A Step Up Career Academy Center

I am so happy that my child was taken out of this daycare. Ms. Haynes does not like for parents to…read moreask questions and when they do she will get loud and become combative. Ms. Chocolate is the only one in this facility that is competent enough to listen and then respond with reasoning. I really did appreciate Ms. Chocolate. Ms. Chocolate is genuinely sincere and passionate about her kids and her job. An incident occurred and Ms. Haynes was questioned about it would not come see what the incident was about. When she did finally come 3/4th of the way to see what happened and seen blood she then placed the blame of the incident on another facility (it was fresh bright red blood). Ms. Haynes failed to follow DCS procedure and place this in my child's file or make note of the incident, but instead decided to say that my child was no longer a good fit for her daycare. She also violated a few other DCS rules and procedures by making parents pay for vision and hearing exams before their annual through a facility that she could not give documented receipts of payments for. Yes, parents are to submit updated records annually, but not when Ms. Haynes say so. Her reasoning was so she does not get another hit in her audit by DCS. Over the course of my child attending this facility it has been a few misunderstandings that could have easily been resolved over proper communication; instead, Ms. Haynes chose to communicate improperly; very much in poor taste. Several times I have asked that we communicate one on one in a more private setting to get a clear understanding of what each individual is expressing. Ms. Haynes has refused each time and her combativeness increased over time. At the beginning, Ms. Haynes appeared to be nice, caring, and somewhat informative, but after a month of my child attending this facility she got upset with another parent she showed her true colors. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS DAYCARE TO ANYONE. If Ms. Chocolate opens up her own daycare I would surely advertise for her; she is truly special and gifted. Ms. Chocolate is the only reason why I would rate this facility at one star otherwise it would be NO STARS. This review is not me being petty or upset because truly I am very much happy for where my child is attending now. So in other words, thank you Ms. Haynes for behaving in such a poor manner. My child is somewhere that I know will learn and grow at as an individual that has an outstanding future. God always has a way of re-positioning you for better, and he did that.

My kids have been going here for a little over a year now. It was so hard finding a daycare in the…read morearea that made me feel comfortable enough to leave my kids in their care. Once I had my tour I knew that this was the place for my kids to be. Mrs. Haynes the director is so understanding and treats the kids like her own. She also has wonderful staff. & My kids will continue to go here until they no longer can !

The Key To Childcare

My child is a student at The Key To Childcare & we love it! Ms. Keidra is a wealth of knowledge &…read morehas years of experience. Although my child has fun, they also prioritize education by providing an age appropriate curriculum! We are so grateful to have found a daycare where we are sure our child is safe and loved.

From the owner: At Key to Childcare, we provide a loving and nurturing environment where your child can learn…read morethrough play, child-led activities, and developmentally appropriate projects. Our teachers are experienced and certified in various learning styles, and they are trained to support children's social and emotional growth. We prioritize a safe and secure learning environment, ensuring your child will thrive and be ready for kindergarten. Additionally, if English is not your first language, we specialize in helping English language learners.

Academy for Children II

My youngest son has been attending here since he was roughly 4 months, he's now 3 1/2. I literally…read morefell inlove with this Academy when I toured it & Ms.Ro was always so welcoming & friendly. Made the experience less stressful since I was enrolling a infant at the time. She would literally text me pictures of him every other hour to make me at ease! I've never had any issues with the staff, they've done a nice job reporting accidents as well. They use the ProCare app which is 10/10 to me. Ms. Reyna is also one of the teachers who has watched my big boy flourish, she's so warming & we love her!

my baby loves it here and they've done everything possible to make sure that she has the best…read moreexperience while also creating a great environment for the teachers and other children. I'm so thankful to have this space to send my child to. I trust them so much with her.

Bright Beginning Home Daycare

Wonderful service! Kid and family friendly environment. Owner is very knowledgeable and…read moreprofessional. Would highly recommend!!

From the owner: 1 ST month co-pay free! Now Enrolling children ages 6…read moreweeks-12 years old.

Learning Tree Childcare Center

It's a great sign when your toddler two almost 3 with glee walks into her class. Blair started…read morehere only a few days ago. However we haven't experienced her being so excited to actually go into a center. We are truly optimistic about her journey with Learning Tree, the staff has been so kind to our family. This was a good decision!!!

