Irene C. Hernandez Middle School for the Advancement of Science

I really want to love Hernandez because of the science focus, but the facility issues are getting hard to ignore. We've seen several board reports lately about boiler repairs and troubleshooting, and you can definitely feel it in the classrooms—the temperature is so inconsistent, which doesn't help when the kids are already passing around every bug that hits Gage Park. It's frustrating because they talk a lot about healthy habits and wellness, but the basic infrastructure like heating and ventilation feels like it's constantly on the brink of breaking down. On the plus side, having the UI Health wellness center nearby is a lifesaver for physicals and basic care, but that doesn't fix the day-to-day environment inside the school building. Communication about illness outbreaks is pretty hit-or-miss, and honestly, with the building issues, I worry about the air quality during the winter months. It just feels like the school is struggling to keep up with maintenance, and it's starting to affect how comfortable the kids are while they're trying to learn.

My son is in his second year at Hernandez Middle and honestly, I’m pretty happy with how they handle things. The school is usually really clean, and they aren't playing around with the sick policy—if a kid has a fever, they're going home, which I appreciate even if it’s a hassle sometimes. I love that they emphasize science even in their wellness stuff, like teaching the kids about germs and nutrition in a way that actually sticks. My only small gripe is that the nurse's office is always super busy, so communication can be a little slow if your kid just has a minor scrape or headache, but overall they really look out for the kids' health.