We absolutely love Creative Scholars! The teachers are incredible. They're so thoughtful, patient, and genuinely invested in each child's growth. You can really feel how much they care. They also do a great job communicating with families and keeping us updated throughout the day. We love all the picture and lesson updates. The environment is warm, clean, and welcoming. It's clear a lot of thought goes into creating meaningful activities for the kids. The playspace is a huge highlight. Our child looks forward to it every day. We couldn't be happier with our experience here! read more

Our son has been going here for over 3 years and it has been amazing for him and us as parents. The entire staff is warm and welcoming and they do a great job entertaining and teaching the kids through fun activities. They update us through a mobile up throughout the day with pictures and videos so you don't miss precious moments as your child grows. There's lots of space at this daycare for the kids to play and an outdoor field close by where the teachers take them when the weather is nice. The indoor parking garage is also great for parents so you don't have to worry about heavy rain or winds as you pick up and drop off. You can tell they take care of their staff because some of the teachers have been there for years and we have built a great relationship with them throughout that time. They also setup fun events like a day at the beach for staff, parents, and family to eat, relax, and get to know each other. We really couldn't ask for more from a daycare. read more

We have been in the CSP family for over a year, and I have so many good things to say about the place, I decided to finally write a Yelp review. Our son has been at CSP since he was 8 months old. He is now 20 months old, and we still could not be happier with our choice. He has been through three different classrooms (Infant I, Infant II, and Tots), and at each age, the school has gone above and beyond to meet his needs. 1. THE TEACHERS For me, the absolute biggest selling point is that CSP exceeds the Illinois minimum teacher-child ratios. That means babies and toddlers get MORE one-on-one teacher attention - better instruction, more smiles, more cuddles, fewer boo-boos. Speaking of cuddles, the teachers are so, so loving and interactive with the kids. Shout out to Miss Daniella, Miss Cathy, Miss Charlie, Miss Gaby, and Miss Jacky. They are always busy with the children, reading to them, playing with them, dancing with them, painting with them, cuddling with them like they're their own. I have never caught them looking bored or zoning out on their phones. It brings us so much comfort leaving our son in their care. He literally reaches out to his teachers when we drop him off for school!! 2. THE CLASSROOMS Another major benefit of CSP is the separate Infant I (6 weeks to ~12 months) and Infant II rooms (~12-16 months); they don't just lump all babies together. This means that the youngest babies get the snuggles they need, and the older babies get the supervision they need so they don't get hurt. (Just think: if they were all lumped into one classroom, teachers would be "trapped" under sleeping newborns and unable to assist curious crawlers!) The rooms themselves are full of age-appropriate toys that help the kids grow their fine/gross motor and mental skills. And the infants get their own cribs while toddlers get cots. (Props to the teachers for teaching our son to sleep on a cot!) 3. THE PLAYSPACE Kids learn best through play, so in addition to the toys inside every classroom, CSP has a separate INDOOR playspace. It is gigantic and every kid's dream! Things to climb on, slide on, swing on, ride on, run on. It's amazing and awesome both for winter (when it's too cold/rainy to go outside) and summer (when it's too hot/sunny to go outside.) 4. THE CONVENIENCE CSP is great about meeting the needs of busy parents, too. They provide organic snacks and lunches. They are totally flexible about dropoff/pickup times, so if you're late dropping off one day, that's a-ok! They provide constant photo updates of your child's day through the Seesaw app. And they even have a covered parking garage, so you're not getting rained or snowed on while trying to get your kid in and out of their carseat. 5. SAFETY Have to add this one during the time of COVID. CSP has been carefully following all state-mandated procedures to keep teachers and children safe. This means temperature checks and crowd control at drop-off, frequent hand-washing, and mask wearing for anyone over 2. SUMMARY Just stop agonizing over your choice of daycare and choose Creative Scholars! We toured so many other (more expensive!!) daycares, and we are so, so glad we went with CSP. Our son is, too :) read more

