I got a decent education for 2 years I was at A.H.S. Even…read morebeing a Latin King the teachers made the effort and showed me that there's more to life than Chicago! I say that as a proud Chicagoan!

Son is an IB sophomore and we are so pleased about the caring and supportive teachers,…read moreadministration, staff and other parents involved with Amundsen. Our expectations have been exceeded on every front. This is a fantastic neighborhood school and opportunities abound for kids to pursue academics, athletics and clubs in a warm and welcoming environment with lots of options.

My son got in to the first class of the Options program at Coonley, and now that he's about to…read moregraduate, I have to give them credit for helping him get into the Selective Enrollment HS of his choice. If you're fortunate enough to test into the Options program here, or be in the Neighborhood program, consider them seriously as a good place to entrust your kid's intellectual growth.

I moved back into this neighborhood 5 years ago. My son is now in 7th. He has challenging LD's with…read morean IEP. Coonley has done the best of their ability to help my Son and listen to my suggestions. I appreciate their help :)

My daughter joined North Park Elementary when she was in kindergarten and she is about to graduate…read morefrom 8th grade. I have been impressed with this school from start to finish. NPES does an amazing job teaching the kids how to learn. They're constantly building on what they know, and rounding back to reinforce the knowledge they already have. The 8th grade math and science curriculum is high school level and I've heard the kids are well prepared for high school. The kids test well for the CPS selective enrollment and private school tests, and most kids go to top rated high schools. We had a lot of support through the whole high school enrollment process as there is dedicated faculty to guide families. The school also has a strong basketball, theater and Science Olympiad program. The parents and teacher community are welcoming. I feel lucky to have found this little school!!

In our experience, you couldn't do better than NPES -- high standards achieved by excellent…read moreteaching rather than testing pressure. This weekend our son graduates from the University of Illinois - Champaign, as did our daughter three years ago. Both went through NPES from K through 8 and thrived in high school and college. Our daughter was in the Scholars program at Van Steuben, our son at North Side College prep. Now for the proud parent part. Our daughter is only a couple years out of college with a B.S and already in her dream job in food science, working for a major company. Our son is graduating for UIUC Phi Beta Kappa with a major in geography with minors in urban planning and infomatics, accepted in library school at the UIUC (which is the best in the country). Wow. They couldn't have done any better. We credit NPES for giving them a very strong start, with an impetus to study and do well that has carried them all the way. The small classes, personal attention, inspiring teaching, encouragement rather than pressure, out of class activities -- it all worked the way grade school should work. Beyond that, and perhaps because of the NPES friendships and good start, neither has ever gotten into any kind of trouble or (to our knowledge) even close to it. We feel blessed. And NPES was a key part of that blessing. If you're thinking about schools, be sure to consider this little gem.

My family has been part of NCA's diverse community for 4 years after my two boys started at the…read moreschool in Pre-K. I've been continuously impressed with the school. Its leadership, responsiveness when issues arise, offerings for students (and families), and overall culture, is phenomenal. Their tagline of educating "minds that think, hearts that love, and hands that serve" truly is their mission, and it shows in everything they do. Here are a few reasons why I love the school: - Their academic benchmarks far surpass all traditional CPS schools. - They have excellent in-school programs. eg. school-wide morning meetings; a "house" system that brings the whole school together and focuses attention on moral leaders from past/present; a buddy system matching older students with younger students. - They have excellent programming outside of school too. eg. flexible early care starting at 6:30am and after care until 6pm, chess club, after school arts and crafts, soccer. - They handle student conflict (eg. bullying) exceptionally well, with immediate responses focusing on restorative justice, not just discipline. -Their focus on ethics, (I saw this as a non-Catholic). They don't over-index on the religion component. Rather, they focus on the ideals of Catholicism (eg. Love of God and neighbor, service to others, human dignity, social justice). They also hand out "Wildcat awards" to students each day in morning meeting, calling out students who exemplify moral behaviors. For example, my son came home yesterday, beaming with pride, showing us his award certificate received earlier that day (pictured). -Reasonable tuition with discounts for multiple students + financial aid. I plan to send my kids here until the age out in 8th grade. They are thriving at NCA.

