This review is NOT based on the education received at MAMG or any of the teachers. It is solely…read morebased on the experience of inquiring about the school and interacting w/ the site director. I called MAMG to schedule a tour and gather information. The lady I spoke with was so dry and seemed uninterested. Regardless, I scheduled a tour as maybe she was having a bad day and I realize that not everyone can be cheery all the time. :) The tour went well, and I made sure it was scheduled w/ another person. She was friendly and kind. I asked this lady for a packet or folder of information and she was surprised that the first lady I spoke with never emailed it to me. She took down my email address and said she would request that lady to send it to me. Guess what? I never received it! I just think that is horrible practice. I have enrolled my daughter elsewhere. But, I thought the business owner/manager should know about the incompetence of the person I dealt with. I am happy to speak further about it...as I don't want to call out this individual on a public platform.

My son spent 4 great years here, from the infant room, to toddler room, to primary. Our son was…read morewell cared for in all of them and we believe he developed well there, both socially and academically. Their communication is great, the Bright Wheel app they use is fantastic, and they are very accommodating in all the best ways, while continuing to do what's best for the kids. I've also been impressed with their willingness to help when we've needed assistance with our son's transition to kindergarten, even after our son was no longer enrolled there. Would recommend to anyone that they can trust them with their child's education, safety and wellbeing.

Mosaic Montessori is a wonderful childcare facility. Our kid started when she was 17 months and is…read morenow 2.5years and she has absolutely thrived. She knows all of her letters and their sounds, can count to 20, and absolutely adores her teachers. The teaching staff is kind and gentle while maintaining structure. They also work hard to meet the specific needs of each child while nudging them to grow and adapt. They're also partners in helping manage any behavior challenges (what? Toddlers being difficult?? No way........). The meals and snacks are healthy and balanced. They also have great respect and care with allergies or dietary needs. The cost is beyond reasonable as well. All in all we are huge fans.

We placed both of our children at Mosaic and they both adored the experience and thrived. The…read moreteachers are patient and wonderful; always willing to go the extra mile to accommodate any needs or last minute requests. All of the staff are nurturing and kind - they truly treat the children as if they are family and always exhibit sincere care and concern for the kiddos. Mosaic offers a broad range of activities and learning opportunities for all ages. Our kids were always coming home singing songs they learned and new tidbits and facts they learned each week! The center's Covid19 precautions are top-notch as well, and we felt extremely comfortable sending our 3 year old back in June. My eldest graduated from Mosaic two years ago, and she left wanting to become a teacher when she grows up - and I know it is because of the wonderful experience she had at Mosaic.

Skokie Montessori School has been such a gift to our family. Our son started at SMS at age 2.5…read moreafter a rough start at a different program, and we have been so impressed at how smoothly he adapted to the environment here. The care the teachers put into creating and maintaining a peaceful and orderly atmosphere has made all the difference for him. It has been clear from the start that Ms. Jackie, Ms. Adela, and Ms. Kit are incredibly invested in their students and the quality of the program. Our son quickly developed trust in the environment and the adults in the building, and as a result has been able to come out of his shell and find much joy and engagement in the classroom - on the weekends he even asks to go to school! We have watched our son's ability to concentrate deeply, recognize boundaries, and engage in positive social interactions take a big leap since he started attending SMS. At home, he practices many of the independent skills that are reinforced in the classroom: hanging up his clothes and materials, clearing his place at the table, taking initiative to clean up after spills, etc. We consider ourselves so lucky to have found this school and can't recommend it enough.

