ElementaryChicago, ILHealth profile

Charles R Henderson Elementary School

Charles R Henderson Elementary School is a Chicago public neighborhood school in West Englewood offering early childhood programs and a college-preparatory focused elementary curriculum.

A place to learn, thrive, and stay well.

Charles R Henderson Elementary School, also known as Henderson Academy, is a neighborhood public elementary school located at 5650 S Wolcott Ave in Chicago, Illinois. As part of the Chicago Public Schools system, the school serves the West Englewood community. The institution provides educational programming ranging from early childhood preschool for children ages 3 and 4 through the elementary grade levels. The school’s mission focuses on preparing students for future success in college and careers through an empowering academic environment. While specific health and wellness metrics are limited, the school is integrated into the city's public school relief and support programs. For parents, Henderson is notable for its commitment to early childhood development and its role as a neighborhood hub dedicated to building a foundation for long-term student achievement.

  • Common Cold
    4/1/2026
    CongestionCough
    Severity: mild

Health reviews

2.5
2 reviews
  • To be honest, I've been pretty frustrated with the health situation at Henderson. The attendance numbers are a huge red flag—it feels like kids are constantly out sick or just not showing up, and the school doesn't seem to have a solid handle on it. With the chronic absenteeism rates being as high as they are in this district, you really start to worry about how often the classrooms are actually getting deep cleaned. It's also super hard to get a straight answer regarding wellness updates; the communication feels really disorganized. I've seen way too many kids coming to school clearly under the weather because the sick-policy enforcement is so hit-or-miss. It definitely doesn't feel like a 'wellness-first' environment right now.

    4/20/2026

  • Honestly, Henderson's been okay with the health stuff, but it's definitely a typical inner-city public school vibe. My youngest is in 2nd grade there and the teachers are usually pretty quick to call us if a kid is looking sluggish or has a fever, which I appreciate. They do keep up with the hand sanitizer, but honestly, when flu season hits, it feels like it just sweeps through the whole classroom regardless. The nurse is really nice, though she's not there every single day of the week, so sometimes the office staff has to handle the minor scrapes and stuff. It's not perfect and the building is older so it doesn't always 'feel' super clean, but I think they're doing the best they can with what they've got.

    3/29/2026

Live map

Where it sits in the neighborhood

StrepFluRSVColdHFMD / RashStomach

No food inspection records on file for this school.

No environmental records on file for this school's area.

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