School Overview

School Vision

“Durkin Park is a supportIve learning community responsive to the needs of the whole child.”

“School Overview Durkin Park Elementary School is driven by a commitment to ensuring every student succeeds. This is achieved through strategic planning, targeted professional development, and deep family partnerships. Our focused efforts over the past several years have resulted in measurable gains, particularly in primary literacy and streamlined student support.”

Sustained Growth in Primary Reading Durkin Park achieved sustained growth in primary reading by strategically investing in resources and aligning instruction across PreK-2nd grade. Key Actions: Implemented high-quality, aligned literacy curricula (Wilson Fundations and CPS Skyline Literacy) to ensure focused, consistent instruction. Streamlined Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) The school established a structured, data-driven MTSS framework to address student needs swiftly and maximize the impact of high-quality Tier 1 instruction. Key Actions: Staffed two dedicated Academic Interventionists and embedded dedicated MTSS time into the master schedule, making intervention a consistent part of the school day. Developing Professional Capacity and Instructional Excellence Durkin Park enhanced teacher instructional practices and student outcomes through continuous, collaborative professional learning centered on instructional rigor. Key Actions: Restructured all teams into Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) for collaborative problem-solving and implemented regular rigor walks to provide practical application and feedback on high-quality instruction. Robust Family and Community Engagement The school maintains that highly involved parents positively impact student learning and works actively to build strong, inclusive family partnerships. Key Actions: Hosted monthly Principal Coffee Talks in partnership with parents for direct dialogue and problem-solving, and expanded the Parent Mentors program to offer targeted support for Spanish- and Arabic-speaking newcomers.