Pass

Irene C. Hernandez Middle School

3510 W 55th ST, Chicago, IL 60632

School ZIP 60632 Risk 1 (High)

Passed · as of Sep 16, 2026

Irene C. Hernandez Middle School was last inspected on September 16, 2026 with a result of “Pass”. Inspectors found 4 violations, including signs of pests.

Latest inspection

September 16, 2026 · Canvass

Pass

Result: Pass

4 general
  • GeneralPests

    Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.

    Inspector’s note: Observed openings at base of left exit doors of rear exit doors 5 and 9. Instructed to seal all outer openings to prevent pest entrance.

    Official wording (code 38)

    Insects, rodents, & animals not present

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

    Inspector’s note: Observed boxes stored on milk crates in front prep area behind serving line near two door refrigerator. Instructed to provide adequate shelving units to elevate all food and non food items at least six inches off of floor for ease of cleanability.

    Official wording (code 47)

    Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

    Inspector’s note: Observed leaking drainpipe of sanitizer compartment of three compartment sink. Instructed to repair and maintain.

    Official wording (code 51)

    Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

    Inspector’s note: Observed buildup on interior of floor drain underneath three compartment sink. Instructed to clean interior of said floor drain and maintain. Observed debris on floor, in corners and along bases of wall in dry storage room. Instructed to clean in said area and maintain.

    Official wording (code 55)

    Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspection history

20 inspections on record

  1. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    1 critical Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

      No written plan or kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.

      Inspector’s note: Missing procedure and effective sanitizer for norovirus. Instd to provide procedure and necessary supplies for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events. Priority foundation 7-38-005

      Official wording (code 5)

      Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

  2. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    No violations

  3. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 critical Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

      Inspector’s note: Missing handwash signage at handwash sinks in students toilet rooms. Instd to provide signage and maintain

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

  4. Pass

    Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass

    5 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

      Inspector’s note: Found cooler on right side of kitchen next to warmer in poor repair. Instructed to repair and maintain.

      Official wording (code 47)

      Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: Found leaking pipe at 2nd floor east boy's restroom hand sink. Instructed to repair and maintain.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.

      Inspector’s note: Found no covered receptacle in staff unisex restrooms. Instructed to provide and maintain.

      Official wording (code 53)

      Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Found missing ceiling tile in kitchen. Instructed to replace and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

      Inspector’s note: Found multiple ceiling lights in poor repair in kitchen. Instructed to repair and maintain.

      Official wording (code 56)

      Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

  5. Fail

    Canvass · Fail

    1 critical5 general Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

      Inspector’s note: Found hand sinks at improper temperature at all staff and student restrooms (except 1st floor west staff & kitchen staff restrooms) on floors 1, 2, and 3. Temperature must be 100f-120f. Instructed to repair and maintain. Priority violation 7-38-030 (c).

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

      Inspector’s note: Found cooler on right side of kitchen next to warmer in poor repair. Instructed to repair and maintain.

      Official wording (code 47)

      Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: Found leaking pipe at 2nd floor east boy's restroom hand sink. Instructed to repair and maintain.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.

      Inspector’s note: Found no covered receptacle in staff unisex restrooms. Instructed to provide and maintain.

      Official wording (code 53)

      Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Found missing ceiling tile in kitchen. Instructed to replace and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

      Inspector’s note: Found multiple ceiling lights in poor repair in kitchen. Instructed to repair and maintain.

      Official wording (code 56)

      Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

  6. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    2 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Excessive ice accumulation in walk in freezer and milk cooler at service line. Instd to remove ice and maintain

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.

      Inspector’s note: No cover for receptacle in womens staff toilet room. Instd to provide cover and maintain

      Official wording (code 53)

      Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

  7. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralPests

      Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.

      Inspector’s note: 6-202.15 observed a 1/2 inch gap at the bottom far right corner of the exit door located by the lunchroom. Instructed to make said door tight fitting.

