Mckenzie Elementary School

649 Prairie Avenue

School District

Wilmette 39
Grade

K-4
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:11
Type

public

School Map for Wilmette School District 39

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 October 08, 2023

HomeworkIn our experience the students do not receive much homework, there is an emphasis on reading every night. I appreciate this, as I believe students spend the majority of their day in school, and at home should have quality time with their family. TeachersTeachers at this school are effective:The teachers communicate and get parents involved in the school Learning DifferencesMy son receives reading intervention, they communicate his growth. I do wish they had more reading specialists employed at the district, sometimes an aide delivers intervention, I believe this should be done by a teacher with a degree in reading. BullyingIn my experience, this has not been an issue the teachers create a climate of love and students respect and get along with each other. Parent Involvement If you are looking for a place to get involved as a parent, make new friends, create life long friendships for both yourself and your child this is the place.
Submitted by parent on April 26, 2017

When we moved to Wilmette years ago, we assumed all the schools were great (which they are) and didn't worry much which elementary school district we chose. Once our kids were old enough to attend McKenzie, we discovered just how lucky we were to have ended up where we did. The school has such a strong and welcoming sense of community - almost like a family. At the same time, it's an outstanding school both academically and in the additional support provided when students need it (something I've been told isn't necessarily true across all schools). Every school in Wilmette is prepared to give your child an outstanding education. What sets McKenzie apart is its exceptionally friendly, close-knit community and its culture of readily supporting and drawing the best out of each unique student.
Submitted by other on February 28, 2017

Excellent community and parent support. Teachers and staff are great. Perfect amount of homework. A lot of extracurricular activities for kids to choose from. The right amount of parent involvement. The perfect learning environment for my child. My child loves going to school.
Submitted by parent on January 20, 2017

disappointing is the only thing to say
Submitted by parent on August 14, 2015

Most amazing community and staff. So many types of families are embraced here. We are blessed to attend this school!
Submitted by parent on May 28, 2015

Both of my daughters attended McKenzie and I couldn't be happier with their experience there. While there were teachers we liked better than others, all were extremely skilled, caring and dedicated. The administrators were responsive to our inquiries and, above all else, the community was incredible. While very different in temperament and personality, each of my daughters was extremely well prepared, academically, socially and emotionally for the next steps in their education. I cannot imagine them having had a better elementary school experience.
Submitted by parent on May 27, 2015

Great school - great teachers and administration. We have had nothing but positive experiences with our 3 boys that went through McKenzie.
Submitted by parent on May 26, 2015

The principal and staff are amazing! They know and practice a large variety of A+ teaching practices, including a powerful social-emotional curriculum. Differentiated teaching occurs at all grades, helping kids learn in ways that work for them. Consequently, the kids enjoy school, do well, and like each other. I can't imagine a better place for my kids!
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2015

Our experience at McKenzie has been positive. One of our children has ADHD, some processing issues and social challenges. This is a student who started off at McKenzie in kindergarten with an IEP. Teachers and administrators worked with us and with each other collaboratively with a focus on successful learning outcomes. This same student met all agreed goals by Middle School, outgrew the need for an IEP, and is now earning As and Bs in highest honors classes at New Trier. We attribute much of that success to early intervention and the McKenzie school experience. We have another child who has always been a quick learner, highly social, and with very few challenges. McKenzie teachers differentiated well, with flexible learning groups in math and reading. And, if a student typically excels at math, but (for example) finds fractions a harder nut to crack, then the student may be placed in fast-moving math groups generally, but an in-depth and easier paced group for fractions. We are impressed by the school’s assessments and reports with attention to individual growth of our children, rather than emphasizing standardized comparisons on statewide tests. McKenzie is a school that has been well-equipped to teach two of our children who are very different learners. And, we are really glad to part of a friendly and welcoming parent community.
Submitted by other on May 25, 2015

We are new to McKenzie and have had a wonderful experience with the school programs, teachers and administration. The parents and PTA are all involved and it's a wonderful community.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2015

I am a former 3rd grade classroom teacher in District 39. Having taught in four different states, I have seen many, many different kinds of schools. McKenzie's reputation among both teachers and parents is outstanding! There is strong leadership, an immensely satisfied parent community, and an emphasis on implementing current research on technology, non cognitive skills, and differentiation.As teachers are often known to be the pickiest of parents in dealing with their children's education, I chose to raise my own children in Wilmette, specifically McKenzie. I am now a full time mom of three children- one child went through McKenzie, one child currently there, and one headed that way. We have been overwhelmingly pleased and would not send our children to school anywhere else.Lastly, as seen by reviews on YELP, a random individual negative review is not an accurate representation- an angry person is the one likely to seek revenge on a review site. There are thousands of positive experiences at McKenzie.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2015

