Evergreen Middle School Redesignated as Top School to Watch

For the sixth consecutive time, Evergreen Academy Middle School in Chicago’s McKinley Park neighborhood received a Schools To Watch designation as a Horizon School, demonstrating academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity and sound operations.

“This school is a special place,” said John Viano, executive co-director of the Association of Illinois Middle-Grade Schools and team facilitator for Schools to Watch, a program of The National Forum educators association.

Viano presented the award to Evergreen Principal Marian Strok on Monday, June 1, 2026, at a ceremony and school rock band performance that included school staff, students, parents and guests from the community and Chicago school institutions.

The Wild Tigers perform at the Schools To Watch ceremony on June 1, 2026, at Evergreen Academy Middle School.

Observable Daily Reality

The Wild Tigers band performs at Evergreen Academy Middle School's Schools To Watch ceremony on June 1, 2026.“I can’t be prouder of this,” Strok said, remembering Evergreen Academy’s first Schools To Watch designation in 2009 and successful renewals ever since.

The program’s 2026 Site Visit Report highlights the school’s high academic standard, which it said “is not aspirational; it is the observable daily reality.”

High Teacher Retention

“The phrase ‘one big family’ was used independently by students, parents, community members and staff throughout the visit,” the report said.

“Teacher retention is extremely high, which reflects the trust and respect that staff have in the school’s leadership and culture,” the report said.

Wild Tigers Band

“We are a team in this building,” Strok said.

School officials, students and staff hold the Schools To Watch banner, including Board of Education member Cydney Wallace, left, President Sean Harden, right, and Evergreen Principal Marian Strok, center.The ceremony at Evergreen Academy Middle School included the award presentation, speeches by students and performance by the school’s Wild Tigers Advanced Band, including “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World.

Chicago Board of Education President Sean Harden attended the ceremony and called Strok “the true OG” of school administrators. “Congratulations!”