School History
Horace Mann Elementary School was opened in the late 1920’s (Yes, almost 100 years ago) in a newly developed neighborhood called South Shore. Many of the bungalow style homes and apartments were also built in the mid-1920’s. The neighborhood was considered an upper-middle class destination for many of the independent business owners on the South Side of Chicago.
Sometime in the late 1990’s-early 2000’s the school had its name changed to Horace Mann Academy. Latest programs were started to focus on helping the lower-income children that lived in the neighborhood.
The school is still in good physical shape with a new addition built sometime in the 1970-1980’s just north of the original building.
Ms. Karon Purkett, started as interim principal in August 2021, and became full-time principal in June 2022 leading 25 teachers and another 20+ staff to take care of about 290 students projected for the coming school year.