See all

Creative scholars is an incredible place. We have our 2 kids there, and recommend all of our friends in the area to enroll their children too. My kids RUN into the facility, and they are greeted by the exceptional staff. Della is amazing with the older kids- such a comforting and nurturing person, but also teaches them and has great ideas to keep their minds growing! read more

I had the opportunity to send my two kids here a few years ago and loved it so much that we now bring our third child here. The owners are amazing and put care and love in everything they do. The teachers are responsive, helpful, and vested in the development and education of all the kiddos. I am proud to be a CSP family member and have told many people of our wonderful experiences. This is a wonderful location to send your child to with a play space and park nearby. I feel confident that our daughter is in the best hands and love all the art that she comes home with too! read more

We so loved our time at Creative Scholars. We researched quite a few area pre-schools before settling on CSP for our (then) 2.5 year old daughter. She spent over a year at Creative Scholars and we were right on when we felt cozy, comfortable, and friendly at our tour. The staff at Creative Scholars is awesome: very caring and knowledgable. The classrooms are filled with age appropriate toys, and we were very impressed with the many projects and crafts that the kids make, at all age levels!! We recently moved to the suburbs and leaving CSP was one of the hardest parts of leaving the city for us. They provide a great intro to school and/or childcare! read more

Creative Scholars Preschool - Our last day :( - Preschools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We have been with Creative Scholars Preschool (CSP) for 2.5 yrs and can not say enough positive things. We attended in both a part time (2 days) + full time capacity (5 days) and experienced all of the classrooms. The owners are a class act -- Caring, nurturing, attentive and always involved -- I always knew that my son was getting the best care. I attribute, Madelyn, the director and the teachers to my sons very advanced cognitive and social development (e.g. he is miles ahead of his similarly aged peers not at CSP). During COVID, they were so cautious and responsible that it made the parent community want to employ the same 'responsible' mentality. We will miss Creative Scholars so much, but if you're reading this - don't think twice. You won't be disappointed. read more

We started sending our daughter to Creative Scholars right when she turned 3. She's now been there almost 2 years and we are heading to a new school next week but we are really going to miss everyone. The teachers and staff are wonderful and my daughter just loves it there. We will miss you all! Thank you for a wonderful couple of years! Highly recommend! read more

We visited several preschools when we were looking for a program for our 3 year old. Creative Scholars Preschool was our first visit, and nothing else compared to its warm and inviting feel. Physically, it's safe, small, cozy, and clean. The walls are lined with the children's artwork, and the director and owners are always in the halls and classrooms helping and engaging with the children and parents. The staff is so welcoming, and they do an incredible job of getting to know each child (and family). They genuinely care about the children and interact with them on a level we didn't see upon first impressions on our other tours. We have seen incredible growth and development from our son in the time he has attended and we know it's greatly due to the bright environment that is fostered there. We know he is safe and loved while he is in school, and we can't thank CSP enough! read more

We had a wonderful experience at Creative Scholars and highly recommend it. They provide a warm and engaging atmosphere and did an excellent job preparing my son for Kindergarten and my 3 year old daughter to jump right in to any situation. My kids are curious, engaged and able to easily navigate social situations. The team at CSP's focus on experiential learning, kindness and negotiating through difficult social situations has given them a love of learning. read more

We've been sending our 2 year old to CPS since she was 7 months old and we cannot say enough good things about CSP. It is an excellent daycare that feels like a community/family and where we know our daughter is extremely well taken care of and happy. The owners, Della and Mark are some of the sweetest people I have ever met. Some of the very strong positives: 1. Play based learning - in my opinion a child's job is to be happy, thrive, and grow by playing, and CSP foments this without undue pressure on the child. I love seeing creativity and imagination grow, and I love the endless collages, drawings, and crafts that she brings home. I also love seeing the children's art all over the facility. 2. Excellent play spaces - in addition to a spacious home room, CSP has a very nice covered play area where the children can run around when it is too hot or too cold outside (in other words, bad weather is never a reason for not exercising!). 3. Covered parking - drop off and pick up are stress free as there is a large covered parking lot (instead of dealing with street parking) The BIGGEST PRO is seeing my child excited to go to daycare everyday. She truly loves it. She gets up, runs to get dressed and have breakfast, and then gets her bag and runs to the car. When we arrive at CSP she runs to give Mark a hug. There are a lot of other things we love about CSP, but too many to write about! I toured a lot of daycares (most were chains), and I am happy that we went with this wonderful, family owned, community! read more

