Montessori Children's Garden (MCG) is a truly amazing place. My husband and I are so grateful to…read morehave chosen MCG for our son's education! He was there from 2.5 to 6 years old. Not only was he incredibly well prepared to start school in IPSD 204 from an academic standpoint, but also socially and emotionally. The school is very well run - with top notch communication and a staff of talented, caring teachers. The staff put on regular education nights for parents, and with no judgment, really helped me identify how to be the best mom I can be. While in the Kindergarten program, our son was asked to be a leader in the classroom and take on more responsibilities. It was so wonderful to watch him thrive and be cared for by an entire staff of smart, devoted, and empathetic women. Thank you so much, MCG, for giving our son the best start! I can't help but wonder how wonderful the world would be if every child got this kind of start. MCG is truly a special place!

All 3 of my children attended MCG. When we started visiting schools there was something about each…read moreplace that just didn't sit right with me. As soon as we toured MCG I knew this was the place for us and it is honestly one of the best decisions we have ever made. Our kids grew their love of learning in a supportive and loving environment. Each and every teacher and staff member was amazing. Our children were given opportunities to grow and develop academically and social-emotionally. When they started attending public school, each of my children was ahead academically. One of our boys can be a bit rigid and challenging, and his teacher Ms. Jennie worked with him so well that he soared academically and behaviorally. Their hours are good for working parents and they even have fun summer programs.

I'm so disappointed to write this review, but I feel like it is my only option as Prairie School…read morehas not communicated with me in over five weeks. After touring the school, we applied to the pre-k program for early consideration (2/10/25). While communication prior to the tour and the application was quick and helpful, we started to run into problems after our application and fee were collected. To keep this as brief as possible, we reached out regarding timing of the decision on applications three times (both by email and phone call) to finally be responded to nearly five weeks past the first email. Once we received notification that we were placed on a waitlist and "...should a space in the class become available, the enrollment committee will ensure that your application receives thorough consideration..." we had a couple clarifying questions regarding the waitlist and the review process (as it is worded, it sounds as though our application was not even reviewed). We have not heard back from the school in five weeks. We have tried multiple email addresses, including the enrollment coordinator we had been communicating with, in addition to calling the school. Unfortunately, my experience with Prairie School is this: To apply, a family must dedicate time to attend a tour, complete a lengthy application, and pay a $150 non-fundable fee to ultimately not even have your application reviewed (which leads me to wonder what the fee is for, if not payment for the time/resources it takes to review a family's application). Additionally, the school does not respond to questions regarding the application process once your payment is made. As I'm writing this it sounds so wild! I would not recommend looking into this school.

We have been with Prairie for almost five years and I have never heard my kids say they didn't want…read moreto go to school. They enjoy their classmates and teachers, as do we. It has been such a lovely environment for our children to enter into learning and socialization. They get to think for themselves, explore the outside world, think about their place in our environment and be creative in so many different ways. We love Prairie!

I can't say enough about Adventures in Learning- Aurora!! My son has been there a couple of years…read morenow and we could not have made a better choice! The Director (Amy), Assistant Director (Elizabeth), and all of their staff are truly one of a kind! The love for their students and AIL families is endless and it shows. I was hesitant about sending my son their due to Covid but I am so glad we decided to keep him enrolled. The safety precautions that they have in place are fantastic! From temperature screenings, limiting people in the building, extensive cleaning, and limiting exposure are fears are no longer there. MY SON LOVES IT SO MUCH, THAT HE CRIES ON THE WEEKENDS BECAUSE HE CAN'T GO! If you are looking for quality daycare that will keep your child safe AIL - AURORA IS YOUR PLACE!!

very friendly management and staff. My daughter loves it here. Highly recommended.read more

My son attended Happy Times from fall of 2023 to spring of 2024. As an early childhood…read moreprofessional, I did great research into the quality of care and reputation of the schools in our neighborhood. Happy Times seemed like a place that followed modern educational philosophies, valued parental involvement and professional development for their teachers. About halfway through the year, I was alerted to some "alarming" behavior my son displayed-pretending to sword fight. I talked to my son immediately about why this behavior was not okay and would not be tolerated. However, my husband and I continued to be pressed to answer for his "alarming" sword-swinging behavior. The director described his behavior as "violent," "slitting throats" and "criminal." To hear my son's behavior defined as a "criminal" who was "slitting throats" sounded like a particular kind of dog-whistle that did not sit nicely. To be spoken to this way by my peers in the early education community was shocking. To be spoken to this way as a family in the community was heartbreaking. We have repeatedly asked in the past for our son's occupational therapist to be brought into the school and have repeatedly been either ignored or dismissed. We asked again if our OT could come into the classroom and observe for any particular sensory inputs that would have led to a meltdown. They cited a concern for children's and teacher's privacy, and also needing to accommodate two children with severe stranger anxiety. Because of these things, they could not allow outside individuals to enter the school. However, when asked why it is that they routinely allow librarians, firefighters, and other parents into the building, we were told that they have many children to take care of and couldn't just focus on our son. We asked our OT to join the conversation via email and were told, in writing, that they were denying access to in-school therapeutic services for our kid. It became increasingly clear during this conversation and the subsequent back and forth emails, that this was not about the caliber of my son's behavior. To my husband and I, it felt like a pointed condemnation of our parenting, a grab for power and respect, and a flagrant disregard for best practices in early education. I was appalled at this whole situation, and questioned my own judgment in choosing this school. As a POC raising another POC, I was sad for what my son had to learn so early in his life-that people will look at him differently and his behavior will be judged against years of institutional bias. I'm not writing this review to tar the pristine reputation of a long-standing school. I'm writing to inform parents who are making the fraught decision of judging who will be included in the care and raising of their children, and the internal moralities they hold. Families who are teaching their children to be kind and empathetic, families of color, families of neurodiverse children, diasporic parents looking for a sense of community and belonging, I hope you consider my review and what it might mean for your children.

