St. Robert Bellarmine School

This school is OK. The teachers are great, at least the ones I've encountered. I have a 1st grader and 8th grader about to start the school year. They have been there for a few years. Ones of the issues I have is with the special education program that's offered. I don't feel students are getting the true help they need. IEPs say one thing and test results show another thing. My oldest one is starting 8th grade but has the reading level of a 2nd- 3rd grader. Even with outside resources and help from home, my son still has a hard time comprehending any work given to him. All of last year they said his progress was increasing but I have a feeling he's just being pushed through grade by grade. The school was good to my kindergartener. She did great progress. The lunch provided is okay, it's nutritional. The school is very involved with the community. I do see a lot of parents participation at school functions. The parking is TERRIBLE. A lot of parents do not care for the safety of students and drive carelessly. There have been a few close calls where I was hit while walking with my child. Be VERY aware and cautious of that. The school usually sends out emails to parents to remind them to be courteous but it goes to deaf ears. The school is currently under construction to fix the pick up/drop off situation. Overall, this school is OK. Beware if your child has an IEP.

I love this school and I transferred here in 5th grade so I like this school

Bad school , no good for emotio al kids when pass grade , they have preference for kids and ypur notes, if kid dont have A or B they leave sit down . Racism too seeing in other parents and school dont make nothing.

We love Smyser. Whole family has been here for about 8 years and 6 kids, 3 graduated and went on to Taft, Lincoln Park. Teachers are awesome and super kind and full of knowledge and passion for their craft. Staff are great and really committed to the kids. Go Eagles!

My child has been hit by other students and no one notified me despite them coming home with marks and welts. The staff also tried to blame my child for over reacting or lying, despite having physical proof. Also getting them into to speech program has taken since October, and they're still not in as of April. The teacher is curt and cold to the kids at pick-up, just literally shoving them off to parents. Another classmate has bruises on their flank allegedly from a teacher trying to get them to sit. Teacher withheld reward for having a hole in my childs shoe. This is not my child's fault and should not be missing out on the school experience because I couldn't afford new shoes right away. I cannot recommend this school to another parent. This teacher does not care about the well-being and safety of the students and neither does the school for letting this continue after seeing evidence and complaints from multiple parents. I feel incredibly guilty for keeping my child at this school. If it were not for the false illusion of getting them speech and it we would have left right away.

My daughter came to St. Constance this school year after severe issues with bullying at a CPS school. The difference in her demeanor now is night and day. Instead of being bullied she is welcomed and encouraged to participate. All of the girls in her class are great friends and I've never seen anyone excluded. The kids are taught to be respectful and friendly to everyone. The curriculum is much more challenging but the graduates last school year have been accepted to great selective enrollment high schools so that speaks for itself. Overall, best choice we made. I just wish we made it sooner.