We are so proud of our students, who once again performed the BEST IN THE STATE on the ISAT tests! Both the Chicago SunTimes and Tribune newspapers rank Decatur Classical School as the NUMBER ONE Elementary School in the State of Illinois. Congratulations to our students, teachers and staff for this outstanding achievement.

• Tribune:http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/acrobat/2009-10/50168344.pdf

• SunTimes:http://www.suntimes.com/news/education/1855121,chicago-elementary-schools-rank-1009.article

On Tuesday, October 6th, Decatur's own Hazel Bauman was featured on CBS2 News in Harry Porterfield's Someone You Should Know segment. We are so happy to have Mrs. Bauman at Decatur! Click here for more on this story:

http://cbs2chicago.com/someoneyoushouldknow/Someone.You.Should.2.1231443.html

Decatur congratulates 2009 CPS DRIVE (Delivering Results through Innovative and Visionary Education) Award winner Vince Bauermeister. We are very proud of our Science/Homeroom Teacher. WAY TO GO MR. B!

Decatur's Chess Club competed and took first or second place in all categories at a city-wide chess tournament in February of 2009. http://www.cps.edu/SPOTLIGHT/Pages/Spotlight61.aspx

St. Baldrick's is the world's largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research. Thousands of volunteers shave their heads in solidarity of children with cancer, while requesting donations of support from friends and family. **Decatur Classical School was proud to raise money to help fight children's cancer, sponsored by the Decatur Student Congress, this was a school wide community service project that hit home for Decatur.**

See the videos of us shaving heads, talking about children's cancer here at Decatur, and collecting a BIG check:

• Another-Shavee
• Shave-Time
• Shaving-at-Decatur
• Christina-Wachenheiner
• Decatur-Check

Medill Reports - Chicago, Northwestern University

Decatur Classical Elementary School on the North Side, which regularly ranks among Chicago’s top-performing academic schools, emphasizes health and physical education. Unlike many Chicago Public Schools, it has recess every day. “We see a strong connection between mental and physical fitness,” said assistant principal Kim Jockl, who taught P.E. for 20 years. The school has no gym of its own, so from Nov. 1 until spring break in March it leases space from a nearby Jewish Community Center on Touhy Avenue for P.E. classes. To read entire article about Decatur's PE Partnership click here:*Click Here

http://www.suntimes.com/news/education/1251847,illinois-school-report-cards-main-103108.article

Decatur has been receiving top honors from various sources for the past 15 years. Here are just a few of the places you may find us in the media.

Top 50 Elementary Schools in Illinois: http://www.suntimes.com/images/cds/pdf/top50elem-2008.pdf

Chicago Tribune analysis: http://files.chicagotribune.com/metro/rc08/results_js.php?ID=150162990252805

Interactive State Report Card: http://iirc.niu.edu/School.aspx?schoolID=150162990252805&source=school%20profile

http://research.cps.k12.il.us/resweb/SchoolProfile?unit=2990

Internet sources are becoming a highly effective way to rate a school. View our ratings on these websites:

Decatur gets 10 out of 10 Stars from Great Schools.net

http://www.greatschools.net/school/parentReviews.page?id=1027&state=IL

Decatur earns 5 Stars, the highest school rating from School Digger.com

http://www.schooldigger.com/go/IL/schools/0993000692/school.aspx

Decatur is so proud of our Latin Program is thrilled that one of our own won the Excellence through Classic's Design Contest. Read article here scroll to page 4 http://www.etclassics.org/files/Prima.Spring_2007_Compressed.pdf

Decatur also won the #1 Elementary School in Illinois from Chicago Sun Times researchers in March 2007. http://www.suntimes.com/pcds/html/stng/hs/isat/rank_state_elementary.html

Chicago now has 108 high performing schools that were given autonomy by CPS. Decatur became one of these schools in 2007. “When a school shows effective management and posts strong academic results, the best thing we can do is get out of the way and let the school’s leadership keep the momentum going.” http://www.cps.edu/News/Press_releases/2007/Pages/03_26_2007_PR1.aspx

In October of 2006, Chicago Magazine came out with its 50 Best Elementary Schools in Illinois selections. Decatur Classical School won TOP HONORS from Chicago Magazine and was voted the one of THE BEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN ILLINOIS. http://www.chicagomag.com/images/2006/October%202006/0611ChicagoSchoolRankings.pdf

* Decatur was recognized by Redbook Magazine as the “Outstanding School in Illinois” in a national competition held in 1995.

* In 1999, Electronic Long Distance Learning Network recognized Decatur with The Classroom Scholarship “Leader Guide” Award and Best Community Outreach project.

* In 1999, Decatur won 1st place in the Junior Division of the Illinois Future Problem Solving Bowl with a project exploring solutions to the Asian Longhorn Beetle invasion.