Submitted by parent on April 09, 2015

Monroe School is an amazing school full of talented teachers/staff and students eager to learn. We are thrilled that we finally have a fantastic principal! Justin Horne started last year after teaching 5th grade for many years at another Hinsdale elementary school. He not only cares about the staff, but knows all of the students (and most parents) by name. This is such a switch from the previous principal who unfortunately is now at the District Office. Monroe has an excellent PTO and involved parents, so you can volunteer as much or as little as you choose. After having children at Monroe for 10+ years I feel like we are finally back on the right track. Now we just need the District office to outline the new Common Core curriculum that is appropriate for all learning levels.
Submitted by parent on March 15, 2013

The school has great potential but it is severly limited by the new principal. She is driven mostly by her desire to move up to the district level and succeed not by her desire to develop the children.The teachers are paralyzed and frustrated. Parents are not impressed. I would not move to this school while this principal is in place. Look at Madison or the Lane
Submitted by parent on March 15, 2013

"Ignorance and hubris is a dangerous combo".. defines the current princliple perfectly, (awful and staff doesnt like her) but what makes this school run smoothly are the very competent tenured teachers who know the students well. Very active caring parents (possibly to a fault) raise significant funds to keep the school in top techinal shape. Have three kids that have gone through. Parents have a rep. as petty and gossip, which could be worse than other schools. Overall though great experience. Arguably the best elem. school in town, but all of D181 needs to revamp gifted program. Hopefully this school will get a break and get a good principle!
Submitted by parent on March 05, 2013

The teachers are very dedicated and competent. However, the new principal is in way over her head. Ignorance and hubris is a dangerous combination. There are quite a number of parents that are withdrawing their children from Monroe because of the difficulty dealing with her.