I have all three of my children enroll in Lake Shore, Andersonville location. I am very happy with the care that my children have gotten teachers are amazing always going above and beyond. read more

My daughter Natalia absolutely loves her music class with Mr. Ray! He has a wonderful way of connecting with the kids--patient, upbeat, and genuinely passionate about teaching. I've seen Natalia come home excited to sing new songs and show me everything she learned. Mr. Ray creates such a fun and positive environment, and it's clear he truly cares about each child's growth and confidence. We're so grateful for the joy he brings to the classroom every week! Highly recommend! read more

We started our daughter at Lake Shore Schools when she was 15 months old and soon she'll be starting preschool with them in the fall (we were on the waitlist since birth but didn't make it in so we went to Tiny Giants Infant Center which is run by the same owner of LSS and we were also really happy with our experience there). We've been so happy with the care they've provided our daughter. We've even moved further away from the neighborhood and decided to keep her there because we trust that she's getting the best care there. We're also expecting another baby who is already on the waitlist for the fall! Staff provides feedback everyday on her progress in addition to two parent teacher conferences a year. We've not had any issues communicating with teachers or staff. Staff also get multiple professional development meetings throughout the year so they can continuously improve. The staff seem happy to be there and there has not been much turnover. Our daughter has had a consistent teacher throughout the last year and a half that she's been there. I appreciate how democratic the support staff have been during COVID-- providing opportunities for feedback from parents on decisions made about masks for students and teachers. I can't say enough about Lake Shore Schools. They've been amazing! read more

If you are looking for a child care provider, apply for Lake Shore Schools! I am grateful everyday for the wonderful care that my sons receive while in their care. My toddler started in the infant room and is now in Pre-K (and thriving) and our new guy just started in the infant room and comes home happy and smiling. The administration is kind, communicative, caring and helpful (I cannot praise the center enough for how they navigated the pandemic, it was truly remarkable). The teachers are passionate, caring and change makers--our toddler is excited to go to school every single day. They have a wonderful on site playground and garden, a fantastic music teacher (we all love Mr. Ray), engaging toys and activities and a wonderful app that allows parents the ability to communicate with teachers easily and receive pictures throughout the day. I am so grateful for Lake Shore Schools and now the lasting impacts this center will have on my boys! read more

We currently have two children in care at Lake Shore - we love it! Our children are so well- cared for by the staff and administration. They are both so excited to go to school every day and absolutely love their teachers. The children get lots of outside time every day and lots of variety in activities. We love the continuity of care model where the teachers and students stay together for their first three years. It allows families and teachers to develop great relationships! I highly recommend Lake Shore. read more

Lake Shore Schools exceeded our expectations for an early childhood center. The teachers and staff members are kind, qualified, and passionate. The classrooms are filled with educational and inspirational learning material and activities appropriate to the students respectively. There is a well-balanced daily agenda which seamlessly flows from teacher organized instruction to hands on learning and the practice of necessary social skills. Each week, the children begin a new topic of study related to culture, practical life lessons, language, how to acknowledge others' moods and express their own emotions, methods of transportation, etc. The teachers do a wonderful job of circling back to make sure the lessons build upon each other, so that students can form their own connections between the unit topics and what they experience in their own lives. The educational method being implemented in the classroom is very hands-on, and the idea that children learn by doing is a philosophy shared by all. In my son's Pre-K class, they recently learned about the cycle of butterflies. In addition to reading books about the process and creating artwork to be showcased around the school, they were given an actual chrysalis to witness the final stages of the cycle. Once the butterfly emerged, the children released it outside. Each week, something just as exciting is being taught, learned, and experienced at Lake Shore Schools. read more

We had a great experience at Lake Shore. My daughter started in one of the two infant rooms when she was 8 months, and stayed at the school until she was 3 1/2 (we only left the school because we moved). The best thing about the school are the deeply committed and caring teachers. I always felt like my daughter's teachers understood her, supported her, and loved her, and I felt like her teachers became part of our family. read more

Lake Shore Schools has surpassed my hopes and dreams for a safe place for our daughter. The teachers are all qualified, professional, compassionate, and honestly part of our family. The office staff is responsive, friendly, and so knowledgeable about resources for families. Most importantly, the care the entire school (teachers, admin, kitchen staff) take for the students is top-notch. Our daughter has a lot of food allergies. I have never once been concerned that she would be given something that would harm her. The constant communication from the teachers and admin regarding party food is incredible. They have gone out of their way multiple times to ensure that our daughter can still participate in birthdays and other celebrations by having treats that are safe for her. I've jokingly said "So, she's here until she graduates high school, right?" because we love them so much. As someone who works in education, this is the only place I will send my child. read more