I want to share my family's experience with Northside Catholic Academy (NCA) during the 2024-2026…read moreschool years. We enrolled our daughter after a positive summer camp experience, specifically requesting placement with a PreK assistant teacher. However, once school started, things changed. Our three-year-old became fearful and anxious about attending. A notable incident occurred during a field trip. My daughter felt uncomfortable and stepped out of a group photo. In front of me, the lead teacher responded by kneeling close and sternly telling her that if she couldn't follow the rules, I wouldn't be allowed on future trips. This upset her further and deepened her fear of school. After witnessing this incident, we were told by others that the lead teacher had a militant approach and that several families had previously withdrawn their children from her classroom. When I raised my concerns, they were brushed off, reflecting a rigid approach that parents have discussed for years. Another troubling incident involved a bathroom accident. My daughter asked to use the restroom but was told to wait until lunch ended. She couldn't hold it, leading to a distressing experience that could have been handled with more compassion. The classroom environment felt overly strict for young children. While structure is important, play and social interaction are critical too. During center time, children were limited to one center for 45 minutes, and lunch was often expected to be silent. As room parent, I saw this firsthand. The assistant teacher was warm, but it was clear the overall approach was lacking. Despite volunteering over 550 hours, I often felt dismissed when advocating for my child. It was frustrating to feel unwelcome for raising concerns, especially when issues were acknowledged only after families chose to leave. Given NCA's small size, it was surprising that an advisory board member only asked about my dissatisfaction on the last day of school. While coming from a good place, this conversation felt more about declining enrollment and the school's future if enrollment didn't increase than about addressing my concerns. I also noticed favoritism within the school community. After serving on the parent organization board, I resigned because the environment felt divisive, with some volunteers treated respectfully while others were not. As enrollment season approached, the principal sent a mass email urging board members to submit positive reviews to counter negative ones. This email stated, "It can take 15 positive reviews to offset a single negative one." While I understand the desire for positive feedback, all families should be encouraged to provide honest opinions, not just those in leadership. It was concerning to hear that honest negative reviews like mine were flagged for removal. As a prospective parent, I would want to know that some positive reviews may have been solicited in this manner. The timing of numerous generic positive reviews across multiple platforms raises questions about their authenticity. Parents deserve transparent feedback when making educational decisions. During my time at NCA, I was saddened by the departure of many dedicated young teachers, raising questions about the school climate. I witnessed conflicts and parent concerns that were not effectively addressed. Bullying is a notable issue that isn't consistently managed, likely influenced by adult behaviors. On several occasions, I felt disrespected by the principal. Once I began advocating for my child, I felt labeled as a problem rather than treated as a partner in my daughter's education. On a positive note, my daughter's PreK 4 teachers during the 2025-2026 school year were exceptional. Their kindness and genuine love transformed her experience, providing the nurturing environment we sought. Every child knew they were valued. If it weren't for them, we would have pulled our daughter from NCA during the 2024-2025 school year. However, the previous lead teacher continued to make both my daughter and me feel unwelcome, lacking even a simple acknowledgment. This ongoing hostility felt unprofessional. While there are caring teachers at NCA, my overall experience raised serious concerns about leadership, communication, and how parent feedback is handled. The school felt more cliquish than welcoming, contradicting the community spirit described in other reviews. I encourage prospective families to ask detailed questions about classroom culture, communication practices, and how concerns are addressed before making a decision. I hope meaningful changes are made so that all students and families receive the supportive experience they deserve, starting with improvements in leadership.

School has been so great for our daughter…read more Staff/teachers do an incredible job here.

