Ascension Catholic School

601 Van Buren Street

Oak Park, IL 60304

8 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on December 05, 2023

I went to this school last year the reason I left was because of it. Every day for two years I would be bullied 24/7 and in front of the teachers too. No one cared and they forced me into groups with the people who bullied me. They thought it would work but it made it worse. Ascension is not a good school for your children and I speak from experience. There is constant bullying in this school from every grade. The teachers act cruel too, they won’t even allow you to use the restroom unless you pee yourself. If you have a learning disability you do not want to go to this school. The teachers will not care if you struggle in something and will yell at you till you get it right. You will also get in trouble for the smallest things ever. For some reason this school thinks it’s ok to bring your personal life into the school, instead of respecting your privacy they will make you tell them what is wrong. They do not respect privacy at all. The school barely cares if you’re injured as well. If you break your foot they will force you to go up and down the stairs, there is no other type of transportation for injured students. In conclusion, this school is THE WORST. You do not want your children to come here.
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2021

My three children attend Ascension, and we truly could not be happier with the school, the faculty, and the climate and culture. There is such an overwhelming sense of community, and my children feel very comfortable with their peers and their teachers. As a teacher myself, I knew we wanted a school that had a very strong academic program, and Ascension fits the bill. Teachers also go above and beyond to provide enrichment to meet the needs of ALL of their students, even those who are advanced learners, which is something that cannot always be said of schools. When we sensed a potential unpleasant situation developing between one of my children and a classmate, both the teacher and the principal were very swift in handling it and nipping it in the bud for both students. My three children are in the preschool, primary, and intermediate, and I see the differences and nuances very clearly. At the preschool level, there is a strong focus on play-based learning and exploration, and the teachers foster building early math and literacy skills and socialization in a nurturing environment. At the primary level, the focus on math and reading builds, with teachers who are strong in their craft continue to foster those foundational skills that are SO crucial while doing it with passion, and in a way that makes the students excited to learn. In the intermediate grades, the kids learn to dig deeper and think critically about not only their own learning, but about bigger world issues, through many inquiry-based tasks. In our experience, every teacher and aide that our children have had are highly qualified and are skilled at delivering rigorous curricula while allowing the whole child to develop through social-emotional learning. In addition to very strong academics, Ascension also offers extracurriculars to fit all interests and abilities - everything from chess club and green club, to orchestra and choir, to traditional team and individual sports such as track (starting in fourth grade). It must be stated that the principal, Mrs. Polega, is top notch and is truly one of the best administrators I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing, both as a parent and as a teacher myself. Every school needs a Mrs. Polega at their helm! I cannot say enough good things about Ascension, and I look forward to having our family as part of the Ascension family for many years to come!
Submitted by parent on December 23, 2017

Terrible. I felt like I couldn’t be myself at this school. The teachers don’t know how to handle a situation where a student is bullied even though they have a no bully policy.
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2015

We have two kids that have been at Ascension for the past three years, after being at another neighboring Catholic school. They love Ascension and overall their experiences have been excellent. The culture is positive; the teachers are very caring and they help the kids meet their potential. Their extracurricular is fantastic -- from their strings program to their athletics.
Submitted by parent on February 26, 2014

We have had a great experience at Ascension and feel the school has responded well to the challenges of one of our kids as individuals. There's a very strong arts program with private music lessons on many instruments at the school during the school day, different music ensembles, Spanish is K-8, and organized sports teams beginning in 4th / 5th grades (depending on the sport).
Submitted by parent on February 25, 2014

Ascension has been not only a great school for my children, but a caring community for our family. We could not be happier with the teachers attention to our children's development as students and people. Additionally, the school has made major commitments to technology in the classrooms by introducing iPads in the younger grades and tablets in the upper grades.
Submitted by parent on February 25, 2014

Ascension truly educates the whole child. From outstanding academics to a variety of extracurricular programs, the school offers a solid academic base for children in preschool through 8th grade. On top of the academics, the school embodies the definition of community. My children and my entire family benefit in immeasurable ways from being a part of such a caring place. I cannot imagine a better environment in which to prepare children to enter high school and the world armed not only with knowledge but a strong moral compass.
Submitted by parent on July 26, 2013

Overall, strong academic focus here. Old-fashioned in their approach to education - not much innovation here. Avoid if your child has ADHD or other challenges, as they are not equipped nor open to any adjustments for individual children. Good school if your child performs well in a very traditional, teacher-centered environment. Beware: some teachers can be shaming towards children who are struggling and there have been a number of instances of teachers picking on kids they don't like.