My daughter goes here! They are awesome she is 2 years old. This is her first time at a daycare…read more They are welcoming and so friendly. They remember the kids name and assist them with becoming independent. She'll be attending this location until kindergarten starts for her. Thank you to the staff for loving what you do and taking care of our babies

Emma’s Children Learning Homecare

I normally don't write reviews, but this daycare, helped me and my kids and so many ways.read more

From the owner: Emma's Children Home Care is a year-round home-based daycare in Calumet City, IL. Our family child…read morecare program is run by Emma Jefferson and Sharina Jefferson who has 10 years of child care experience. We are open from 6:00am until midnight and care for children as young as 6 weeks through 12 years old, including children with special needs. We offer preschool, as well as, both full time and part time child care. We also have before and after school care for children up to 12 years old. If needed, transportation can be arranged. We provide meals and offer a peanut and tree-nut free environment.

Browns Heating & Cooling

4.7

(313 reviews)

Requested a HVAC and Furnace tune up through the yelp projects…read more Quick response and got us on the schedule. They came out today and the tech was great, checked everything out. Happy with the service and would recommend to other. We will be repeat customers in the future

Technicians came on time and explained every thing they were doing like I was a kid (which is what…read moreI want...I know nothing about HVACs). Technicians were extremely honest and didn't try to upsell. Even told me that if something were to happen, I can call them again and I wouldn't be charged another fee to come out. You've earned a lifelong customer. Thanks!

Don's Auto Interiors & Tops

4.7

(14 reviews)

CUSTOMER BEWARE, DOES NOT HONOR SERVICE WARRANTY! I paid…read moreDon's Auto Interiors to replace the convertible top on my 1999 Porsche 911. Unfortunately, the installation was not completed correctly due to their technician's lack of knowledge and led to multiple issues, including improper top alignment, damage to the new top material, modification of my vehicle without my authorization, and water intrusion that later resulted in additional repairs. Upon pickup, I immediately noticed a few issues: 1. There was a gap on the passenger side between the convertible top and the door frame (this didn't exist before the replacement). The technician said that it will take some weeks for the fabric to stretch out and get fitted to the frame. 2. There were two areas where the top was already damaged (small nicks) which the technician said was due to the top getting hooked by the door. Due to the top getting hooked by the door, the technician also said they had to slightly grind away the corner of my door so that it wouldn't further cut my top material. 3. Last issue and the most minor, the fabric from the interior has a plastic brace that clicks over an interior bar and this kept getting unclipped. Unfortunately, the gap never resolved, and I later learned the top had not been properly aligned during installation which led to water intrusion that eventually led to additional repairs which included the replacement of my water damaged ECU. After discovering the problem, I contacted Don's and had to wait one month and a half for an appointment. When I finally brought the car back for inspection, the technician was unable to identify the exact repair needed and directed me to Porsche for further diagnosis and to replace the ECU that was damaged before they could correct the top installation. Porsche confirmed that the top had been installed incorrectly and required alignment correction and replaced my ECU. I contacted Don's immediately, and spent months contacting Don's and their manager Desmond trying to get my installation corrected. Don's offered a replacement top but refused to install it, refused to pay for installation elsewhere, and refused to provide a refund for the installation service I originally paid for. In other words, I paid for a completed installation and correction of any installation-related issues, but the shop ultimately stated it was no longer capable of performing the work. What has been most disappointing is not only the installation itself, but Don's and their manager Desmond's lack of accountability, lengthy delays, poor communication, and lack of a meaningful resolution. I trusted the shop's expertise when I raised concerns immediately after pickup, and months later I am still left with the cost and burden of finding another shop to complete the work correctly. My experience can be summarized as follows: * I paid for a convertible top replacement that was not installed correctly. * I reported the issues immediately upon pickup. * Porsche later confirmed the top was improperly aligned during installation. * I incurred additional expenses for diagnosis and repairs related to the water intrusion. * Months passed while I attempted to have the issue corrected. * Don's ultimately stated they could not perform the corrective installation because they no longer had a qualified technician. * Despite being unable to complete the work, the shop refused to refund the installation cost.

Don's Auto Interiors& Tops did an outstanding job replacing my wife's headliner in her 2010 VW…read moreBeetle. The work performed looked like it came right off the assembly line, PERFECT! I highly recommend Don's Auto Interiors & Tops, EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE!

Super Sharp Incorporated Sharpening Service

(12 reviews)

Amazing technique, brought a "problematic" cleaver I had back from the dead! Once you spend real…read moremoney on a blade it just makes sense to spend small amounts, periodically, to maintain it!

