Arthur Dixon Elementary School

Being honest, I'm pretty concerned about the health environment at Arthur Dixon lately. While they talk a lot about 'wellness' in the curriculum, the actual school building feels like it’s struggling to keep up. I’ve noticed the chronic absenteeism is high, and when you look at the CPS board notes about emergency filter replacements and equipment rentals, it makes you wonder about the air quality and general upkeep in the classrooms. My kid has been home sick more often this year than any other, and it feels like the school is just reactive rather than proactive about cleaning. Communication from the office is pretty hit or miss when something is going around, so you're often left guessing until half the class is out.

My daughter has been at Dixon for two years now and honestly, the health side of things is pretty solid for a CPS school. The building is older, but you can tell the custodial staff really puts in the work because the hallways don't have that 'old school' dusty smell. They are really on top of it when something like strep or a stomach bug is going around—we usually get an email notification pretty quickly so we can keep an eye out for symptoms. My only gripe is that the sick policy is a bit strict about when they can come back after a fever, which can be a headache for working parents, but I guess it keeps the germs down in the long run. Overall, it feels like a safe, clean spot for the kids.