Dirksen Elementary School

8601 West Foster Avenue

School District

Chicago Public Schools
Grade

PK, K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
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 June 06, 2023

Under staffed , over crowded rooms and not kept upto par
Submitted by parent on May 23, 2022

It was the worse years of my life here
Submitted by parent on December 17, 2021

strong school and safty .and have strong staff and teachers .
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2020

My son was a student at Dirksen , the best teachers he had was from sixth grade , Ms Kasir and Ms Basharis , both of the them are the best teachers at Dirksen teaching sixth grade , they are very helpful , caring ,wonderful and committed to there work !! Can’t thank them enough for being such great teachers.
Submitted by parent on June 02, 2020

Very good school and excellent teachers. My girls loved this school !!
Submitted by parent on April 04, 2020

My daughter was going to this school since 3rd grade. Everything at that time was normal. In the beginning of 6th grade, my child started to get bullied by one boy. My daughter and I decided to reach out to the school and confront them about the situation. My daughter and I went to the school, the school told us that they will talk about the situation with the boy’s parents. But the next day, the boy started bullying my child AGAIN. So, I decided that I will try to contact his mother on my own. Turns out, that the boy’s mother didn’t know that the situation was this serious and that the school didn’t tell her the whole thing. It got to the point where my child was diagnosed with Anorexia and depression. She wanted to take her own life. She tried to overdose. My daughter had to be taken to a mental hospital. When my daughter was released, we tried to go to the school and ask them if my child could finish school at home. The school told us no and if I wanted to, I could do homeschooling for my daughter. I decided that homeschooling would be the best decision for her. When I came to Withdraw my daughter from the school, they told me no and that I have to go through courses because my first language is not English. Finally, I withdrew my daughter after I told them that if they won’t withdraw my daughter, I would come with police because it’s the law that every child can do homeschooling if they have to and you don’t have to go through any courses. I don’t recommend this school to anyone. This is the worst school my daughter has ever been in. She could’ve lost her life because of this school.
Submitted by parent on January 30, 2014

Fantastic school. I went there and absolutely loved it. The teachers were great, the staff was great, and most importantly the curriculum was great. This school has an ESL program, and the great thing is they have multiple teachers who speak different languages. The classrooms usually have an aid to help the students. The school also has events such as movie nights, reading nights, volleyball tournaments, and of course basketball games. As a parent of a child who now goes there I have to say this school is pretty great. The pricipal has changed, and I'm not a huge fan of him, but the assistant principal Dr. Archibald is amazing. The office staff is also great. The only downside is that when I attended the school I rarely swathe nurse in her office, at some point I wasn't even sure that we had one. Overall great school, Send your kids here!
Submitted by other on September 24, 2013

I am a former parent and am a LSC member if you all have issues with this school and the staff you may address this monthly meeting . We need to know what parents need and want . Our meetings are on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7 pm please you feel that sethong is not right tells us. This school and staff have come a long way lets try to even make or better . LSC member
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2013

Horrible school. My kids went to this school 2009/2010. It was so bad that we had to move. Now we are in excellent school district and I see how great school look like with caring teachers and great administration.
Submitted by parent on August 21, 2013

Dirksen is an excellent school. My three children attend and they love it! The teachers are really nice and caring, I would recommend this school to anyone
Submitted by other on April 04, 2013

Dirksen did not prepare me well enough for high school. I only have a few months left of high school, and when I started I didn't know any math. When I was in 8th grade, they put a teacher in the position to be a math teacher for 7th/8th graders. That was such a bad decision. He did not prepare me at all. Otherwise, I did pretty well at Dirksen. They had a very good social science teacher when I was in 8th grade. But, at night they are a lot of kids that smoke/drink behind the mobile units. That needs to be put under control. It makes the environment worse around there. That needs to be stopped.
Submitted by parent on December 06, 2012

We always appreciated the old principal, he always had time for you and he smiled a lot. We felt he cared. But he has ben gone about 2 years now. We have a new principal. The new principal seems very friendly and smiles too. Overcrowding is an issue that should be brought up with the School Board. A good school always gets overcrowded because people want their children to go there. If the principal had more funds from the school board, he could do more things for the kids. Maybe we need to help him work with the board. I myself have not seen teachers be nasty with the kids. I think they try very hard to work with our kids. Some of the teachers who left were some of the ones who were not very nice. The new ones and the remaining old ones work hard. My kids teachers always speaks to me when I have questions to ask.We are lucky to have Dirksen.
Submitted by other on December 05, 2012

