Dever Elementary School

3436 North Osceola Avenue

School District

Chicago Public Schools
Grade

PK, K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
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 other on February 26, 2024

Supportive to students and has a lot of diversity. Brings in students with disabilities, which should count as diversity.
Submitted by other on June 01, 2023

This school is utterly disgusting. The students do not receive proper care from the staffs and teachers. Despite there being multiple racist discrimination complain, the school still does nothing. It needs to improve by ALOT.
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2022

I've have three children at DEVER. The teachers in early and primary grade levels PK-3 are awesome. 4-6 good. 7-8 average to below average. I would recommend this school for the beginning years and transfer them out for middle school. I'm doing this with my youngest two. When grades matter in middle school, the teachers don't care and neither does the principal. This is extremely important because Taft is the school you need to get into or you end up at a horrible school like Steinmetz. The ELA teacher for upper grades is terrible. Students behavior problems dramatically increase at each grade level higher. I can't emphasize enough after 5th grade transfer them out. The principal is strict. My youngest two are white and my eldest biracial and the older one is treated differently. Could change... but won't know because they will be transferred out. Hope this helps.
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2021

I am so happy we moved to Dever. My daughter went from lagging behind in reading in K to far exceeding grade level by the end of second grade. She originally had an IEP for a speech delay. At her previous school she got spotty services. At Dever she made excellent progress and really enjoyed working with Ms. Izzy. Everyone involved in her case was all over making sure she got what she needed and kept us posted on her progress. She loves going to school and recently joined a club meant to get students involved in making the school better. All of her teachers have been very communicative and encouraging.My son has some serious social and emotional adjustment issues. I was very concerned about him starting Kindergarten (2021-2022). He has made HUGE strides even in a few months. His teacher brings out the best in him. He is thriving academically and his behavior is significantly improved. When I expressed concerns early on, the school's case manager, with whom we had experience based on my daughter's IEP, called and spoke with me for quite a while. She had helpful suggestions for how they could work with him. I was impressed and touched. They really care here.Overall, the school does a lot of extra for the kids and the community. At the start of the school year they had a big outdoor event to welcome all of the kids. For Halloween they did pumpkin decorating and a Trunk or Treat event. I think the teachers all volunteer for these things and the turnout is great. They are clearly dedicated to the kids.My main wishlist item would be for them to offer Spanish as a Special.
Submitted by parent on August 18, 2021

Dever is an amazong School with grrat staff. Super family and community orientated. New principal truly cares.
Submitted by parent on April 02, 2015

From the teachers to the staff to the school counselor, this school goes above and beyond for the kids of the community. I can't say enough good things about the school!
Submitted by other on June 04, 2014

Everything about this school is TERRIBLE! They have great teachers,but the kids are so sneaky that the teachers dont know what is going on. They swear and stuff, almost half the 7th grade has gum in a day. terrible school lunches. They only get about 15 minutes of recess and 30 minutes of lunch. Only 45 minutes of break! thats only 15 more before the day was made longer 2 years ago. All they did was make each class about 45 minutes longer. I know kids need a break and 45 minutes out of a 7 hour day is crazy. Even though it says its a level one school, u can only know the truth as a middle school student in that grade, and it's not so great.
Submitted by parent on August 04, 2013

What does one look for in a good school? Is it the test performance ? Yes.it is! Is it the quality of learning they recieve?? Yes it is . But what counts the most to the families of children that are a part of Dever?? Since talking to other moms as the new school year is upon us .. I noticed what they like best as well as myself is that no child is to fall behind .. And any and every problem is addressed . No matter what the problem . Yes at times I've heard of some teachers being a little rough with punishments and words .. But isn't this all apart of life?? They will not always have a perfect day at wrk .. Or college or in general and some days will be bad but it's how we as parents react .. Thus etching child about adversity . I believe that Dever is one of the top schools in Chicago .. Yay Dever!
Submitted by parent on April 09, 2013

When my son started here in the 1st grade (he's now in 4th) I couldn't have been happier. Since then my opinion of the school has dropped dramatically! The kids don't get a proper lunch (my son eats at his desk!?) and now that the day has been extended to re-incorporate things such as recess I come to find out that they don't even get a proper recess on most days! I don't understand what kind of mental break and unwinding the students are supposed to get from getting crammed into a stuffy auditorium where half the time they can't even talk. The school is overcrowded with classrooms nearing, if not exceeding, 30 students per teacher! The school has an enrollment that exceeds it's capacity! With so many schools closing due to low enrollment, this one is busting at the seams! Over enrollment is a diisservice to the children, as well as the teachers and staff! I believe it's starting to take a toll on everyone, probably explains how Dever ended up on academic probation this year. From placing in the top 5% of all CPS schools back in 2009/2010 to being on AP today? All that aside, the teachers and staff do a much better job than expected given the situation.