      Official wording (code 38)

      Insects, rodents, & animals not present

  8. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Dust accumulation on vent covers and surrounding ceiling tiles and lightshields in prep area. Instd to clean and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  9. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Extreme clutter/unnecessary articles (books, unused equipment) on floor through mechanical room 205. Instd to remove all, elevate all necessary articles and maintain area.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  10. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    2 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents

      Inspector’s note: Observed the #10 can opener not clean, instructed to clean and sanitize.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded

      Inspector’s note: Observed the light not working nex.t to the hood in the prep kitchen, instructed to repair.

  11. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    No violations

  12. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    3 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained

      Inspector’s note: Improperly designed trash containers being used in cafeteria/prep area, using plastic buckets. Instd to use properly designed/constructed trash receptacles with lids.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods

      Inspector’s note: Vents at front serving line with dust accumulation. Instd to clean and maintain same.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored

      Inspector’s note: Employee belongings improperly stored. Instd to store in designated area.

  13. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    3 general Show violations
    • GeneralSerious (pre-2018 form)

      Outside garbage waste grease and storage area; clean, rodent proof, all containers covered

      Inspector’s note: Observed recyclying container uncovered. Instructed to push down boxes and keep all containers covered when not in use. Serious violation 7-38-020

    • GeneralSerious (pre-2018 form)

      Adequate number, convenient, accessible, properly designed and installed

      Inspector’s note: Observed no tempered water (69.7) at boys 1st floor west bathroom and staff 3rd floor east bathroom (63.7). Critical violation 7-38-030

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods

      Inspector’s note: Observed girls washroom 1st floor west. Ceiling vents with dust accumulation. Clean and maintain.

  14. Pass

    Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass

    No violations

  15. Fail

    Canvass · Fail

    1 critical2 general Show violations
    • CriticalCritical (pre-2018 form)

      Adequate number, convenient, accessible, designed, and maintained

      Inspector’s note: No hot running water nor tempered in men or womens food service staff toilet room handsinks. Temperature is 59.9f. Mgr states ongoing issue. Instd to provide ample, adequate supply of hot/tempered water at handsinks at all times. Instd food service staff to utilize students/teachers toilet rooms in main section of building until repaired. Citation issued 7-38-030 critical.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used

      Inspector’s note: Floor in prep area not clean, stained. Instd to clean, remove stains as necessary.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods

      Inspector’s note: Ceiling tiles in prep area not clean. Cleans same.

  16. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    1 critical3 general Show violations
    • CriticalCritical (pre-2018 form)

      Water source: safe, hot & cold under city pressure

      Inspector’s note: No hot running water in the food service employees toilet rooms men and women by the kitchen at 9:30am. They only have cold running water. Critical citation given.7-38-030. Instructed to provide hot water to both toilet rooms. The engineer and the plumber corrected during inspection.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents

      Inspector’s note: Clean the hood and filters above the cooking equipment has grease buildup.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used

      Inspector’s note: Clean the floors in the prep area under the heavy equipment has some dust buildup on them.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods

      Inspector’s note: Clean all the ceiling vents in all the toilet rooms throughout premises has dust buildup on them.

  17. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored

      Inspector’s note: All parts of the food establishment and all parts of the property used in connection with the operation of the establishment shall be kept neat and clean and should not produce any offensive odors. FOUND CLUTTER IN THE BOOK STORE ROOM 312. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND ORGNIZE SO NO INSECT OR RODENT HARBORAGE.

  18. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods

      Inspector’s note: Interior of hood, vents and surrounding lightshields and ceiling tiles in prep area not clean, dust accumulation. Clean same.

  19. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food in original container, properly labeled: customer advisory posted as needed

      Inspector’s note: All food not stored in the original container shall be stored in properly labeled containers.MUST LABEL DRY FOOD CONTAINERS IN THE FOOD PREP AREA.

More in ZIP 60632

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 7 weeks ago. Always confirm with the official record.