Ernst Prussing Elementary School

Honestly, the chronic absenteeism at Prussing is pretty alarming—it’s been hovering around 25-30% lately and you can really feel the impact. When so many kids are constantly out, it makes me worry about the general wellness culture and if the school is actually tracking illness trends or just letting things slide. It feels like there's always a bug going around and the communication from the office about 'health' is basically nonexistent. Plus, with the student-to-teacher ratios being what they are, the staff is totally stretched thin. If your kid needs extra support or a quiet space because they're feeling off, they're probably not going to get much attention. It’s a neighborhood school with potential, but right now it feels like they’re just struggling to keep everyone in the building and healthy.

Honestly, I've been pretty impressed with how Prussing handles the germs, especially during the winter months. My 3rd grader's classroom always looks super clean, and the teachers are really good about making the kids wash their hands before lunch. They’re pretty strict with the fever policy—if your kid is warm, they're calling you to come get them right away, which can be a pain but I guess it keeps the stomach bugs from spreading to everyone. Only downside is the nurse isn't there every single day since it's a CPS school, but for the basic stuff, they seem to have it under control. It feels like a safe, healthy spot for the kids.