John B Murphy Elementary School

Murphy is okay, but I've definitely got some mixed feelings about the health side of things. The school itself has that classic Chicago old-building vibe, which is charming until you start worrying about the ventilation and maintenance. I've caught wind of some recent work orders for repairs and troubleshooting on the systems there, which makes me wonder how often things are actually breaking down behind the scenes. The staff is really sweet and they try their best to keep the kids healthy, but I feel like the communication when bugs or colds are going around the classroom could be a lot faster. It’s an average neighborhood school—nothing terrible, but could definitely use some modernizing and better transparency about building maintenance.

Murphy is honestly pretty solid when it comes to keeping the germs at bay. My 2nd grader says they are super strict about handwashing before lunch and they definitely don't mess around with the sick policy—if a kid has a fever, they’re sent home immediately, which is a relief for the rest of us. The communication from the office is usually good when something like strep or flu is going around the classroom. The building is older, so sometimes I worry about the ventilation, but the staff really makes an effort to keep the classrooms and common areas looking clean and sanitized. Overall, it feels like a safe, healthy spot for the kids.