They take great care of our daughter. Wonderful staff. My daughter is excited to go in the morning. The director is the nicest lady, and really gets to know every family. Great choice for daycare in Chicago! read more

Cornerstone was a wonderful first daycare experience for our son. He started at Cornerstone when he was just 16 weeks old. We loved his teachers, Ms. Cassandra, Ms. Moya, and Ms. Taniyah! They were so kind and caring and really made our son feel loved and cared for. His face would light up when he saw them each day. We really appreciated getting updates in the app throughout the day on his meals, sleep, and diaper changes along with pictures and videos. We relocated and were definitely sad to leave Cornerstone. I highly recommend Cornerstone to families looking for great child care. read more

Cornerstone is phenomenal. This is such a nurturing environment for my kids! The diversity of students is the reason we picked cornerstone, the loving teachers are the reason we stayed. My daughter is in the School-Aged Room. So she completes her Remote Learning in this room during the day. The student to teacher ratio is low and gives me the confidence in knowing my child is on task and engaged in remote learning. My daughter's teacher also told me that Cornerstone's remote learning setup is by far the most organized and on task compared to others. The protocols they have in place to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and family is so comforting as well. I highly encourage families to consider sending their little ones to Cornerstone. read more

Cornerstone has been such a blessing for our family! Our daughter has been going there for roughly three years now. The entire staff has been amazing and my daughter has learned and grown so much. She has made several friends and she is always so excited to talk about her day when we pick her up. We are going to be so sad to leave at the end of the summer. read more

Cornerstone is the BEST! My 7yo attended for 3 years and now my 3 yo is enrolled. We love the teachers! They make each kid feel special and cared for. It's a loving community for parents and kids. We also love all the extra activities that are included, like Spanish class, art, yoga, Bobby Bear (PE), along w all the fun projects and activities the teachers provide. We are so happy we found Cornerstone 5 years ago! read more

One of the best decisions we ever made. We had heard good things and checked out a couple other options, but Cornerstone had a good reputation, great value, and lots of flexibility. We loved how diverse the children were, hailing from a variety of countries, languages spoken at home and backgrounds. From our first tour to the time of enrollment, our experience with all the various staff was always positive and you got a sense that the place truly cared. It felt like a family from day one. Our daughter started here as soon as she turned 3 in Mr. Terrence's class. She has blossomed socially, expanded her diet, broken some bad habits and made friends. They worked to address specific challenges and we have seen results. We are so grateful to CCLC for helping our daughter grow and thrive. read more

My wife and I love Cornerstone, but more importantly our two daughters love it too. The four of us couldn't recommend it more. The staff is wonderful and help us out at every turn with scheduling, a huge concern for us with our work schedules. The teachers are fun and provide plenty of feedback on progress and concerns. Or older daughter just graduated into kindergarden and was very prepared. Her new teacher gave us a list of tasks we should work on (writing her name independently, tying shoes, counting, reading) and we are pretty happy that our work load will be light as she has most of those down already. As proud as she is to be at her new school, she never passes up the opportunity to pick up her little sister so she can say hello to everyone. She even tells us about how the new lunch ladies aren't nearly as good as Mrs Bernice, the Cornerstone lunch lady. If that's not a warm and fuzzy bonus what is. From a parents perspective it is also very secure with a front lobby attendant and locked second floor access with front dest attendant. All in all we have been very happy and again, highly recommend Cornerstone. read more

Caring, safe and diverse! We can't say enough about CCLC. Our son started at the center right after he turned 2, this fall he will graduate and head to kindergarten. We have had a wonderful experience with all of the teachers and staff. Everyone is so caring and warm and our son has thrived there. It is truly a hidden gem in our neighborhood. read more

I don't know if I can express in words how wonderful this place is. Our son attended Cornerstone for over 3 years since he was 2 years old. The first thing you notice when you come in is the feeling of being at home, a sense of community, and caring. Everyone that works there have been wonderful, from the teachers to the front desk person and the directors. All the staff know all the kid's names and are always available and kind. They have so many additional programs in the classrooms, like science, yoga, Bobbie the bear (work out class), music, art etc. They have an attached outdoor playground and go outside everyday weather permitting. It's a very diverse school, with kids and families from all walks of life, background, ethnicities, and languages spoken. Plus, it's the best priced school in the neighborhood :) read more

Cornerstone really is wonderful. My son started out in the infant room, and has since then transitioned to the toddler room. The entire staff is very professional, and you can tell they all really care about the well-being of the children. Our son has had so much fun during his time here. He is really happy at pickup and dropoff. We also love the frequent pictures and updates we see on the app! The pricing is also very good compared to other places in the area. We are relocating, and my hope is to find a daycare that is just like Cornerstone. read more

