Hubbard Woods Elementary School

1110 Chatfield Road

School District

Winnetka 36
Grade

K-4
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:7
Type

public

School Map for Winnetka School District 36

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 July 19, 2019

I have twin daughters, and all of us were in tears on their last day. It was such a great experience all the way around. Kind, loving, attentive, very small classes, intimate, and yet innovative! A 10 out of 10!
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2019

This is my 10th and final year with a child at this school and I can honestly say it’s the best school I’ve been a part of. I worked at a school, my mom is a teacher, and we had moved out of state to try 2 other schools and no school quite compares to Hubbard Woods. Their hands on learning, compassion, respect, and education are outstanding and I will truly miss being a part of this school community next year. All you have to do is stand outside of school on the last day and you’ll see many kids with tears in their eyes because they love going to this school and they have fun.
Submitted by parent on March 22, 2019

I am disappointed in the school's academic preparation of my children. I blame this on the Progressive philosophy and a small, vocal group of the community that advocates for progressive education. My kids are not keeping up with kids in neighboring districts, but they are top performers at Hubbard Woods.
Submitted by other on December 08, 2016

My daughters attend this school, and I cannot say enough good things about it. The teachers are outstanding, and both principals have been as well. (We were there last year during Dr. Daniel Ryan's tenure, and now Beth Carmody is continuing to provide great leadership.) My girls are so happy. The class sizes are smaller than the very expensive private schools we had them enrolled in in the city. There is a real emphasis on the "whole child," not just academics. It is like walking into a big hug. Wonderful praise for Hubbard Woods
Submitted by parent on July 02, 2016

My 3rd child just finished 4th grade at HW. We've been at the school consecutively for 12 years. My children are all very different yet all thrived at HW, from above average to an IEP. We had 2 different principals during our time there and although Dr. Cheever was not perfect, the school has always been an incredible place and has only improved in the last 5 years. Nestled in a neighborhood, this school feels like home. Your child and your family will feel welcomed right away. The progressive education, which has been in place since the 20's, teaches children in a way that embodies the whole child. Upon graduation t Washburne, HW kids are fully prepared to take on high school. The foundation they learned at HW benefits them in so many areas, academically, socially and emotionally. The teachers LOVE their jobs and it shows. We will miss HW!
Submitted by parent on June 22, 2016

We have three children at Hubbard Woods from Kindergarten thru 4th grade, all with different abilities, social emotional skills and learning styles. Each of them have thrived at this school. The teachers and administration have been wonderful, not only meeting their academic needs but also providing a wonderfully positive and engaging environment. Our children LOVE to go to school every day. We are not from this area and often talk about moving to be closer to family however the main drawback to that plan is leaving Hubbard Woods and D36.
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2015

We have 2 children who have attended Hubbard Woods. They do an excellent job of preparing your children from a social, emotional, and academic perspective. The progressive learning style incorporates a lot of project base learning which my children really enjoy. The teachers and the staff are fantastic, you can tell they really love their jobs. I believe my children are getting an A+ education!
Submitted by parent on May 28, 2015

I have had three children attend Hubbard Woods School K-4 and all three had wonderful experiences. The staff is caring and thoughtful and attends to the needs of all types of learners. My fourth child is just finishing kindergarten at Hubbard Woods and the school is still top notch - many of the same teachers are still there from when my oldest started ten years ago. Although the teachers are the same the innovative methods continue to evolve and I am amazed how they keep the teaching fresh and interesting to both the students and the educators. If I had to go back and do it all over again I would 100% put all my kids in Hubbard Woods School! I now have two students at New Trier and they are both doing great- the Winnetka Schools served them well!
Submitted by parent on May 05, 2015

My children are in 1st and 3rd grades at Hubbard Woods School, having started there in kindergarten. Not only do they absolutely LOVE school, but they are thriving. I was skeptical about Progressive Education initially, having come from a traditional background myself, but I have been converted. I have watched this "whole child" approach do amazing things in the lives of my children. They take charge, love learning, feel comfortable asking questions and voicing their opinions, enjoy collaborating with others, have excellent manners, and come up with projects and business ideas regularly. AND, the read well (and often) and are both above grade-level in math. Any negative reviews about Hubbard Woods School are outdated. Dr. Ryan and his administration have been in place for 4+ years and have created an amazing educational environment for the kids, and a warm, social, open-door environment for the parents. This school is magical to say the very least.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2014

Having heard about the progressive philosophy of Hubbard Woods, I eagerly entered my children 3 years ago. I was astounded by the loving and personal community my children were welocmed into. My children love their school, teachers, and peers. They have each received a very personal, developmentally appropriate, and educational experience. Rah, Rah, Rah for Hubbard Woods!!
Submitted by parent on February 16, 2014