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Creative Scholars. The play space and access to Lincoln Yards soccer fields is amazing, and such a luxury for a city preschool. Mark, Della. Madelyn and the entire staff are incredibly caring and communicative and I feel so at ease every day know my daughter is being so well cared for--my daughter runs into school every day, and that's the best thing I can ask for in terms of a daycare/preschool. We are moving out of state and completely devastated to be leaving CSP--they've completely spoiled us and our new preschool has big shoes to fill. read more

I cannot speak highly enough about Creative Scholars. From the Owners, to the Director Megan, to the Teachers. My son is currently enrolled in the Early Intervention Program and it has been absolutely amazing to see how involved and helpful the school has been in fostering his development. We decided to move our son from Gardner School to Creative Scholars and we couldn't be happier. Here's why: - Play-based curriculum. Learning should be fun and it's been absolutely amazing to see how our son has progressed in just a short 1.5 months of attending. - The environment. While the features of the school are on par with other day cares in the area, the operation isn't just centered around learning, but also fun and caring. I leave my son at Creative Scholars everyday knowing that he's going to have fun learning and be cared for like family. - Very clean and well-kept! - The playspace is outstanding. Lots of room to run and play. - Appropriate teacher to student ratios - Teachers. Words can't describe how great the teachers have been in welcoming our son. - Director. With a masters in child development, Megan gets it. She has been so accommodating and helpful to ensure our sons success. I wish we had found the school sooner and obviously highly recommend!! read more

I knew as soon as I met Della--really before I met her when I read her well-reasoned and thoughtful response to a Yelp review--that I felt secure in who she was and how she would lead her school. This is a feeling that has only grown as our son has been at Creative Scholars for a year now (in JK) and we've had more interactions with Della and Mark. I get a sense of innate kindness and goodness from both of them. Our son adores them both, and has been very happy at the school. During difficult transition COVID times, Della has had to step into the classroom herself, and I think that made for an even more special time for our son, who has cherished his relationship with her, but in addition has shown us what a true leader she is how much she cares about her students and how her school is run--she picks of the mantle of whatever needs doing, and does it well and with energy, fun, and creativity. I am sad that our son will have to leave the school to start Kindergarten soon and we would do it all over in a heartbeat. Also, as an aside, we really like the drop off, where you can pull outside the parking garage for easy access or inside if weather is bad. read more

Our twin girls attended Creative Scholars from the time they were 16 months until they 27 months when we moved to the suburbs. We were SO sad to leave this amazing daycare. I toured and researched over 10 places before deciding on Creative Scholars. I got SUCH a warm, caring vibe from the staff compared to the cold, corporate-like feel of most of the others. The owners are actively involved and on site all the time. Beth, the Director, is fantastic and the teachers all cared SO much about our girls. They also have large rooms and the best part is the HUGE indoor play space they have. It allows the kids to get exercise even during bad weather days. They send photos all day long so we could see what the girls were doing. We loved their "play based" philosophy as well and never worried as I knew my girls were very well taken care of. I can't recommend Creative Scholars enough - it is truly a gem! read more

This place is incredible. My son started at 15 months. I toured 13 daycares before deciding on this one, which was without a doubt the best decision. The director, Megan, is spectacular and teachers are amazing, the owners are hands on and the indoor play space is huge with a slide, climbing dome, swing and cars. There is also an indoor parking lot, so dropping off and picking up is a breeze. Highly recommend!!! Organic lunches, very easy to work with and they are exceptionally kind and accommodating. Monthly play dates in the play space is awesome in the winter weekends! There is an art room with a great library. The rooms have high ceilings, walls to the ceiling and big windows with lots of natural light. They use an app called seesaw that they load private photos and videos through the day. There are no electronic toys and almost no plastic (all great quality wood toys). They are always doing new projects for the kids to experience and explore. They use different mediums in the sensory table like water, sand and leaves. The class size is small by choice of the director. I honestly can't recommend this place enough. I am so happy I found such a special caring place for my son! read more