This review for CCLC is well overdue! Both my kids go here, and I could not be happier with how much they have grown and learned in this school these last two years. When we did our research and started to tour city schools, what stood out about CCLC is their caring staff (the director, Ms. Lois, has been at the school for 25+ years, the assistant director, Ms. Anila has been there 10 years, as have other teachers, including Ms. Mullen in the early preschool class who has taught both of my kids), their very diverse student body, their commitment to a rigorous academic curriculum, fun set-up (a huge outdoors play area and a newly renovated indoor play area and gym), a fantastic Summer Camp Program (think traveling Zoo, face painting, sprinkler day, yoga, arts & crafts, special guest lectures and so much more) the fact that they have a cook who has been preparing meals for the children for nearly two decades, and the memorable Spring and Holiday Performances (one has to attend Ms. Brenda's class performances to appreciate the creativity and the efforts spent in the process). After having visited this school, my husband and I knew this was the place we could trust with our kids safety and early education. Fast forward two years later, and we still feel like this school is our extended Chicago family - everyone is on first-name basis. Mr. Terrence, Mr. Jeff, and Ms. Vanessa, all three outstanding teachers, have transitioned to the front office and are always available to answer questions and assist with curriculum-based inquiries. Ms. Mullen welcomes our kids to school with a big, warm hug every morning. Ms. Candace and Ms. Renee in the Infant Room wave us "Hello" when we park and head inside to pick up our kids and it is so heartwarming to see the way these two wonderful teachers care for and interact with the babies (CCLC has large windows all around that allow for plenty of natural light, therefore, sometimes we see them "in action" before they see us). It is not uncommon to run into Ms. Jessalyn, Ms. Lily or Ms. Ravyn in the hallways who give more hugs to our kids and point out something fun they might have done that day. Ms. Waites and Ms. Perez who are my daughter's wonderful teachers are our next stop. I could spend an entire day writing about these two amazing teachers but I will limit myself to the highlights: and impeccably clean and organized classroom, a library station and library cards that are stamped each time the little ones drop of their latest book report (we are talking about 4 and 5 year olds with their own library cards here), seasonal journals, and finished projects on display. And, they both make time to share with us our daughter's progress. We then move on to pick up our son from Ms. Tia and Ms. Breonna's class. This is where my heart melts at seeing the jokes that my son and Ms. Tia exchange, their drawn out silly goodbyes etc. We get lots of more goodbyes from everyone as we head out, and I am proud to see the pictures of children from so many different nationalities displayed in the entry/exit area. Most parents do everything they can to offer their children a bright future, and I feel that for us, that important first step has been that of having chosen CCLC for their education! read more

The Summer Program here at Cornerstone Children's Learning Center has been such an amazing experience for my daughter Cleo, who is 6yrs old. It's a great find in Chicago!!...a CREATIVE, NURTURING, ORGANIZED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT with a DELIGHTFUL-QUALITY STAFF, who give an enormous amount of individual attention to the children. We found out about it last minute from another parent. Ironically, I had Cleo signed up for another camp in Lincoln Park and long story short...we returned to CCLC for the duration of the summer! FYI... The breakfast/lunches/snacks are customized for the kiddies and included in the tuition(Cleo loves the food as well). The 'drop off parking' in front of the building is super convenient. It is reassuring to know I can bring Cleo back to CCLC during school holiday time-vacation days this year. Jeri Ioannou read more

