Frederic Chopin Elementary School, Chicago | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

I write this with a very heavy heart saddened by this experience. My daughter tested through selective enrollment, we chose this school Chopin out of the 3 that we selected. On my daughters very first day the second grade teacher was very aggressive when I picked up my daughter at the end of the day. The second grade teacher had my daughter by the arm. When I tried to figure out what was going on she said “what is wrong with her.” The second grade teacher then twirled her finger around her temple suggesting that my daughter was crazy, of course without saying it in words. I kept my calm and asked what she was referring to. She then suggested we step inside, she went on about how my daughter got up to use the pencil sharpener without asking and then got up to use the bathroom without asking . I thought ok I can talk to my daughter and tell her she has to ask first. I tried to explained to the second grade teacher that at her previous school they did have a bathroom where kids were allowed to help themselves whether it was for the washroom or to get a sip of water or to use the pencil sharpener. The teacher’s aide asked if it was a Montessori play based school. She seemed very timid and afraid of the second grade teacher, so much so that her voice was very low and in a whisper when she asked me as if to not want to disturb the second grade teacher or offend her as there was no one in The class but is four. The second grade teacher then decided I was not telling the truth because according to her no school allows kids to help themselves and then suggested I find another school to attend. I said nothing else and went to look for the principal.
I was fortunate enough to find the principal in her office. I said “I just had an uncomfortable situation with the second grade teacher.” I was very disappointed to see that she in no way wanted to hear me . The principal summoned up the second grade teacher, they had a conversation right in front of me and did not allow me to speak. I tried to explain to them that we had an IEP, my daughter was gifted and was tested through selective enrollment. They refuse to listen to me, the principal said “no” when I spoke put her hand in the air and continued her conversation with the second grade teacher. They both looked at me said “she’s in denial.” They continued their private conversation right in front me again not allow me to voice my opinion in any matter. Obviously I was upset but I kept my cool. I took my daughter and we left. My daughter did not finish her first week at this school.
I contacted our previous school’s principal (Catholic school in Oak Lawn) to let her know what happened. She in turn called the principal at Chopin and was treated with the very same disrespect and was cut off every single time she tried to voice her opinion about my daughter. The principal at Chopin refused to believe that a school would allow kids to use a pencil sharpener even when the principal herself told her that she did in fact allow it in her school. After speaking to other parents of Chopin I was very saddened to realize that this was more race-related. This is an excellent school if you are Hispanic like myself but my daughter is polish and Irish and very much looks like she is NOT Hispanic at all. I explained to the other parents that her second grade teacher was also Caucasian but they felt that probably fueled the second grade teacher even more. We are now at an excellent Charter School named Horizon Science Academy. My daughter is on the honor roll and has been on the Dean’s List and continues to do very well with her IEP. After this experience with Chopin I realize this is exactly why CPS is in the position that it is.

This school is amazing, I have attended this school ever since the previous school I attended shut down. The staff is amazing and people should transfer here this upcoming school year. With so many programs to choose from such as the Music program created by Mr. Weible and all the sports programs leaded by Ms.Thompson, this school wouldn’t of been rated the way it is.

My entire family attended school here, caring/attentive/supportive…staff is great!