The owner honed (pun intended) his knife sharpening skills from his father, and has carried on this…read morecraft after his father's passing. He is a true artist, and brought my Chicago Cutlery knives back to life. Most significantly the poultry shears are razor sharp now. I will return here twice a year to have my knives serviced. He knows all about the metals and can speak to you about what it s a good investment for your need level. He also brought back to life a badly damaged pocket knife blade.

Bell & Sons Plumbing

(7 reviews)

I had thought my appointment was today but it was actually scheduled for a week out. Without…read morehesitation, they adjusted their schedule and came right over. The problem was diagnosed and he was honest enough to even tell me that there was no real problem after a slight adjustment was made. However we agreed due to the age of the original sump pump, replacing it was probably for the best. His prices are more than fair and the job was completed within 30 minutes. I highly recommend Bell & Sons Plumbing and will continue to use them when needed.

Bell & Sons is the absolute best plumbing company!! Their pricing is fair and their work is…read moreexcellent. They arrive on schedule, complete the work and clean up afterwards. It is always scary when looking for a new plumber. You never know who you can trust. I honestly trust this family owned company 100%.

Tiger Auto Recycling

(7 reviews)

Easy pick up, showed up on time, very polite service, driver and owner were very responsive.read more

I really appreciate the quick turn around. We have used their services 3 times, quick and…read moreprofessional each time. I highly recommend.

PRZ Landscaping

(7 reviews)

RPZ Landscaping did an excellent job transforming my back patio and flower bed area. Their…read morecommunication was outstanding throughout the entire project. They were professional, responsive, and easy to work with. I highly recommend them for anyone looking for quality work and great customer service.

If I could I would give them 10 stars!!! They are awesome all around the board... Thanks so much…read moreguys will be call again for another project!!!

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

3 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Stacye M.

1 year ago

I work at this center every summer while I am out on summer break from my regular CPS job. Let me just say this place is filled with love, laughter, fun filled activities for the children and creative incentives/bonuses for the employee. During the summer months the daycare owner Ms Shawnie keeps all of the children active with field trips, animal shows at the daycare, water park outings along with on site celebrations whole support black owned vendors to cater food for the entire center. The staff are friendly, professional, loves working with the children and laugh a lot throughout the day. Ms Stephanie, is an amazing cook and feeds the entire building really well filled with LOVE. I enjoy her bubbly personality and look forward to seeing her every summer. Ms Shawnie is a great leader that I respect and enjoy working with her. She never leaves me out of anything and treats me like a regular staff member. More importantly, this center is SAFE and I feel valued as an employe. if you are looking for a day care center to cater to your children needs, teach, and spoil with love then check out A Step Up Career Academy. Blessings. read more

LaShaunessye W.

1 year ago

A Step Up Career Academy-Center has been in business for over 18 years. We have structured classrooms with teachers who put the children needs and safety first. read more

LaShaunessye W.

3 years ago

The daycare is known in the community and is here to help the children to transition to their next level in elementary school.

A Step Up Career Academy Center - elementaryschools - Updated August 2026

People who viewed A Step Up Career Academy Center also viewed

All Day Montessori

3.9

(8 reviews)

We've had a wonderful experience with All Day Montessori since 2021. The teachers are warm,…read moreattentive, and truly understand how to guide young children in a way that builds confidence and independence. Our children have blossomed--gaining early math and reading skills, but more importantly, developing a real love for learning. The Montessori approach here is authentic and well-implemented, with beautiful materials and a calm, respectful environment. We especially appreciate the focus on social-emotional growth and the strong sense of community. It's a place where our child feels safe and supported. Highly recommend for any family looking for a thoughtful, nurturing start to their child's education.

Some of the teachers care the administration does not. The head of school is horrendous. Rude. Not…read morecompassionate. She's yelled at my child in front of me. She leans on policy and punitive measures rather than developing intelligent, active, curious children. She hands out $20 late-fee notices down pick up line if you're a minute late. She hands out incident reports for every single interaction your toddler has that is negative. Pinching a teacher. Pouting and not listening. Blowing raspberries. Our kid was two. We don't need paperwork because she blew raspberries. Needless to say, we didn't make it through the school year. They're uneducated in childhood development and would rather place blame around, particularly on the children, than work with families to develop healthy kids. Do not go here!

Peter Pan Early Learning Center

4.3

(4 reviews)

Our family loved Peter Pan preschool! Both of our daughters went through the program - both 3 year…read moreold and 4 year old preschool. Mrs. V and her staff took excellent care of them and they were both well prepared for Kindergarten. Not only that, because of Peter Pan, we have made lifelong friendships. I highly recommend this preschool to anyone looking for a fun, loving environment to send their child for a great learning experience.

