Arnold Mireles Elementary Academy

Honestly, I’m pretty frustrated with the situation at Mireles. The building is showing its age and not in a good way—there are constantly work orders in for things like broken univent blower wheels and steam traps, which basically means the ventilation and heating are always on the fritz. It's hard for the kids to stay healthy when the air flow in places like the library is messed up because of broken parts. Plus, the chronic absenteeism here is a huge red flag; it feels like there’s always a bug going around and not much is being done to get a handle on the overall wellness culture. It’s tough to recommend it when the physical environment feels so neglected.

My twins go to Mireles and honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag with the health stuff. On one hand, the teachers are really good about reminding the younger kids to wash their hands, and the school is usually pretty clean for how old the building is. But I do feel like the communication when something like strep or the flu is going around could be way faster; usually, I hear it from other moms in the group chat before the school sends an email. The sick policy is standard CPS stuff—they’re pretty firm about the 24-hour fever-free rule, which is a headache for work but keeps the germs down I guess. It’s a solid neighborhood school, just wish they were a little more proactive with the wellness updates.