Cornerstone Children's Learning Center is one of Chicago's hidden gems. My daughter has been attending for over a year and a half, and we have loved it. I was reticent at first to put her in a group child care environment after the positive experiences we had had with nanny and babysitters for her first three years of life, but our schedule and geographic needs demanded it. It took my daughter a couple of weeks to adjust to not being the sole center of attention, but once she did, she blossomed. Her teacher at the time, Ms. Anila, did an incredible job of creating a structured and happy classroom environment that balanced learning with fun. She got to know children as individuals and developed relationships such that each child felt that they were her special favorite. Ms. Anila is great, but she is not alone--all of the teachers my daughter has had--Ms. Cicely, Ms. Sandra, Ms. Emily, Ms. Par, and Ms. Keisha--go out of their way to build strong relationships with children and parents. I always have felt that I am working in partnership with the classroom teachers on my daughter's goals. Other reasons why I love CCLC: * It's a diverse, truly international community. There is a great balance of Asian, Hispanic, White, and Black students. In fact, 18 separate first languages other than English are spoken in the homes of CCLC families. The school also boasts great ethnic and religious diversity (families claim 23 different ethnic identities, from nearly all continents). * It's affordable. At $240 per week for 3-5 year-olds (and $5 more for 2-year-olds), this is one of the most affordable schools in the area. This is in large part because the school operates as a Not-For-Profit organization in association with nearby LaSalle Street Church. While many families pay full tuition, the school budget allows for scholarships to support those families who demonstrate additional need. Tuition includes Spanish classes with Language Stars as well as Bobby Bear Fun & Fitness classes (which my daughter LOVES) every week. * It's a great community. The kids enjoy each other, and they get along. Likewise, there is a strong camaraderie among parents. My daughter doesn't come with bullying or "bad boy" stories from class. This is a positive environment. In August, I hosted a birthday party off-site, and most of my daughter's class was able to attend--an inadvertently HUGE party (25 + young kids). At the end of the party, the hosts of the venue made a point of mentioning how impressed they were at how well everyone shared and got along. I think this is because of how teachers carefully cultivate cooperation and conflict resolution skills (working to develop that social-emotional intelligence that is so important at this age!), such that children use them even when they are apart from the teachers. * The facility is great. I have been in many day care centers that feel depressing to me. This is a building that I would want to spend time in. With its second floor location (including a roof-top outdoor playground) and classrooms surrounded with windows, the school gets lots of light. The rooms are color-coded and organized into inviting play areas. * I like the curriculum. The school uses the Regglio-Emilio - based curriculum adopted by Childtime, its management organization, and has begun implementing the Learning Care System, which actually generates a chart of your child's progress along 10 or so scales at parent-teacher conferences, so you can track which skills your child has mastered, and which she will be working on next. Most families come to CCLC via word of mouth, but I know there are lots more families "out there" who are looking for high quality, affordable preschool/child care. CCLC is a great option--I know we are going to miss it when my daughter is in Kindergarten next year. read more

What a great childcare and education facility. The teachers and staff all work closely together and the vibe is very welcoming and kind as a result. My very attached three year old had a rough transition at first, but with the care and kindness of all the teachers at cclc she truly thrived. The hours and drop off / pick up times are very flexible and would be great for most working families. I would frequently drop off around 7:30 am and there is always a dedicated care provider available to engage and interact with the children until the 'school day' starts. A huge bonus is the serving of breakfast, lunch, and a snack. I can't say enough good things about the staff - every person from the food preparer to office staff to teachers to the director was kind and engaged and made a positive impact on my daughter. Highly recommended. read more

Absolutely top notch. The teachers here are amazing. My daughter has been at this center for over a year and she has grown so much and has learned even more. She loves going to school with her friends. The teachers engage the students and really care about their development. The center is clean, organized, orderly, the teachers are kind but firm; it is obvious they enjoy what they do. One of the most reasonably priced centers in the area. read more

We love the school so much. My daughter just graduated this summer. She really enjoyed the school time very much. The teachers are so loving and caring for the kids. My daughter enjoyed playing with them and answering math problems some teacher gave just to her. Since some teachers noticed that she love math so much and very advanced. So she told me: mom, my school is the best in the world. Can I just stay here even when I grow up? LOL! "Well, of course you can't. You will graduate one day", I told her. "But still you can come back and visit. " Now my son came to this school. He got used to it very fast. Every day I can see the videos took by the teacher. He enjoyed the time and made friends very soon. read more

I highly recommend Cornerstone Daycare! My 35 month old daughter receives nurturing care from her awesome team of two year old room teachers (ms. Vanessa, ms. Sandy, ms. Danika and mr. Jeff). I appreciate the diversity of both staff and students there. My daughter had learnt so much and enjoys going to daycare daily! It puts this working mom at ease. read more

I have sent my two kids to the children center on Wells street, and seeing them happy is a good measure of the center's success in educating and keeping kids interested and in a constant learning path. The teachers are friendly, loving, sociable, and very caring with each and every kid that I know at the center. Also, it is the most culturally diverse place that I know. My kids interact with people of all cultures, which makes it even more exciting. One thing to point out is my 4-year old kid does not want to leave at the end of the day, which is also a good measure of the center's environment. This is my son's last year and I am very thankful in life that I found an affordable place to take care of my kid and educate him while I was busy at work. I highly recommend this place. Giulio Pedota read more

I highly recommend Childtime at Cornerstone. Our almost-4-yo has been attending since January of 2014, and he loves it more everyday. All of the highly qualified teachers bring different skills and talents to their classrooms, and they all seem to know every child. We know that when our son moves into the next level, the teachers already know and appreciate him for who he is. The staff members are also highly participatory in the daily activities and the children love them all. Everyone is so patient and kind. We have all learned so much from being members of this community! One of the greatest values of being at Childtime at Cornerstone is that it is truly diverse. Our son gets to learn how to be with and respect all kinds of folks from different countries and backgrounds. That is a rare and treasured experience. read more

My son has been attending school here since November 2014. He loves coming to school each day. The teachers are great and engaging and the administrative staff is easy to talk to and work with. Location is great as well and very close to downtown. It definitely feels like a family at CCLC. read more

