Edward Coles Elementary Language Academy

Honestly, I’m pretty frustrated with the health situation at Coles. The chronic absenteeism is through the roof—last I checked it was over 40%—and you can really feel it in the classrooms. It feels like there is always something going around and the school doesn't have a handle on it. With the student-to-teacher ratios being what they are, the staff is just spread too thin to keep up with deep cleaning or making sure kids aren't coming in sick. It’s hard for my kid to stay on track when half the class is missing or the teacher is out. Love the Spanish program, but the actual wellness and attendance culture here is definitely lacking and needs a serious overhaul.

My kids have been at Coles for a couple of years now and honestly, the health side of things is pretty solid for a CPS school. The building is older but the custodial staff really stays on top of sanitizing the classrooms, especially during the winter when everything starts going around. I appreciate that they actually call you if a kid looks even a little bit off instead of just letting them sit in class. My only real gripe is that communication about local flu outbreaks can be a little slow sometimes, but the staff is so friendly and they really push the kids to stay active and wash their hands. It feels like a safe, clean spot for the kids to learn.