Peter Pan preschool is an amazing preschool, best in the area honestly. Both of my children went…read morethrough their program and I have to say they were more than prepared for kindergarten. They have a play based approach, but don't let that deter you, the things my children have learned is astonishing. Mrs. V and all the other teachers are awesome. They care so much about the kids. My daughter cried when leaving the first day because she was going to miss her teacher, that should give you an idea of how the kids are treated and how much the kids love it as well. Peter Pan also follows the district, they start a bit later and end a bit earlier than the district so you have time to drop off and pick up your other kiddos. If I could I would give them 1,000 stars. I did read some of the negative reviews and I disagree with them; this is an absolutely spectacular place to send your children. My kids love school and Peter Pan helped build that foundation for them. For that I will forever be grateful. I will always recommend this school to whoever asks or is looking. I would like to add to Dominic Leodoro. He stated in his initial review that Mrs. V was a nice woman, yet he keeps his review. Mrs. V can't go back and own the business, so she did the best she could being an employee. She has taken this business over and made it into a wonderful place and program. Replacing what the problems were there. Now while this does not change your experience with the previous owner I think there should be an acknowledgement of the positive changes that have been made since Mrs. V acquired the business. You stating that the program is laughable and that they are babysitters is not a reflection on what it has been changed into.

Lavish Little Learners

3.0

Not responsive when asking about availability or an opening . Why ignore a potential client ? I'll…read morerather you tell me you don't have an opening then receive the messages and not reply

It is so easy to leave reviews when businesses mess up or make you upset but I have to leave a good…read moreone this time. I've been working with this young lady for the past couple of months to provide child care to my child. My job is a bit different and I don't work daily & she is the ONLY daycare that has accepted her with my different schedule. She walks you through her daycare & make u feel comfortable when it comes to leaving your child. I highly recommend her. Extremely professional so far. Might I had she's patient as well because I know I had so many questions.

Bobbie Noonan's Child Care

4.5

(8 reviews)

Checks all the boxes ... caring, clean, good reputation. Pre-school program appears much better…read morethan other programs offered in the area.

My son attended Bobbie Noonan's for two's, Juniors, and Preschool. When the big Kindergarten…read moredecision came I sent him to his local public school. The public school did an entrance test to see how much my son knew, and the great news was they said he was definitely ready to start Kindergarten. Thank you Bobbie Noonan for all your hard work!! My family loves Bobbie Noonan. What a great place to send your kids.

Angels R Us Kidz Academy

4.2

(5 reviews)

My daughter has been at ARUKA since she was 13 months old, and now at 4, I truly couldn't be…read morehappier with our experience. The faculty and staff are warm, friendly, and most importantly, I trust them. She's learned so much--letters, numbers, shapes, even the weather--and has picked up a few Spanish words along the way, which I love. I also really appreciate their flexibility. Opening at 7:30 am is a huge help on days when I need to start work early. They're incredibly communicative as well--anytime I have a question, I get a quick response through the Brightwheel app. I highly recommend this daycare/preschool, especially if you're in the neighborhood.

I absolutely love this Daycare! very organized and…read moreprofessional! The providers are welcoming to the children and they actually educate while still having fun!

Nazarene Nursery School and Kindergarten

4.7

(3 reviews)

My 3 boys attended until they aged out. We have had excellent experiences with this school and even…read morejoined the church. The curriculum is excellent and my sons were well advanced in both Reading and Math once they joined the public school. I wish they would educate up into high school.

My daughter went here for about a year until I was no longer working. She loved it. They treated…read moreher like family. She was really happy, made a lot of friends, and the teachers loved her and she them. She still misses her teachers and friends. They had a great curriculum, a great place to exercise, and were very affordable. The one thing I wish is that they would have challenged her a little more. They don't have anything for kids who are ahead and could use a challenge.

Characters Day Care Center

The staff is very friendly, my daughter has been going to Characters Daycare since she was 2 yrs…read moreold, she'll be 4 in September. She loves it!

West Beverly KinderCare

3.3

(3 reviews)

I love everything about this KinderCare facility. My grand daughter has been going to this location…read moresince she was a year old. The staff here care very much about the kids. They pour into them like they're family.

My kids go here. It's a decent experience they love their teachers. Very open and clean facility.read more

Learning Tree Childcare Center