Willowbrook Elementary School

I spent a long time looking for a school with special education classes to support my child. At first, it seemed that the school was willing to help. However, when behavioral difficulties with the staff (adults) arose, instead of adjusting the IEP plan and analyzing what works and what doesn’t, I received a call stating that the administration had met and decided: my child does not belong in their school, and they would consider alternative placement.Some staff members in the administration behaved rudely and unprofessionally. At one point, they even refused to provide the name of my child’s aide, who was involved in the suspensions. When I tried to understand what the problem was and why these things were happening, I was denied information, being told they first needed to consult the aide’s lawyer. It felt as if I had come to their home to check on them, rather than being a parent with the right to know who and how is working with my child.The administration pressures parents, trying to secure an advantageous position for themselves instead of collaborating with parents to find a solution. Parents are often persuaded that their child is exactly as described in the reports, but in reality, I saw that my child is very different. This helped me draw my own conclusion.Special education exists only on paper. In practice, there is no support. When parents request documents or reports, nothing is provided because there is nothing to show — no real evidence of support, only words.If you contact the district, as I did, the administration may become angry and punish your child. In my case, this resulted in two weeks of daily suspension from school and special education classes, placing my child in a separate room without access to learning, and forbidding participation in class trips or activities.The purpose of the special education classes is unclear: over an entire semester, my child learned only a few new words, and that was it. Staff exaggerate information about the child to protect themselves legally, avoid providing real services, and justify transferring the child to a specialized school without valid reasons.I am not calling anyone to action and I am not evaluating the school as a whole. This is my personal experience, which relates exclusively to special education at this school. I am writing this review in the hope that it may help other parents make a more informed choice if their child truly needs support.

Our child has been attending school since 2022. When he started coming here, the child did not speak English at all, but the teachers and school staff found an approach and now the child feels great! This school is interested in children growing and achieving success.

St. Norbert School is amazing. Our child has been thriving in this environment with the support of a speech therapist and learning specialist. The community and faith based education are exactly what we were looking for. The academics, social support, and the community overall is why this school gets such high ratings. We have used the before and after care program where children socialize, get homework done, and have fun. Sports and so many different clubs are offered at the school. This school educates the whole child and we highly recommend this school to everyone.

We love SCL! I personally went to public school, and never had intentions of sending my kids to private school. We enrolled my oldest at SCL for kindergarten because we needed a full day option. I had every intention of it being just for a year. However, the growth and experience that he had in just that one year was enough to change my mind. We not only kept him there, but enrolled our other son in their preschool. The staff are wonderful and truly care for the students. Our appreciation for the education and community that is not only provided but actively fostered at SCL has grown tremendously over the last 4 years.

This wonderful and true community is long-established, deeply enriched, and dedicated with excellence to high-fidelity implementation of Dr. Maria Montessori's pedagogy.I had the honor of being welcomed to student teach here in 2022, and was delighted by its support of extraordinary, beautiful, and rigorous natural education. I had also been welcomed to observe one of its primary classrooms in 2010.