See all

After researching dozens and dozens of Chicago preschools for our two children, we are so thankful to have found Creative Scholars. My husband and I know we made the right decision in sending our kids here, and are thrilled with the enthusiasm our daughters display about their school activities. The school and class sizes are small (4 class rooms, along with a large play space) and welcoming. The teachers are wonderful and provide individualized attention to every child. They are also in constant contact with the parents regarding day-to-day activities and the children's progress (emotional, social and academic). Creative Scholars is heavier on early childhood academics than other schools we looked at. It's perfect for kids who are curious and love to learn. An arts program offering music, drama, art and Spanish language is a great balance to the academic portion of the day. We can not say enough good things about this preschool and will be sad to say goodbye when our kids start kindergarten. read more

Our daughter has been in the 2 year-old room since September 2014. She is our first born so while we didn't have a huge frame of reference as far as preschools go, we did do our fair share of research before choosing Creative Scholars. Our criteria were that we wanted something with a safe, clean and welcoming environment with small class sizes and a more structured curriculum that did not have infant care and other daycare options going on. For us, we wanted a school that was strictly a preschool. We could not be happier with our choice to send her to Creative Scholars. The teachers in the Picasso class room are not only sweet and caring but have worked right along side us to teach our daughter how to be more independent, and have really helped her come out of her shell. They are truly an extension of our parenting team and have always been available to answer our questions and work with us. Their level of communication is incredible - emailing parents mostly every day telling us what they did in class so that we can talk to our daughter about the specifics at home makes family time so much more meaningful. I do feel like she has also been learning a lot. The curriculum uses bi-weekly class themes as a vehicle for learning shapes, patterns, matching, etc... and I see that it keeps her engaged as she's been able to recount lessons and songs from school at home. The model seems to really resonate with her, so we love it. As far as safety and cleanliness is concerned - I never feel uneasy about dropping her off there. My daughter has yet to get the preschool colds that I always hear horror stories about. The staff keeps the facility clean and stresses the importance of washing hands and being clean with the children. The building is very secure and having 2 full time teachers for an already small class size makes me feel like my daughter is always receiving attention and care. I would recommend Creative Scholars to other families without question as it has been a great experience so far for our family. read more

My son has now been at this preschool for a year and a half now, and we are all still loving it. The staff is still communicating at the same high level, and everything just seems to work like clock-work. I'll be so sad when it's time for my son to move on. :( read more

Excellent teachers who are caring of each child as individuals. The class size is small and the Attention given reflects that. Our daughter has been attending for one year, and since that time her social and academic skills have really improved. She is most interested in the sciences, and art and drama. The teachers are caring, well educated and professional. They pay attention to your child's skills and note things to work on at home. There is a safe indoor play space which is great-even when it is cold out I don't have to worry. The extra classes like drama, art, and Spanish are my child's favorite. She learns about different artists and styles of music. Academically, the focus on writing and math at her age is great. They offer a healthy lunch and snacks- our child has several allergies and the organic food can cater to any dietary need. The school is also nut free. Overall, a great experience watching our child grow and learn! read more

Our whole family loves Creative Scholars. My daughter started about a year ago and I can't believe how much she's grown. The teachers and staff are friendly and truly care about their jobs and the kids. I feel really fortunate to have found such a great place for my daughter. read more

Our daughter attended CSP from 4 mos to a year. We needed to relocate due to a job change and leaving CSP was by far the hardest part! The teachers, director, and owners all quickly become like family and create a fun, safe environment for the kids. As a perk there is a covered garage for safe pickup/drop off and a huge indoor playground. This is truly a gem! read more