We had a choice and we chose Hubbard Woods. Moving to the area a year ago with a 1st grader and toddler, we could have settled anywhere on the North Shore but we focused on a community and an elementary school that felt like home. We instantly fell in love with HW nestled amongst a beautiful village neighborhood. Coming from a large brand new school out East, we were hesitant by the smaller size vintage nature but what we quickly witnessed in the people, the charm and warmth of the school community, not to mention the passionate, nurturing teachers and principal beaming with pride and dedication, this was the place for us. Our daughter has thrived since Day 1 and I can't wait for the day my son gets there. I've heard HW teachers say "they teach kids to love school" and that is indeed the TRUTH and foundation every child needs to learn. It's not often you hear a child say the day before Christmas vacation "Mommy, I'd don't want to be off for 2 weeks. I love school". When we were researching we read old negative reviews, I tell every parent now reading this that those reviews are from an old administration. This school gets better every day.
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2014

We have three children right now at Hubbard Woods and are extremely pleased with the quality of instruction and the exceptional resouces available to our children. The longstanding tradition of progressive education lends itself to teaching the "whole child" and creates an atmosphere that fosters a lifelong love of learning and has really helped our children blossom. As an educator myself, I feel very fortunate to have my children at Hubbard Woods.
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2014

This school is nestled into a lovely community. The parents are supportive and active members of the school community. Our staff is dedicated and seeks to do what is best for each child. Hubbard Woods is lead by the strong vision of principal Dr. Ryan. He is transparent in his communication and decision-making and has created a culture of excellence at this school.
Submitted by parent on February 11, 2014

Hubbard Woods School is one of the best schools I have ever worked with and am fortunate enough to send my children to. Mr. Daniel Ryan, by far, is the most outstanding principal I know, and my review is based on working with hundreds of schools' administrators as a previous Director in Education at Discovery Channel and working with him in various capacities on projects for the PTO. The implementation of innovative programs, the consensus building, the strong sense of community, the parent involvement, and the love of learning every child has at HW are just a few of the qualities that the principal and staff bring to the table. What I love most: the strong partnership between school and home with it's continued communication and problem solving between teacher and parent - you'll be impressed with how well your child's teacher knows him/her. The teachers are passionate: they also put together fabulous before-and-after school programs like our daily WGST news broadcast put together by the children, after school sports, after school movie making, and more. And we as parents are welcomed into the school! Note, this is a progressive education school - request a tour to find out more.
Submitted by parent on August 17, 2011

I stumbled upon this and feel compelled to add a rating in an attempt to tip the average back up. I'm a parent at this school, one who is deeply invested in my childrens' educations, and extremely satisfied with HWE. I'm sorry to those of you below who feel the need to air your spite against a former principal or your deep personal grievance in a public forum, but to give Hubbard Woods a "1" on a scale of 1 to 5 is ludicrous. You immediately lose any credibility with anyone educated. A "1" rating would be appropriate for a school with 4th graders who can't read, or in danger of being taken over by the State for chronic failure on achievement tests. I understand there are differing opinions on progressive education, both in re: the philosophy and the practical, everyday application of that philosophy, and whether or not it's so at odds with where most modern quantifiable output elementary education has moved as to be outmoded. Say you're not a fan, give it a "3" as adequate but not outstanding for whatever reason, and move on. HWE is a fabulous school with amazing resources, the most talented elem. school teachers I've ever met, and a great dedication to students.
Submitted by parent on May 01, 2011

Thank goodness change has come to Hubbard Woods. Perhaps now trust can be restored between teachers, administration and parents. And, perhaps also the community can heal the wounds that left parents on all sides fearing that their children's needs would not be properly addressed. This is great news.
Submitted by parent on April 30, 2011

Some families prefer to have their children enrolled in smaller, private schools. To say "many families have moved" is not at all accurate. It sounds as if this parent has little understanding of progressive education - to cite a couple of examples of school practice out of context and to label them the "Winnetka Way, is not at all accurate. Has this parent read any of the district's literature on the tenets of progressive education or for that matter, any literature on progressive education? Progressive educators are reflective practitioners and are continually examining their pedagogy and adapting it based upon the needs of the children and current research findings. I beg this parent to spend a day in the school, talk to children, teachers and administrators, and see first hand how wonderfully child-centered and creative this school really is. Look at the test scores as well. As these numbers, another way to get to know a school, also tell a great story. It saddens me that some members of the community will jump on a bandwagon of attack and criticism, before acquiring the information they need to form an informed opinion.