Jane Addams Elementary School

Honestly, I’m pretty frustrated with the health situation at Jane Addams. It feels like my kid is constantly coming home with something because the sick-child policy isn't enforced strictly enough—I see parents dropping off kids who are clearly unwell all the time. The building is older and feels a bit neglected; ventilation is definitely an issue in the winter which just keeps the germs circling in the classrooms. I checked the recent local data and the chronic absenteeism is over 25%, which is a huge red flag that students are either constantly sick or the school just doesn't have a handle on wellness. It’s hard to feel good about the environment when the hallways look like they need a deep scrub and the student-to-counselor ratio makes it feel like individual student health needs just get lost in the shuffle.

My youngest is at Jane Addams and overall I'm really happy with how they handle things. The school is older, but you can tell the custodial staff works hard because the classrooms actually smell clean, not just dusty. They are super strict about the 24-hour fever-free rule which can be a headache for working parents, but honestly, it’s kept the flu from spreading like crazy through my son's 2nd-grade class this winter. I also love that they try to get the kids outside for recess even when it's chilly, as long as it isn't freezing. The only downside is communication during 'germ season' can be a bit slow—sometimes I find out about a strep case from a fellow mom on WhatsApp before the official school email goes out, but once they send it, it's very thorough.