Portage Park Elementary School (Chicago, Illinois)
USA /
Illinois /
Harwood Heights /
Chicago, Illinois /
West Berteau Avenue, 5330
World
/ USA
/ Illinois
/ Harwood Heights
World / United States / Illinois
elementary school
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Portage Park School is a Pre-Kindergarten - 8th grade elementary school that has served the community for ninety years. The Local School Council has worked with the administration and staff to develop a School Improvement Plan that will help make a difference for all our students. The school serves a diverse population of nearly 1100 students. We have bilingual instruction in Arabic, Polish and Spanish along with our ESL Program which serves students who speak over 12 other languages. Over 69% of our students receive a free or reduced lunch.
A Chicago Board of Education after-school program called After School Counts has provided students with a homework center program that provides assistance in all subject areas to students that are in need of additional support. Teachers meet with students in small groups (maximum 18) from grades 3rd - 8th. The students are selected on the basis of their ITBS scores. Those students scoring in the 2nd quartile of the exam receive remedial help in reading and/or math. The Local School Council has approved the establishment of an intramural sports program for both boys and girls. Interscholastic competition has begun with participation in basketball and volleyball. A Karate class is taught before school with plans to expand our sports program to include softball and soccer. Over 250 students participated in after school programs. State Chapter One funds provide the services of a computer teacher and an aide in a networked lab, a primary teacher to lower class size, an instructional coordinator, a guidance counselor, along with an art teacher. The Local School Council has also funded fees and substitutes so that staff may participate in Staff Development activities.
The Reading Program at Portage Park School encourages students to develop reading skills through recreational reading. Portage Park students participate in several reading incentive programs including: Pizza Hut Book-It Program, The USA Reading Team, Junior Great Books, the Chicago Public Library Summer Reading Program, the Six Flags Read to Succeed Program, and the Rebecca Caudill Reading Group. Mr. William K. Kellogg III, a corporate executive, teaches a literature appreciation program for seventh and eighth grade students. Mr. Kellogg volunteers his time weekly and introduces classical literature to his students every Monday morning before school begins. An early morning advanced mathematics class meets once a week for students in eighth grade. The eighth grade advanced math class also participates in the Chicago Tribune's Stock Market Game.
Portage Park School has developed a strong working partnership with the Chicago Park District. Many of our students are involved in athletic and craft programs in the "Park Kids" program at the field house. The school music program includes a Winter Assembly and the Annual Spring Concert. A tuition-based "Band for Today" program began five years ago. Students are introduced to band instruments and receive lessons at school. These students are able to rent band instruments for the program. Students participate in many art competitions throughout the year. The primary grades join the Portage Park Women's Club each Memorial Day for the annual "Flowers for Our Soldiers" program.
The after school programs and additional remedial resources seem to help our students score above the national average on nationally standardized tests and do so regularly. During the 2004-05 school year, the percent of our students in grades 3rd - 8th who scored at/above national norms on their Reading Test of the ITBS was 68.9% and those scoring at/above on their Math Test of the ITBS were 79.8%. Student performance on the 2005 Illinois Standards Achievement Test was as follows: Grade 3: 69.4% of our students met/exceeded state goals in reading, 67.9% met/exceeded state goals in mathematics, and 64.8% met/exceeded state goals in writing. Grade 5: 66.8% of our students met/exceeded state goals in reading, 75.9% met/exceeded state goals in mathematics, and 77.4% met/exceeded state goals in writing. Grade 8: 74.8% of our students met/exceed state goals in reading, 79.7% met/exceeded state goals in mathematics, and 74.6% met/exceeded state goals in writing.
The 2005-06 School Improvement Plan calls for the continued use of remedial instruction by teachers to target students with reading difficulties, especially in the Bridge Grades. The SIPAAA continues to provide access to Staff Development programs for individual teachers so that they may be able to upgrade their skills.
