Embers Academy

8340 North Greenwood Avenue

Niles, IL 60714

13 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-5
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on December 18, 2024

My granddaughter attends this school and I felt compelled to do a review! I cannot say enough good things about has she has evolved since attending Embers! She is Kind..caring.. loving.. giving.. helps others.. cares for others.. From the principal to the teachers .. office staff and helpers that guide these children.. God Bless all you do and give! This school is AMAZING!
Submitted by parent on August 12, 2024

**Title: Disappointed by Dishonest Admissions Process****Review:**My family recently applied to this school, hoping for a nurturing and honest educational environment. Unfortunately, our experience with their admissions process was deeply disappointing.Despite assurances of transparency, the school misled us about our application status. After investing time and effort into the application process, we were informed that we were placed on a waitlist, only to later discover that this "waitlist" seemed more like a false promise than a genuine opportunity.It's disheartening to see a Catholic school, an institution that should value honesty and integrity, engaging in such deceptive practices. Families deserve to be treated with respect and honesty throughout the admissions process. We feel let down and misled, and as a result, we cannot recommend this school to others.
Submitted by parent on January 23, 2017

Embers being recognized as a National School of Character came as no surprise. Embers is an amazing place. The academics are very challenging, and the character education consistently supplies the children with real tools to help them grow into responsible community-minded adults. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming for students, and for parents as well. The staff are wonderful. And my three kids are happy - they love their school!
Submitted by parent on January 23, 2017

I've been an Embers parent for five years now and have been very pleased with the education my children are receiving. The academics are strong, and the emphasis on character and virtues makes it one of a kind. I see the fruits of this at home and among their peers. The preschool program is strong, and among all grades I see from the teachers and administrators a desire to see our children succeed and grow! Anyone looking for an authentic Catholic education definitely needs to check out Embers!
Submitted by parent on January 15, 2017

MATH: Because Embers is an independent school, it’s not obligated to follow Common Core standards. This is a huge selling point! They employ the Saxon Math program, which offers a straightforward approach that’s easy for kids to understand and master. We can’t sing its praises enough.FAITH: Embers offers solid faith formation that is hard to find anywhere else, including archdiocese schools. Admittedly, it’s not a comfortable fit for everyone, but overall the religious program is sound.FAMILIES: At Embers, you can feel secure knowing that your child is surrounded by children from families that embrace Catholic values. Secular influences are kept to a minimum, and materialism is highly discouraged. This cuts down on distractions and makes parenting so much easier!ENRICHMENT: We were disappointed in the lack of enrichment at Embers, particularly in the upper grades. The kids spent an awful lot of the day hunched over workbooks, something that isn’t a natural fit for most 9- and 10-year-olds. However, there have been some staff changes since we left the school, so it’s possible that this has changed. I hope so.
Submitted by parent on August 25, 2014

Embers Elementary is like a home away from home! I feel very secure sending my 3 children to this school knowing that they are receiving the best in terms of academics, virtues, and moral education. The staff and administration go out of their way to make you feel at home and even come outside to greet all children in the morning so they get a good start to the day! What service! The national testing tend to be 20 points higher than average at this school. We feel confident that our children are learning more than just about books. The exemplar character of the administration and teachers is transparent and evident as they transmit these qualities to the children. They plant seeds of generosity, honesty, faith, justice just to name a few and truly watch those virtues grow into strong roots that will last a lifetime. Truly these children become the ember sparks and light to our world. We are eternally grateful to have such a wonderful school compliment the education of our children! We highly recommend this school and know that you will be highly satisfied with the character potential that this school transmits to your family! A Catholic school gem!
Submitted by parent on August 24, 2014

Embers is an outstanding Catholic school. It has very high academic standards and focus on each child's individual needs. The students are one year ahead in Math in every grade and they will accommodate your child to move up even higher if they are strong in the subject. They have outstanding Terra Nova testing results every year compared to all other elementary schools in Illinois. Not only does Embers top in academics, but also is excellent in character formation. The children are taught solid, true Catholic formation which is hard to find in even the other Catholic schools today. The teachers and faculty are dedicated to the children and parent involvement is impressive. I've been sending my children to this school for many years and I can see them grow not only in academic excellence, but also in good moral behavior and virtues. It has a unique and close-knit environment where children thrive. I would definitely recommend this school to others.
Submitted by parent on June 22, 2014

What was once great is now turning into a disaster. I don't know what happened to this once former gem of a school but all I know is that it is falling flat on its face. HALF of the teachers have left on their own this year. Several parents have pulled their kids out. The school is moving to a different location, why? The Kindergarten, Fourth and Fifth grade teachers left the school because of a poor administration, lousy pay and an absent school board. It appears that the principle, Mrs. Davis, does not seem to care which is not a surprise as a parent trying to work with her all you get is empty promises or a blank stare. We paid a lot of money to send our kids to this school and it is falling apart at the seams. I blame the principle and the school board for their lack of concern and sloppy handling of internal and external affairs. How do you loose teachers that have been there for years? How? This school needs a new administration from the top down and even then I don't know if it will help anymore. When the boss can not lead any longer then that person should recognize that and step down for the sake of the children and the parents who are PAYING to put them there.
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2013

Embers does a great job in taking care of its students and teaching the key virtues. The teachers are caring and take pride in making sure the students are being developed to be respectful and responsible adults. Our daugther loves going to school and has a very positve attitude to learning. The school really creates a great environment for learning and becoming a good person.
Submitted by parent on January 04, 2013

The only regret I have is that I transferred my daughter until 4th grade.. but I guess is never too late. Best school ever! Mrs. Davis is a jewel.
Submitted by parent on September 30, 2011

I'm a parent of 2 & very glad I found embers. My daughter now in kindergarden and attended pre-k(4) last year, my son attended Embers during his 4th & 5th grade years & is now a 7th grader at Northridge Prep in Niles, Embers really excels at what they do & Mrs. Davis the principal absolutely cares for every child. I love that their curriculum is 1 year more advanced that public schools & the test scores for the school overall are impressive. The parental community is a very close nit "community" as well as very welcoming to newcomers. The curriculum is challenging to the kids, and they have a great handle on spotting the challenges of the children & working with them. A few examples impressed me tremendously. Mrs. Kestler 4th/5th grade teacher (and math specialist) saw that my son didn't find math challenging enough (in 5th grade they do 6th grade level) so she encouraged him to try the 7th grade math and tutored him in class individually. That was amazing! Mrs. Mersch 4th/5th grade has the children write an essay every week, breaking it down daily so they find it easy. She also played Jeopary questions in class to help them learn. Learning is fun & I couldn't be a happier parent!
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2010

Very student need orientated. Insures each student receives the direction and help they require.
Submitted by parent on August 31, 2009

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Submitted by parent on August 03, 2007

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