My two children attend here and we all love it! The teachers here have been incredible! I am an educator myself, so I have set my standards high for my children's teachers as well. We have now experienced the teachers in all four classrooms. They all were warm and welcoming, provided awesome feedback on each child's strengths and weaknesses and have even included some of our home routines within the school setting. My favorite thing about the school is the small class sizes. I had one of my children in 3 other preschools before this one, 2 of which are located in Chicago. I was unhappy with the large class sizes in the others and felt like my daughter was getting lost in the crowd. The teachers here know each child's name and face, not just the ones within their classroom. In addition, the education here has been excellent. My kids come home and teach me things I never knew! My five-year-old is already reading at a first grade level (unfortunately with no help from me). Don't worry about too much work, though; there is plenty of playtime here as well. Although the kids do not go outside due to the location of the building, they have plenty of room to run in the playspace and burn off extra energy. So why only 4 stars? My only negative to this school has to do with the payment policies. It is fairly expensive (but what preschool in Chicago isn't?). The problem occurs when the kids have off or are sick. I sometimes feel that we pay for 4 weeks, but only get 3 after sick days, holidays and polar vortex days. I wish they did not follow CPS's schedule to make the cost feel a bit more fair. Hopefully the teachers and reaping the benefits, they deserve it! read more

We sent our son to Creative Scholars for the past two years and we had an absolutely amazing experience with the school. Each of his classrooms were taught by caring, smart, and (most importantly) extremely engaged teachers. The school is small enough so that each students gets very personalized attention, and I truly felt that they had the best intentions for my son in mind. I was also very impressed with how involved the Director (Megan) is in each classroom - she seemed to have a very firm grasp on what was going in every classroom. It is a very nurturing environment, yet the students are constantly challenged and encouraged to go beyond their comfort zone. I was consistently amazed at the way they introduced themes and concepts and really went much further in-depth into them than I expected, and all in a fun way that kept the kids eager to learn. My wife and I were so happy with how much they were able to draw our fairly shy son out of his shell and helped him gain an immense amount of confidence in himself. They go above and beyond other preschools, including serving a healthy lunch (which gave daily opportunities to learn table manners, sharing, and trying new foods), learning about arts and culture (painters, musicians, etc), and sending a detailed daily email to parents talking about what they learned that day (which was great not just for peace of mind but also for helping us to talk to our son about what he did in school that day, since 3 and 4 year olds aren't always particularly forthcoming!) It seems like most of the reviews are positive although I saw a handful of negative reviews relating to the recent switch earlier this year to a different teaching philosophy -- personally, I found nothing in those negative ringing true from our experience there. From my perspective, the transition was smooth, transparent, and effective. I would highly recommend this pre-school to any parent looking for a quality, caring, and highly educational place to send their child in the years before entering kindergarten. Our son just finished up there last month and we miss it already! Thanks again for all the great memories there! read more

My daughter has been at CSP since she was 3.5 months and we couldn't be happier with the experience so far. The teachers, school director, and owners are so friendly and invested in every child and I love how the school focuses on fostering learning through play and a positive environment. The space is engaging and clean and communication with the school is excellent. I highly recommend CSP. read more

This school is great. My daughter went here for 2 years before heading to kindergarten. I credit CSP for really jump starting her interest in learning. She entered CSP knowing just her ABCS and was reading and doing math before she left. My son is also here now and they're doing for him what they did for my daughter. The teachers are friendly and very patient. They send emails out daily outlining the current days topics and and activities and hold parent teacher conferences to review the child's progress. Class size is small so they can really work closely with the kids. My son loves his teachers and I feel he's learning so much more than just reading and writing. CSP really encourages a positive and fun learning environment and you can readily tell by the big smile that him and his fellow classmates have during drop off and pick-up. read more