This school has been instrumental in the development of our kids. For those unfamiliar with the…read moreMontessori way like we were, we are now firm believers that this philosophy has set our children up for success in more ways than just in the classroom. Montessori emphasizes independence and order in a nurturing environment, which is especially essential during ages 2-5 years old. This particular school has a toddler classroom (2-3 year olds), 2 preschool classrooms (3-6 year olds), and an elementary classroom (6-12 year olds). Montessori mixes age groups so the child has the opportunity to be both a student and "teacher" to their peers. This is a unique opportunity unavailable at other daycares, preschools, or public schools. We felt it has challenged our children above their "grade level" by being able to see what older children are doing, and one of the main reasons why they are thriving. It also taught them how to help others in need. One of the misconceptions about Montessori is that children won't be well rounded if they only do what interests them; however, SMS ensures they're exposed to various materials in the classroom. Basically, the teacher caters each student's curriculum differently, while also teaching lessons in small groups. For 3-6 year olds and elementary, there's a progress report at the end of the school year on focus areas like personal development, motor development, work skills, math, language, art, practical life, sensorial, etc. For the toddlers, they are "playing" while learning at the same time. Each Montessori work/material serves a purpose! There are also two parent/teacher conferences each year available for all students. SMS is a small school with a clean, calm, family-feel environment. A hot daily lunch is included in tuition, but they also allow lunch brought from home if your child has a restrictive diet. Their current hours are 7:30 - 5:30, and the pricing differs. The staff is accessible via email and phone, and you can personally speak to the teachers at the end of the day. They do not have an app for pictures or that tracks everything your child does in a day, but the positive side is that the teacher is paying more attention to your child instead of being on a device. Also, they follow a school calendar year (2-week winter break, 1-week spring break, etc), which also allows time for the teachers to get well-deserved breaks as well. In the several years we've been with the school, there have been zero teacher turnover in the main teachers! We toured 5 different daycares, and SMS was the least chaotic, cleanest, and the teachers were the happiest, most patient, and nurturing. Overall, we have nothing but praise for SMS and the teachers!

my children been at this school since 2024. Since changing principal's ive had the worse…read moreexperiences here. they have a policy that's states say you can make arrangements for tuition when unable to pay but doesn't give you the option. the moment you can't make a payment they kick your children out of school. I have lost my long term job because of this!!! They are rude. staff talks about each other. they change teachers every couple of weeks. they can't keep staff. the principal shouldn't be teaching in class rooms if there is enough staff. this past year and a half by far is the worst. we miss Mrs ferand. she actually helped her community and cared about her students education. ms Taylor cares more about the money than she does these babies education. ms Thornton don't get me started on her.

My daughters attended this school and it set them up for educational success. The teachers and…read morestaff are very caring and supported my daughters from Green room to kindergarten graduation. Ms. Soosan has run this school for many years and it's very special to the neighborhood. No other school offers extra activities like Piano, Ballet and Hip Hop. If you're looking for a great place for your kids education, you should start here.

Choosing Discover Montessori for our daughter has been one of the best decisions we've made. She…read morestarted at just 2 years old, and from day one, she has truly loved being there. The teachers are warm, patient, and genuinely caring--they treat our child as if she were their own. They've created such a nurturing environment where children feel safe, supported, and excited to learn. Every staff member is kind, dedicated, and truly invested in the children. Seeing how happy and confident our daughter is means everything to us. We are incredibly grateful to be part of such a wonderful school community.

We visited multiple Montessori schools when deciding where to send our son, and we could not feel…read moremore confident in our decision to choose Discover Montessori. This is our son's first school experience and he has transitioned much more smoothly than we ever expected. The teachers have been incredibly patient and have been amazing with keeping us updated on his progress. We've already noticed growth at home with longer periods of focused independent play and greater self-sufficiency. The team has been so flexible and easy to work with, which has made the entire process even better. The cherry on top is how clean and beautifully designed the school is. We couldn't recommend Discover Montessori more highly!

We had two children (ages 1, 4) enrolled for a year. When we approached the director about an…read moreissue we had observed in a classroom, she was defensive, blamed the staff, and was unable to articulate corrective action. Ultimately we felt uncomfortable leaving our children in her care. We moved our children to a different center where we have much more confidence in the staff and leadership team.

