Gavin Central School

Thompson is an excellent elementary school in Lake Villa, IL. We love the community, the staff, and the facilities at Thompson. My kids look forward to going to school, and even staying after to participate in after school activities like chess club, STEM club, and artists club.

My children studied at Martin Elementary School from kindergarten to 5th grade. My daughter was there from 2018 to 2024, and my son from 2019 to 2025. Both of them were in the bilingual program from kindergarten to 2nd grade. The bilingual teachers were wonderful and my kids learned so much from them and also they met good friends.My son had speech delay, social-emotional needs and fine and gross motor skills needs. When I had conferences or EIP meetings the teachers were very respectful, polite and always listened for every concern that I had. When my children had any issue with other classmates I let the teachers know and it was solved right away. At 3rd grade my son met teachers expectation and was able to be in his classroom full time.During the pandemic the school works really hard to make sure students didn't miss lessons and learned online through chrome books that the school provided. All the material that students needed were delivered to our door for the school buses.In the summer of 2022 my daughter was diagnosed with severe scoliosis. And the next year in the summer of 2023 she had spinal fusion surgery. After that, her doctor recommended a lot of physical restrictions for almost a year. She wasn't allowed to do any exercise, bend, twist or lift objects. That summer I applied at Martin for the paraprofessional position and I got hired. That way I had the opportunity to help my daughter to carry her backpack to her classroom. She also had a lot of support from her teachers and classmates. When she needed to go to another classroom or go to his band class a classmate helped her with her instrument.A a school employee I was able to see the hard work that all school staff do inside the school that we don't see as parents from outside, how often they have meetings to achieve goals and to make sure students needs are fulfilled, reach their full potential and are safe anywhere they are at school. Often the school has fun activities in the afternoon like reading books for children or carving pumpkins in the fall. Enrolling my children at Martin Elementary School was one of the best decisions I had made for their education. They learned so much and got unforgettable memories and experiences they are going to keep as a treasure in their heart and are going to help them in the transition to the next educational level, middle school.

very poor and had to be held back because they did not teach what should of been taught

I love this school so much it is better then the school boundries