Is Chicago Public Schools a good company to work for?

Chicago Public Schools has an overall rating of 3.4 out of 5, based on over 2,915 reviews left anonymously by employees. This rating has decreased by 2% over the last 12 months. 60% of employees would recommend working at Chicago Public Schools to a friend and 39% have a positive outlook for the business. The best reviews about Chicago Public Schools have been left by employees working as Teacher Assistant Or SECA (Special Education Teacher Assistant) , School Social Worker and Assistant Principal .

Does Chicago Public Schools pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Chicago Public Schools employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.7 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Chicago Public Schools. This rating has decreased by 2% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Chicago Public Schools?

60% of Chicago Public Schools employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Chicago Public Schools 3.2 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.0 for culture and values and 3.4 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Chicago Public Schools?

Teacher (595) , Substitute Teacher (145) , Special Education Teacher (134) , English Teacher (56) , Educator (33) , SECA (33) , Special Education Paraprofessional (33) , High School Teacher (25) , Special Education Classroom Assistant (25) , Teacher Assistant (24) , Elementary Teacher (23) , School Counselor (23) , Teacher Assistant Or SECA (Special Education Teacher Assistant) (22) , Speech Language Pathologist (21) , Assistant Principal (19)

What are the pros of working at Chicago Public Schools according to real employee reviews?

"Good hours and pay." ((in 227 reviews)); "Salary is good for the area" ((in 105 reviews)); "Great place to learn and build data skills People are great!" ((in 57 reviews)); "Great coworkers and students in schools" ((in 49 reviews)); "great colleagues and teachers that work very hard for their students" ((in 45 reviews))

What are the cons of working at Chicago Public Schools according to real employee reviews?

"Huge system that has multiple levels of incompetent leadership." ((in 46 reviews)); "Long hours and very stressful." ((in 26 reviews)); "No work/life balance" ((in 24 reviews)); "Poor communication, Can be inconsiderate at times, and last minute assignments" ((in 22 reviews)); "No job security anymore" ((in 16 reviews))

What are employees saying about Chicago Public Schools layoffs in 2026?

Explore Glassdoor’s employee reviews to understand what current and former employees are saying about Chicago Public Schools layoffs and their outlook for job security at Chicago Public Schools in 2026.

What are the top reviewed Chicago Public Schools locations?

Chicago , Chicago , North Chicago , Chicago Ridge , Evanston , Milwaukee , Madison , Berwyn , Broadview , Calumet City , Carol Stream , Dolton , Glencoe , Matteson , Oak Forest , Oak Lawn , Park Forest , Riverside , Western Springs , Lawndale , Kansas City , Laveen , Gillette , Asheville , Houston , Minneapolis , Conway , Hammond , Taft , Los Angeles

Skip to content Skip to footer

Notifications

Chicago Public Schools

Chicago Public Schools reviews

3.4

60% would recommend to a friend

(2,749 total reviews)

Dr. Macquline King

55% approve of CEO

39% positive business outlook

Ratings by category

3.9

Diversity & inclusion

3.7

Compensation and benefits

3.4

Career opportunities

3.2

Work/Life balance

3.0

Culture & values

2.6

Senior management

Chicago Public Schools has an employee rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars, based on 2,749 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Chicago Public Schools employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Education industry (3.7 stars).

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Reviews by job title

3K reviews

3.0

Feb 22, 2018

CPS

Counselor

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Large district with many different opportunities as different schools. Decent benefit package.

Cons

Each school is autonomous and you are at the mercy of the administration. If you are in a low performing school the administrators are under a lot of pressure and they are usually the least desirable people to work for. They are taught specific ways to torment you and force you to leave or file a grievance. I've been with the system for 20 years in various roles. Also, a product of CPS when it was great!

4.0

Feb 5, 2018

English Teacher

Teacher

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Find a good principal and stay as long as your principal stays.

Cons

If you get a bad principal, run.

2.0

Sep 12, 2017

Computer Science For All Chicago

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Computer Science For All is a fantastic idea. In this day and age I think all High School students should have some exposure to computer science principals and algorithmic thinking. The teachers who helped me transition from industry to a high school instructor. I had not felt the type of comradrey among fellow colleagues since I was in the military. Paid holidays off, two weeks off during the winter, one week paid and summers(non-paid) off.

Cons

So many problems I can't name them all, but here are a few 1. At the time I was there, there was no Computer Science Coordinator at the district office. 2. The district wants it students to earn Industry level certifications without providing the tools and equipment the students will need to earn the certification. 3. No books for students and online materials is not suitable substitute. 4. You don't know if you will be working next year, or laid off. 5. Convoluted and confusing performance review process. 6. Very little transitional training for people coming from IT industry.

Viewing 19 - 21 of 2,749 Reviews

Jobs at Chicago Public Schools

Records Management Support, Part-Time

Part-Time Lunch/Recess & Office Support

Chicago Public Schools reviews FAQs

Reviews Chicago Public Schools reviews

Chicago Public Schools

Chicago Public Schools reviews

Ratings by category

Ratings by demographic groups

Reviews by job title

CPS

English Teacher

Computer Science For All Chicago

Jobs at Chicago Public Schools

Chicago Public Schools reviews FAQs

Want the inside scoop on your own company?

Bowls

Followed companies

Job searches

Chicago Public Schools reviews FAQs

Jobs at Chicago Public Schools