My son is just finishing his first year in the infant room and my daughter attended when she was 2. We love it. The teachers are caring and devoted. Admin has always been helpful and super welcoming. I love that they go outside everyday (weather permitting). The classrooms are clean, and the kids are happy. Highly recommend. read more

Look at recent reviews when deciding on sending your child to this school...not old ones. The management has changed! I LOVE THIS SCHOOL!! I was one of those parents that for a good year, passed by and didn't think much of it due to the appearance on the outside...and reading old reviews, not paying attention to the dates. Good lesson in not judging a book by its cover. I had used a nanny and a small home day care before bringing my child to Lake Shore. I'm just sad I didn't do this sooner. My two-year old is in the lower school campus (for 0-3) and the amount he has excelled in such a short time has been unbelievable!! My son, in one month, is close to being completely potty trained (never had gone on the potty at home), knows at least 10 Spanish words that he now uses in his vocabulary, comes home singing new songs every day, and knows everyone's name. It brings such a smile to my heart! I really love being greeted every time I walk in with smiles. What a great way to start and end my day. The school administrators care about creating a community. They take the kids on field trips once a month, spirit days once a month, child/parent parties, parent-only meetings for feedback...need I go on? I highly recommend Lake Shore Schools...at least for the younger campus, as that's all I've experienced. read more

As city parents with a two-year-old, we've enrolled our child in three different daycares to accomodate job changes. We've experienced three different environments, styles of care, ranges in price, and organizational cultures. All three schools were medium-to-large sized daycares. After a few months at the Lake Shore School on Clark, my wife and I are wondering why we didn't enroll our son sooner. I guess we always walked past the store-front style facade and thought, "man, looks really dark and crowded in there." We were wrong. We should have taken a tour. It's actually pretty huge and bright when you get in there. The school is a caring, safe, and engaging environment, managed by well-trained teachers. Between our three different daycares, we've experienced the gamut in levels of care. His current teachers are at the high end in their attention to detail and involvement in addressing his needs. They're responsive and show great expertise in handling development challenges. We have a child in the midst of terrible twos and they were quick to call a meeting with us when they spotted defiant behavior. They presented a well-prepared plan for home and school that included research and handbooks, and impressed us with their enthusiasm to work with us as a team. It's quickly making a big difference. Perhaps some of the concerns expressed here have been addressed since they were posted. We really considered this feedback when we were investigating the school, but noticed that the reviews were a bit dated. In our time we've experienced: -Clean, safe learning environments, full of well-organized play areas. In our son's room, there is a computer that teachers use to play interactive books and children's CDs. -An outdoor play area in the back that is large and protected with with heavy wooden fencing. I hung out in the back during a parent open house and I didn't have any sense of insecurity. -Well-trained, experienced teachers. One of our son's teachers has a Big Ten education. The experience I mentioned above is a great example of the training and expertise exhibited by the staff. We've worked with over a dozen teachers since starting our kid in day cares two years ago, and are completely satisfied and trust this group. Finally, I should mention pricing. The place is an incredible value when compared to other programs. We are getting everything and more from a development and programming standpoint that we received elsewhere at higher rates of tuition. Our son is constantly immersed in art, learning new songs, devouring books, taking field trips (he never experienced this before), and is a very happy little guy. I definitely recommend this day care for toddlers and twos. read more

We love Lake Shore Schools, and I agree, you have to look at recent reviews, especially for a place that has been around for decades. In the last 2 years, management has changed and great pains have been taken to improve facilities as well as education. My daughter is 2 and has been at LSS since August of 2013, starting in the infant room, a full year in the toddler room and now in the 2-3 year-old room. She LOVES going to school, which is perhaps the most telling. The hours LSS is open is very feasible for working parents - earliest drop-off at 6:45am, latest pickup at 6:00pm. They request a 10-hour max, but even if one has to occasionally go over that (without taking advantage) it isn't a problem. I can't say enough about her lead teacher, Amanda. She is caring and has been with Sam since the infant room - a wonderful thing about the curriculum is that teachers (at least lead teachers) stay with the group of students from infancy through 3 years of age. This consistency is fantastic. There is more turnover with the assistants, as to be expected, but all of them have been wonderful and different, and provided my daughter with additional enrichment. Any mild issues that have come up regarding payments or changes to tuition have been handled with grace by the administrative staff, who knows every child by name and is just as involved as their teachers. Also, it's super-affordable as far as daycares go! My daughter has thrived at LSS. She knows certain letters, colors, can count to 10, loves books, loves her friends and really cares about their well-being. Nature accounts for a lot, but LSS does a great job nurturing their kids! read more

