Chicago Schools (Dakota: employment, transfer, public schools)

[Bookish89]

Hello! I am a teacher who is seriously considering a move to Chicago. I've been hearing both good and bad things about the public school system. How bad are the school politics? What are the students like? Overall, is the school system a decent one?

[chet everett]

There are many threads that cover the general dysfunction of the Chicago Public Schools. While there are some schools in the system that through selective admissions policies and/or a core of involved parents perform admirably it is not very realistic for even the best qualified beginning / transfer teachers to assume that there is much chance of working in such a school. Although when openings do occur the principal is given latitude in hiring, the shear number of applicants makes selection quite trying. If you are an "unknown quantity" there a strong possibility that you would face employment in only the mass of poorly run schools that are part of CPS...

I would not recommend that any teacher seriously consider relocation to the even the whole Chicago region as the best run suburban districts really have a huge surplus of extremely well qualified teachers, many of whom have proven themselves through periods of being an extended duty substitute or aide in the district. The best jobs go to people who can afford to work in such roles for a year or two...

There is probably no good reason to relocate to the region to work in a poorly performing district, many of which are also low paying. The finances of schools in Ilinois are often quite chaotic, with the poorer districts in dire straits due to lack of local property wealth. This leads to mass lay off notices being sent to teachers and a pretty stressful situation for anyone facing the possibility of being without a job...

[gomexico]

Unfortunately, this is not a good time in our lives to be a teacher ... because of the assault on the profession (and which is being waged against many other "public employees") which is underway at the present time, in many locations. I admire the dedication of those of you who have chosen to teach. If you have urban-area, inner city experience and Chicago pays more than where you're at right now, well, I don't know why you'd pass on the city if you think you'd enjoy living/working here. Best of luck.

[TBideon]

Go private or go to somewhere thriving like Utah or North Dakota. The inner city school system just isn't worth your time and tears.