First, the preschool program is the only thing going for the school. It's clean, safe for them…read more List of issues the principal is a coward, no accountability. My daughter was inappropriately touched by an employee and nothing happened. Students caught unsupervised trying to have sex, literally 2.5 bathrooms and rarely working properly, teachers are always being terminated or quitting. Parents either nice or leeches. The good families are transferring. Mismanagement of money, students don't have enough books, and this is just the good stuff. Stay clear. Improvement, new leadership.

My son graduated from this school, and my daughter stayed till 4th grade. We loved this school. The…read moreonly complaint I would have is there wasn't that many extra-curricular activities. As far as one-on-one teacher working with students, this has been one of the best schools I've seen.

My children have attended St. Helen since we moved here two years ago. The school has a thriving…read moreparent-school association which puts on a four-day festival with music, rides, and a full-entertainment beer garden as well as many other community fundraisers to contribute to the school's operating budget. The school's enrollment has steadily increased since the current principal took over the operation and direction of the school and it is no wonder why. My children are getting an education by people who care and it shows in their development and well-being.

We love this school. My 3 year old started preschool here this year and we just love it. The…read moreprincipal is exactly what you'd expect - stern, fair and helpful. She's not there to make friends, she's there to make sure your children get the best possible education. She listens to the parents feedback and if it warrants a change - whether it's adding a new program, or handling an issue, she tries her best to do the most good. It bothers me when the principal puts on a happy face for the parents. Most of the teachers are wonderful, but do your homework - go to open houses, and make requests. I will say that like every school - not every teacher there is fully committed. I have come across one or two who always seem to have a sour puss on their face. And the work with kids under 6 - they should be smiling in their sleep! The tuition is affordable, especially for what you get. The hot lunch program and the after-care schedule family friendly. I would definitely look into this school - we really love it here and now feel like we don't *have* to move to the suburbs. There's a ton of diversity - socially and racially. The parent-groups are great - very involved but none of that stiff competition you see in other religious based education facilities in the city. Ranked top 25 in Chicago private schools!

I cannot say enough wonderful things about the STEP-UP CAREER ACADEMY CENTER From the moment I…read morewalked through the doors, we felt a warm and welcoming atmosphere that immediately put us at ease. The staff is professional, nurturing, and genuinely cares about each child's well-being and development. The children have thrived in their care throughout the years--socially, emotionally, and academically. They also offer a great variety of activities like music, art, Storytime, and outdoor play that keep the kids engaged and excited to come each day. I absolutely love his company, thank you for all you do to help, grow, and prepare our children for their future. Review from Alisa D. Wimbley Chicago, IL.

I have nothing but positive things to say about this daycare/school. The staff and owners are very…read moreprofessional and are very nice people. The teachers are great. Ms. Shawny is a sweet person. She keeps this place going. If you want your child to attend a school where the staff and taechers care and actually teach your child and focus on development and social skills as well personal growth, this should be your choice . The extra activities is a plus.. always learning and stepping up on another level at A Step UP Career Academy.

My husband and I toured this facility twice. I first made an appointment to take a tour of the…read morefacility. During my first visit, I met the director we walked back to her office where I was able to dial-in my husband to join by video call. We discussed the curriculum, student to teacher ratio, drop-off requirements, tuition/fees, and etc. After the discussion she walked me to the front door. As I stood there I waited for her to show me around or explaining the layout. I asked her a question about the cubbies which she answered. Other than that my tour was over I went on my way. I felt it was bit odd especially shortly after the tour I received an admission chat email. I thought it was bit odd because I haven't seen the infant or toddler room. Nor have I met any of the teachers. I wasn't ready to commit on selecting this place as a new school for my son. I sent an email in reply with a list of questions. The director called me shortly after. She explained she was reaching out because I had some questions. I explained I didn't feel comfortable discussing admission when we haven't seen the infant room and had some questions. She explained the infants were napping but didnt answet any my other questions during the phone call. My husband and I setup another tour to see the facility. Mind you we had a tour around the same time but different day. I guess the infants nap times change daily. We walked in stood in the front then peeked in the infant room. We saw one teacher and a few babies in the room playing. My husband asked if there was anything else she had to show us, she awkwardly stood there quiet. Which I asked her next to view the treatment room. She said, "Oh that is right across from my office. You saw that right." How can I tour a room if I am sitting in another room. I realized this facility wasn't a good fit with the following: -9am drop off requirement. If your child isn't in school by 9am then he/she can't attend school for the day. So doctors appointments need to be in the afternoon and evening! -3 month withdrawal notice. If you planning to leave the school you must give them 3 months notice. -No meals for the infant room. -Lack of transparency -non-refundable fees -There is no in/out. Meaning you can't pickup and bring your child back after appointments especially for those that live local. I later made a call because my child's current school utilizes the brightwheel app. When I logged on I realized Kemit added my son info in the app. I asked the secretary/front desk clerk to remove him from the system. That was over a few days ago and he is still in there system. If after this you are still interested as things change at every facility here is the tuition info. 6 weeks to 4 years old: Full Time 7am-6pm $2150 Full Time 8-4pm $1950 Part Time 9-12noon