Lake Shore School is WONDERFUL! I agree fully with Chris S. and not at all with Mary and Aaron. My two children have gone there for several years and they love it. When we moved to a neighborhood outside of Andersonville we tried a new school for our children and they were miserable, constantly asking to return to Lake Shore Schools. When the new school year started we did move them back to Lake Shore Schools and, again, they are thriving. Both of our children started at LSS at the age of 15 months and we were both very pleased with them as a daycare. I am also a teacher myself (high school) and have many days off where I have dropped my kids off late or picked them up very early (i.e. I have been able to "surprise" the Lake Shore teachers with my unexpected presence and I have NEVER seen anything that made me think twice about continuing to send my children there. I would certainly believe me and Chris, who have both had happy children at LSS for ages rather than a disgruntled employee and a mom who has no real experience with the school or its teachers. Also, there are terrible kids in every school.....no matter how fancy or expensive. that's the real world. read more

My kid started at 16 months and stayed until right before preschool. One teacher stayed throughout, one was promoted as teacher's teacher, so the lead teacher changed but the transition was very smooth. Hearing lots of turn over if daycare staffs, that's outstanding. My kid loves all her teachers. I'd recommend this place for sure! read more

I attended this school from 1989-1991 K-2nd grade. At the time Mrs. Karen and Marsha were in charge and let me tell you, those 2 were spawns of a demon! I remember Mrs. Karen dragging a kid across the gym floor by his collar as we all sat there and watched. Mrs. Marsha used to make the female teachers cry. My kindergarten teacher, a older Chinese lady named Mrs. Jean used to hit us in the head with pencils....... I remember all this vividly and am not losing my mind or making this stuff up =( The only positive experience I have of Lake Shore was the friends I made who still haunt my dreams to this day. I'm 34 now and would give anything to meet up with the friends I had then and catch up on the years that have passed us. Idris S. and Megan D, if you 2 ever read this, then you know who I am. please get in contact with me!!! read more

Phenomenal Teachers and Directors . I can not Thank Lakeshore enough for such an Amazing working Experience. Lakeshore Schools has ALWAYS put the children First With Any and Everything and just when you thinks things are perfect they always find away to make things better. Lakeshore is more like a second family there is always a ear to Listen if needed. The Teachers are so loving and caring and treat each child as if their own . Never have I met a bunch of amazing staff. My son started in the Infant room as well and since we left I have yet to find a daycare as great as lakeshore and honestly I don't think I ever will ! read more

