Charles S Deneen Elementary School

Honestly, I’ve been pretty frustrated with the situation at Deneen lately. My biggest issue is how often kids are out sick; the chronic absenteeism here is way too high, and it feels like there's always something going around the classrooms. It’s hard for the teachers to keep up with wellness when the student-teacher ratios are stretched so thin. I’ve seen some efforts with the Pre-K materials and counseling programs, but on the ground, the building feels a bit neglected. It’s a struggle to get clear communication from the office when there's an illness outbreak in my son's grade. We really need more staff and a better handle on the school's environment because right now it just feels like everyone is constantly playing catch-up with their health.

My youngest is at Deneen right now and honestly, they've been pretty on top of things this year. The building is older, but it usually smells clean when I walk in, and the staff is really quick about calling if someone gets a fever or a bad cough. They’re super strict about the 24-hour fever-free rule, which can be a pain for working parents, but it definitely keeps the whole class from getting sick at once. They also focus a lot on the kids' emotional well-being and keeping them active, which I appreciate. Only downside is the communication can be a little hit-or-miss depending on who is in the front office that day, but overall it's a solid, healthy spot for the kids.