Calmeca Academy of Fine Arts and Dual Language

Calmeca is a pretty decent school for the most part, especially with the dual language program, but the health side of things is a bit of a mixed bag. The classrooms generally look clean and the teachers really care, but being part of CPS, they deal with the usual big-city school issues. I've noticed that communication when a bug is going around the classroom can be a little slow, and it feels like there’s a lot of kids in each room which doesn't help when flu season hits. It’s an average neighborhood school—nothing scary but definitely not the most proactive when it comes to wellness stuff or air quality.

My twins have been at Calmeca for a few years now and I'm honestly pretty happy with how they handle the health side of things. The school itself always smells clean when I walk in for drop-off, which is a relief given how many bugs go around Chicago schools in the winter. They’re super strict about the 24-hour fever-free rule before kids can come back, which can be a hassle for work schedules, but it definitely keeps the whole class from getting taken out at once. My only gripe is that communication from the nurse can be a little slow if it's not a major emergency, but overall the staff really cares about the kids' wellness.