Albany Park Multicultural Academy

Keep an eye on the maintenance at APMA. While the teachers seem like they care, the building itself is really starting to show its age and it's affecting the kids. There have been ongoing issues with the roof over the gym needing major repairs, and you can definitely smell that musty, old-building scent when it rains. My son says some of the classrooms feel super stuffy and poorly ventilated, which isn't great during flu season. Honestly, communication about health protocols feels pretty hit-or-miss; unless your kid is actually in the nurse's office, you don't hear much about what’s going around. It feels like they’re just trying to keep their heads above water with basic safety rather than actually focusing on a 'wellness culture.' If your kid has asthma or allergies, just be prepared to stay on top of the administration yourself.

Honestly, I’ve been pretty happy with how APMA handles things. My 7th grader has mentioned that the classrooms actually look clean and they have hand sanitizer everywhere, which is a relief since middle schoolers aren't always the cleanest! The administration is really on top of it when something is going around; I usually get an email right away if there’s a spike in flu or COVID cases in his grade. Only downside is that their sick policy is pretty strict about staying home (which is good), but sometimes it feels like a lot of work to catch up on the missed assignments since the teachers move so fast. Overall, it feels like a safe, healthy spot for the kids.