First Academy

Honestly, First Academy is just okay when it comes to the health stuff. They seem to try and keep things clean, but like any Chicago daycare, it feels like there's always a cold or something going around the classroom. I wish they were a little more transparent with the parents when a virus is spreading, because sometimes I only find out when my kid starts sneezing. It's a 'Risk 1' high-stakes environment in the city's eyes, so they do get inspected, but I've seen some clutter that makes me wonder how deep the cleaning actually goes at the end of the day. It’s decent for the price, but you definitely have to stay on top of your own kid's hygiene here.

Honestly, First Academy has been pretty solid for my toddler. The place always smells clean when I drop him off, and you can tell they actually wipe down the toys every night. They are super strict about the 24-hour fever-free rule, which can be a pain when you're trying to get to work, but it definitely keeps the nasty stuff from spreading through the whole class every week. My only gripe is that I wish they’d give us a heads-up a little sooner when hand, foot, and mouth is going around, but overall the staff is really on top of things.