Richard Yates Elementary School

Honestly, keeping my kid at Yates is such a struggle with how much sickness goes around. The chronic absenteeism here is over 40%, which is a huge red flag because it feels like half the class is out with something every other week. It’s hard for the kids to stay healthy when the attendance is that low and the school doesn't seem to have a solid handle on the wellness culture. Plus, with the student-to-teacher ratio being pretty high, I don't think the staff has the time to really sanitize the classrooms or keep an eye on symptoms before they spread to everyone else. The communication about local bugs going around is pretty hit or miss, and it just feels like the school is constantly playing catch-up with health issues instead of being proactive.

Honestly, I’m pretty worried about the wellness culture at Yates. The chronic absenteeism rate is super high, sitting around 37%, which makes me feel like there’s a constant cycle of illness going around the classrooms that just isn't being managed well. It’s hard for the kids to stay healthy when it seems like half the class is out every other week. Communication from the school regarding health protocols feels pretty minimal, and with the budget always being a topic of discussion in CPS, I really doubt they have the resources for deep cleaning or proper ventilation in an older building like this. It’s a neighborhood school and the staff tries, but it feels like they are totally overwhelmed by the sheer number of kids and not enough support to keep the environment truly healthy.