Our family had five children attend Forest Bluff School over the course of seven years…read more Unfortunately, our experience there was not a positive one and caused our children a lot of unnecessary hardship. The school presents itself as a place where every child can thrive. In reality, Forest Bluff School only caters to children who are typical learners, very compliant, and medium to low energy. Forest Bluff does not hesitate to kick kids out of the school if they don't fit the mold. For our children who learned differently, especially one of our sons with a learning disability, the school not only failed to meet his needs but actively dismissed them. The head of school would often state, "We don't do dyslexia." When we advocated for accommodations to support our son, we were treated poorly. The administration threatened to kick all our children out of the school if we continued to speak about the issues/advocate for our son. Rather than working with families, the school requires parents to trust blindly. Twice a year, students bring work home. Other than that, there is no communication on how your child is doing academically. They do not perform any formal reading assessments or monitoring. As a Montessori school, we expected an environment that valued individual differences, freedom to explore, and curiosity. Instead, their approach was rigid and limiting. The children were rarely given free playtime outside and often never went outside at all. The school claimed they didn't want to "interrupt" their concentration by going outside. Forest Bluff School values strict routines over allowing children to move their bodies. They claim they get exercise inside the classroom because they move around and carry different work. My children (especially my 3 boys) did not have their physical needs met and felt so relieved when we switched to a more progressive Montessori school that allows kids free time outside. Leaving the school was the best choice for our children's well-being, mental health, and academic success. Forest Bluff may work well for certain children, but if your child is high-energy, learns differently, or needs a more flexible and supportive environment, I would strongly caution you to look elsewhere. Forest Bluff School caused my children a lot of anxiety, stress, and academic deficits that needed to be addressed after we left. I whole heartedly regret sending them there at all. My suggestion for all parents considering Forest Bluff School is to take a tour, ask a lot of questions, look closely at the students, access whether you see joy in their learning, and then listen to your gut. I wish I had.

As part of my Montessori training, I have observed in Forest Bluff classrooms extensively at almost…read moreevery age level and have been deeply impressed by the consistent authenticity and care, both of the students and the environment. It is increasingly common to find hybrid Montessori programs that include random popular pedagogical trends or succumb to external pressures, but not Forest Bluff. Forest Bluff is a special place, thanks to the dedicated staff who love what they do and exude respect for both their students and one another. Indeed, much of what seems to make Forest Bluff so special is the diligent pursuit of its noble, explicit mission. Within the Montessori community, both AMS & AMI, Forest Bluff remains an increasingly rare example of quality, authentic Montessori. It is the kind of school I wish I could have attended myself and to which I wish I could have sent my daughters.

We moved to East Lake from a different Catholic school and I had no idea what a difference it would…read moremake in my kids. They were quickly becoming more confident, happier and their academics took off in a way that I had never imagined was possible. When I ask myself, what is the difference? The answer is the community and staff. The staff actually love our kids and love their jobs, they all know my kids by name and are extremely in tune with their needs. Everyone from the top down makes you feel like you are family. The principal has been with the school for 20 years and the way that she leads the staff is so impressive. It is just a very special place. My kids often thank me for switching them to East Lake. When I ask why - their answers say it all. I feel that our children are surrounded with love when they walk in the doors. This school is a hidden gem.

We couldn't be happier with our transition to East Lake Academy! Our two sons are thriving in the…read morerigorous yet nurturing and loving environment. The teachers truly foster a deep love for God and provide an amazing academic program. They love music and art and we love getting to see what they create in class. Being at East Lake has helped our family connect even deeper with our Catholic faith.

If you live in Waukegan, you should really have your kid tested to come here. I woudn't be the same…read moreperson I am today without my experiences here. The teachers wer patient and caring, and I really learned so much, and was challenged. I'm so glad I came here.

I have been at the school since kindergarten. I think it was a wonderful school with full of great…read morepeople there to encourage kids to learn. I would love to go back to Andrew Cooke magnet, it's a wonderful school!

So thankful to have found St. John. All of the teachers care so much about the kids. The…read morecurriculum is impressive, but the way it is taught really instills a love of learning.

I had two daughters who attended St John from kindergarten thru 8th grade. While my primary…read moreobjective was to provide a solid, Christian education I found the smaller classes and individual attention prepared my daughters extremely well for higher education. My younger daughter is now a HS junior and is near the top of her class. My older daughter has completed college and is now a working professional. Besides being well equipped to continue their education both girls are deeply rooted in their faith and have a true understanding of the value of service. I am thankful for the instruction and guidance they received at St John during their years there. I would strongly recommend this school to any like-minded parents looking for quality Christian education.

After enrolling my son at Montessori on the Lake, the teachers and educational program exceeded…read moreeven my highest expectation! I am beyond grateful for the compassion and dedication of the entire staff during his time in both elementary and middle school. The quality of teaching is outstanding! This school not only challenged my son intellectually, but helped develop him into his very best self. He was extremely happy to go on campus every morning and felt like he was part of a "school family." I am amazed with how well the teachers understand and take interest in the students' personality, needs, and learning style. I can't express enough how wonderful this school is in so many ways. We love MOTL and highly recommend to everyone interested!

Amazing amazing teaching environment and highly educated professional teachers. Hands on learning…read moreand caring staff. We feel very safe having our kids attend MSLF and would highly recommend.

A school for children by which all other schools should be measured…read more Their communication is stellar; overwhelming in a good way, in fact. My wife and I are seriously impressed with just how well the Head of School, Joy Hurd, and all of the school staff come together to operate this gem, in a seemingly effortless manner. A special thanks to: Alex Sheridan - Director of Enrollment, Marketing, and Financial Aid for making our family feel so welcome, Sara Walsh - Director of Early Childhood and Assistant Head of Lower School, also for making us feel right at home, and Sue Burmeister - 1st Step Teacher who keeps my little girl's imagination engaged every day she's in attendance, while keeping her first-time experiences varied. The environment is quiet, peaceful even. Think of LFCDS as an ivy-league university campus, not a traditional school. Cleanliness and organization aside, this school epitomizes our lifestyle choice as a family. My first born is currently enrolled in the 1st Step + Bridge program, and we look forward to registering her little sister here as well, as soon as she's of age. Thank you LFCDS for all that you do for our family!

I spent the first year at the school being amazed and a little unnerved at its excellence and how…read morenice and supportive everyone is. I simply couldn't believe a school like this existed. We came from the public school system and will never go back. Several teachers have over 30 years of experience and all the staff are highly skilled. The school has a strong reputation, plenty of resources and good parent engagement. My children get a kick out of wearing their fancy uniforms every so often. I am always amazed when my young children whip out their homework and do it on their own without me reminding them. I am impressed by how well behaved and respectful the students are in general. A great plus for me is that they let kids be kids in the younger classrooms ( pre-k to 4th grade ) and do not contaminate this special time with idealistic, controversial concepts adults have dreamt up. If you want your child to have a childhood, grow to be a resilient, driven and self motivated individual then send your kids here. The money is worth it!

Can't say enough good things about Poko Loko! Both my kids have attended since they were about 4…read moremonths old and have always had high quality teachers! I love being able to know at drop off each day that they will have a great time, and come home happy after a day of play and learning!

Its a great daycare. We loved our experience here. My 1 year old had great teachers who took good…read morecare of her. The place was sparkling clean and well maintained. The staff at the front desk were very welcoming and helpful. I wish we had kept her longer but we had to switch as we moved to different part of town.