As an employee of Alcuin, I can speak highly of this school's teaching faculty, who are among the most intelligent, talented, and committed Montessori teachers I have met in the field. The families who send their children to this school seem highly committed to helping their children reach their highest potential, and see their children as whole beings with social and emotional needs, as well as academic ones. As a teacher here, I have greatly enjoyed my relationships with parents, as they have been so collaborative and positive. We have newly begun a terrific adolescent program, and I encourage anyone interested in finding an alternate middle school, or a high-quality educational program for any age child to inquire. I have been so happy to work at this fantastic and excellent school, which is truly a haven for Montessori teachers who love to nurture and challenge children! read more

Alcuin Montessori School - Elementary Schools Near Me - Oak Park, Illinois

We absolutely love Alcuin. Our son has thrived in the Primary classroom, and our daughter is new to the Toddler class. Both children are happy and actually look forward to going to school! Since starting at Alcuin, my daughter has shown significant progress with her verbal skills and interest in potty training/toilet learning. It's only been a short time, but the difference in her is truly remarkable. For those considering a high-quality, Montessori education in a loving environment, look no further! read more

This is a very traditional Montessori School meaning that they really follow the child. To do well at this school, your child has to be quite self directed. One of my children is like this and so is thriving at Alcuin. My other kid needs more direction and so spends a lot more time walking around doing nothing and just watching other kids. While the teachers do make an effort to engage each child, children who need more direction would benefit from a more normal/non montessori classroom experience. My child is very bright but is left to wander around for most of the three hours he is there. When I observe in the classroom there are always come children walking around doing nothing, while this is usually OK because they are in transition from one work to another, I have observed 4 year olds spend 45 minutes sitting on the floor doing absolutely nothing while they are supposedly changing their shoes. If your child feels like they need 45 minutes to change their shoes then they will get that time to change their shoes because that is the montessori way.. follow the child. Further the mixed age group situation of a Montessori class isn't for everyone and it is your luck that hopefully there aren't too many difficult children or bullies that might pick on your kid if they are younger. In one classroom in particular I was unimpressed with how the teachers dealt with difficult children who are terrorizing their classmates which is why they lose a star. Overall I like this school but Montessori isn't for every child or family. Alcuin has exceptional teachers in all levels and the school is extremely academically rigorous. read more

This bad review is for the Business Manager, with whom parents will work for contract and money. Our daughter was in Alcuin 2011-2012. Our family had to leave U.S. before the school year ends for some reason. We sent notice to all the involved PIC in Alcuin, informing them our departure date. We had a refund check from the school, but the business manager mailed it out 10 DAYS after it was issued and 3 days after we left the country. We had no chance to receive or deposit the check and it expired after 120 days. This summer, we moved back from overseas. We sent email to Alcuin requesting a renewed check of the refund, but nobody replied after 10 days until we had to put the principle in the mail exchange. It did work. We got an immediate reply from the business manager saying she would issue a new check to us. In our email, we advised our address change and requested the check payable to only my name, not my husband, because he was on business trip and will not be back in 2 months. While, the manager still issued it payable to both of us and even sent it to our previous address. Apparently, their business manager has no interest to read our email. She also did not want to give us any convenience in depositing the check soon. Updated on 3/10/2014 As I wrote at the beginning of this post, this bad review score is only for this stuff of Alcuin who continuously ignored our emails. The teachers did a great job and the parents were very nice. Our daughter had a good time in Alcuin and always missed her teachers. While, on the down side, as you can also see in the reviews of other parents on Great schools, the administrative office is in complete disarray in 2008. Unfortunately, according to our experience in 2013, it is not improved enough yet. read more

I've looked at just about every Montessori school in the area, and Alcuin Montessori is head and shoulders above the rest in terms of providing a nurturing environment for the children and a commitment to the Montessori philosophy. We have one child currently in the preschool and one in the elementary school. All of their friends who go to Mann and other schools in the area always seem so negative about having to go to school, but our kids just love going to Alcuin -- there's no negativity there! Our children are so loved by all of their teachers and staff. It's pretty obvious that Alcuin recruits and continues to retain the very best. The leadership has such a strong commitment to professional development for their staff, and it shows. Everyone at Alcuin is so warm and caring -- it is a special community. I'm in no hurry for my kids to grow up, but when they do, I know that Alcuin's Middle School will be the best place for them to navigate the complexities of those early teenage years. It's such a safe, caring, family-like environment, especially compared to some of the other middle schools in the area. You can spend countless hours researching all of the schools in the area just like we did, but once you set foot inside of Alcuin's door and do an observation of the classrooms, you'll know you've found something truly special. read more

