Edward Beasley Elementary Magnet Academic Center

I've had a few kids go through Beasley and I'm honestly pretty worried about the environment lately. My biggest issue is the attendance and how often kids are out sick; the chronic absenteeism rate is over 25% which is a huge red flag for me. It feels like there's always something going around and the communication from the school about illness outbreaks is basically nonexistent. Plus, with the student-to-teacher ratios being as high as they are, I don't feel like the staff can really keep an eye on the students' well-being or notice when someone is struggling. It's a magnet school so the academics are the focus, but you can't learn if the building doesn't feel like a healthy place to be. I wish they'd prioritize wellness and basic cleanliness a lot more than they currently do.

Honestly, overall I’m pretty happy with how Beasley handles things. The building is older, but it usually looks pretty clean when I’m there for pick-up. I really appreciate that the nurse is actually responsive and calls right away if my daughter skins her knee or has a sniffle. They’re super strict about the '24 hour fever-free' rule which can be a pain for working parents, but hey, it definitely keeps the flu from spreading through the whole class like wildfire. My only real gripe is that I wish they did a little more for outdoor recess when it’s cold—they tend to keep them inside a lot during those Chicago winters, and I think the kids really need that fresh air.