We love Happy Times! For two years now my daughters have been at Happy Times and it's been a great…read morefit for our family. Ms Sandra and the rest of the teachers are all fabulous and my daughters think so too! The school is always organized and clean. My girls grow so much every year and the teachers take such good care of the kids. We are so lucky to be enrolled at Happy Times!

My granddaughter has been attending Little Blessings Preschool as a two and a half year old. While…read moreshe has only been there for a month, I am very impressed with this little preschool. It is very child centered; the staff is kind and caring. The activities are age appropriate and fun! I have never seen a better preschool in my 34 years a s a Naperville mom and now grandmother. I wish I knew of this preschool when my daughters, now 32 and 29 were children. I flip-flopped between three preschools in the nineties and never quite found anything this wonderful. As an educator I was particular in choosing a preschool; those I chose were good but not as good as this one.

As a new grandparent, coming out of Covid and sending my grandson to school, was very daunting. He…read morewas newly 3 and needed social interaction as well as early education. Little blessings was mentioned by multiple families and each one had a smile on their face when talking about their experience. After the past two years, I couldn't agree more. My grandson is rambunctious but eager to learn, loving yet sometimes a little defiant, and totally a free spirit. Little blessings gives him wings to soar and a loving hand of redirection when needed. Early on, as he struggled with structure and guidelines, the teachers reassured us, "don't worry, we will work on it.". He has thrived at Little Blessings. All of the teachers are incredible. He has learned music, art, Spanish, health and fitness, as well as letters, numbers, shapes,etc. He is very well prepared for Kindergarten. He loves the staff and they love him. If you were ever in doubt, or have high anxiety about sending your 2,3,4 or 5 year old to school, trust me, start them at Little Blessings. We only wish Covid ended a year earlier so we could have sent him there when he was 2. Dr. Jarvis

This school has been such an amazing part of my child's development. They take special care of each…read morestudent and make sure that they have everything that they need to excel in their studies and life. Religion helps to instill those essential fundamentals that will make for caring and conscientious young adults. Looking forward to watching their continued development.

We love St. Scholastica! Wonderful environment to help our children grow. We love the dedicated…read moreteachers and staff!

This school is truly special and unique. Our children have been part of the programs for four…read moreyears, from Pre-Primary through Erdkinder, and we've seen them thrive in a warm, supportive, family-centered environment. They've formed genuine connections with teachers and peers, learned at their own pace, and grown into confident, empathetic individuals. Learning here is hands-on and meaningful--through outdoor play, performing in plays, cooking and budgeting meals, and caring for animals. As parents, we feel supported and part of a community that values each child's growth, curiosity, and joy in learning.

We are so grateful for Carmel Montessori! My son would be in Kindergarten this year and he…read moreabsolutely loves this school, he does not want to leave when we go to pick him up and is often disappointed on the weekends that he is not going. The teachers have an incredible demeanor, they remain calm when there is a ton happening around them, it's very impressive! This school is truly a Montessori school. We've been to several other Montessori schools and we loved the teachers, there were some things that weren't pure Montessori, where this school is. I describe it as a Montessori home school on a farm. The benefit of the multi-age classroom really shows, he wanted to do work the older kids were doing so, my 6-year old is writing his name and date in cursive, as well as the date in Roman numerals, he has been motivated to read (which had been a struggle before) and is doing "math timings" with addition and subtraction daily. I love that they go on a field trip every Friday and I truly appreciate the parent involvement. We toured Carmel in the summer of 2019 (precovid) as well as several other elementary Montessori schools and we are so grateful he could go here this past year (and will continue for years) and have a more than normal year. Thank you to all the great teachers, the Director, the wonderful students, and all the great parents that make this school truly exceptional.

My girls have been attending this Montessori school, and it has been a truly wonderful experience…read more Ms. Joanne, along with all of the amazing teachers we've had--Ms. Jennifer, Ms. Prabha, Ms. Mary, Ms. Aruna, Ms. Tania, Ms. Michelle and Ms. Debbie--and the entire staff are incredibly compassionate and supportive, genuinely invested in each child's independence and personal growth. We especially appreciate the cultural activities, in-depth exploration of diverse topics, and the frequent field trips that make learning engaging and meaningful. These experiences spark curiosity, build awareness, and deepen understanding. The teachers are clearly dedicated and intentional, creating a warm, supportive space where children truly thrive. Highly recommend!

Most incredible Montessori school. I was struggling in traditional school system. I likely would…read morenever succeeded in school if it weren't for the innovative & creative curriculum tailored each students needs.