Bright Elementary School

10740 South Calhoun Avenue

School District

Chicago Public Schools
Grade

PK, K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:10
Type

public

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on June 24, 2019

Horrible instead of encouraging they discourage kids like my daughters kindergarten graduation in 6-19-2019 they denied her her cap n gown in her graduation because of a attendance matter even tho she was sick those days. It was a horrible and sad experience.
Submitted by teacher on October 01, 2017

After teaching there for a year, and being a demonstration teacher (where teachers from around the network came into my classroom to see great teaching techniques), I begrudgingly left. I had AMAZING co-workers that spent long hours before & after school trying to find ways to better each students' experience, but my administration (Ms. Lewis & Dr. Sanders) was unsupportive. They instituted a school closing time, kicking teachers out of the building earlier so we were unable to work in our classrooms, not allowing parents into the building and therefore into the classrooms to really see the amazing things that were happening in the rooms! Teachers were constantly pulled out of classrooms for extended meetings, and yet no additional support for our classrooms. I had 36 students in my classroom, which was a very large class, but my students excelled because of hard work by me, the parents and the students together. However, I received an email less than 5 days before the end of the school year from Admin wishing me the best of luck next year, however I had not made any plans to leave the school. I felt as though I was encouraged to find a better fit for me because my Adminstration didn't like my opinions nor my teaching style, even though I was highly effective (according to their evaluations of me). This school needs strong parents to stand up and fight for a better school environment! There were 8 teachers that left last year because we were mistreated and are doing amazing things at our new schools - I wish I would have been able to stay at Bright to make a bigger impact on their climate and culture. Although the school is moving up with rankings (from a 3 to 2+) admin are constantly unhappy and make the culture very punitive and stressful - and yet many of the decisions that were made did not have the students best interests at heart. Bright has the potential to be an amazing school...
Submitted by other on December 15, 2015

Bright Elementary School has been under the new administration of Alicia Lewis for the past two years. During this time, Bright school has grown and prospered! The school went from a Level 3 to a Level 2 school in 6 months; which, is not easy! When you walk into this school you feel welcomed and children feel safe. With all stake holders motivated, this school will continue to reach higher levels of success.
Submitted by parent on September 10, 2013

This school could be better if staff and parents work together...There is a little parent involvement...We do not have a permanent principal, and we do not know for how long this will be...
Submitted by parent on January 08, 2013

Intolerable principal scares teachers away. Every year. This is how it goes: principal begins "dropping in" unannounced at a classroom. She tells the teacher that she does not know how to teach and that she is "concerned." Next, principal begins calling the teacher to her office every day after school for 2-3 hour "meetings" where principal tells the teacher shes not following "best practices." Teacher cannot correct papers, set up her classroom, etc because of all the time wasted in the office as the principal takes phone calls and checks her texts. Next, the teacher quits or transfers before mid January when the principal promises to begin the E3 dismissal process which will ruin the teachers record. Then the principal replaces the bullied teacher by a current teacher that is teaching in another grade at the school. Finally, another new teacher --who has few rights according to the CTU contract-- is hired with open arms and TLC. Then the new teacher gets bullied toward the end of the school year and the beginning of the new school year until she quits by January before the principal can fire her using the dismissal process. This happens to 7+ teachers every year at Bright school.
Submitted by parent on November 08, 2012

Worst principal ever at Orville T. Bright Elementary in Chicago. O.T. Bright has had excellent teachers even Golden Apple Award winners and some Nationally Board Certified teachers. Unfortunately, we have lost every single one of these great teachers. The principal harasses and publicly humiliates staff members then calls them "combative." This is why we have 80% new staff every year, including a new assistant principal every year.
Submitted by parent on November 05, 2012

Horrible environment for children, teachers, and assistant principals. That's why enrolment keeps dropping, positions are being eliminated and why teachers transfer and quit this school throughout the school year. I've seen the principal yelling at teachers in front of students. What message does this send our children? My child told me about the time the principal interrupted a math lesson with all her carrying on and strange behavior. The LSC council is a rubber-stamp joke that no parents want to join so they keep having "elections." Why won't CPS do something?
Submitted by parent on March 30, 2012

Terrible principal yells at everybody. The school s test scores have plummeted. Enrolment has dropped. Teaching positions have been cut. Many teachers leave in the middle of the year. 8 teachers that started the school year in September left by February. Why? I have heard the principal yelling at students and at teachers. Why would the children respect there teachers if they hear the principal screaming at them? Why don t we have a math teacher at Bright for months and months? I have heard children tell teachers why should I listen to you? You are going to get fired anyway . I have heard parents complaining about the homework teachers give the students. Before November the teachers only send out work sheets printed from the internet. The parents blame the teachers year after year. Who is in charge of ordering text books the teachers or the principal? Why is it that we get almost a whole new batch of teachers and a new assistant principal every year but the problems are always the same? The teachers, assistant principals and counselors come and go but the principal is always there screaming at children and teachers and blaming them for her own failures year after year.
Submitted by parent on November 02, 2011

I agree about there being a lot of turmoil at Bright. I don't understand why so many good teachers end up leaving every year. Even the counselor and assistant principal did not return this year. I want to know why the students don't get all the workbooks they need until so late in the year. Is turmoil the reason why teachers leave even in the middle of the year? This will be the last year my kids go to Bight school.