Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez Elementary School

Honestly, I have mixed feelings about Ortiz de Dominguez. On one hand, the teachers really seem to care about the kids, and it’s got a solid community vibe here in Little Village. But when it comes to the actual building and health side of things, it’s just okay. The classrooms can feel pretty cramped and stuffy, especially in the winter, and I’ve noticed that when one bug starts going around, it hits almost every kid in the grade because the school is so tightly packed. Communication from the office about illness outbreaks is hit or miss—sometimes we get a heads-up, but usually, I just find out from the other moms in our group chat. It’s not terrible, but I wish they had a bit more of a focus on the actual wellness and air quality in the school rather than just the academics.

Honestly, I’m pretty frustrated with how things are going at Dominguez. The chronic absenteeism is a huge red flag—it feels like a quarter of the kids are out at any given time, and it makes me wonder how well the school is actually tracking illness or if parents just aren't bothering to call in because the communication is so spotty. With the student-to-teacher ratio being as high as it is, the staff is totally stretched thin, so things like making sure kids are actually washing their hands or wiping down shared desks definitely fall through the cracks. It's tough because it's a neighborhood school, but it feels like they’re just treading water rather than focusing on a healthy environment for the kids.