Lozano Elementary Bilingual & International Center

I will fight to have my son attend another school next year. He has autism and had been reading at his other school and reads at home. He is otherwise not verbal (communication-wise). His teacher has told me that he can't read so they don't want to push him. He's also having more tantrums than he's had before and he's banned from taking any more school trips (even with a parent). At another school at aged three he received homework at least twice a week. It's almost the end of the school year and he hasn't had homework even ONCE. To top that off, his speech therapist has been absent from EVERY IEP meeting he's had this year. When he has a tantrum, I'm called and told that they will call the police on me if I don't come and get him, as if I'm just a negligent parent. They're going to have to fight me to get him into this same school again. ALSO, CPS will NOT help you find a school that's best for your son. Last year my son didn't attend school for almost two months because it was MY responsibility to find a a school that even accepted autistic children, and when you call the neighborhood school they have NO IDEA which schools even accept autistic children.
--Submitted by a parent

People should stop complaining about Lozano. It seems to me IRONIC that the parent's are complaining about the school being behind academically, yet those same parents who complain can't even spell. The problem is the students and parents. Instead of complaining parents should DO something and don't expect the school to be perfect. -Former student and sophomore at NSCP.

This school is so behind. They don't even have a nurse on staff. The school is very focused on Latin America cult and beliefs and very religious for a public school. The teachers do not speak very good english. The principal is like a ghost! I feel he is unqualified for the job. Parent involvement is never asked or wanted. They keep passing my child and I see he is not doing well. Now I have to move to get my child out of this school/the school district. I like my house, but I love my son... the choice is easy.
--Submitted by a parent

We had a very frustrating first year at this school. The professional staff is very uncooperative and rude making it hard to get appropriate information. The teachers are nice but they are very hard to get a hold of when we have concerns and little is sent home regarding the progress of the students. When we visit the school the children are loud and disruptive. We are frustrated with the homework as it is way below our son's academic level. Also, we feel that time before school could be better spent with children playing and socializing as opposed to the movies they watch in the auditorium.
--Submitted by a parent

My name is Juan Martinez and I went to this school! And i am proof that there is nothing really wrong with the school, it's the children, more specifically the parents. I am currently a sophomore at Walter Payton high school, the 2nd best high school in Illinois! I owe this accomplishment to all my teachers, staff but mostly my parents. It's true, the school isn't so advanced academically, but the reason why Lozano isn't such a 'good' school is because the school is a bilingual school, so many non-english speaking students come in, with little to no english experience, and it slows the class, a little. The school DOES have a Spanish class, which is pretty fun; and provide ESL for non-english speaking students during English class. I think these parents should stop complaining, and become more involved with their children's education. -Juan/proud lozano student
--Submitted by a student

Overall, good school. Staff are interested and care about the students. Great assemblies and family activities. I agree about meetings during the day - difficult for working parents. My students receive tons of homework. English errors are common on notes sent home, from office and teachers. But the positives outweigh negatives in most cases. My kids have been happy at Lozano.
--Submitted by a parent

The education my child has gotten from the school is good. By the time she left Kinder she was reading. The after-school program are good and beneficial. Despite the other comments, most of the teachers there have masters degree. Yes it has its problems, but it is not a perfect world!
--Submitted by a parent

While this school certainly does have its problems, they have 3pre-K and 2 Headstart classrooms. The fact is that the bilingual ed really does not exist at this school. In prek children are taught to count and say the alaphabet in Spanish and in English. That is about the extent of the bilingual program through K. My son came home with a report card that had a grade for spanish-but the children never had SSL instruction. Parents are expected to attend meetings during the school day. Working parents cannot attend meetings and be involved. This school needs and administration and a local school council overhaul. Local parent
--Submitted by a parent

This school exemplifies the problems with bi-lingual education. My daughter has atended school there for 5 years and has had some very good teachers. Her 5th grade teacher is excellent, but that does not make up for the ciriculum. The overemphasis on speaking spanish all the time gets in the way of reading, writing and math. Although Ms. V is a great 5th grade teacher, my daughter will not attend in grade 6. She will not be ready for HS if we keep her in Inter-American. The principle needs to be fired for many reasons. Tax dollars going to waste-too bad. Says a lot for vouchers, considering the amount the CPS spends on this school.
--Submitted by BilingualBS kidscantreadenglish, a parent

My daughter began to attend this school in kindergarden she is now in 1st grade, and I have been very dissapointed at the outcome. She learned more in preschool at another school then she did the entire Kindergarden year at Lozano. The teachers aren't very concerned in becoming more involved with the parents. My daughter hardly ever comes home with homework and if she does it usually involves simply coloring. When I have tried to call the school to speak to the teacher I could not get a hold of her. I believe this school would is benefit of an online site where teachers can post their curriculum and homework and get the feed back from the parents. This way single parents like myself can have more access to knowing whats going on in their childs classroom.
--Submitted by a parent