James Madison Elementary School

Madison is okay, but honestly, it feels like any other struggling CPS school when it comes to the health side of things. The teachers really care—there's a coach there everyone loves—but the building is older, and you can definitely feel it in the air quality and the general cleanliness. Communication about when a bug is going around the classroom is pretty hit or miss; sometimes I find out from other moms in a group chat before I hear anything from the office. It’s pretty average, nothing great, nothing terrible, just feels like they're doing the bare minimum to keep the kids in seats.

My youngest is in 2nd grade at James Madison and I’ve been pretty happy with how they handle things. The school stays on top of washing hands, especially during flu season, and the nurse is actually really responsive if someone gets a scrape or feels under the weather. They’re super strict about the 24-hour fever-free rule, which can be a headache when you have to miss work, but it definitely keeps the whole class from getting sick at once. The building is older, so it’s not always sparkling, but it feels cared for and the staff really seems to look out for the kids' well-being.