Lake Shore Schools - Prince so active in the infant room. - Preschools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I agree with Aaron W. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD HERE!!! My husband and I were so excited at how cute the place was and how well our daughter seemed to adjust. But going a second time with her grandparents showed otherwise. First off, they won't accommodate you until you pay money, which should have already been a red flag. But being the excited mom, I went and paid like $200 plus dollars just to get their handbooks and all that. The second time I went in, they allowed us to come in without a preset appointment because we were already paid customers. I was so glad we went to see it again. Completely unsafe and unsanitary: 1. There was a guy who was drilling some shelf into the wall with about 5 or so 2 year olds standing right underneath him and he was sitting there joking with them, totally not paying full attention to what he was doing. What if he dropped the shelves on the kids?! Then he went and left all these nuts and bolts arms reach for these kids to explore. 2. There was a kid who was TERRIBLE. absolutely a nightmare. Within the time we were there, he pushed one boy down the stairs, pushed one girl's head into the floor, and threw a kid-sized car at someone. I spoke with the woman at the front who said that each time there is a disciplinary problem that child would get a time-out. No time outs at all. And instead, they would just be so used to him they didnt even seem phased. I noticed also that every "bad" thing that would happen they just automatically would blame it on that kid even if it wasn't him. Since I was there for about an hour or so, I sat at a table and played with puzzles and actually spent time with that kid who turned out to be nice, but no one there would bother with him. He was already a lost cause over there, it seemed. 3. The doors that face Clark street are locked by only a small sliding lock...similar to what you'd see in one of those rural country home screen doors where there are no scary people around. Unfortunately this is CHICAGO and while it's in a more gentrified neighborhood, that doesnt mean anyone can just push that weak door down and do some sort of wrong. 4. When changing these kids diapers, the teachers wouldnt wash their hands in between...then go and wipe kids noses with their bare hands and just wipe the snot on their aprons. gross. 5. The potties are positioned right next to each other, where boys and girls go together at the same time. When I took a peek in there, there was all sorts of little urine drops on the toilets. 6. The playground is located in the back, by an alley. When I asked how sure you can be that your child isn't going to just wander off to the alley, they just said, "the kids usually already know" then they said, "but in the case of new kids, there is a teacher that stands by the back entrance to make sure". come on. do you really think i'm an idiot?!!! (while they were making all this up, this is when that one kid threw a car at another kid and they just told him, "stop that") 7. pushy, pushy, pushy. after i brought my concerns up to the front desk lady, miss nita, (she wasn't helpful at all). She really only started talking about money and the cancellation fee. 8. when you ask the teachers what their educational background is, they seem so hesitant to answer that. they literally looked at each other wide eyed and stumbling. and none of them had an education background. they vaguely said that one had an associates and one was getting a masters. when i asked, "is it in education?" one replied, "uh, yeah, uh huh". yup...dont go here... read more

The school itself was quaint. There is a playground in the back. A lot of the toys seem very outdated. The school itself has been around for something like 40 years??? So I can understand the clutter. Not the cleanest or most organized I've seen. Also, I have absolutely no idea how I would be able to park my car to drop off my daughter since the entrance is located on Clark street in the middle of Andersonville. However, some of the staff seemed very pushy. Unfortunately I will not be sending my daughter here. read more

I took a tour today and could not get out of there fast enough. Children were running amok, it seemed, and the "teacher" who was to take care of my 3.5 year old son (I think her name was Ms. Amy) should be reported to the authorities. She is emotionally abusing those children using physical intimidation and sternly talking down to the children as her "disciplinary measure". When I brought it up to the lady providing the tour she said "Oh we have a lot of problems with that kid". Supposedly Ms Amy is in the process of obtaining a Bachelor's degree -- that response screamed B.S. to me. I also witnessed another care taker yank a kid by the arm when she reprimanded him because .. supposedly (I did not see that part) ... he hit her head. I understand why the kids are misbehaved. They are being treated poorly and being taught violence. I WILL NEVER SEND MY CHILD HERE. read more

My 26 mo old daughter just completed her first week and I feel very confident in saying that this place is top notch. Although, it is a very busy school, I feel my child and I are recieving the personal attention that all families deserve. They have helped make the transition for my daughter smooth by providing us with information about policy and procedure before her first day and by being patient and understanding during drop off and pick up. Communication is excellent, the teachers send a note home with all the lunch, nap and activity information for the day. The staff is great! I can tell my daughter loves it because when it is time to leave she says, "no home. play." read more

I love this school! I have my toddler in the frog room and he is so happy there. He has developed so much sins he started over a year ago. All the teachers and staff are really friendly and professional. I am truly sorry that we have to leave this school due to moving out of state. I know my son will miss everyone and it will be hard to find something as good as this daycare. read more

First of all I have three kids(10, 7, 5), who have been at Lake Shore Schools since they were 24 months old, and the last one since she was 15 months old. I can honestly say I completely disagree with Mary and Aaron! First of all, IF it was as bad as they claim, the school would not be open for so long! The City would have shut them down by now. The City is constantly sending out inspectors ( without notice), to check on the sanitary and safety conditions of the school. The times I have walked in without notice, I have seen the preschool teachers wearing gloves when changing diapers. Secondly, the teachers are great. They are attentive and sweet to the children. You Mr. Aaron W, I did not have the pleasure of meeting you. You were there for only four months you say? What about the excellent teachers and caregivers who have been there for over 10 -20 + years? For example, Ms. Geraldine, Ms. Marilyn, Ms. Mary, Ms. Ann? I tip my hat off to them. Also, the administrators DO care about the children. I have seen this over and over in the past 8 years that I been dropping off and picking up my children. Any issues I have had, have been resolved quickly. It just seems that the parents who are not satisfied with Lake Shore Schools, are the ones who probably did not pay for their child's tuition, and were not allowed to drop off their child. What are they suppose to do? Run a charity? In addition to being a day care/pre-school/elementarty school, yes it is a business. They too have bills to pay such as taxes, salaries, insurance etc. They have every right to not allow a parent to drop off their child if they have not paid their tuition. In conclusion, I highly recommend Lake Shore Schools for your daycare to elementary school needs. read more

