Annie Keller Elementary Gifted Magnet School

My kid has been at Keller for a couple of years now and honestly, it’s a pretty solid environment compared to some other CPS schools. Because it’s a smaller gifted magnet, it doesn’t feel like a total germ factory. The attendance is usually super high because kids actually want to be there, so you don't have that issue where half the class is out sick and dragging things down. They seem to take the health stuff seriously and the OST programs they've added recently focus a lot on keeping the kids active after the bell rings. My only real gripe is that it’s an older building in Mt. Greenwood, so the ventilation isn't always top-tier in the winter, but they keep the place clean. The nurse has always been responsive when we had a minor allergy scare, which definitely helps my peace of mind.

My daughter has been at Keller for two years now, and I’m pretty happy with how they handle things. Since the school is on the smaller side, the nurses and staff actually know who she is when she goes in for a scraped knee or a headache. They’re super on top of sending out email blasts if something like strep or hand-foot-and-mouth starts going around a specific grade, which helps us stay ahead of it. The classrooms always seem clean enough, though you can tell it's an older building. My only real gripe is that the 'stay home' policy can be a bit strict—sometimes it feels like they want a child home for an extra 24 hours even after they're totally fine—but I guess that’s better than everyone getting sick! Overall, it's a solid, healthy environment for the kids.