ElementaryChicago, ILHealth profile

Everett Mckinley Dirksen Elementary School

Everett McKinley Dirksen Elementary School is a Chicago neighborhood school in the O'Hare area that emphasizes student wellness and modern facilities, following recent campus expansions and annex improvements.

A place to learn, thrive, and stay well.

Everett McKinley Dirksen Elementary School is a neighborhood public school located at 8601 W Foster Ave in Chicago, Illinois. Serving the O'Hare community, the school provides elementary-level education and has recently undergone significant facility improvements, including the construction of a new annex and renovations to the existing building to better accommodate its student population. The school maintains a focus on student well-being through health and wellness initiatives. According to Chicago Public Schools planning documents, the administration emphasizes regular, positive communication regarding student health and creates program elements based on direct feedback from student and teacher surveys. The facility is equipped with modern infrastructure to support a safe and active learning environment for its students.

  • Common Cold
    4/1/2026
    SneezingCoughRunny Nose
    Severity: moderate

Health reviews

3.0
2 reviews
  • Hard to recommend Dirksen right now if you care about the school's air quality and upkeep. My kid’s chronic absenteeism is mostly because they're always coming home with some bug, and looking at the CPS records, it's clear why. They've been having constant issues with the univents and HVAC systems for years—it feels like they're always patching up old air conditioning or dealing with glycol transfers instead of just having a clean, healthy space. With the student-teacher ratios being what they are in these neighborhood schools, the nurse is stretched way too thin to actually keep an eye on sick kids. It's frustrating because the staff is nice enough, but the building environment feels like a constant battle against poor ventilation and stagnant air.

    5/11/2026

  • Dirksen has been pretty solid for my daughter since they finished the new annex construction. The classrooms finally have decent HVAC and ventilation, which makes a huge difference with all the germs going around in winter. I really appreciate how the nurse handles the frequent 'stomach bug' outbreaks—they're quick to send out email alerts so we actually know what’s hitting the classroom. My only gripe is that the bathrooms can get a bit messy by the end of the day, but that's just typical elementary school stuff. Overall, it feels like a clean, healthy spot for the kids.

    3/30/2026

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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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