416 Illinois 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.

I have had a son who went here. He has ADHD and the principal all the teachers he has had since kindergarten have been exceptional and went way above their job to help him succeed. The counselor , mrs Easton, mrs Englund , and mr g(sorry can't rem how it's spelled) have been the greatest. We recently had to move to champain and did not get the chance to know his 4th grade teacher yet. We miss this school alot. And would recommend it highly. Again. Thank you