Positives: -Very nice facility in a great location…read more-Really liked most of the teachers -My children learned a lot and thrived while they were there Negatives: -Lack of transparency -Very high staff turnover (and no notification to parents when staff left...we just had to figure it out) -90 day notice policy (standard at most daycares is 30 days) -Kids must arrive by 9AM. If coming after 9 then you must give prior notice and get the okay or else your child is not permitted to daycare for the day -No in and out. This can make it very inconvenient if you need to pull them out shortly for a medical appt or any other reason -Kids must arrive before 8 in order to get breakfast -Director not receptive to feedback/concerns whatsoever Me and my spouse were super excited about Kemit but due to the above it did not work out for us and we ultimately made the decision to pull our children out. The final straw was when breakfast time kept getting pushed back earlier and earlier to the point that it became clear to us that they were finding excuses to just not feed our children. During the tour we were told that they prioritized feeding the children healthful meals and hot breakfasts. On multiple occasions we saw off-brand, sugary cereal on the breakfast carts....things we would never feed our children at home. Being at the daycare where we are now really highlights the shortcomings at Kemit and shows us how daycare should operate (open communication, open door policy, nutritious meals). I'd recommend any parents considering Kemit definitely do their research and talk to other parents first before making a decision.

Wow, we really didn't know how great we had it at SLMS until we moved and switched daycares. Our…read moredaughter started SLMS at 3 months old and we have loved every second of it. Nancy is the lead teacher in the infant classroom and she is amazing. We were new parents at the time and didn't really know what we were doing. Nancy helped us navigate the newborn phase by answering all our questions and gave us advice and resources. Unfortunately, we moved when our daughter was about 20 months old. SLMS was all that we knew at the time so when we began the search for other daycares, there was a HUGE difference in teaching philosophies, cleanliness, and just quality of care. Just a few things I appreciated/noticed at SLMS compared to other schools/daycares: - The infant and toddler classrooms have indoor and outdoor shoes which is great for cleanliness and germs. - The Montessori philosophy teaches them independence. They have self service breakfast every morning in the toddler classroom. Many other daycares do not. I know our daughter misses that. - Many of the other daycares will disrupt the class for parents to tour the school (which i did NOT like). I remember at SLMS, the administration was very cognizant of not disrupting the classes which is exactly how it should be. There are tinted windows so if parents want to see their kids interact or for tours, they are not distracting the students. These are just a few of the things that separate SLMS from the others. While tuition is expensive, it is worth it. We definitely miss the staff and school. SLMS really spoiled us and now we can only hope to find a school of similar caliber where we are.

Run away! They charge fake fees, won't show you an invoice and no teachers just aids that get paid…read morelittle. Save yourself the headache they are a complete ripoff

My family had an excellent experience at University Village Montessori. My daughter started in the…read moreinfant classroom and progressed to the toddler class before we moved away. The teachers and staff members were kind, warm, and attentive. They fostered my daughter's intrinsic motivation to learn and make her environment better. The school's enrichment events are also great. By attending, we got to know other parents and truly felt like we were part of a community. Ms. Kiran was nothing but kind and helpful whenever we needed anything. I would strongly recommend UVMS!