The Local School Council continues to encourage our upper grade students to be productive members of our community. A requirement of community service hours has been established as part of our promotion/graduation criteria for all students in 7th and 8th grade.
www.portage.cps.k12.il.us
A Chicago Board of Education after-school program called After School Counts has provided students with a homework center program that provides assistance in all subject areas to students that are in need of additional support. Teachers meet with students in small groups (maximum 18) from grades 3rd - 8th. The students are selected on the basis of their ITBS scores. Those students scoring in the 2nd quartile of the exam receive remedial help in reading and/or math. The Local School Council has approved the establishment of an intramural sports program for both boys and girls. Interscholastic competition has begun with participation in basketball and volleyball. A Karate class is taught before school with plans to expand our sports program to include softball and soccer. Over 250 students participated in after school programs. State Chapter One funds provide the services of a computer teacher and an aide in a networked lab, a primary teacher to lower class size, an instructional coordinator, a guidance counselor, along with an art teacher. The Local School Council has also funded fees and substitutes so that staff may participate in Staff Development activities.
The Reading Program at Portage Park School encourages students to develop reading skills through recreational reading. Portage Park students participate in several reading incentive programs including: Pizza Hut Book-It Program, The USA Reading Team, Junior Great Books, the Chicago Public Library Summer Reading Program, the Six Flags Read to Succeed Program, and the Rebecca Caudill Reading Group. Mr. William K. Kellogg III, a corporate executive, teaches a literature appreciation program for seventh and eighth grade students. Mr. Kellogg volunteers his time weekly and introduces classical literature to his students every Monday morning before school begins. An early morning advanced mathematics class meets once a week for students in eighth grade. The eighth grade advanced math class also participates in the Chicago Tribune's Stock Market Game.
Portage Park School has developed a strong working partnership with the Chicago Park District. Many of our students are involved in athletic and craft programs in the "Park Kids" program at the field house. The school music program includes a Winter Assembly and the Annual Spring Concert. A tuition-based "Band for Today" program began five years ago. Students are introduced to band instruments and receive lessons at school. These students are able to rent band instruments for the program. Students participate in many art competitions throughout the year. The primary grades join the Portage Park Women's Club each Memorial Day for the annual "Flowers for Our Soldiers" program.
The after school programs and additional remedial resources seem to help our students score above the national average on nationally standardized tests and do so regularly. During the 2004-05 school year, the percent of our students in grades 3rd - 8th who scored at/above national norms on their Reading Test of the ITBS was 68.9% and those scoring at/above on their Math Test of the ITBS were 79.8%. Student performance on the 2005 Illinois Standards Achievement Test was as follows: Grade 3: 69.4% of our students met/exceeded state goals in reading, 67.9% met/exceeded state goals in mathematics, and 64.8% met/exceeded state goals in writing. Grade 5: 66.8% of our students met/exceeded state goals in reading, 75.9% met/exceeded state goals in mathematics, and 77.4% met/exceeded state goals in writing. Grade 8: 74.8% of our students met/exceed state goals in reading, 79.7% met/exceeded state goals in mathematics, and 74.6% met/exceeded state goals in writing.
The 2005-06 School Improvement Plan calls for the continued use of remedial instruction by teachers to target students with reading difficulties, especially in the Bridge Grades. The SIPAAA continues to provide access to Staff Development programs for individual teachers so that they may be able to upgrade their skills.
The Local School Council continues to encourage our upper grade students to be productive members of our community. A requirement of community service hours has been established as part of our promotion/graduation criteria for all students in 7th and 8th grade.
www.portage.cps.k12.il.us
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 41°57'26"N 87°45'39"W
- Dr. Jorge Prieto Math & Science Academy 4 km
- Luther Burbank Elementary School 4.7 km
- Onahan Elementary School 5 km
- Joseph Lovett Elementary School 5.4 km
- Fairview South School 5.9 km
- Walt Disney Magnet School 9 km
- Roswell Mason Elementary School 11 km
- Calmeca Academy of Fine Arts and Dual Language 15 km
- Phobe Hearst Magnet School 17 km
- UNO Soccer Academy Charter School 18 km
- Portage Park 0.4 km
- Portage Park 0.5 km
- Mount Olive Cemetery 2.6 km
- Ridgemoor Country Club 2.8 km
- Jefferson Park 2.9 km
- Chicago Read Mental Health Center 3.2 km
- Belmont Cragin 3.5 km
- Norridge Commons Shopping Center 3.6 km
- Dunning 3.9 km
- Montclare 4.5 km
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