Oak Grove Elementary School

Posted: August 21, 2025

As an OGS alum, please don't send your kids here
OGS doesn't prepare students for high school, most advanced students are from Highland; most remedial students are from OGS (especially post Covid).
Students easily distract teachers, more socializing meant less in class learning, more homework & struggling to self-teach - families have to be involved otherwise their kids won't learn. Many teachers I've had have no love for their profession.
Stakeholders via Illinois Report Card rated OGS weak in effective leaders & collaborative teachers
Students are not encouraged to reach full potential & very few faculty cared about us as students
The slogan “where students come first” is a joke, only PTO mom’s kids are put first. Maybe they are the ones who are posting the positive reviews.
Most teachers students loved retired due to new admin
It's poorly run with frequent fights, principal has a background as an SEL (social emotional learning) teacher, not a core subject teacher. His philosophy of not punishing bad behavior created a “might is right” student culture which does not promote a safe learning environment.
OGS doesn't provide students with much of an education, very disappointing, the learning happened through LHS advanced classes.
I'm happy to be an OGS alum because I can now move onto better things.

Posted: August 21, 2025

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Posted: August 11, 2025

We have loved Oak Grove School! Everyone has been so supportive and inclusive. The staff go above and beyond to learn about each child and support them individually. The K-8 model is wonderful and allows for the older kids to mentor younger ones. I feel great about my children attending this school.

Posted: August 11, 2025

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Posted: September 12, 2024

Oak Grove is a fantastic school. The teaching staff is attentive and inclusive. The administration is excellent. The community is welcoming and warm. We are pleased to send our children to Oak Grove. We moved to the district in 2022 and we can't say enough good things about this school.

Posted: September 12, 2024

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Posted: September 14, 2023

Posted: September 14, 2023

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Posted: September 14, 2023

I attended Oak Grove for 8th Grade a few years ago and it was the worst year of my life. I was one of about 3 of minority students in my whole class and was relentlessly bullied by white suburban kids who have never been exposed to diversity. It was not until high school when the Oak Grove students were diluted by other children that I felt like I could breathe again. The worst part is that the teachers did absolutely nothing, and in fact sucked up to the bullies. I would not come here unless you are white and want your kids raised in an predominantly white environment.

Posted: August 17, 2022

Amazing school and quality education. My daughter loves going to this school.

Posted: August 17, 2022

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Posted: February 5, 2019

Posted: February 5, 2019

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Posted: February 5, 2019

10 out of 10 I rate this school.

Posted: March 15, 2016

Posted: March 15, 2016

Posted: March 15, 2016

Posted: March 15, 2016

A great school. Wonderful teachers, friendly students and faculty. As a student, I definitely recommend going here.

Posted: December 3, 2015

We moved here just for the schools. Our oldest was struggling and the school we were enrolled in was not willing to offer services. After attending OGS, we are thrilled that in HS our child is soaring. Our 2nd child was a few years away from finishing at this school when common core was introduced. Needless to say, grades plummeted. Was it introduced correctly? I'm not sure. However, we held our child accountable. We made it clear that he had to do what was necessary to overcome this challenge. We worked with him, the school, and the teachers to learn and adapt to this change. We didn't expect the system to change to accommodate our child. We expected our child to adapt and learn with our support. I have to say that it was the biggest challenge he faced, but I know it will not be the biggest challenge he will ever encounter. He turned it around, but there was definitely a bigger lesson here.

It's sad to me, when I attended the meetings on the common core math, the anger and hostility. All I could think about was.....we are all on the same team here. Why aren't we working on solutions? It's in the best interests off all parents, staff, and administration that our children succeed. I don't think anyone was trying to set the children up for failure. There are definitely parents who feel they are smarter then everyone else in the room, and feel changes should be made because they are asking for it. The 10% who are the loudest complainers do not always represent the other 90% of the group.

Posted: October 26, 2015

Posted: October 26, 2015

Posted: October 26, 2015

Every aspect of the school is created with the child in mind. Students here are polite, respectful and caring. This starts with good parenting and is continued throughout the school day. Children who go to LHS after OGS are instantly identifiable by the way they behave.

Posted: October 26, 2015

OGS is a great school. Teachers are passionate and the administration and school board responsive. I can't understand some of the neg comments because that is clearly not what I've seen the past few years. Perhaps there are some hidden agendas, but as you can see for yourself, the positive reviews far outweigh the negative reviews by a comfortable margin. I would not hesitate to recommend people come to Green Oaks for this school district.... in fact subdivisions in the area fought hard to get into this district from another school district....that in and of itself speaks volumes.