We've had a great experience at McKenzie, and can't imagine sending our kids anywhere else for elementary school. We have a student who will be heading to middle school next year, and he is already feeling nostalgic about his time at McKenzie. He has been supported socially and academically, and we're happy to call this school our home. I seriously question the perspective and motivation of a couple negative reviewers on this site, and can't help wondering if they have a twisted personal vendetta against someone. There are a couple negative reviews cited here that are simply not representative of the student or parent experience at McKenzie. I understand and respect constructive criticism, but the couple negative reviews I see here do not seem to have any productive or objective goal in mind. I genuinely hope that potential parents researching schools understand that there are 400+ families at McKenzie in any given school year, and a couple spiteful and questionable reviews should not be afforded meaningful significance. I wholeheartedly and confidently recommend that prospective parents visit the school, take a tour, meet with a PTA school-visit representative, and see firsthand that McKenzie is a fantastic place.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2015

We have our first and second son at McKenzie now, and it's amazing, as well as the overall community for families with young children. A nurturing community and all of the opportunity you could ask for in a school.
Submitted by other on May 25, 2015

We moved to Wilmette almost 4 years ago from NY. I have to admit: I read the negative reviews at that time and as a consequence I did not want to enroll my boys at McKenzie. I tried very hard to find a house in any other neighborhood and we almost bought a house in front of Romona school. But it did not go through and we were left with only two choices for rentals in the McKenzie neighborhood. I was very concerned at having to register my 5 and 7 y.o. kids in a school whose rating was 8 out of 10, the lowest in the district, with bad reviews from the reviewing parents. I had this thing in my stomach until school started a few months later. And when it started I saw my boys blossom, all the fears disappeared and I have turned in a super proud McKenzie community member! Not only the school works in a wonderful way, the administration and teachers are awesome... but also the community is warm, tight and caring. Someone said there are two ways to experience life: one is through accumulation, the other one is as a spiritual journey. My personal response to this is "balance" leaning on the latter, and McKenzie school is the perfect expression of this balance offering great academics and loving fun environment. I would appreciate more diversity but this is not as much related to McKenzie as to Wilmette and the North Shore in general.
Submitted by other on May 25, 2015

I find these negative reviews to be perplexing. We moved to this district from the City (grew up here but lived in City for 20+ years) where our son was enrolled in one of the "better" private schools - Catherine Cook. We were disappointed in our three year experience there and moved here in response. It's like night and day. First, the McKenzie community is fantastic and the people are warm and welcoming. In fact, friends in other areas of Wilmette often express the envy of the strength of our community. Frankly, I've been surprised by how strong the spirit of community is here.Second, the school has been amazing. The McKenzie principal is the model for what a principal of an elementary school should be. When we've approached her from time to time with concerns about our son, she has responded exactly the way everyone should wish a principal to respond. Teachers have been caring and creative. Parents are always concerned with the classroom and the community so they are very active.In short, while we too were also reulctant to move here, we feel so grateful that we wound up here.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2015

The community is absolutely wonderful. We've been very impressed by the teachers and staff. We're so glad we moved into the McKenzie neighborhood. I couldn't ask for a better school for my three kids!
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2015

Both of my children have loved the school. When one of them needed more advanced content they were always given it and pushed to do more. The community is extremely strong and the self esteem the children build at McKenzie will serve them well in life.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2015

We have two kids at McKenzie and have had a great experience! Class sizes are small; teachers are kind, attentive and challenging. The community is fantastic!! We have enjoyed McKenzie and are excited for the years ahead!
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2015

Seriously a gem of a school. McKenzie has a heart!! So special and unique. Parents involvement is wonderful, you feel a community spirit and the teachers love the support too. A++
Submitted by parent on December 10, 2014

McKenzie has been great for all three of our children -- each of whom have distinctly different personalities from one another. The teachers, staff and administrators have been very responsive to our requests and concerns when they arise. The resources at the school are top notch, and the academic learning well prepares the students for middle school, junior high and high school. My youngest is currently receiving differentiated instruction in reading and math, which appears to be taking place quite seamlessly. Finally (and sometimes most importantly), the community is fantastic.