I went to Drummond School in the early 70's when recess was still part of the curriculum and gym…read morewas actually exercising. Gone are the days of the old school setting and the way we use to have the lunch lady Fran and Mary, push us through like cattle. Drummond School was the type of school that you wanted to get up in the morning and go to. It was just a very ordinatey school. I went back to Drummond a few weeks ago for a visit. And although Drummond is still the same, it really has changed it up. Now considered a Monessori school and really hard to get into. I think most of the neighborhood is not even part of this marvelous experience. The teachers are now younger and the classroom sizes are smaller. This is a good thing I think of course because that way the kids get a stronger education. Although back in the day it still was the place to get a good education. The teachers back than cared and my kindergarten teacher is now the main kinder teacher. It was awesome to see her and the fact that Drummond still has many of its original traits is also a plus. What a wonderful time this was and is.

Chicago's best kept secret. I hesitate to post about it, so the word gets out…read more This school is extremely strong academically with students attending elite high schools. The diverse learning program is strong and every teacher in this school is dedicated to nothing but your child.

You won't find a more loving, supportive and fun school for your child in the city. We've been…read moreparents here for nine years. The academics are great- the kids are well prepared for high school- but it's the community and the belief that kids should enjoy being at school and have fun learning that has made all the difference. Our children thrived here and love their school. The 8th graders know the preschoolers, the students know all of the teachers and the principal welcomes you each morning. Its a gem in Lakeview. Thank you, OLMCA!

My daughter is in 2nd grade at Bethesda and has attended since she was three. My daughter has…read morethrived at Bethesda and loves her school. Our family appreciates the small, family-like environment of the school. Every teacher and student knows each other no matter the age/grade. Since the classes are so small, teachers have been able to really individualize their instruction and care to best meet my daughter's needs, abilities, and talents. All of her teachers have shown her so much love and have been very supportive of our family. The school's student population is also very diverse and my daughter has made meaningful connections with her peers and teachers.

Bethesda International Academy has been a second home for my 2 children. They both began with the…read morePre K program, my oldest graduated with honors and went on to receive a full scholarship from a well known high school. My youngest is in 7th grade and she is thriving. Bethesda has a tremendous focus on developing successful students/leaders. I highly recommend BIA.

My daughter switched to St. Mary of the Angels in 7th grade. What a great school! She takes Latin…read moreand the math program is excellent. She switched from a different Catholic school that taught Common Core. Math is so much easier for her now. The principal is kind and the support staff is helpful. I was worried that she would have a difficult time transitioning to a new school. Not so, the children welcomed her and brought her into their circle. She is much happier and more academically challenged at St. Mary. Plus, there is a great relationship between the school and the church. The children attend mass on Fridays. If you are looking for a school where your child will be academically challenged AND learn the Catholic faith this is the place to be.

We were a school family for 4 years (my daughters started in Pre-K 3). While I never once doubted…read morethe dedication and commitment of the faculty and staff (there are some lovely teachers), we ultimately switched schools because of how church and school leadership handled issues relating to inclusion and diversity in the school. Like all parents I imagine, it was (and is) important to me that my children grow and learn in an environment that promotes inclusion, tolerance, compassion, and acceptance (which some consider to be something of a tall order for Catholic institutions to begin with). The religious teachings of this particular church skew heavily to the conservative side, and as my daughters got older, I sadly saw how this began to impact them directly. For instance, they don't allow girls to be altar servers. The Catholic church has officially allowed this for several decades (a tiny step toward gender equality!) and when I was in grade school in the 80's, girls could be altar servers. So it's not a radical idea by any means; it's a decision made by this specific church. Also, during our last year at the school, it became clear that one of my daughter's friends was transgender. Her classmates and teachers were supportive, but one of the church leaders handled it *very* poorly, and she was not allowed to re-enroll for the next school year. It could've been a teaching moment, fostering an awareness of diversity and understanding, but instead, the opposite took place. Admittedly, I consider myself to be progressive, and I know my values can be difficult to reconcile with many Catholic teachings. Still, in a time when intolerance is on the rise and our political climate is so divisive, I felt compelled to "walk the walk", as it were. I knew there were other schools out there where social justice, equality and compassion are taught and lived every day, and I'm pleased that my daughters attend one of those now. Again, there are good teachers here, but with the combination of conservative (outdated, to me) thinking and lack of willingness to evolve, I couldn't continue to send my kids to this school.