Gray M Sanborn Elementary School

Reviews

• Submitted by parent on February 09, 2025
  I have THREE children go through this school. My kids are 11 years apart. The first experience was ok but lots of bullying here. It's a very diverse school which is great but students come to school very dysregulated and disrespectful. My last 2 children came through and graduated 2022 & 2023. The principal during they last years here was THE WORST!!! No ownership and acknowledgment of major bullying happening in the hallways while students were unsupervised. She would just walk around smiling at everyone. No words. I really wonder how she is a principal. The assistant principal might have been worse than her. Strangely she disappeared before her contract ended. Multiple parents complained about the Administration during this time. Threatening acts of violence toward my children from other students were not reported to me and communicated with me in a timely manner. Without my permission they put my child in a room with the bullies & forced them to apologize then watch videos and fill out questionnaires. That is all that was done. I pulled my child out of school while they let the bully continue. This is by far one of the worst schools in Palatine. Do not send your kids here. Send them to a private school.
• Submitted by other on June 02, 2023
  Both my children study in this school. They go there with great enthusiasm. This is the best school with the best teachers.
• Submitted by parent on March 31, 2023
  Have not been happy with this school. We are pulling our four children for homeschool. Principal is by far the worst, does not like to have to “deal” with anything, but she want to “partner” with you. She is a huge reason I do not want my children there. Poor leadership!
• Submitted by other on March 08, 2017
  I have had kids at Sanborn for the last six years. They have excellent faculty teachers and train strong quality student teachers. My kids have consistently received help and support based on their individual needs. One of my kids needed extra support and help on all subjects, and another has had concentration and sensory issues. The teachers always communicated and brainstormed ways to help them be more successful at school and made time to help them. I appreciate the diversity of the student population and believe it will help my kids be more well rounded individuals. For all the readers of these reviews. Remember people mostly do a review when they are upset (do not let a few unhappy people represent the entire parent populations opinion). Sanborn is a great school.
• Submitted by parent on November 22, 2016
  Sanborn school teachers are awesome my 2 kids r in this school wonderful experience in sanborn.
• Submitted by parent on August 23, 2016
  My son just completed 4th grade. All the teachers are very nice and he loves going to Sanborn.
• Submitted by parent on July 25, 2015
  My daughter just finished first grade at Sanborn. The principal, teachers, assistants and students have been wonderful. We have seen the faculty cater to all types of children, some with learning disabilities (our neighbor's child, adanced children (out daughter) and kids with behavioral issues (a child in our daughter's class. The teachers have been very good at making sure that each child gets the necessary attention and direction. The new principle, Mr. Brown has been fantastic. We also love all the activities the school hosts through the year. They have a great PTA program. Please keep up the good work Sanborn. My son will begin attending this school in a year as well.
• Submitted by parent on July 14, 2014
  Sanborn is a great school with wonderful teachers! I have been very pleased with the education my children get at Sanborn!
• Submitted by parent on June 24, 2014
  I was very disappointed throughout the one year our son spent here. One child in his class had severe behavioral disorder... we spoke with the teacher and later the principal after our son came home upset several times because he was punched, tripped, pushed into lockers, etc. by this child. Other kids were getting bullied as well. If a teacher witnessed, this child would get a minor. Over and over and over and over. We were continuously told "we're working on it". Clearly this "disciplinary" system was not effective... but it continued through the entire year. Why does my child and the others in his class have to deal with getting physically hurt and bullied while they "work on it"? Our son would tell us about the foul language and inappropriate references used by his classmates on a daily basis. Did I mention this was first grade? Some of this is to be expected... but still. I will say that my son's teacher was wonderful, and I believe she did all she could. The art teacher is fantastic as well. I believe that the administration at Sanborn is TRYING to improve things. Maybe someday they'll get there. But thankfully my son will not be there to find out.
• Submitted by parent on May 22, 2014
  Gray Sanborn... This school is awful on it's disciplinary policies and I think also the school is racist. There are some flaws in every public school system but something's that are done here appear to be vindictive. Teachers address issues with unnecessary aggression and condescending tones that really come off as idiotic more than informational. My daughter was the one of the kids left out of the mentoring program, where the students look after the younger students. The issue was not that there weren't any children to mentor because there were some mentors with 2 younger students, when you only allowed one. I thought that was appalling. With volunteering as well you are treated carelessly as if you are not giving your time to participate. I've went to introduce myself to the band teacher and the first thing she said to me is "make sure your daughter brings back her band instrument if you move". I hadn't confirmed that I was moving. Anyhow I have a gang of ordeals with this school and their policies. If there is an issue with minorities they should not make it so obvious. Keep it quiet. Sssssshhhhhh
• Submitted by parent on April 18, 2013
  Our family moved here from another state at the beginning of the school year. The staff and teachers at Sanborn really made my children feel very welcome. The school is constantly trying new things to improve the learning experience for the children. Absolutely no school is perfect anywhere but our family has been truly happy with the education that our children are receiving.
• Submitted by parent on March 01, 2013
  This school is awful, if a student is well behave, follow rules and respectful then they are seen by their teacher as meek. Good student who are above average are not valued, students who bullies are not held accountable. Report bullying is a joke the assistance principle tells you will investigate the bullying then never follow up with the parent of the victim and refuse tell the parent what if any punishment was given to the bully. Also have witness a teacher behaving unprofessionally by screaming at students.
• Submitted by parent on February 23, 2013
  Academic program is weak for well-behaved students. Foul language and bullying is rampant. Little to nothing done to correct the behavior. Using the F* word is seen as a non-event and not worth calling attention to. Spanish speaking population is given more attention than English speaking. Shame. A few years back, District 15 was ranked as one of the top districts in Illinois. Not the case at this school. Teachers, even the better ones, have no qualms yelling at classes " you are the worst class I have ever had" on a daily basis. Again, in this environment, with a well-behaved child on the upper end of the learning curve and a quiet nature....this is not the place for such a student. Ask teachers how to challenge your well-behaved, well-studied child and you will be told not to rock the boat by the staff and administrator. You will scare them and seen as a threat simply because you want to challenge your child to learn more. They are more interested in keeping the peace with the troublemakers than they are in educating the students. You'd think it was a disciplinary center rather than an educational institution with the way they won't challenge students to learn more. Sad. Very sad

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