Oak Hills Elementary School

We pulled our child out during the summer before her 3rd grade year. She started at Oak Hills in Kindergarten. Her first and second grade teachers were great. They were both effective at teaching the material, had good classroommanagement skills, and were warm and approachable with both the kids and parents. Her kindergarten teacher, on the other hand, was unkind and generally unfit (temperament-wise) for teaching such young children. Overall, we found that the school did not meet our child’s needs and our family’s standards for whole child learning. We think that the school as a whole has a culture that lacks depth when it comes to nurturing the social/emotional needs of its students. This became clear after kids came back to on-campus learning after the pandemic, many of whom needed extra support. Academically, this school stands out. There’s no doubt about that. Unfortunately, there is little to no art/music and quite honestly it just wasn’t a very fun place to be, at least for our child. We’ve moved on to a school that doesn’t perform quite as well academically, but the trade off is the deep commitment they have to educating the whole child - not just in principle, but in practice. Parents are treated like collaborators, art and music are valued and taught year round, and the energy on the campus feels like childhood at its best. Oak Hills works well for many families, but our experience there did not live up to our expectations.

In theory, the school is great. Teachers overall are amazing and the campus is wonderful. The principal is in way over his head. He is an amazing person to have on a field trip, but lacks severely in leadership and management skills.

It's a very sweet school, but it's a nontraditional education. I just want people to make sure they know that. A few years ago they bought into the Reading Writing Curriculum (Lucy Calkins - look it up); it's controversial among educators, but Oak Park admin really believe in it. The children just have reading & writing and math classes. There are no separate social studies or science classes. They have no distinct spelling, grammar, or vocabulary instruction. The Reading Writing Curriculum believes children will absorb that content automatically through reading. Oak Hills doesn't really teach a lot of "content" -- they focus on skills and "strategies." It's an interesting philosophy, and maybe right for some families, but I would never send a bright student to this school and I would pause sending a good student here. My children have been to a few other elementary schools and Oak Hills is the least academic of all. I think it's a wonderful, warm environment for students who may struggle academically or who are wiggly. Teachers are great, the campus is lovely, and children are inclusive.

Wouldn’t change elementary schools - very happy with the faculty, staff and families at OHES

So far it is definitely not the school it was when I was going there in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. Obviously Tony Knight is no longer the principle and Eric Warren makes sure to stand by his teachers side. But without actually knowing who his teachers are, and understanding what his teachers do in the classroom. Unless you actually sit inside the classroom of all of your teachers you may not know how they teach and how they influence your students. I recommend a year of walking into the teachers classes, and seeing how they teach when they are least expecting your presence. Unless you actually sit inside the classroom of all of your teachers you may not know how they teach and how they influence your students. I recommend a year of walking into the teachers classes, and seeing how they teach when they least expect xfyour presence.