Just wanted to second Janine's thorough review. We've had two kids at Cornerstone/Childtime over the past eight years and we really loved the teachers and vibe, as well as both the curricular and extracurricular activities. Special kudos to Ms. Marsha and Ms. Cicely for their loving care and in-depth nature activities! read more

We have both our kids at Cornerstone for about 7 months - one in pre-K and one in early preschool. Cornerstone is great and the best choice we ever made for our kids. Before choosing Cornerstone, we have been at 2 other centers that had a high turnover rate of teachers, were more expensive, and less professional. We really like Cornerstone's educational program in both of the classrooms, the diversity of kids, the great permanent staff, and their overall way to educate and communicate with our kids. They are loving and kind and really care about the principles of child care. Unfortunately, we have to leave this school, because we are moving back to our home country, but during this last week of attendance the teachers of my older child prepared a farewell party and a super sweet memory book with pictures, drawings, and cards. It made my daughter feel really special! And the teachers of my little one in preschool put so much effort and patience into helping him use the potty during the past months and really made him feel comfortable doing so. What we also really like is their own school playground so kids are able to go outside once or twice a day depending on weather conditions. Thank you, Cornerstone, for a great time! read more

This place is fabulous! I went back to work when my baby girl was just 14 weeks and the entire staff not only went out of their way to make sure my girl was taken care of, comfortable, and loved but made sure I was comfortable as well. The infant teachers Ms Kathy and Ms Candace are nothing short of amazing! They took care of my daughter who was extremely attached to me and got her to be comfortable with others, smile, and play with the other kids. My daughter loved being there each day. They sent me pics and updates all the time and truly showed how much they cared for each child. I cannot say enough good things about everyone there! read more

I cannot say enough good things about the teachers here. I had a lot of anxiety about my very shy, clingy 2.5 year old starting daycare and the experience has completely exceeded our expectations. Ms. Danielle and Ms. Stephanie are two of the most special people on this Earth -- kind, patient, knowledgeable, supportive, I can go on and on. My daughter constantly tells us about her interactions with her teachers and it's clear that each day they go above and beyond the call of duty to create a safe, nurturing, and overall wonderful environment for the kids. In a few short months, we are already seeing a difference and my daughter is starting to break out of her shell, gain confidence, learn new things, and eat new foods! Fantastic experience so far. read more

My daughter has been attending Cornerstone/Child Time for about 6 months now and she absolutely loves it! She's building great friendships and seems to be learning so much, it amazes me every day. The staff there is always friendly, have energy to not only keep up but lead the kids in various activities, and I also like their methods of discipline. I've enjoyed many of the activities like: parent picnic, holiday show, and 100 day of school project which all get the parents involved. They have a monthly newsletter which also keeps the parents up to date on the things going on there. When we moved to Chicago a few years ago, I was unsure of how to find a quality child care but finally I am completely satisfied becuase of Cornerstone and their wonderfull staff. read more

Cornerstone is a fabulous little daycare. My son was cared by them for six months and the reason we removed him was because it was quite out of our way and this is the only reason we took him out. Definitely would have stayed if it wasn't so far away for us. This daycare is top notch, and being from Australia we wanted a mixed group of kids for our son to play with it is very diverse in terms of having a range of ethnicities attending not only African American or Caucasian. My son loves it here and since he has been in their care his language acquisition has improved 10 fold. Lois is an excellent director and responds to emails promptly. Anila, the other office manager, is very sweet and cares about the children immensely. My son was cared for by Mr Jeff and Ms Stephanie in the 3 year old room and they were so sweet and it shows that they care and love their job. We love you guys and will miss all of you very, very much. Thank you for being a part of Sabin's life journey. read more

I continue to be an enormous fan of Cornerstone, and I wanted to post an update that they are in the process of obtaining approval and building out an infant and toddler room that should be open in the Spring of 2016. If you are looking for quality and affordable care for your baby/kids, do yourself a favor and check this place out. It's a hidden gem in Chicago. read more

Wonderful preschool, our family loved this school, everyone made us feel at home and took great care of our little one!

I have been taking my children to Cornerstone for 5 years now. The staff is caring and lovable to the children. They do a wonderful job teaching while having fun. My three year old always looks forward to going to school. And my oldest that graduated from there, also likes to attend on CPS holidays. I really enjoy taking my kids there because I know I leave them in good hands. The teachers try their best to teach the kids as much as possible to get them ready for CPS testing. This is truly a wonderful place! read more

My daughter has attended for almost a year now and loves it here. She has made wonderful friends, loves her teacher Ms. Emily and the staff are all caring and concerned individuals. Here you can be sure that your child will be well cared. read more