Its really easy to go up to a parent and tell them that the teachers are mean and dont listen.Thats how a child gets out of studying and homework. If you really want to know more about your students teacher, then dont listen to your child, just go to the teacher. Dirksen is one of the schools with the smartest teachers I know. They listen to the students. I know these teachers. They are very smart and hope they help the students with their bright future. To believe your childs words, listen what other parents say, classmates, teachers and other staff member.Dont judge a book by its cover ;)Judge a book by thir inside ;) So to find out the school then I have important advice GO TO THE SCHOOL, TALK TO THE STAFF MEMBERS, TALK TO THE CLASSMATES AND DONT ACCUSE ANYONE OF YOUR CHILDS LEARNING. your children choose the grade they want, not the teacher. Teachers teach, help Students disobey that and do whatever they want DONT BLAME THE TEACHERS BECAUSE OF YOUR STUDENTS "WORDS" ABOUT THE SCHOOL Just try to help your child and see what the teachers go through
Submitted by parent on October 12, 2012

I am very displeased with this school. Most of the teachers, along with the principal, don't understand the children's problems and ignore the parents.Whenever they make a mistake, they don't admit to it. They treat the children thoughtlessly. The school is their personal farm; not a fellowship with the children's parents and the teachers. The principal doesn't even care about the school. There's a lot of bad things that can be written about the teachers and very little good. Thankfully, there's some good educationalists.
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2012

I have been getting email with the reviews of Dirksen School. For all the negative reviews are the parents involved in communication between the student and teacher. They have excellent teachers and staff and I have worked with the with positive results. I do not believe they are removing negative posts and students have ways of making entries (misspelling errors) just to insult of demean teachers. My daughter was there 6 yrs. Would you like to have your child go to a school on the South Side? With horrible conditions and poor safety? We need to worry about our students grades! If they need help ask. If you do not ask then do not be surprised at report card results. Communication is key. Rather than blame the teacher try to have a meeting with your student,teacher and principal. Sometimes the student is not focused on the subject and at the end of the class blames the teacher for not teaching it. I have seen if first hand. Yes parents need to be involved if you choose not to you really will not know what is going on. Ask questions first and then you will have a clear picture of what happens in the class room. Sit in the class room I have.
Submitted by other on August 27, 2012

as I subscriber I always receive email notification if someone posts a review . Few days ago I read negative reviews about this school, and today that review is not here anymore Removed by admin :-)...3rd parent in a row whos review being removed by web/admin. If parents can only share positive reviews then does it really makes sense of keeping this page and misleading parents? Gladly, my child is not a student of Dirksen. Indeed horrible school.
Submitted by parent on July 23, 2011

Horrible school. Aggressive and misleading staff. There are many open enrollment schools who offer more programs and activities for smarter kids. Girls, boys 7th graders smoke, skip class and on top your child who needs courage will be placed in a same group with them. You cant do anything about it. Over 25 students in one class and only one teacher, what to expect? stressing out!
Submitted by parent on April 17, 2011

It is unfortunate to hear people badmouth their child's school. It is not the school's fault that is is crowded. My children have received an excellent education at Dirksen and I am thankful for the kind, caring teachers they have there. Perhaps if you got involved in the school you would see that. As for the lady that complained about the registration process, she should know there are rules to be followed. The website tells you want you need to bring or you could have called to find out. The off ice ladies at school have always been kind and helpful to me and my children.
Submitted by parent on January 29, 2011

i did really suffer 4 years inthat school ,crowded classrooms ,there is no enough space for preschool,when my daughter reached kinder her level was low,teacher are stressed because they all the time complain about the chidren and adidn't find those problems when imoved to haorwood heights,my dids hates dirksen a lot they was having hard time and not happy .there is no enough activities.drop off and pick up is not allowed all streets closed.it is really horrible .there is no space in the school for preschool,and kindergarten only 4 hours .and almost 28 children in the classes .how kids will learn.and why they should suffer and another kids in the suberbs are just 15 in the classrooms , ithink there is abig difference,idont absolutly recommend it.
Submitted by parent on December 07, 2010

This school has been lacking in the special education department under the past principal. A new principal has taken the reigns of this school this year and as a parent I am already seeing improvements. I look forward to the up and coming changes and hope that things will continue to change in a positive manner.