Countee Cullen Elementary School

To be honest, I'm pretty worried about the environment at Countee Cullen lately. The school has been struggling with really high chronic absenteeism—last I checked it was over 40%—and you can really feel that lack of stability when you walk in. It feels like there’s a constant rotation of kids out sick, and I don't see much being done about it besides the occasional automated call. The communication regarding health outbreaks or even just general wellness updates is basically non-existent. We’re in a neighborhood that needs more support, but the school feels understaffed and the building always looks like it needs a deep clean. It’s hard to prioritize 'wellness' when basic attendance and maintenance seem to be a struggle for the admin. I really wish they'd focus more on the kids' physical health and the environment because right now it just feels like everyone is survival mode.

Honestly, Countee Cullen is okay when it comes to the health stuff, but it's definitely a typical inner-city public school vibe. My 3rd grader says the classrooms are usually pretty clean, and I see the janitorial staff working hard, but those older buildings in Roseland just always feel a little dusty. They are pretty strict about the '24-hour fever-free' rule which is good for keeping the flu from spreading, but I wish they were a bit quicker with the emails when a bug is going around the classroom. Sometimes I find out my kid's whole table was out sick only after he comes home with a sniffle! It’s a solid neighborhood spot, just nothing super fancy in terms of wellness programs.