Okay, I am now officially tired and my nanny momma has told me this is my last tour for now. Whew. Never thought running around interviewing schools would be that taxing. Nonetheless, I press on to Creative Scholars. This one seems solid enough. Probably not going to make the cut for the final tour for my little tikes parents. I think the location is just working too hard against me. Right in that North Avenue Home Depot corridor along Elston. Lots of building still going on and it's nothing like it used to be but I feel like the neighborhood will be genuinely preschool-ready when my little ones are ready for high school or college. The school itself is in a nicely renovated building, along with Language Stars which I have heard great things about. And the staff seemed great. I think they really care about the kids and I definitely did not get that corporate feel I have been getting from some of the schools I have seen (for the record, I just did not bother to review several of those, they are easy to spot the minute you walk in the door). So I'm going with the 3 stars. Solid, A-OK but not for me in the end. read more

My daughter went to Creative Scholar for over a year, loved it. I looked around before chosing CSP. The teachers are so caring and nurturing, you can tell they love their profession. There is no turn over of staff, which is so important to children. The owners are always there and willing to talk to you. The director has an open door policy. Any concerns are addressed immediately. The facility and classrooms are bright, colorful and well organized ,and very clean. My daughter learned so much. The school will host a parents' day, to show what goes on during the children's day. Great idea! They are great at communicating with you. I received daily e-mails from the teachers. The teacher sends a summary of the week's schedule, so you will know what they are working on that week, and then sends an update of what happened during the week. The parents and children are also great. I know we will have friends for life. We will miss Creative Scholars, but we will stay in touch and visit too. They have given my daughter the skills she will need for school and we are grateful. I highy recommend this pre-school. read more

I was looking at the filtered reviews of this place and this woman had a bad experience also. Unfortunately her 1 star review got filtered, so here it is-I want to start by stating that my rating has nothing to do with the actual school itself, but rather the person that they have chosen to run their school, Ms. Mary Ann Fogg. My child was enrolled in the 2 year old 'Picasso' room in September of 2012. The teachers in the room are amazing. The exact type of people that you want teaching your child. When we enrolled our daughter we paid an enrollment fee, first months tuition and last months tuition. We also signed a year long contract. At the time that we signed the contract we asked specifically about if we moved out of state, what would happen? We were told that as long as a 60 day notice was given there wouldn't be a problem. In February we found out that we would be moving out of state and provided notice stating that our child's last day of classes would be at the end of May. In April we reached out to Ms Fogg asking if our last months tuition would be applied to May, or if we needed to pay and then be refunded. At that time we were informed that they would be keeping our last months tuition because that money had been ear marked for August, not May... Really? A meeting was setup with Ms. Fogg to discuss the situation. It was basically a waste of time. She spent 15 minutes telling my husband (a university professor) that he didn't understand what she was saying, speaking down to him and standing by her 'contract'. A contract that we SPECIFICALLY asked about 7 months ago and were told that it wouldn't be a problem. I have sung the praises of this school to every mother I know. I was asked by the schools 'assistant' if I would speak with a perspective parent about the school, which I did. I spent 2 hours on the phone telling someone how wonderful this school was. The owners of Creative Scholars and Ms. Fogg should be ashamed of themselves. I completely understand needing and wanting to protect their 'bottom line', but to keep funds for job you are no longer doing is just wrong. We have reached out to several other preschools asking them about their policies for this type of situations. Out of the 6 schools we contacted, none had the same 'contract issues' as Creative Scholars. read more

We were very happy with Creative Scholars during the almost 2 years our family was there. My son started just around 2 years old as I was looking for a program that would give him socialization while I focused on our new baby. The school was welcoming to our part time requirements and a huge help with the transition to two kids (covered parking garage for drop offs was a MAJOR bonus!). We loved the teachers, owners and both directors we were under so much that my daughter started part time at only 19 months -- she was ready to hit the ground running and play because the were always so inviting to her. They were very effective at communicating each day what my children were engaged in by sending updates via an secure app. And everyone on staff was warm and friendly during pick-up and drop-off. I always felt I could strike up a conversation and was never rushed out. I am sad we had to leave do to logistics of our new routine for next year. I would highly recommend looking at this play based school. read more

