Oak Park Elementary Schools vs. Wilmette Elementary Schools (Hinsdale: accent, fashion)

[Lookout Kid]

I don't anticipate our current small class sizes, science and math programs, or extra activities to be affected--nor would I expect noticeable impacts to these things in Oak Park or Wilmette. At worst, taxes will just increase a small amount. You pointed out how Oak Park had a surplus from over-collecting, so they may not even NEED to raise taxes.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

I don't anticipate our current small class sizes, science and math programs, or extra activities to be affected--nor would I expect noticeable impacts to these things in Oak Park or Wilmette. At worst, taxes will just increase a small amount. You pointed out how Oak Park had a surplus from over-collecting, so they may not even NEED to raise taxes.

I love Glen Ellyn, applaud the high standards has and generally think its schools are quite good.

That said, AVG CLASS SIZE in the D41's best performing school is considerably ABOVE the state avg right now -- BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ELEM SCHOOL | Average Class Size

Similarly the average class size for the Oak Park's D97 is just a single child below the state average -- OAK PARK ESD 97 | Average Class Size

What's a school that has "small class size" in this context? How about 25% few than the state average -- BUTLER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Average Class Size

Similarly, the level of performance on the VERY WEAK state mandated tests hardly show the districts knocking it out of the ballpark on science or math --

OAK PARK ESD 97 | ISAT Test Results

AND FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME -- If the OP is seriously looking for these things FROM AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ILLINOIS

extra activities (e.g. after school programs) that offer language, sports, architecture or engineering.

it just does not exist. If the OP wants to track them down, pay extra, arrange for transportation, and jump through all the other hoops, then SURE they can find that, but somehow I think the same sorts of things would likely be possible if they moved to a third world country and hired a team or tutors, coaches and trainers AND GIVEN OUR TAX STRUCTURE they might very well be better off...

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by chet everett

I love Glen Ellyn, applaud the high standards has and generally think its schools are quite good.

That said, AVG CLASS SIZE in the D41's best performing school is considerably ABOVE the state avg right now -- BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ELEM SCHOOL | Average Class Size

This is self-correcting with lower enrollment in lower grade levels. We'll see 22-23 kids per class within a few years (or already do with my younger kids). Contrast to CPS which has 27-29 in the best-ranked elementary schools like Nettlehorst.

Originally Posted by chet everett

AND FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME -- If the OP is seriously looking for these things FROM AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ILLINOIS it just does not exist. If the OP wants to track them down, pay extra, arrange for transportation, and jump through all the other hoops, then SURE they can find that, but somehow I think the same sorts of things would likely be possible if they moved to a third world country and hired a team or tutors, coaches and trainers AND GIVEN OUR TAX STRUCTURE they might very well be better off...

We already pointed out that foreign language and engineering programs DO IN FACT EXIST in many elementary schools in the area. Sports are nearly always outside of elementary schools in just about every place in the U.S. It's really not a big deal. It's the NORM. After school enrichment opportunities are plentiful. You just don't have a good argument here.

[holl1ngsworth]

This doesn't bode well for Oak Park:
DeShawn Isabelle's mother turns her in for alleged CTA sexual assault and robbery | Daily Mail Online

3pm on a Monday. Awful.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by holl1ngsworth

This doesn't bode well for Oak Park:
DeShawn Isabelle's mother turns her in for alleged CTA sexual assault and robbery | Daily Mail Online

3pm on a Monday. Awful.

It reminds me of that mid-day hammer attack a few years ago as a young dad walked home from the train. These incidents happen every so often, but are in fact pretty rare in Oak Park.

They are even MORE rare in Wheaton, but hey, it's not for everyone, right?

[chitownperson]

Originally Posted by holl1ngsworth

This doesn't bode well for Oak Park:
DeShawn Isabelle's mother turns her in for alleged CTA sexual assault and robbery | Daily Mail Online

3pm on a Monday. Awful.

It's easy to cherry pick things that happen anywhere, and indeed there are "awful" things that happen everywhere. Oak Park is safe, but feel free to name any desirable and it wouldn't be hard to find "awful" things that have happened. As lookout kid mentions, these types of incidents are rare in Oak Park.

[chitownperson]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Anyone that is clueless about the current funding situation either needs to get up to speed or suffer the likely draconian changes that will be wrought.

Page 6 of this pdf clearly shows that OPRF would have a massive 71% hit to state funding, while the elementary district would see a much smaller hit the FACT is that the actual TAX PAYERS for both legal entities would still feel it their wallets!
http://www.isbe.net/funding/pdf/gsa-fy14-sb589.pdf

Last year's SB16 caused a lot of worry to BOTH the elementary and high school district in Oak Park
New school funding bill worries Oak Park's D97, D200 | Articles | News | OakPark.com

Frankly any school district in Illinois that currently is operating with normal amounts of funding could be turned upside down by even the proposals in this year's SB#1
SB 1 will have catastrophic impact on schools | mySuburbanLife.com

I'm well aware of the data and the articles, but this hasn't happened yet, so all the dooms day analysis is no more than the typical fear mongering. IF the bill passes, it will be a bridge to cross at that time for all districts that have state funding. As of right now, life goes on, but seeing as Oak Parkers value education first and foremost, I would not be surprised to see people fight for the things that matter most.

[kindrakindra]

Just quickly want to clarify. D97 students have Spanish 4 days a week. The district purchased Rosetta Stone so the third graders and up have Rosetta Stone hw weekly on their district issued Ipads.

Re: class size, third grade has 18 and kindergarten has 19 or 20 (times 2 different k classes).

Re: on site at school after school programming, this year alone, my three have taken basketball, chess, baseball, ukelele and a general all sports class. There are so many other offerings like blog writing, science, cooking, dance and crafting. I think there are about 15 after school classes offered with three different sessions a year. Pickup is at 4:15, so I don't think these classes constitute after care (which is separate), but certainly some great and fun choices.

[chitownperson]

Good info Kindra. Re the Kindergarten class sizes , I think it's worth noting that in some schools like Whittier there are mixed age classes like K1 and K1,2 and they are split up by grades for specific classes like English and Maths, so if you have a class of 19 in K1, the actual number of students per teacher in English or Maths is 9 or 10 students to 1 teacher, and that doesn't include the teacher's assistants they have. Certainly not what I'd consider a negative student teacher ratio.

[chet everett]

REALLY D97 now uses the BRITISH term "maths" or is that just your own personal affectation? Either way, quite pretentious

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