Ascension School is the only school with its name in the Archdiocese of Chicago (there are eleven St. Mary's, and six St. Joseph's!). Ascension School is unique, and it distinguishes itself in many ways. With 468 students, Ascension School is mid-sized for an elementary school. However, the school has seen small but steady growth of nearly 10% over the last several years. As a Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8 building, Ascension educates families with children from age 3 to age 14. School Board policy recommends that class sizes top at 25 students, but the student to teacher ration is actually 18:1, with teachers from special curriculum areas including music, art, physical education, Spanish, computer science and library. Ascension has departmental classes in the upper grades, where students move from class to class and have opportunities to be in classes with different students and learn from a variety of teachers. Although the school enrolls students from 17 different zip codes, more than three-fourths of the students live within walking distance. The school welcomes families from Chicago and several suburbs. However, at 91 years old, it has a special population that includes many grandchildren of alumni. There is even a Kindergartener who is great-granddaughter of one of our most well known parishioners. The School has a significant alumni faculty, too. Three full time teachers are graduates as well as two classroom aides, an Extended Day staff member, and a part-time secretary. The cornerstone of Ascension was set in place in 1912, but renovations and remodeling over the last six years have made Ascension a state of the art school. With updated windows, lighting, plumbing, flooring, ceilings, and decorating throughout, the School looks new. Less visible are renovations that make the school technologically current: Internet cabling in all classrooms, classroom computers and a full computer lab, and access to cable television. Like many other schools, the day begins at 8 AM and ends at 3 PM. However, Ascension has a significant number of extracurricular programs including two choirs, a band and strings program, three major sports, Student Council, a drama club, and an art club. Additionally, the local park district and several scouting groups use the parish buildings for meetings and activities after school hours.
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