I have had my oldest daughter at Lake Shore since July of 2008. I agree with some of the older posts that things between 2008 - mid 2010 were a little troublesome at times, but mostely with the administration. We didin't leave because the price was right and the teachers were great. Since the administration / ownership change last summer (2010) I have notice a quick and big improvement on how things are run and administered. I also put my two year old in there recently and she has made a great transistion. Her teachers are great and she comes home happy and goes to school happy in the mornings. My oldest will start kindergarten next fall and I feel Lake Shore has done a fantastic job getting read ready for "real" school. She is alreay starting to read simple words which I think is great for 8 months away from Kgrtn. The only reason we are leaving LSS is that I do want to try out CPS schools and save some $$ on tuition. But if we don't get into a CPS school I will have no problem continuing to send her there and feel confident on the education she will receive. LSS is a great bang for your buck! I know people don't like to think of skimping on your child's education but in the city with two working parents you have to find your best option with in your means and LSS fits that profile. With the new owership/administration, I only see it continuing to get better. read more

I have a baby in the new infant room at Lake Shore Schools. The teachers are very caring and listen to the parents instructions carefully. They adjust well to the individual child's needs. I deduct 1 star because the inside of the building does show its ages and the inside can be cluttered and a little messy. The most important thing though is that the teachers are great. The people who are bashing the place with a 1 star review after a visit are being unfair. For starters, even though it is on Clark Street the day care has room for 5 cars in front of the entrance that are exclusively for parents, if you didn't figure that out you probably didn't spend much time looking into it. I have never had an issue dropping off or picking up. Also complaining about the lock on the back door seems a bit ridiculous since it is a fully staffed daycare with the children under constant supervision and the back of the building is fenced off. As far as changing goes, every time I see a child being changed not only does the staff wash their hands but they also wear gloves. Occasionally a child will be difficult but the staff always handles the children calmly. They also have parent teacher meetings periodically to assess child development - even for the babies! read more

Our daughter started in the infant room at Lake Shore Schools in June 2015, and has now moved into the Toddler Room, and she LOVES. HER. SCHOOL. For anyone looking for daycare, please disregard these older reviews--and certainly any reviews that are not referencing recent years at the school. I'm afraid that these older reviews deter parents from checking this school out, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. The management at LSS has changed within the last three or four years, and our experience has been nothing but positive. FYI, this same management company also owns the Tiny Giants facilities that have recently opened up on the North Side. Things we love: *Continuity of Care: Once your child is placed in a room, he/she will have the same teachers for the remainder of their time at LSS, moving from one room to the next. This creates such a strong bond between child & teacher, and helps ease the transition as the children move into new classrooms. *Communication: The teachers and administrators are thoughtful, caring people, and go above and beyond to make sure that notices about tuition deadlines, field trips, classroom activities, etc. are well-communicated. If I send an email during school hours, I get a response within 24 hours, and that's across the board with both teachers & admins. They also keep daily report logs of diaper changes, meals, activities, and behaviors. Each month we are sent home with an envelope of artwork and a report on what the next month holds in terms of lesson plans. *Convenience: Ideal hours for working parents, 6:45am to 6pm. *Compassion: These teachers care about their kids, and I see the evidence of that every day when I drop my daughter in her classroom--lots of smiles and giggles and hugs. It is a joyful place. If you are a parent shopping for childcare options, I hope you will take these recent reviews to heart. It may not look too glamorous on the outside, but I assure you that there are wonderful things happening at Lake Shore Schools. My husband and I have been thrilled with our decision to send our daughter to this facility, and the proof of our good decision-making is seen every day: in the way she runs to her teachers for a morning hug, comes home talking about her friends, and is developing cognitive skills at a rapid pace. We love Lake Shore Schools! read more