This preschool is amazing. Both my children have gone here and my son literally puts his shoes on in the morning and stands at the door waiting to go play! As others have said the class sizes are just right. The teachers are amazing and care so much(we have Ms Alyson and Rebekah right now). The director, Megan, is fantastic. She really understands children. When our first was having a hard time adjusting to the new baby she had many techniques that helped us at home and school. The owners are involved on a daily basis and also very caring and approachable. Parking is indoor and close which is great for the rain/snow/cold of Chicago. The play space provides a great opportunity for year round exercise and gross motor learning. Take a tour and you will see the caring and love in action! read more

We enrolled our 2.5 year old at Creative Scholars after he had been home with a nanny. This school/daycare has been outstanding from day one. The director is providing a curriculum that is rooted in the most up to date research of what young children need to learn and grow. It is play based and very interactive. My son's language, manners, self-confidence and creativity have all sky rocketed in the 3 months he has been there. The teacher is very loving, kind, devoted and smart. The owner is present, in the classrooms everyday and incredibly supportive and kind. This school has one room per age group - not 3 or 4 rooms like other day cares. It is very hands on and family run. I would not take my child (if I ever had another) anywhere else in the city. I work in academia and healthcare and am very particular, this is a gem, you will not be disappointed. I also have experience with another well known and expensive daycare in Chicago from my older son. The personalization, creativity, intelligent based curriculum that is truly play based, loving staff and family who own it make this a high quality and special place. **The negative reviews may have been because the families had the previous director and curriculum, not play based or rooted in current best practice as the school currently is and will continue to be. read more

My daughter went to to Creative Scholars and had an amazing education. In my daughters 3 year old room they worked on find motor skills, alphabet, writing, sight words to name a few things. As she went up in classes she learned all about art, music and science- it was amazing. My son started after my daughter started K and a few teacher turnovers and was there with a new director. He went from the 2 year old room to the 3 year old room and was in the 3 year old room for almost a year. I disagreed with the direction that the new director wanted to go in. I get that a play based curriculum is awesome for kids, unfortunately that is not the world we live in. With my daughter I felt we had a great balance of academics and play. With my son, not so much. I live in Chicago, my neighborhood school is not great and I need him to test into a better school (my daughter got into the Edison Gifted) or get a good lotto number. Granted, I dont know what is on the CPS test but I need to give him some prep and I thought that Creative Scholars did that for my daughter. My son has been in another school for a month. He is currently learning sight words which he loves to point out when we read. He is also in therapy because no one helped him with how to hold a pencil, and other fine motor skills. They are also working with him on this at his current school. If you are looking for a play based school there are a ton out there and you should look at this one. If you are looking for a school that has a great balance of academics and play this is not it. read more

I want to start by stating that my rating has nothing to do with the actual school itself, but rather the person that they have chosen to run their school, Ms. Mary Ann Fogg. My child was enrolled in the 2 year old 'Picasso' room in September of 2012. The teachers in the room are amazing. The exact type of people that you want teaching your child. When we enrolled our daughter we paid an enrollment fee, first months tuition and last months tuition. We also signed a year long contract. At the time that we signed the contract we asked specifically about if we moved out of state, what would happen? We were told that as long as a 60 day notice was given there wouldn't be a problem. In February we found out that we would be moving out of state and provided notice stating that our child's last day of classes would be at the end of May. In April we reached out to Ms Fogg asking if our last months tuition would be applied to May, or if we needed to pay and then be refunded. At that time we were informed that they would be keeping our last months tuition because that money had been ear marked for August, not May... Really? A meeting was setup with Ms. Fogg to discuss the situation. It was basically a waste of time. She spent 15 minutes telling my husband (a university professor) that he didn't understand what she was saying, speaking down to him and standing by her 'contract'. A contract that we SPECIFICALLY asked about 7 months ago and were told that it wouldn't be a problem. I have sung the praises of this school to every mother I know. I was asked by the schools 'assistant' if I would speak with a perspective parent about the school, which I did. I spent 2 hours on the phone telling someone how wonderful this school was. The owners of Creative Scholars and Ms. Fogg should be ashamed of themselves. I completely understand needing and wanting to protect their 'bottom line', but to keep funds for job you are no longer doing is just wrong. We have reached out to several other preschools asking them about their policies for this type of situations. Out of the 6 schools we contacted, none had the same 'contract issues' as Creative Scholars. read more

