James Ward Elementary School

To be honest, I’m pretty frustrated with the situation at James Ward lately. The building itself is showing some serious age—there was even talk on the news about major repairs needed for the old structure, and honestly, you can feel that neglect in the hallways. We’ve had issues with the fire panel and power surges recently too, which doesn’t exactly make me feel great about my kid’s safety or the general air quality and ventilation in an old building like this. Communication from the office about health protocols is barely a whisper, and it feels like the school is constantly playing catch-up with maintenance rather than focusing on student wellness. It’s hard to prioritize wellness when the physical environment feels like it’s falling apart at the seams.

My kids have been at James Ward for a few years now and honestly, the health side of things is pretty solid. The school stays surprisingly clean for an older CPS building, and they're really on top of it when something starts going around. I usually get an email from the office the same day if there’s a confirmed case of strep or whatever in the grade, which I appreciate. The nurse is super sweet too—my youngest had a pretty bad tumble on the playground last month and they handled it so calmly and called me right away. My only real gripe is that the 'stay home' policy is a bit strict sometimes when it's just a lingering cough, but I get why they do it. Overall, it feels like a safe, healthy spot for the kids.