John C Burroughs Elementary School

To be honest, the health situation at Burroughs is a bit of a headache. The chronic absenteeism rate is super high—like way over 25%—and you can really feel it in the classrooms. It feels like there's always a bug going around because the kids are constantly out, and I don't think the school does enough to stay on top of sanitizing or enforcing sick policies. Plus, the building is older, and while they've done some capital work, I’m still worried about the ventilation and general upkeep. It’s tough because I like the community feel, but the constant illness and high student-to-staff ratios make it feel like the kids aren't getting the individual wellness support they need. It’s hard for one nurse or counselor to track everyone when so many students are struggling to show up consistently.

My kid has been at Burroughs for a couple years now and honestly, I’m pretty happy with how they handle things. The school usually feels pretty clean when I’m there for pick-up, and the principal is really good about sending out emails if there’s a stomach bug or something going around the classroom so we can keep an eye out. They’re super strict about the '24-hour fever-free' rule which can be a pain for working parents, but it definitely helps keep the whole class from getting sick at once. It’s a neighborhood school so it feels like they actually care about the kids' well-being, though I do wish they had more outdoor time during the winter months instead of just being in the gym.