S Washington
Hudson, IL

This page keeps reloading.8th grade counselor is unresponsive.Requests for special needs accommodations are largely ignored.Most teachers do not post lessons or assignments online for students who miss school for medical reasons.No on-site tutoring is available.Bathrooms are disgusting.The nurse is rarely ever in.There are a few excellent, engaged teachers and administrators, but for the most part this school is overwhelmed and ill-equipped to deal with much beyond business as usual.Their lockdown processes appear to be sound, though.Coming from the wonderful Maple Elementary, Mercer Middle School has been a real disappointment. We look forward to a hopefully better experience at Cleveland High.

I’m a senior this year and I think this school is absolutely amazing. Almost everyone is respectful and supportive at Cleveland and the teachers are great. I really felt like am in a community at school.

We were worried that our teen, coming from a small private school, would have difficulties at such a large, diverse high school. Franklin High was the best choice we ever could have made. Our teen is getting more from the experience at Franklin than we ever dreamed. The kids are great, welcoming, tolerant, fun, and even polite to adults (I always appreciate that). The academics are challenging and prepare students well, as our teen's PSAT scores would attest. AP and honors classes make for lots of homework, but there is also plenty of fun happening too. Our teen is stronger, smarter, and happier because she goes to Franklin. There is not a bunch of privileged, entitled kids expecting everything to be handed to them, judging others who have less. It's a good place to be.

I have had three kids at Van Asselt, starting 7 years ago. We have had a great experience. Our first child was an above-average learner, and he was given special opportunities to stretch himself, including advanced math, reading challenges and after school sports. Our second child is "2E", meaning he has both giftedness and a very impacting learning disability. He has been given great adaptations through his Individual Learning Plan, but also ways to stretch like violin lessons, choir, school musical, teachers who encourage him to bring his inventions to school. He has gotten great support from the school counselor when he was discouraged and stressed. And the counselor was there for me in a crisis moment as well. Our third child has significant developmental delays, and has been protected, supported, challenged and even cherished at Van Asselt. Technology and science are also emphasized. Curriculum includes a strong emphasis of emotional intelligence and empathy. I love Van Asselt because my kids are learning to work and grow in a diverse environment, taking direction and seeing leadership from adults of many cultures. Principal turnover has been high, unfortunately. We have seen three. But there is a great stable core of staff members, and the new staff being hired are of the highest caliber. The current principal is a really focused leader, making partnerships to bring in great resources for the school, such as City Year volunteers in the classrooms. I also have to mention the teaching assistants. They have brought such a family feel to our experience, knowing the kids, providing support when the kids are down, giving them positive messages. We feel so grateful that Van Asselt just happens to be our neighborhood school.