I started writing the below review when my stepchild graduated in 2018, but left it in my drafts…read morefolder - let bygones be bygones, and hope it gets better. Seeing Charlene dismiss any criticism as "disgruntled former staff" and "move on with your life" is sadly unsurprising and made me reconsider. And I'd love to know who has the home daycare for my second child! Her defensive and paranoid dismissal of any criticism, trying to pin down exactly who left each review should tell you everything you need to know about her. Why would she have multiple disgruntled former staff? What does she think of parents? What kind of director fails to reopen in a year? Are any of the kids, teachers, or staff returning after a hiatus of a year? Is it even open for business? Without those people, you have nothing. Charlene, if you want this business to succeed as you start again, you need to learn from your mistakes. The Montessori method applies to you, too - how can you run a school if you are yourself unwilling to learn, develop, and commit to excellence? -- The instructors and staff here are top-notch. They absolutely foster growth in children, and the kids have excellent social and academic skills when they finish. They deserve a greater share of compensation and credit for what they do. What holds this school back is the director, Charlene. It's clear that this is not her primary source of income, but a side project. Yet she arbitrarily micromanages things that could easily be planned with a yearly calendar and event template. Every party, every graduation, is needlessly ambitious, expensive, and yet poorly executed. Children regularly come home confus d, reporting new rules Charlene set verbally that day, that often contradict Montessori principles of expression. "No pierced ears" "No light-up shoes" "No hair dye" "No temporary tattoos" - that sort of thing. Parent teacher conferences are announced late and with little notice. Communication from the director is generally poor and is the source of much frustration with the parents. The kids and parents would be much better served if the instructors were given more autonomy in the day to day and the director stuck to setting the direction. I hope reorganization can occur with the upcoming move - which was announced very late in the year, with little information, leaving parents scrambling.

I am so thrilled that we found Devonshire Montessori, our son has been in their program since the…read morefall and he is absolutely thriving. He loves school - he walks in every morning happy and confident, proudly shows off his art at home and has learned so many practical life skills. He is always talking and singing about his teachers & friends when he's at home, and it's clear that his teachers really care about him. At Devonshire his innate desire to help and contribute is nurtured and that shines through so clearly at home. It's tough to leave your kid everyday as a parent, but I never worry if he's doing ok at school because it is SO clear how happy, secure, and connected he is at Devonshire.

Our experience at Devonshire Montessori School has been nothing short of exceptional…read more Both of my children have needed outside intervention services, and as a parent, that can feel overwhelming when navigating school partnerships. From the very beginning, the director and teachers have gone above and beyond to make sure our family feels supported--not just welcomed, but truly understood. The director has been incredibly proactive and compassionate, taking time to meet, communicate, and problem-solve with us. What has meant the most is how collaborative the school has been with our children's interventionists. The teachers have welcomed outside providers, implemented recommended strategies, and consistently followed through with accommodations to help my children succeed in the classroom environment. Instead of viewing extra supports as a challenge, they've treated them as an opportunity to better understand and support my children as individuals. The staff regularly communicates updates, shares observations, and works as a team to ensure consistency between school and outside services. That level of dedication is rare and deeply appreciated. Because of this partnership, we've seen tremendous growth--academically, socially, and emotionally. My children feel safe, supported, and capable. As a parent, I feel heard and valued. Their commitment to collaboration, inclusion, and individualized care truly sets them apart.

Our son (4 years old) attended here for about a year. It was a mixed bag…read more It was affordable for the area. One of the teachers (Mrs. Nowack) was wonderful. She was on top of things. She was friendly to parents and kids. She genuinely cared about her work. The other teacher (Mrs. Carrie) seemed to be going through the motions and she tended to characterize kids who were physically active as "problem children." And surprise surprise, most boys in class were problem children. I am glad that we left for another preschool in the area. Class sizes at Oakton are a bit too big to effectively manage that age group. Staff seemed stretched too thin and low on morale. I don't think they were compensated enough for this tough job.

Hi! I am a mom of 2 kids, one of my kids graduated from…read moreOakton ECE Center and one is currently attending. Like most parents, when it came time to choose a preschool, I was really nervous. I had gone to a couple of open houses and I didn't find what I felt was a good fit until I walked into the classroom at Oakton. I loved it right away! My son seemed to love it right away, too. Mrs. Monique, the director, gave us a tour and everyone was warm and welcoming. I got a sense of integrity, excitement, a strong sense of community as well as diversity in the classroom which were all qualities I was looking for! I also really like it being attached to the college and campus. Since then, my kids have really thrived at Oakton and we have made so many great friends and memories. I can't say enough good things about it! I hope I have more kids so I won't have to say goodbye after my youngest graduates in a year! So glad I discovered such a wonderful Early Childhood Education Center that gave my kids such a fantastic start!