4716 N Beacon St
Chicago, IL 60640

We have had such a positive experience at Courtenay. My kid attended the pre-k this past year, and will be returning to Courtenay this year.This school is under excellent leadership. The admin is engaged with the whole community, dedicated to programs and initiatives that benefit both the students and their families. Whenever I’ve had questions or concerns, the administration has responded promptly and thoughtfully. I attended nearly all the monthly ‘Coffee with the Admin’ meetings with the principal and assistant principal and got to experience firsthand their appreciation of parental feedback. If someone had a question or concern that couldn’t be addressed at that moment, the principal was quick to get the information relayed to us. We loved our kid’s teacher team and were so lucky that they have the wisdom and experience to see when a student requires intervention. We were a bit worried about the transition from daycare to pre-k, but from the very beginning his teachers were engaged and communicative about how they were supporting him in the classroom and how we could support at home. I felt he was truly taken care of and given an environment in which to thrive. He came home happy and was eager to go back the next morning. During LSC and other school community meetings, I met passionate educators of the 3rd-8th grades and it seems that the entire staff knows every kid in the school. I also found the Child-Parent Center a great asset. Their sole purpose is to create opportunities for parents and families to get involved in the school community. They organized parent volunteers for field trips and school performances, and offered a variety of on-going opportunities (cooking club) and classes (CPR, wellness, culture) throughout the year that gave me the chance to meet other parents. To top it off, they have a flourishing ‘Friends of’ organization that further supports the students and school as needed and the new playground is fantastic for all ages.I’m so pleased this is our neighborhood school, and I am excited for our kid to continue to experience such an open and friendly learning environment.

This school is horrible. My son left Lane Tech to go here and what a complete opposite experience. There are fights and yesterday his classmate got beat up or stabbed. He saw blood and the teachers could give a dam as most don't even reply to emails or care if they fail your kid. It's mostly up to a school to get a kid engaged and passing. They have their phones, they can leave whenever they want. There are no punishments. Most CPS schools are awful. They just won't change and want problems and to get paid.