Fort Dearborn Elementary School

Honestly, I’m pretty concerned about the wellness environment at Fort Dearborn. While I appreciate the talk about being a 'holistic' school, the building itself feels like it's falling apart, which can't be good for the kids' health. We’ve had issues with shattered windows staying broken for way too long, and for an elementary school, the maintenance just isn't fast enough. If the rooms aren't sealed properly or are drafty, it's no wonder the kids are always coming home with some kind of bug. It's frustrating because the staff seems to care, but the physical environment feels neglected and dusty, and it really impacts how often my child ends up staying home sick.

Fort Dearborn is okay when it comes to the health stuff, but it's definitely a typical CPS experience. My 2nd grader says the classrooms stay pretty clean but the bathrooms can be hit or miss depending on the day. I do appreciate that they're really strict about the sick policy—if a kid has a fever, they are calling you immediately to come get them, which helps keep the flu from spreading too fast. Communicaton about outbreaks is usually just an email blast, so you have to keep an eye on your inbox. I wish they had more focus on gym time and getting the kids moving more, but they do try to keep things balanced with the fine arts focus they have.