My daughter attended Alcuin Montessori from 2006-2012 and I only have great things to say about this school! We considered it her second home for those years! The attention the students get from the teachers, positive learning environment, love of learning that is fostered and meaningful social connections with their peers really sets students up for success when they leave the school! We left Alcuin to attend the Oak Park public Schools (Mann) when she was in 5th grade for financial reasons and were completely let down by the local public school system. Academically 5th grade was a wash of a year for her in the public schools.(She learned how to study to memorize the exact answers for tests and her love of learning went downhill as she would say, 'I don't need to know more than this to get an A mom!") Socially, she just learned what bullies were and how manipulative other girls could be! We keep in constant contact with her old teachers and they have even advised us materials to get for her to help her adjust to her new public school environment! We left the Oak Park public school system before middle school(6th grade) to move to a new district where middle school students are flourishing. If we could have afforded it I would have kept her at Alcuin all through middle school! The new middle school is still way too easy for her (straight A's and top test scores...)and she has noticed herself that she is a bit more mature than the other students. She goes the extra mile again on projects though and her love of learning that Alcuin fostered seems to have returned! Sure there will always be a teacher or staff member here and there at a school that is new or you have an issue with as a parent.(Everyone has a bad day once in a while or messes up!) I encourage you as a parent to talk with your school though about your issues. When we had any issues at Alcuin, the director was always interested in hearing about them and I watched them actively make changes or assist the teacher or staff member that might need it! It is easy to point fingers at someone but it is more difficult , yet more effective to constructively speak with a school about issues. I believe it is the test of time and patience with a school to give them a chance to work out an issue that counts. If the school is unwilling to acknowledge you as a parent, then it is time to move on. Alcuin always worked with us over our 6 years there and we miss them dearly! In our hearts we will always be a proud "Alcuin family"!! read more

My children benefit greatly from being part of the Alcuin community. The teachers and staff are committed to the children and educational programs, and the administration is doing what it can do to play a greater role in the community. I do wish that there were more diversity in terms of enrollments, physical education and educational technology, no institution or curriculum is perfect. What Alcuin does have is an outpouring excellence in what it provides to students. The Montessori method of education may not be a fit for every child, but for those it does work for will not find a better school in the area. read more

All my kids have attended Alcuin. Some of them are still in Alcuin. One in preschool. We find it to be a wonderful place and have not experienced any of the issues that Boris is referring to. Whatever rare incident is dealt with effectively and quickly by the faculty and principal. The facilities are just fine. The Montessori materials are first grade and the faculty fantastic. In these last 9 years we have had 3 principals and I have no complains about the current one. As a matter of fact, she has been a blessing and since her arrival almost 4 years ago, Alcuin has done nothing but improve. read more

My child was in preschool. It started off nicely and quickly became a place that was out of control. Lots of bullying, the building and playground are in horrible shape, lots of teachers are leaving, and the principal is mean. After initially loving it, my child dreaded going. I've recently found lots of other parents who feel the same way. Too bad, it used to be a great place. read more

Our two boys have attended Alcuin for 3 years and we have been very happy with all aspects of the school. Although we were initially on the fence as to whether or not Montessori and Alcuin were the right choice for our children, we have been very pleased with our decision, as have our children. The staff are top notch, the learning environment is warm and caring, and the extended Alcuin community is strong. Following the Montessori philosophy, the learning methods are somewhat self-directed, but the teachers are always cognizant of the works with which my children are working, potential areas for development, and finding ways to encourage them to continue to develop those skills. Our children enjoy the Alcuin community, they enjoy their teachers, and they enjoy being respected as independent, capable individuals within their classrooms. I am happy to see the confidence they are building in themselves and how they are already applying this confidence and independence in other areas of their lives. I look forward to many more years as part of the Alcuin community. read more