Reading the other reviews makes me wonder if we have our son at an entirely different school. The former employee's comments are simply false. "Purely a money making business" ???? LSS is the most affordable daycare in town. "Employee turnover faster than your child can take his first step" ?? Ms. Nenita, Ms. Lucita and many others have been there for 25 years or more. In fact, being an educator myself, I have NEVER seen a childcare facility with LESS turnover of staff. People actually retire from this school and, like Ms. Lucita, go on to bring their own grandchildren there. "Too many kids per adult. Unsafe toys, High lofts" My son (a wild man) has attended for 2 years now and not only has never come home with even a scratch on him, he has also never gotten sick from school........ All toys would have germs on them the very second the first kid walks through the door in the morning, so the fact that LSS is not bleaching the heck out of the toys every evening doesn't bother us at all. I don't want my kid exposed to all those artificial chemicals, but I am glad he has been exposed to a normal amount of germs and has built up a great tolerance to them. Like I said, our son has never gotten sick there. "Ms. Marsha hates children" Come on. She may not be hearts and flowers over the top (fake) hugs and kisses, but she has spent the last 40 years creating a wondefrul environment for children. My son adores her. "Bad curriculum." My son has learned to read there (he is only 3.5 years old) and he can write his own name and they potty trained him by the time he was 2 !! We love that they send home literature about how to spend quality time with your kids w/out TV and take fun field trips (I always chaperone and these are well organized, safe trips.) The teachers are FANTASTIC!!! Our son has loved every one of them since he first started. He begs to go to school every morning and delights us with stories of his fun day when we sit down to dinner at night. The only negative: Security absolutely has to be stepped up; both in the front entrance as well as the back playground which has a gap in the fence bordering the alley. A bunch of us long-time parents have just put together a group to correct these problems immediately. The school, being so ridiculously inexpensive, just hasn't got the funds to deal with this, so we parents have decided to raise the money to correct the security problems ourselves. Other than that, you really couldn't ask for more in a school. read more

The receptionists were hit and miss - one really nice and welcoming and the other one is to be avoided at all costs. But that's not the most important thing. Our biggest frustration was with some of the teachers and also the inacurracy of the communications. Our daughter was in the frog room (18 to about 24 months, give and take) and did not like it one bit. So I decided to spend a little bit of time with her and observe what happens. It was clear one of the teachers did not have much patience for the toddlers who are still learning to express themselves. E.g. This teacher was serving grapes for breakfast. One of the kids finished what was on her plate and wanted more, but she wasn't able to verbalize it (either that or she was just afraid of the teacher). The teacher told her to use her words, she didn't, and the teacher tipped the child's forehead backwards to make her point. While it is unlikely to be consider child abuse, this little girl was startled and was even less able to say what she wanted. I was a coward and didn't say anything at the time (fear that the teacher will punish my daughter as soon as I leave). Instead, we pulled her from the school. When the school administrator asked why we pulled out, I just said our daughter was not adjusting well. Then the administrator blamed us for pushing her to a class she wasn't ready for! The frog room was supposed to be for 18 months+, and the school had told us she should and would be moved from fish to frog in November. However, November came and went and the school had to keep her in the fish class due to capacity issue, so we had asked them a couple of times when she would be in the right age class, but never pushed. She was 22 months by the time she joined the frog room. I hardly consider that pushing. Similar to some other reviewers, we also had a payment dispute with the school - for all of $60! (We were enrolled part time but had paid a deposit at the full time rate. When we pulled out, they refused to give us back the difference in deposit). Very money hungry for sure. There aren't a lot of options in this neighborhood, so I wouldn't say absolutely 'no' to taking your child to Lakeshore. Just know what you'll be getting... read more

My son was in the daycare for a couple of months and I will never send him or any other children back! I also will not refer them to anyone. My son came home with an unexplained bruised and swollen eye on two separate occasions and he was not even two yet! I agree with one of the prior posters about the teachers always marking down the same exact nap time as they did it with my son also. The security was unbelievably hazardous and I should have walked away from the start but I had just landed a job that I needed to start ASAP. The staff is unbelievably RUDE!!!! My son was always catching something and cried all day every day!!! Do not send your children here. I am now a sahm! read more

My daughter went to Lakeshore schools when she was 18 months until for a year and when we moved to suburbs we went to Kindercare and now she is in Montessori. Since we experienced Kindercare and few weeks at Montessori, we understand how much we miss Lakeshore schools. The teachers at Lakeshore were so good. They really cared about kids. Thank you so much and we miss you. read more

