Morgan Park Academy

The current Head of School has destroyed many decades-old traditions, and has no regard for the parent community. Just one example of this would be the rescheduling of the Upper School graduation from Saturday morning to Friday afternoon. Who does this accommodate? Certainly not the parents (also known as the paying customers). Many parents believe her non-negotiating, rigid unyielding behavior is based in her history at boarding schools, where parent involvement was not expected.

Many fine teachers have been let go, or have chosen to leave for a less aggressive environment. We have lost some fine educators. Of the teaching staff who remain, most are caring professionals.

The diversity of the lower school is almost gone. A large number of families, many of them old-timers, have taken their children elsewhere, and word of the disillusioned parent population has dissuaded many local prospective parents from enrolling. One of the appeals of MPA has always been the diversity in the student population, a benefit almost worth the price of the ever-increasing tuition.

My last child is graduating this year. If she did not have older siblings graduate before her, we would have left. This is our last year at the Academy. None of my children has any desire to participate in Alum events any longer. Good luck, MPA!