Onahan Elementary School

6634 West Raven Street

School District

Chicago Public Schools
Grade

PK, K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
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 February 14, 2025

This school is horrible, do not send your kid here. Bullying and physical threats are no concern, and admin would rather not deal with the paperwork. Certain families clearly are favorites with both admin and teachers, it’s very political here… more like high school cliques. Favoritism runs rampant, and it’s pretty much in your face. My child has been bullied for years now, and struggles with mental and emotional issues. There is a great need for intervention but my child has been denied. My child is struggling daily with peer conflict, academic stress, and anxiety issues. The school couldn’t care less. The less paperwork they have to do the better. My child has been bullied for many years at this school, but no matter what we tell administration, it is never taken seriously. Resources are not being used to their full potential and students are missing out on great opportunities that should be provided in a public school. The social worker needs to find another career, possibly one that doesn’t have impact kids at such a sensitive age. She is very insensitive and has discussed other student’s business with students. The school is not a place my child likes going to every day. It’s a place they are uncomfortable which is sad because school should be a fun place where you feel free to be yourself. If you don’t know someone or aren’t on the PTO or have some kind of standing with admin… forget about your kid meaning anything to these “teachers”. They don’t care about the kids or their wellbeing and I’ve seen this deteriorate over the years. The teachers fluff grades to push kids on because they don’t want to deal with intervention, and data monitoring. Kids are falling behind, and lacking very basic skills yet still getting As and Bs. Amazing! They’re not preparing them for high school. These kids are going to leave with emotional damage and a ton of catching up to do academically.
Submitted by parent on September 13, 2023

I see things haven’t changed. Teachers kis were bullies and PTO kids. Teacher daughter made my daughters life hell. Office staff was rude and nasty back then. Always gossiped.ironically one of the office staffs son sexually harassed girls. Nothing done. Bully always a problem. Terrible culture. Scores have gown down. Nothing changes.
Submitted by other on April 28, 2023

I was a former student of this elementary school. If you are here and reading the reviews from parents that give this school a five-star rating, you must understand that this school has a strange and unhealthy community where the parental experience not only differs from families not part of the PTA, but the student experience is something that I would never wish upon anyone. As a student, I was not always perfect, I was slow, had some learning problems, but was never out to misbehave for fun or attention. And despite how well-behaved I was, this was my experience:The SchoolFirst off, the school has very little diversity. A large percentage of the students and staff are white. The office and administrative staff are extremely rude, disrespectful, and sometimes outright unprofessional. They constantly comment on the private affairs of other families openly around students or will sometimes just banter with each other about the kinds of punishments a misbehaving student that was sent to the office will receive. The school would often put more value into after-school programs that demanded a certain academic standard from whoever was interested.The StudentsBullying is a problem in every school, yes, but this school was different. Teachers would watch and only shake their heads at misbehaving students that were the children of PTA members, but would actively seek out the behavior of students that had either an IEP or had a record of any special education (they would regard all special needs children as troublemakers). This kind of system would instill a hierarchy among students. I would see students from all grades down to fourth practicing racism, such as screaming the N word at others or commenting on a student's country of origin. Sexism such as commenting on other students and what their place in society is. Manipulating those who had learning disabilities, such as daring them to misbehave knowing they are desperate for friendship. All of these things are observed by the teachers.The Teachers The teachers and staff provide no safety for tormented students. Never in my 10 years of being in Onahan did I ever feel safe around my teachers. I have been physically harassed by my teachers, shamed by my special education teacher numerous times for my slow learning, and even publicly shamed by three teachers at once, they said horrible unprofessional things about me, my parents, and my future in front of my peers. This school is no place for a child.
Submitted by parent on January 15, 2022

The communication has improved over the years. Any type of issues are handled accordingly. School is clean, teachers are friendly andthe Principal and Vice Principal are very good at their jobs.
Submitted by student on June 09, 2021

They cut off a part of the kids summer
Submitted by other on April 15, 2021

As a former student there was a lot of bullying happening in front of the teachers and they never really cared. The women who work at the front desk have always been rude to anyone. And a lot of the teachers had favoritism.
Submitted by parent on August 20, 2018

we love this school. My son went to school without knowledge of English, and he walked with smile every day, and for a year he was full of teachers. And the teachers at the school are just super, they know each student
Submitted by parent on March 20, 2018

