Research Locke A Elementary Charter Academy Charter Schools in Chicago, Illinois

“Love the school. The principal is tough but this is what our children need. The teachers are hard working. I would recommend the school to anyone.”

“My son has attended since pre school he is currently in 2nd grade. I appreciate the focus on reading and so far he has had very attentive teachers and assistant teachers. I also appreciate the year round school philosophy. My only concern is that school administration makes changes that could affect parents and students without input from the parents. ALso information is not shared with families in a timely manner.”

“Alain Locke charter academy is an awsome school . You ask how I know because I atened this school. I am in the 7th grade and i have been to this school every since in was in preschool. Ms.Jones and ms. Woodson have really changed this school and i'm thank them because my grades,test scores.... Have really improved.”

“Since the very first year this school opened - 1999 - teacher attrition rate has been super high. Great parents and kids to work with. Supplies - ok. Administration - dismissive and cold. It's a business to them, and a poorly run one at that. Learning Swahili is fun and great only if the kids know how to read and write in their native English and have the energy at the end of the day to appreciate their skills.”

“My child has attended Locke since pre-school and I have been pleased with her academic progress. We have been blessed with teachers and staff who seem genuinely concerned and committed. As much as I can appreciate the administration's vision, I take issue with the way parents are left out of the equation as it pertains to program/school issues and decisions. I think that the principal and assistant principal would do well to make some real effort to partner with parents and the community when making decisions about enrolled children and school programing issues. Our children need to be more than just 'globally competitive', they need to have balance and mental wellness. A 9 hour day and an hour or more of homework is academic overkill. Given an opportunity, we could be an asset. Learn to listen to and accept some of our input.”

“My daughter has attended this school since pre-k, she will be in the 1st starting in July. I love the zero tolerance policy. The kindergarten program I though was to tough for such young children, however they had achieved everything but before them. The academic program is on target for what the children will need to be prepared for their High School years. Yes, the teachers could be a little more understanding to the parents who want to witness their children's involvement in class activities. However, some might cause a distraction to the daily process of studies. I feel the school has an excellent staff. I love the extended hours and year round schedule. Being a working mom, I need that peace of mind to my child is safe while I'm at work.”

“This is an excellent school. The academics and extracurricular activities are also plentiful. In addition they also teach numerous foreign languages such as French, Spanish, and Japanese to name a few. I also like the zero tolerence policy which ensures my children will be around well behaved children, who will not be allowed to behave in an inappropriate manner, which my children may mimick at such an impressionable age.”

“Academics are good,extracurricular activities open, Problem is zero tolerance principal”

“As a former teacher, I find it amazing that this school is still in existence. It is thriving on propaganda (teaching to tests) and a board of directors who are out of touch with the teachers' true perspectives of the school's poor leadership. A new crop of teachers come and go each year because they realize the principal and asst. principal really have no leadership skills, too opinionated to listen to teachers'suggestions and concerns, and are pushing for the school day to end at five although the teachers realize that this is not conducive to the needs of the students nor does it allow for them comprehensive planning time or to collaborate .Students are too tired to do homework after 5. Teachers are too exausted to grade a paper or even reflect on the day's activities. No one cares to look into why we flee? We'll tell you. Just ask why!”

“This is a very good school they care about your childs success and lead by example”

“Alain Locke is one of the best schools in the inner city area. The teachers really care about the children. My son's teacher was always accessible. During open house, he provided all parents with a home number. Classrooms also have phones in each class. The school emphasizes on Reading and Math in which my son does well in. He is in the fifth grade and on his ITBS test he received 7.5 in reading and in Math he received 9.1 (99%)! What I most enjoy is the zero tolerance policy. It makes me feel good that my child is not going to school with unruly children. The majority of the parents are very involved in the education of their children. There are daily enrichment programs in which the children learn art, music, other languages, and sports. I'm glad Alain Locke gave my son a competitive edge that is needed for college!”

“I feel this is a very good school. My soon has excelled in reading and math. I really like the zero tolerance rule because it will let the child learn from a early age to be responsible for their actions. I really feel that the school have excellent teachers who really work hard to teach our children in this poor economic area. The children love the extracurricular activities in the various clubs. Alain Locke has a very good basketball team, band and art club. `Parent involvement is excellent. The parents come out for report card pick-up, and various enrichment programs held through out the year. I love the extend hours, because I am a working parent. The doors open at 8:00 and close at 5:00 p.m. I love that the children get out in the middle of July. Go ALCA allstars.”

“I feel like the school is shuting me out of my kids life when it comes to wanting to visit one of my children class room. Why is it that I'm always told to set up a conference with the teacher. I just want to observe what my child is learning. I have the right to come and do that. I don't want them to know all the time, so they can put on a show like they are really all together. They need to stop yelling at people children and calling them out negative names. Adults need to remember that kids have feeling to, and adults wouldn't like it if a kid said things to them like that. Adults would say the kid doesn't have any manners. Words do hurt some kids and lower a kids self-esteem.”

“The zero tolerance policy is so severly strict that it does not accomodate for the developmental levels of the children. This creates a problem when behaviors that children should be assisted in developing through, result instead in repeated disciplinary actions (detentions/suspensions). This occurs with children as young as age 5. The staff is inaccessible to parents, and phone messages are not responded to unless there is a problem with the child(ren). Parents who ask questions and question the policies of the school are made to feel that they, as well as their child(ren), are unwelcome. Parent council meetings are not advertised for all parents and classroom parent representatives are selected by school administrators/staff, and not the parents of the classroom. The curriculum and enrichment activities are however innovative and effective. The children are learning and encouraged to excel academically. While I applaud the objective to promote excellence, at times I think it is an adult standard of excellence that the children are expected to live up to, and not that appropriate to their levels of development.”