17 Country Gdns
Mattoon, IL 61938

While I feel the administration and teachers they try to create a good learning environment be advised that there is a great deal of politics involved in this school. My son had one class where they watched Disney videos and analyzed the use of sexist or racist imagery. This was an enrichment class but I felt the time could be better spent on other topics and let me deal with the political views of a company. Some classes tend to try to be too "fun" and not enough instruction, while some things on youtube may be educational some of the things I've heard about teachers showing lead me to believe there is as much time spent on non learning activities as learning. Athletic programs are another place where this school fails to teach sportsmanship, fairness, kindness and all the other virtues they teach in the actual classrooms. Some coaches are great but if you weren't raised here, and aren't with a certain crowd, don't expect playing time or even making the team. Other good aspects of the school include the involvement of the library in promoting literacy in all forms as well as use of non traditional learning methods in the classroom.

This school has been a true life saver for my son! We moved here two years ago from a southern Illinois school district that was just horrible. My son has an IEP and the schools down there did not follow his IEP, they didn't push him to succeed, he was beginning to fall through the cracks! But Riddle has been wonderful. From the day we moved here they have asked "what can we do to make him feel welcome and comfortable with his environment." He is a completely different child and I contribute that to Riddle's fabulous staff!! I don't know what kind of child he would be today if we had not moved here and enrolled him in this wonderful school! I'm sad to say this is his last year at Riddle and we will miss everyone dearly! The teachers treat the children as if they are their own, they encourage them to try hard and push them to succeed, they don't allow / tolerate bullying. It is just an awesome school!!