Let me say that the school has numerous problems - lack of safety, old toys, crowded spaces, too many kids, etc. While each of these could be a serious turn-off to parents, my worst experience is with the bureacracy at this place. Their focus is money, money, money. There is no compassion, no understanding, no flexibility around tuition. Then there is the mound of paperwork. All I can say is read it all very carefully and understand what you are getting yourself into. Honestly, for a little more money, you can spare yourself a whole lot of hearburn with these people. read more

From personal experience this school was terrible. Im reading people's posts and it seems this school has not changed one bit =( im 27 years old and went to this school in 1989 from K-2nd grade. My memories from this school are extremely detailed and vivid still to this day. I see the administrators are still Mrs Karen and Marsha lol, no wonder this school has not changed in the past 22 years. They are the two most miserable human beings u will ever meet. When i attended Lake Shore, i remember Mrs Marshall yelling at the other teachers to the point where they cried. Mrs Karen on the other hand.... I witnessed her pick up a student by the back of his shirt, lifted him off the ground, then dragged him across the gym floor. I was right there and seen it with my own eyes. I had an Asian teacher named Mrs Jean who used to hit us on the top of the head with a pencil if we did not finish our work when she wanted it done. I was 5 at the time...... Its sad too see this school is still in business. As a 27 year old who went to that school, PLEASE do not send ur child there.... That place is bad news and they are only about their $. read more

My daughter started at Lake Shore Schools in the Infant Frog Room this past fall. Being a first time mom, I was very nervous about leaving my three month old with anyone, and was nervous about making the day care decision. Now, five months in, I know we made the right one. She smiles when we walk in the door to her classroom, and as a family, we all love Miss Natalia, Miss Carla and Miss Yvonne. They are responsible, caring and loving, have fun with the kids and care about their development. We get great progress reports, photos and art projects sent home, too. We are truly happy with this place and I would encourage all families looking for a day care to check it out. read more

My daughter attended this school for about 9 month. Her main teacher was great! Her teacher name was Ms. Marylin, she has been with Lake Shore for over ten years. What I loved most about her was that she treated every child in her class as if they were here own. If they would mess there clothes she would wash them, if your child was sick she took special care of them (there was never a runny nose in her class), but best my daughter loved her. Not only did she make my daughters transition in to daycare very smooth, but she made my transition good as well. My daughter was potty trained in two weeks from her starting date, which was great and cheaper for me. When I arrived to pick her up she was always clean and tired. Which was nice too! True the Admin staff is crap except for Ms. Nette. They don't greet you, so it makes the atmosphere really unfriendly in the front only. Also the place is very out dated because most of the toys are donated. However, look at the bright side your child gets a diverse setting which allows them to be able to adapt to many settings, have teachers who treat them as you would and best get there minds stimulated. The tuition is reasonable for the location too! Also as a parent it is important that my daughter get quality treatment before quality learning and that's what happened here. My daughter has left Lake Shore with a host of friends and her manors are awesome. Not to mention she knows all of her alphabet's and can count to 20 in English and Spanish. We had to unfortunately leave Lake shore and now my daughter is in another daycare, she's the only two year old in class that's potty trained and half of the kids aren't speaking English yet meaning that I can't understand there speech. Overall my experience was good. Not perfect! Why! Because the only person who will treat and protect my child the best is me! A child goes to school learn, meet friends, and sometimes get hurt. We just have to continue to be good parents and teach them how to get up, fight, and keep going. So of course Lake Shore had bad things as well as good ones. In my case I'm glad the good out weighted the bad. Oh yeah!!!! Another good thing about this school is there open door polities. You can always sneak in to see how your child is being treated. Also as far as the school being dangerous, if you research the school on tho DCFS website they are clean. Only on suggestion, visit the school more the 2 times before sending your child. Then take your child for a play date pay close attention to there vibe with the staff and other children then decide if it's for you. read more

I can't believe all the one-star reviews here. Our family is 100% satisfied. Great teachers, accommodating administration, and wonderful families. They had our two-year-old boy potty-trained in a snap. It is safe, friendly, caring, and fun. We have learned a lot as parents from the staff, and our son loves it there. After nearly two years, we have no complaints. And no, the children can't get out the doors to Clark St. That is just a silly comment. read more

