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HORIZON SCIENCE ACADEMY SOUTHWEST CHICAGO

5401 S WESTERN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60609 · School

Inspection summary

HORIZON SCIENCE ACADEMY SOUTHWEST CHICAGO has been inspected 15 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since September 19, 2014. The most recent inspection, on September 16, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.

2 of 15 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 2 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene and Cleaning and sanitizing.

The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their findings differently, so we group them by what they mean for your health. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are one of the main ways germs spread, from person to person and onto food and surfaces. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing their hands when required, and sick staff being kept away from work where it matters. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on September 19, 2025. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Surfaces, dishes and tools that touch food or people must be cleaned and then sanitized or disinfected. Inspectors check sanitizer strength, dishwasher temperatures and how cleaning is done. Poor sanitizing lets germs survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded once on November 19, 2018. For example: WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

  • Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk

    Floors, walls and ceilings must be clean and in good repair, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate health risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.

    Recorded 14 times across 11 separate inspections, most recently on September 16, 2026. For example: SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED

  • Equipment and utensilsLower risk

    Equipment has to be made of cleanable materials, kept in good repair and stored properly. These findings are mostly about upkeep, like a cracked surface or worn part. They are generally lower risk but show how well the place is maintained.

    Recorded 9 times across 8 separate inspections, most recently on September 16, 2026. For example: UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED

About this data

These results come from Chicago Department of Public Health, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

15 inspections

  1. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 44. UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED
      • Placing wet utensils on a cloth towels at 3-comp sink drain board, instructed not to use cloth in drying process.
    • 52. SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED
      • Disposing mop bucket waste water in kitchen's floor drain. Instructed to dispose in designated mop sink only.
  2. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO HAND CLEANSER AVAILABLE AT HANDSINK LOCATED IN HS PREP KITCHEN. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN PROPER HANDWASHING WHILE OPERATING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. #7-38-030 (C). NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE OPERATING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED PIPING ON HANDSINK LOCATED IN HS PREP AREA LEAKING WHILE SINK IS IN USE. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN
  3. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • NOTED SOME USE OF MILK CRATES FOR ELEVATION AT THE STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED NOT TO USE MILK CRATES FOR ELEVATION TO PREVENT HIDING PLACES FOR PEST. MUST PROVIDE APPROPRIATE SHELVING FOR STORAGE. ALL FOOD ITEMS MUST ALSO BE STORED 6" AWAY FROM THE WALL.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • MUST REMOVE OR ORGANIZE CARDBOARD BOXES IN STORAGE AREA. MUST REMOVE ALL ITEMS, AND PROPERLY ELEVATE STOCK 6" OFF THE FLOOR AND AWAY FROM THE WALLS FOR BETTER CLEANING AND PEST MONITORING. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN.
  4. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED AN ACCUMULATION OF DIRT/DEBRIS BUILDUP ON THE LUNCH ROOM VENTILATION COVERS. MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  5. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • MUST PROVIDE HANDWASHING SIGNS AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS, MAINTAIN.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • FOUND FAR RIGHT HANDWASHING SINK IN LUNCHROOM IN POOR REPAIR (HOT WATER FAUCET UNABLE TO FULLY TURN OFF). INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • MUST PROVIDE COVERED RECEPTACLES IN ALL GIRLS/UNISEX RESTROOMS, MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FOUND MULTIPLE STAINED CEILING TILES IN LUNCHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
  6. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  7. Canvass Re-Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • Violation Codes: 4-501.11 Inspector Comments: MUST ELIMINATE CRATES USED FOR FOOD & PAPER STORAGE.MUST PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING UNITS.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • Violation Codes: 6-202.11 Inspector Comments: MUST PROVIDE SHATTER PROOF LIGHT BULBS OR SHIELDS IN LUNCHROOM.
  8. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED WATER TEMPERATURE AT HAND SINKS IN GIRL'S (3RD-5TH)GRADE TOILET ROOMS 66.2F-81.1F AND BOTH UNISEX STAFF KITCHEN TOILET ROOMS AT 88.6F-89.9F.MUST HAVE AT A MINIMUM OF 100.0F.MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY 7-38-030(C)
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • MUST ELIMINATE CRATES USED FOR FOOD & PAPER STORAGE.MUST PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING UNITS.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE STAINED CEILING TILES IN LUNCH ROOM.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • MUST PROVIDE SHATTER PROOF LIGHT BULBS OR SHIELDS IN LUNCHROOM.
  9. Canvass

    0 infractions

  10. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED THE STAFF UNISEX TOLIET ROOMS WITH NO COVERED RECEPTACLE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A COVERED RECEPTACLE IN THE STAFF TOLIET ROOMS.
  11. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN USE AT REAR PREP AREA UNABLE TO MAINTAIN PROPER WASH TEMPERATURE, 79.0F. INSTD TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE OF 110F OR ABOVE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-025.
  12. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • OBSERVED WATER DAMAGED CEILING TILES AND DUSTY CEILING VENTS IN STUDENT SEATING AREA, INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE WATER DAMAGED CEILING TILES AND CLEAN DUSTY VENTS.
  13. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • NOTED ONE MISSING FLOOR TILE NEAR 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • NOTED LEAKING DRAIN PIPES AT BOTH 3-COMPARMENT SINKS. NOTED LOOSE FAUCETS AT BOYS AND GIRLS RESTROOMS AT EAST AND SOTH SIDES OF BUILDING MUST REPAIR.
  14. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • OBSERVED ONE MISSING FLOOR TILE UNDER 3 COMPARTMENT SINK, INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • NOTED LEAKY PIPES UNDERNEATH THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AND A LOOSE FAUCET(MIDDLE SINK) IN THE GIRL WASHROOM ACROSS FROM THE LUNCH ROOM. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN PLUMBING.
  15. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • OBSERVED THE INTERIOR OF THE MICROWAVE IN THE TEACHERS LOUNGE NOT CLEAN, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • OBSERVED ONE MISSING FLOOR TILE UNDER 3 COMPARTMENT SINK, INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • OBSERVED SOME MISSING CEILING TILES IN HALLWAY NEAR ROOM (126), INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

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