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Esperanza School

520 N Marshfield Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60622-0606 -

School Notes Overview:

Hard work, perseverance and hope inspired a group of Mexican-American parents from Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood in April 1969 to create Esperanza Community Services. These parents could not find appropriate educational programs for their children with developmental disabilities, so they started their own. One of the parents, Guadelupe Reyes, and Professor Earl Ogletree, an associate with the Waldorf School movement, combined their efforts to create this special school called Esperanza, which means “hope” in Spanish. Their hopes and hard work were rewarded. The school, which has grown into a comprehensive social-service agency, has flourished. In 1974, it moved to the West Town community where it grew to serve families from the Near West Side, East and West Garfield, North Lawndale and Humboldt Park and culturally diverse participants and families. It employs more than 80 dedicated employees including professionals with master’s degrees in non-profit administration, education, nursing, social work and a full spectrum of therapies including speech, occupational and physical therapy. Esperanza—friends and visitors agree—is a remarkable and loving place. Its growth and success have more than rewarded those whose hopes, hard work and dedication inspired its creation. We invite you to visit us and see for yourself. Esperanza is accredited by the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission; is a member of United Way; is licensed and funded through the Illinois Department of Human Services; and is accredited by the North Central Association of Schools. ...

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School Overview:

	Esperanza School
School Type	Special Education School
School Membership(s)	National Association of Private Special Education Centers Other associations(s) for exceptional children Other special emphasis association(s)
Religious Affiliation	Nonsectarian
Grades Offered	Grades 4 - 12
County	Cook County, IL
Student Body
Total Students	71 students
Student Body Type	Co-ed
	This School	(IL) School Avg.
% Students of Color	n/a	29%
Students by Grade
	Grade 4 - 1 students
	Grade 5 - 8 students
	Grade 6 - 1 students
	Grade 7 - 5 students
	Grade 8 - 4 students
	Grade 9 - 16 students
	Grade 10 - 11 students
	Grade 11 - 2 students
	Grade 12 - 6 students
	Unspecified Grade Placement - 17 students
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers	5 teachers
	This School	(IL) School Avg.
Teacher : Student Ratio	1:13	* Ntl. Public School Avg. » 1:16
School Days in Calendar Year	206 days	178 days
Hours in School Day for Students	5 hours	6 hours

School Notes:

Hard work, perseverance and hope inspired a group of Mexican-American parents from Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood in April 1969 to create Esperanza Community Services. These parents could not find appropriate educational programs for their children with developmental disabilities, so they started their own. One of the parents, Guadelupe Reyes, and Professor Earl Ogletree, an associate with the Waldorf School movement, combined their efforts to create this special school called Esperanza, which means “hope” in Spanish. Their hopes and hard work were rewarded. The school, which has grown into a comprehensive social-service agency, has flourished. In 1974, it moved to the West Town community where it grew to serve families from the Near West Side, East and West Garfield, North Lawndale and Humboldt Park and culturally diverse participants and families. It employs more than 80 dedicated employees including professionals with master’s degrees in non-profit administration, education, nursing, social work and a full spectrum of therapies including speech, occupational and physical therapy. Esperanza—friends and visitors agree—is a remarkable and loving place. Its growth and success have more than rewarded those whose hopes, hard work and dedication inspired its creation. We invite you to visit us and see for yourself. Esperanza is accredited by the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission; is a member of United Way; is licensed and funded through the Illinois Department of Human Services; and is accredited by the North Central Association of Schools.
Profile last updated: 02/03/2009

In the News:

David Murray: The Chicago of Yesterday, Today! (The Huffington Post)
posted on August 7, 2009 at 10:48:05 pm
If you gravitate to old guys like I do, you hear a lot about how Chicago used to be. Enough, sometimes, to feel a little sorry you didn't live back then.

View all past news stories

School Zip Statistics:

About This Zipcode (60622)	School Zip (60622)	(IL) State Average
Population (Approximate)	76,015 people	12,415,876 people
% (age 25+) w/College Degree	39%	24%
Population Average Age	30 years old	34 years old
Average Household size	2.4 persons	2.6 persons
Median Household Income	$38,487	$48,019
Avg. # of Rooms in Household	4.4 rooms	5.3 rooms
Median Age of Housing Structure	70 years old	50 years old
	View housing listings in 60622
Median Value of Housing Unit Zipcode (60622) What's a Zindex? Subject to Zillow Terms of Use
% Owning / % Renting	27% / 73%	61% / 39%