We have 2 kids at LSS and are very pleased with it. Our oldest started here at 18 months and is now in prek so we only have experience up to this level. The new administration that took over summer 2010 has worked hard to communicate with parents and to attract and retain good teachers. We were thrilled with both sets of teachers our kids had this past year. Our kids can come home everyday and tell us what books they had read that day and what they learned. I know they are still trying to get the upper grades on track but I would definitely reccomend the school for anyone prek and below. read more

Lakeshore Schools is a wonderful and inviting school. It has a very diverse group of students which only enhances the community and the environment. Students go on field trips every month to interesting and educational places throughout the city. The curriculum is VERY hands-on and well received by students. It is a great place to send your child starting in preschool all the way through eighth grade! read more

I recently had the opportunity to revisit this school. I went here as a child more than 20 years ago. To my amazement a lot has changed. Still the same set up and Ms Marilyn still works there, god bless her. All these years, over 20, and she still remembered me, almost brought tears to my eyes. It looks really nice and the staff are real friendly while the facilities look top of the line. I did not have a chance to meet the Principal or inquire about the education credentials of any of the teachers, so I cannot comment on that. I would say to people who are considering sending there children there to at least visit the place and give it a chance. As for Mrs. Marsha and Mrs. Karen, the former administrators who I learned retired, I say this; the states attorney should have filled criminal child abuse charges against them for all there years of abuse toward the students. read more

We had a terrible experience with this school. Our daughter was about to start preschool there. We had a miscommunication with a staff member about when certain forms were due so she could not start on the agreed date, even though we had already paid tuition. Instead of being gracious and welcoming, they insisted all of the miscommunication was our fault and that they would not allow the tuition to roll over to the next week when she could start school. It became very clear very quickly that their highest priority is making money, not educating children or welcoming parents. Also, the amount of money in dispute was a mere $50. I could not believe they were so vehement about keeping $50 when they could lose a student? I was going to put a stop payment on the check I gave them this week but found they had cashed right away. I am actually glad it all happened before I sent my daughter there- my stomach hurts thinking I almost sent her to a place that prioritizes cash over kids. read more

We've had a great experience with Lake Shore Schools. I was concerned with security myself when we first started our child here, but I've found all of the staff to be very attentive to everything that goes on there. I don't want to discredit what anyone else has experienced there, but the negative reviews I see here seem very extreme compared to the experience we've had. We always get a full report on every little bump and bruise. And frankly I'd rather have an open-door policy on the potties when the kids are little. You can tell that some of the staff are more or less advanced in their training, but you can also tell that the more advanced staff are given more responsibility for directing classroom activities. The Administration can be a little rough around the edges for sure, but the teachers themselves (who spend the most time with the kids) are wonderful - and they truly love their little ones. As I said, at first I was unsure of this place (especially as a first-time parent) but then got a personal recommendation from someone I trust implicitly. It's not perfect - but no place could possibly be, no matter how much you want to spend (speaking of which, their costs seem very reasonable compared to places like KinderCare etc). Everyone needs to judge for oneself, but after almost a year and a half, I have no hesitation about sending my child here -- and the plan is to send our next one there as well. read more

I have sent all three of my children to Lakeshore school. Until recently I've really enjoyed the relationship that I have had with the teachers and staff there. The school has recently went under new management over a year ago. I saw the changes almost immediately. The class room size use to be about 12 kids, my childs preschool class went up to 20 3-4 year olds. The class was chaotic, The teacher who was doing the best she could was dealing with more discipline issues. My child was acting out I believe the most, she was hitting and also picking up some negative habits. I was constanyly called to the offfice. My husbaand and I did everythong from restructuring at home to volunteering at the school. Over the holidays the class room size went to the point of having only 8-12 kids in the class. The tone of the class was calm the behavior from the kids and my child was great. The administratiors saw the difference, did they think, maybe we should go back to where we started to having smaller classes. No they didn't. They kept at 20 kids. I forgot money was obviously a factor not the kids. They offered not once to have smaller groups to help the kids adjust because all kids develop at different levels, it was if your chiild misbehaves pick them up. I am so disappointed with this school. I am so happy that I found a new preschool for my child that only has 10 kids per class and that is more structured with school work. If you look at any evidence/ case stories kids thrive and develop better in small nuturing environments. read more