Parkview Elementary--Morton Grove (Chicago, Streamwood, Niles: house, neighborhood, school districts)

[Suburbs bound]

Hi city experts,

We are in the NW suburbs, contemplating a move closer to the North Shore, as my husband works in Wilmette. We need housing in the 375-400K range, and Morton Grove looks like a good option, although we really have no clue.

Parkview Elementary is rated 8/10 on great schools, and is a K-8 model, which is appealing to me. My kids are currently in a wonderful private secular school but will be in 1st grade and K next year, so we think a good idea to move now than later.

Does anyone know about this school? I have called the school to set an appt for tour, though am waiting to hear back.

Any feedback?

We don't have to move, though trying to lessen the hour long commute that takes place before the sun rises. Kids emotional and academic health is of priority though.

[cubssoxfan]

Just as a reference to compare, where are you now and what school districts are you in?

[bulldawg1594]

Interactive Illinois Report Card - looks like it is pretty diverse, test scores are real good.

[Suburbs bound]

We are in Streamwood which is u-46 school district. Streamwood High is rated a 2 out of 10 on great schools.We love our private school, though it is not connected with the neighborhood where we live, and far from husbands work.Hoping to find a nice community, with reasonably priced homes and a good school system that is above average academically and safe emotionally/physically as well.

[bulldawg1594]

streamwood is really not that bad.

[michelle9580]

i really like morton grove as we're in the midst of everything. we moved to morton grove for several reason and park view was one of them. i wouldn't move to the other side of morton grove which has more house for the money because it was offiliated with horrible schools.
our house is a fully remodeled split level which back into a park which is also close to park view elementary.....we're planning on listing it since we've outgrown it (4 kids)....it's a 3 bedroom 2 full bath...but the asking price is 479,900. We can sell it fully furnished as well. taxes are low too....and our lot is huge. 66X132
you'll like mg because of the schools, close to work, and it is close to shopping and etc.

[Dncr]

Morton Grove is great, a lot of my close friends attended Parkview and were rather proud of it. It feeds into Niles West High School, which is a great school. The area as a whole is diverse, and I'm sure you'll find a wonderful house in your price range.

[chet everett]

It does no one any good to rely on JUNK sites that allow any random person to register and say their schools deserves " X stars" or what have you.

Illinois has a very weak assessment for elementary / middle schools so that value of the interactive report card is more in measuring the fractions between schools than anything else.
I do think it is fair to say that when a particular school has particularly awful results, with hardly more than a third of students meeting weak standards it is fair to say that such a school is "that bad" (while the town may be kinda ok...) Interactive Illinois Report Card

If you are looking for a simple list of schools that have "real good" test scores the Sun Times has such a listing: Top 100 elementary schools in Illinois :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Education

As to saying that a upstream school is currently 'great' (as opposed to 'may have been better in the past'...) it would be wise to consult the fairly thorough list compiled for US News, where the above mentioned school is absent: Best High Schools Search - US News and World Report

Sorry if this comes off as preachy, but the casualness that some folks continue to regard the terrible performance of too many students won't change if people are not aware...

As to where Park View in SD70 of Morton Grove ranks on a "pure numbers" basis the data is mixed:
2009 Illinois Report Card Results :: Park View Elem School: Nothing too impressive as far as the k-5 numbers, considerably higher ranking for the 6-8 results. Depending on why that is AND if things continue in that pattern it might be acceptable...