Shoesmith Elementary: Our School
Beulah Shoesmith Elementary School was designated on December 1, 1961 to honor a popular and dedicated teacher who enriched the lives of her students in the Hyde Park area. The school continues in that tradition and continues to enrich the lives of students not only within the Hyde Park and Kenwood communities, but to those who attend from many Chicago neighborhoods throughout the South Side.
Shoesmith Elementary is a multi-ethnic,multi- cultural school, serving a student body of approximately 400 Kindergarten through sixt-grade.
Shoesmith is a member of the Hyde Park Cluster Initiative with an Options for Knowledge program that focuses on math and science throughout the instructional program. The school’s infrastructure was upgraded in 2000 allowing for the integration of technology through the instructional program and underwent a massive capital improvement during the 2003-2004 school year.
Our balanced literacy model of instruction provides for independent learning and differentiation within small, flexible groups with well-equipped classroom libraries. We use an inclusion model for our students with special needs. Shoesmith is a 2009 Avid certified school and as a math and science cluster school we use the Everyday Math and FOSS Programs.
Because Shoesmith Elementary is located, and primarily serves, the Hyde Park/Kenwood communities, it is in close proximity to many of Chicago’s most treasured institutions, Such as The Museum of Science and Industry, The Field Museum, The Art Institute of Chicago, The DuSable Museum of African-American History, The Museum of Contemporary Art, The Adler Planetarium and the John G. Shedd Aquarium. In addition, Shoesmith Elementary is footsteps away from The renown University of Chicago.
Learning and enrichment do not end with the last bell of the day. Opportunities are available for students to engage in governance through community projects with the National Junior Beta Program. Our students take advantage of other programs, which include: After School All Stars, the DOJ After School Program, Park Kids, Rockets Program, The Winning Words Debate Team, The Kohl Museum Story Bus, Science on the Go!, The Dome Science Project, Young Archeologist Program, Battle of the Books, The Lego Program, Metro History Fair, Young Authors, Math and Science Fair, Science Club, Spanish Club, Choir Program with the Merit School of Music, General Music and student instrumental band program. Our community partner, St Paul and the Redeemer provides additional after school programming for students. Their past programs have include cooking, children’s choir and tutoring. Shoesmith also provides for a 2 basketball teams (girls and boys), Flag Football, Cheerleader and Pom Pom Squads.
As an additional benefit of our location, the University of Chicago and Kenwood High School Brotherhood Academy Club students provide tutoring for our children. Shoesmith also enjoys substantial community support through its partners, St. Paul and the Redeemer, First Baptist Church, University of Chicago and Merit Music. Shoesmith has an active PTA and Title 1 Parent Advisory Council (PAC). Together with the Local School Council, our parents work in concert with the school, planning and providing assistance with upcoming events, school issues, and developing our school improvement plan.
Shoesmith faculty and staff, continuing to strive for excellence, are committed to providing a safe, nurturing and academically enriching environment for our students and their families.