Posted: October 17, 2015

Posted: October 17, 2015

Posted: October 17, 2015

Posted: October 17, 2015

Relocated into the area several years ago and have been very impressed with OGS. Our daughter is testing well ahead of where she should be and we're continuously impressed with how fast she's learning. OGS does a very good job communicating about what's going on in the classroom, around the school, and the PTO is very strong as well.

Posted: August 7, 2014

We too have seen a degradation in the school over the last couple of years primarily due to the new superintendent and the institution of the Common Core curriculum. The Jr High math program is a disaster. A number of parents have pulled their kids from the math program and are either paying for tutors or teaching the children themselves. Over the last school year a number of school board meetings were held to attempt to address the problem. The parents passionately plead their case to the board and school leadership. The results were to pay for more consultants to explain to the parents that they just didn't understand how great the program is and we just need to give it more time ... and oh by the way we've hired a new employee who's a "black belt in Common Core" to fix things. Meanwhile Dick and Jane who used to love math now hate math! Kids teaching kids in groups, parents hiring tutors, kids being pulled from the school ... NOT a good situation. How sad for Dick and Jane, how upsetting for the tax payers and properly values.

Posted: February 25, 2014

Like many parents, we moved to the area because of the great reputation of OGS. Unfortunately, over the last few years there has been a steady decline in quality. Moreover, both the school board and administration have consistently forced parents to launch grass roots efforts at the 11th hour to rescue popular and necessary programs. Examples include the foreign language and gifted programs. The school is slowly shifting its focus to only the Common Core curriculum and seems uninterested in continuing the programs that made Oak Grove desirable. The overwhelming focus on technology would be fine if it were combined with things that will really set the school apart such as foreign language immersion program(s) and a strong gifted or accelerated programs. Parent involvement day-to-day and for fund raising efforts is spectacular. However, parents ( and students) seem to be excluded from helping the school shape its programs. As a result parents are constantly battling with factions within the school and administration that seek to make sweeping changes unilaterally. This is sad and unnecessary. OGS was a great school and could be again if the community is allowed to be more involved.

Posted: September 13, 2013

I have four kids go through OGS, one is in premed at slu, one is in LHS, and the other two are currently going to OGS. The range from low to high in ability. I find the teachers to be demanding but fair. They care about your student and face it kids need that structure in their life when most kids life's are hectic. I find that students get out of school what they are willing to put into it. The lessons they learn here will help them when they go to LHS. It prepares them to become adults. I have had my share of problems with teachers and admin, but in every case they have worked with me and my children to resolve it in the best interest of my child. You cannot ask for anything better. OGS is a good school!

Posted: July 10, 2013

Outstanding school, teachers are very kind , caring and helpful. My son loves this school and we as parent quite impressed with the teaching standards and our son's performance..

Posted: May 7, 2013

I had recently some interaction with the principle and social worker who is now took over case load by previous social worker. i find this school not well equipped with special needs children principle of JHS seems like have no understanding how to address the issues with parent along with the recent social worker. im disappointed and worried for my child well being how they are handeling and not having any knowledge by principle and social worker who should educate themselves how to handel situation and specially treat parent with RESPECT. I had reported many incidents of bullying at bus repeatedly and now im regretting why i moved to this school area. some of the events had been handeld by elementary very well. JHS my daughter had been bullied and not been handeld the way it is suppose to be. I found the JHS principle unprofessional as well as current social worker is unprofessional based on their interaction with me and my daughter well being concerns. previous social worker was great as well as psychologist . Lit teacher JHS is unprofessional with my daughter. I hope they learn and educate themselves with better understanding to deal with kids with special needs NOW!!

Posted: November 6, 2012

We moved to Green Oaks just to be at this school. Now after 5 years I am less than impressed. I notice that the most recent review on OGS is 2years old. Since then there has been a great shift and exodus. They lost the superintendent and to fill in spaces they moved people around. I found there were very good and well intentioned, passionate teachers in the lower levels (K-5) The Jr High school is terrible. They have lost students to bullying issues and quite frankly I think some of the teachers are bullies(JRH). Yelling at the kids for minor infractations like being late. Unfortunately these are the very teachers who are tenured. I understand in the past some parents tried to petition to get one 7th grade math teacher fired but she was tenured. Actually the Math program in the Jr.High is lacking as all the teachers seem very unhappy and don't enjoy their jobs or like children. My first child survived OG Jr. High just barely and is now doing extremely well in HS. I am considering taking my second child out of the school mid-year. I find the jr high disappointing.