We have our 2nd child attending CSP. And we love this school. We originally enrolled here since we needed a place for our then 2.5 year old who was not yet potty trained. CSP is a great school, small classes with teachers/owners/staff that are nurturing, caring, smart,fun and attentive. Great parent community too.To this day our oldest mentions random facts or learning experiences and credits CSP for the knowledge she has gained and she was able to read before leaving CSP. We have to admit that the tuition was tough to swallow at first but we feel that it has been so worth it, plus CSP essentially potty trained our two kids.....TOTAL B-O-N-U-S!!!! Would highly recommend CSP! read more

Creative Scholars encourages a love of learning in a supportive, caring environment. Whenever anyone asks me about my childcare arrangements, I beam and tell them my daughter goes to Creative Scholars. I am a big fan. My daughter started in the youngest classroom when she was 2, and because of her birthday, she'll be there until she's nearly 6 years old when it's finally time to enroll in kindergarten. We love the teachers, who are amazing. We love the integrated curriculum (art, drama, music, Spanish). We love that our daughter teaches us words and concepts--just recently at age 4-1/2--like "cumulonimbus clouds"--you know, the grouchy-pants clouds that are gray, hold lots of water and then rain on us? The fact that she can pronounce cumulonimbus, plus know what it means, is pretty amazing. I love learning things from my daughter. While I love that my daughter is learning so much, I personally do not believe academics at a young age (before 6 years old) is necessary. I believe toddlers and young children should have time to explore the world around them and to engage their imaginations and curiosity. So, why is Creative Scholars a fit for us? The curriculum is very tactile and focused on concrete learning skills (science, math), with introductions to lots of new concepts and ideas. Plus, each teacher KNOWS your kid--their abilities (strengths and weaknesses). They focus on encouraging each child in her own way. My daughter will have gone through all of the classrooms by the time it's time for her to enroll in kindergarten. Some parents with children born later for the impending kindergarten enrollment (spring-summer) want their kids to be academically prepared to take selective enrollment school tests, etc. We're lucky that we can let our daughter take her time getting to where she wants to be. The first day we dropped her at school 2-1/2 years ago for a Tu/Th half-day program, I got a photo via email, mid-morning, of her and a classmate, reading a book with one of their teachers. That photo was followed by an email detailing what the kids did that day. I thought, "Oh, this is nice. They must do this with all the first-time kids." The next day she went back, I got another email detailing the day's activities. I thought again, "Oh, maybe this is a first week kind of thing." But no, over the last 2-1/2 years, I receive an email from my kid's primary teacher letting me know what she learned about and what she and her classmates did that day. At first I couldn't believe it. When would they have time for this? I wondered. But the way the school is set up, with part-time and full-time teachers, they share responsibilities to allow the lead teachers in each classroom to send a progress report each day. I love sitting down to dinner with my family during the week--sometimes having read the school email and sometimes not--and asking my daughter what she learned that day. And what I can learn from her. Priceless. read more

My husband and I are so happy we found this place! I was nervous as I had only had nanny's in the past, but we couldn't be happier! I wish I had known about this place for my older son. The owner Della is so loving and patient and each teacher there really genuinely cares about the kids. The class size are small enough allowing for quality care yet enough kids making it also socially stimulating and fun for the kids! read more

My daughter is in the 2 year old classroom Creative Scholars and I couldn't be happier with the program. The educators are excellent, the class sizes are small and the school is very well run. The 2 year old program does a very good job teaching children to be self sufficient, whether it is drinking from a cup, using the potty independently, or learning the basics of counting and the alphabet. I think they employ just the right combination of play and creative time with education and social skills development and my daughter loves loves her teachers! when I pick my daughter up each afternoon, I'm also impressed with the depth knowledge her teachers have of the goings on in her day, including her accomplishments and current challenge areas. There apprears to be very little turnover of staff, which I think is an important sign of a strong program and the teachers there are obviously carefully selected. This place is the best. read more