Wallace Elementary School

my experience was the best any parent or student could hope for

My oldest daughter transferred from a US Dept. of Education "Blue Ribbon" private school in the southwest Chicago suburbs to Wallace during 7th grade and had an excellent experience at Wallace. She felt academically challenged. She felt welcomed by all. It is a small, tight-knit school. My middle child is currently enrolled in preschool there and is also enjoying her experience. The teachers are caring and the principal is great.

Terrible principal has no clue how to run a school

What a mess! The school's "computer system" failed to update our address 4 times over 6 months. It resulted in my kindergartener being sent to the wrong place on her first day of school. The secretary, principal, & 2 drivers knew the address was not updated, but somehow put her on the wrong bus. Kindergarten classes do the "clip system". It's a great system if executed well. It's not at Wallace. Some kids are constantly on "OUTSTANDING" (the children of educators) while others struggled all year to get above "Ready to learn". My child's new school has the same system in every class and, while she was punished several days a week last year, has never been below "Ready to learn" this year. The kindergarten teachers will not tie the kids' shoes after winter break. Some 5-year-olds simply don't have the dexterity to tie shoes yet. My daughter was taught to read. She cried all the time learning, but doggone it, she can read! Keep in mind that we're now in a "distinguished" school (rated 10) & most of the other kids couldn't read starting first grade. Wallace is so bent on getting results that they don't care about shattering the children's spirits. What a shame.