2413 Shelby Ave
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 targets disabled children and minimizes their experience. They harass parents who keep their kids at home when their kids are sick. They allow bullying, they allow teachers to bully children (I.e. substitute told a class of 4th graders she was going to set their belongings on fire). Do not send your kids here.They also serve post cards home when your kids are sick to guilt trip them about staying home instead of wishing your kids get better soon ..Absolutely disgraceful