Onahan is a great neighborhood school. The curriculum is excellent. There are a lot of fairs, events, activities, sports for the students. These students have gone on great field trips. The kids have a great time at school. I gave 4 stars because the communication could be a little bit better. The important dates/information that comes from school, LSC and PTO would be best if it was combined into one regular weekly communication. This information should also be in one place on the website. Have noticed dates missing from Onahan calendar...for example dress down dates, testing...etc. Also think all teachers should have a web-page for announcements, class happenings, upcoming events, homework, forms...etc.
Submitted by other on November 11, 2017

My grandsons go there. Staff is very caring.
Submitted by parent on August 12, 2017

any issue that has come about had been addressed in a timely fashion and handled professionally.
Submitted by parent on June 01, 2017

Great School, I would recommaned to any one who live in the nightborhood
Submitted by parent on February 01, 2016

Thie school needs new leadership, the principal seems to be uninvolved and there is a lack of communication. The lower grade curriculum is great but in sixth and up, it's all downhill.
Submitted by parent on September 22, 2015

Principal involvement is less than average. Diversity, what diversity? If you think this school is the best, it is because you have nto experienced better public schools elsewhere. And this is a good school compared to many others in Chicago. Also, front desk workers are mean to students and gossipy.
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2014

Our kids are doing well here. We have never had a problem with any of the teachers, except the insurmountable amount of homework that comes home. We are also are considered "uninvolved" parents as explained in last post. Since we both work full time we cannot attend 3pm meetings and would have to take off work to help with most of the school functions. We save our days off for when our children are sick and holidays. That last post makes me mad because it is the tone felt at the school, the parents that are involved are better and so are their children. And since we cannot attend meetings we can't even keep up to date on things either because PTO nor the LSC post minutes---which we find inexcusable. School should focus more and reaching out to parents, better communication and treating everyone equally.
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2014

Onahan is a great school. There is a real sense of community among parents. I have had issues and the administration worked with me to resolve them. my older kids were very well prepared for HS honors classes and HS athletics after graduating and my younger one loves classes and her teachers. The biggest problem at Onahan is the very few unhappy parents who are completely uninvolved in the school and complain publicly rather than become a part of the solution. The majority of parents that are involved and go to meetings, and know what is happening inside the school are happy. At any school, you need to be involved to get the best out of it for your kids.
Submitted by parent on November 02, 2014

principal is terrible. she cannot mange this large school. If you like 33-35 kids in the class, disorganization, yelling and monotonous homework, you will like it here.
Submitted by other on April 21, 2014

I was a student at Onahan, I loved every minute i spent at the school until 7th grade. The teachers were unbelievably dedicated and friendly. The 7th and 8th grade teachers however need some work. There are some good teachers but not nearly as many as there should be. They are lazy, unorganized and not dedicated to giving their students a valuable education. I do not feel like I learned nearly as much as i should have in 7th and 8th grade. I wanted to leave the school satisfied with my education but i was not.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2014

Onahan is a great school! We have dedicated teachers that volunteer their time after school for our school play, basketball, volleyball, football, softball, rocket club, girls on the run, chess club, girl scouts, spring dance, science club, solar car, talent show, homework club, student council etc. We have such dedicated parents that volunteer so much of their free time to run for LSC and PTA and run school programs. Our Principal and LSC fight for our school and anyone that does not see that does not attend LSC meetings. At the parent run silent auction we raised enough money to fully stock our new computer lab, we have ipads on carts the teachers use everyday and now we will have our second computer lab fully stocked in the next month. The PTA "out of uniform days" are raising enough money to buy new state of the art science lab tables. This is a great community school - PTA have numerous volunteer opportunities throughout the year so you can be part of the school. LSC work very hard behind the scenes and they have an open forum at every meeting where we can address any of our concerns.
Submitted by parent on February 04, 2014

I was happy with Onahan k-5 but its teachering is much lacking for 6-8. New leadership is much needed. All I have seen this year is lazy uncaring principal and junior high teachers. My kids for the first time hate school so much they not only do what they can to stay home but want to transfer. It's so heartbreaking. Can't wait to get out.
Submitted by other on February 04, 2014

I'd like to start off by saying that no school is perfect. Onahan certainly had its flaws, but it was a second home to me throughout the years. I knew almost everyone there, and almost everyone knew me as well. As a former Onahan student, I thoroughly believe that what you put in is what you get out. It depends entirely on the student and whether or not they are willing to put in the effort required to succeed at this school. The staff may not be great and it may not be the best school, but I felt prepared as I entered high school and never found myself wishing I went somewhere better.