Cooper Park

81st St. School went through a big change in 2012-- it incorporated the neighborhood's 68th St. School program, and greatly expanded its K3-K5 grades. Kids this year had music and phy. ed. (next year they'll also have art), and it's been a wonderful school year. The staff is great, and the programming at the school is changing to a more student-focused, technology/science model. It has a warm atmosphere, beautiful classrooms, a very caring staff who really know their kids, a fantastic before- and after-school program run by the Boys & Girls Club (they even have guitar lessons!), and MPS is supportive of listening to parents and neighbors in how the school moves forward. Scores-wise, a lot of the low scores are in the upper grades, which will be phased out of the school as it becomes a K3-5th program. I know it had a not-so-great reputation in years past, but a couple decades ago it consistently one of the best grade schools in MPS. I think the reforms and redesign they've put in place over the last year are great. My child loves attending, and I'm very pleased with the rigor of the program and atmosphere of the school. Try it out-- you won't be disappointed.