James Otis Elementary School

To be honest, I’m pretty frustrated with the health situation at Otis lately. The school has been struggling with chronic absenteeism—last I checked it was over 30%—and you can really feel it. It seems like there's always a bug going around and the communication from the office about illness outbreaks is basically nonexistent. I did see they finally spent some money on decent outdoor trash cans with lids, which I guess helps with the rodent/pest issues we've heard about in West Town, but the indoor cleanliness is still hit or miss. It’s also hard for the kids to get individual attention when they’re feeling off because the staff is so stretched thin. We need more than just one-off 'wellness workshops' to actually keep the kids healthy and in class.

Hey fellow parents, James Otis Elementary (525 N Armour St) has been solid for my child's health and safety in a small CPS neighborhood school setting (PK-8, ~320 kids). No major health violations or outbreaks, and they follow standard district protocols with nurse access for first aid, meds, and wellness checks—key for our kid's asthma plan. Classrooms stay reasonably clean, staff enforce handwashing/bathroom routines well, and the low 10:1 student-teacher ratio helps them spot when kids aren't feeling right fast. We've had typical elementary colds but nothing serious; security at entry feels secure too. Some older parent reviews mention bullying/bruises (not our experience), but the tight-knit, diverse community vibe gives peace of mind for drop-offs. Overall, Otis keeps our kid safe and healthy enough!