Did a tour here and the owner Kiran was very rude. Not at all warm. It seems like she only cares…read moreabout the curriculum and not the actual babies well being and absolutely doesn't care about the parents emotional concerns. I would never send my child here.

While a move took us away quite some time ago, forcing us to find a new, northside day care. I…read morewanted to circle back and leave some kind words for South Loop Kindercare. Not only did the entire infant and then toddler team show professionalism and support, they also showed compassion and love. My experience with the South Loop Kindercare made me realize just why they have been in the childcare game for so long.

awful, my 2 year old son was left crying in a corner when I picked him up and burning up with…read morefever. Never again!

I worked at WMS two years ago for 5 years total and within that time learned and loved the…read moreMontessori Method applied here. From the wee seedlings to the elementary kids, I watched how these children flourished beyond anything else I've ever experienced during all my hours of student teaching at various schools. First off all, the organization behind every aspect of the school comes from the extensive training and education that the school founders have along with their decades of experience. Yes, decades. Everything offered at WMS is all very carefully considered and all the material there is hand-picked by their wonderful teachers and moderated by the head directress. By hand-picked, I mean hundreds of material is considered before being chosen. The material selected all depended on the season, subject, and mastery of each child in mind. This is no easy task. Secondly, the work is all relative. What your child is doing in the infant and toddlers program (from pouring to sorting) will lay a strong foundation for what they will be doing years later in the preschool and elementary program. I cannot stress enough how many times my jaw dropped when I realized how all of the works are so connected. All of the works encourage independence early on so they can master specific work later on. It all comes full circle. Third, the socialization that happens within the walls of the school is inspired by the work itself because the way the work is designed teaches children patience, compassion and empathy. A lot of the work here teaches children how to contribute to their homes and communities in a positive way. It also helps children find their confidence because they realize they can do so many every day things themselves that it sets them up for success academically - from tying their shoes to doing dishes the practical life work is such an essential part of their learning. The teachers have so much patience and love towards their students. It's really beautiful to observe. They develop connections with each individual child and because of the nature of the Montessori applied here, they have the ability to do that as opposed to teaching every child in the same exact way like most traditional schools. While working there it was pretty common for the children to be far more advanced than their friends and family who were in regular public and private schooling. Because of the method, they had the ability to cognitively identify and grasp things much easier in a safe and encouraging environment - all at their own pace. I look back on my time working here with a lot of fondness. As teachers, we took a lot of pride in the work we put into our kids. We provided them with quality education, but above all else a lot of encouragement to explore and play - all important parts of this method. We let our children lead and that is what makes this place so special. They all eventually became leaders in their own right. If you have any questions, reach out and book a tour! They're always really informative and it's a real peace of mind seeing the beautiful space your children will grow in before enrolling them there.

My review will be slightly different from the rest of the reviewers…read more Most of the reviews are from the perspective of parents who have or had children attend here. I will give you the perspective from a former alumni that graduated from here over 2 decades ago. While many of the teachers have come and gone, the leadership has remained steady with the founders since '93. I went to Wonder Montessori in the mid 90s, a few years after they opened, and I can honestly say it was the one of the most important educational experiences of my life. Of course, I did not realize it then, but reflecting back I can clearly point to my experience here to clearly shape the person I am today. Every detail was examined, and every individual considered. I am sure Wonder Montessori's mastery of the montessori method has improved in the years since. I can remember learning to use the computer here, learning about planets and plants and science in general. Singing songs in multiple languages. Even mundane life skills like washing the dishes, oh and of course - I learned to tie my shoes here. Even more importantly social skills on how to properly interact with your peers was developed, and if someone has been wronged we were guided to resolutions, often with apologies to the wronged party. Conflict mediation is an underrated skill. Parents, it is easy to forget how profoundly influential these formative years are for a child. In terms of social development and satisfying their intellectual and creative endeavors - positive and enriching experiences in these areas now will only compound in the years to come. Your children will be more confident, more independent, and more intellectually curious. Characteristics that will hopefully stay with them for the rest of their lives As for myself, what happened to me? While everyone's path in life is different, many years after here I attended an engineering college and studied electrical engineering, achieved moderate success as an entrepreneur and in my other professional endeavors. My final vote of confidence? I will be sending my kids here when they are ready.