V H Nelson Elementary School

8901 North Ozanam Avenue

School District

East Maine 63
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:11
Type

public

School Map for East Maine School District 63

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on September 25, 2024

They don’t have a lot of bells and whistles when it comes to extra curricular activities but they are only K-5. Kids at that age don’t need a lot to be happy and the sprinkled events they do have during the school year are enough. For example, fall fest, glow party, open houses, international night, etc. I love the diversity of the school. My daughter is a 2nd generation native Spanish speaker and is a part of the Dual Language program — 70% of her current instruction is in Spanish. My daughter is bilingual and her growth in reading Spanish has been amazing. The teachers are so supportive and nice. My daughter comes home every day ecstatic about school, what she's learning and friends. She is only in 1st grade and hope things don't change.
Submitted by other on December 20, 2023

I attended a few years ago and loved it! I had one bad teacher in 2018-19 but the rest were amazing! Homework isn’t that bad and the only problem I had was with the former assistant principal who left
Submitted by parent on November 01, 2023

Horrible experience so far. Once vice principal changed everything went downhill. Teachers were good for a lil while but when it comes to older grades 2+ they do not care about the students. Kids grades are slipping in state tests and everyone including principal have a whatever attitude. Teacher and principal do not change anything or offer any assistance just want to blame the student and parents for everything. Bullying is big at this school and the Bully is the one that is praised, and the victim is ostracized! Principal tired of parents bringing things to her attention when me as a parent is tired of teacher calling almost daily regarding behavior. Student is defending themselves against teacher and other students who are bullying but gets reprimanded for it! Definitely won't return to this school or have my second child go here when of age. Word of advice go somewhere else if possible! Do your research! It may have been good a few years ago but not anymore! They do not care about their own students just their paychecks!
Submitted by parent on March 11, 2022

My son attended Nelson for 3 years . It was a great school! They are on too of everything . Remote learning was seamless and very organized as well . It’s a very diverse environment , which is nice and I liked that experience for my son . His teachers were amazing and the principal and assistant principal we’re very attentive to all of our needs . Even the front desk staff was awesome ! Thanks for a great experience, Nelson
Submitted by principal on November 14, 2019

Nelson offers a rich learning environment to more than 500 K-5th grade students living in Des Plaines - and offers full-day kindergarten. Like all District 63 schools, it is committed to providing all students with the specific opportunities they need to succeed and thrive, District 63 schools, First Steps preschool, and Expanded Learning after and before school programs foster each child’s academic, social, emotional, and behavioral growth and achievement.
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2019

The worst experience that I have ever had! They don’t care about academics at all!
Submitted by student on September 13, 2018

The academics is not good at all. The teachers do not do their work. Students come to school to learn not to be taught nothing.
Submitted by other on July 18, 2018

This school is over crowded. If your child speaks English and does not have a mental health problem or a developmental disability they will be completely ignored. There are no activities at this school. There is not even a Holiday show. We pulled our daughter out and sent her to St. John Brebeuf and it was the best thing we could have done for her.
Submitted by parent on September 26, 2014

This school is definitely one of the best ones in the area. The teachers and staff go out of the way to help any students. The work they do is very good, helpful, and creative. The students at this school always come home with a smile on their face and a brain full of knowledge. It's a great place to send your child.
Submitted by parent on November 17, 2013

This school is HORRIBLE!!! The teachers are careless, lazy, and pick on students who actually want to learn. No teacher in this school can breakdown their own curriculum. My child only brings home worksheets. when I ask him what did you learn today his reply is "the same thing we learned yesterday". My son use to love school, but now he has been ruined by this school and received a referral (discipline note ) for calling out to ask his teacher a question because he was told that he could not get out of his seat, but my son said the teacher was purposely ignoring him. When I talked to her she admitted to ignoring him because she thought it was rude for my son to yell out while she was checking her E-mails'. I told the principle, but she is more concerned with being all the teachers friend instead of an enforcer. The vice principle just tries to sweep the problems under the rug, and wants to keep any complaints quiet, and don't even get me started on the district they are useless. They did absolutely nothing!! I am taking my son out of this god forsaken place. I feel sorry for the parents who own there homes because they are stuck with this horrible school.
Submitted by parent on June 21, 2013

We have our Son attending Nelson School since first year ,We loved the teachers and in pertecular Miss Danna Prunot , she is not just a teacher ,she was educator and engineered our sons future love to school , because of her we let our son stay attending the school for the 2nd and third Grade ,, She did a great Job ,she even went above and beyond her job duties to make sure that our son is preforming to the best of his abilities ,no words can explain our appreciation to he commitments to the teaching ,, , She Engineered the little kids more than teaching them , Salute to her and her great teaching skills , hope all teachers will do close to what she had done to our child,, Miss Prunoto we appreciate every thing you had done and we will keep you in our thoughts for the rest of our lives as an example of what a teacher should be, Nelson is fortunate to have you in their staff we were lucky to hade you as our Son Teacher and educator.. Sincerely Ahmads parents
Submitted by parent on February 23, 2013

This school used to be well received but no longer. It lost its state certification and rightly so because of its low teaching standards. Classes are overcrowded and at least one teacher spells worse than said teacher's students...and doesn't know how to compute a percentage. Math and reading levels are far behind what some CPS schools require, which is frightening. And the principal supports this, which is why some families have specifically moved out of the area.
Submitted by parent on December 12, 2012

I am not certain where all these five stars are coming from. They are possibly from the staff of the school themselves. I must stress that my kids have lived a living hell in this school. It is not good school for people of color. Simple! My kids remain in this school simply because we lived within the district. I will definitely NOT recommend this school for any parents of color. We have always be treated as outsiders, so are our kids. Recommendation? Some of the staff should undergo intensive diversity program.
Submitted by parent on July 02, 2012

This is great school for a child to learn and grow. They have very nice and warm teachers, great principals and they all are very seriously dedicated toward kids education. We were lucky to have Mrs Stankowicz as a Kindergarten teacher for our daughter and I must say that this is really dedicated teacher. Great communication with us all year round, the newsletters informing us about everything that was going on and what we could easily miss because we are so busy. Child has lots of attention from the teacher and is positively challenged at school by creative projects and varies activities. There is absolutely no way for miscommunication about your kid's progress and development. I love the fact that the teacher actually cares and answers parent's concerns as well as work on kid as hard as if it would be her own child. I believe that this is how we end up with intelligent society in the future,by responsibilities we share as community.They have wonderful approach toward diversity between students.This is very well organized and safe school.More activities wouldn't hurt but so far they're doing wonderful job and I would recommend this school as a good environment for child to learn.
Submitted by parent on July 02, 2012

This is great school for a child to learn and grow.Very nice and warm teachers,very seriously dedicated toward kids education.We were lucky to have Mrs. Stankowicz as a teacher and she is a dream teacher.She works with every child and greatly communicate with parent all year long so no one would miss anything.There is absolutely no way for miscommunication about your kid's safety, behavior, progress and development.I love the fact that the teacher actually cares and answers parent's concerns as well as work on kid as hard as if it would be her own child.I believe that this is how we end up with intelligent society in the future,by responsibilities we share as community.The school has wonderful approach toward diversity between students.This is very well organized and safe school. I think it would be great if they would offer more activities for kids.The school could create couple strongly organized programs with passionate teachers as Mrs. Stankowicz.This is very safe, warm and friendly for growing smart school, with great staff that supports and guards excellence in education.So far they're doing great job and I would recommend this school as good environment for child to learn.