Pilgrim Lutheran School is one of a best kept secrets for a Chicago area school for any child to attend. Teachers are kind, creative, supportive, and very knowledgeable in many subjects. Their curriculum and teachings build strong foundation academically and personal growth to all students from different background and religion. Through the years, we saw kids growing up stronger, confident, smart, nurtured, and respectful individuals, with many good friendships for life from pre-K through 8th grade. We're grateful for having our son given the incredible experience and opportunity by wonderful staff and teachers when he was at Pilgrim. It is a great school where you won't get the same wholesome experience at CPS. read more

Our family did not have the best experience at Pilgrim Lutheran School. We transferred in the middle of the school year, and my daughter had a difficult time adjusting. The kindergarten class was very small, with only three girls, and unfortunately she struggled to be included in their group. As a result, she often played alone or with the younger Pre-K children. We also noticed that the staff did not seem to address these challenges, which left us concerned. The limited class size made it harder for her to feel a sense of belonging, and she felt excluded and ignored most of the time. It was also difficult to see her experience unkind behavior from her peers. When we left, both the kindergarten and 1st-2nd grade teachers also departed, which to us spoke to larger challenges within the school environment. While I know some families may have had more positive experiences, unfortunately this was not the right fit for us. UPDATE: I noticed that after sharing our experience, many parents responded with overwhelmingly positive reviews. While I'm glad others may have had a better time, this immediate and very strong reaction seemed to reflect a broader dynamic we observed at the school: when an opinion differs or is not favorable, it tends to be overlooked rather than acknowledged. Unfortunately, that mirrored what my daughter experienced in her class. read more

This school has been the village that has helped us raise our two kids. The teachers, administrators, and the community of families is truly wonderful. We have been at the school for 11 years - my oldest graduated last year. He has found his first year at a selective enrollment high school in Chicago to be completely doable. He was prepared so well by the upper grade teachers at Pilgrim. The Spanish, Math, and ELA components are exemplary. But most of all - my kids have been happy here. They have great friends and feel that the teachers truly care about them. I can't recommend it enough. read more

Truly a unique place. Amazing academics. Wonderful teachers who inspire a love of learning and who create a warm and nurturing classroom environment. Down to earth parent community. It's small but mighty - the graduates go on to some of the top schools in the city! read more

Pilgrim Lutheran School is a hidden gem in Chicago. The teachers are caring, creative, and genuinely committed to each student's academic and personal growth. Kids from all backgrounds thrive here and build lasting friendships. Our son had an amazing experience from 6th to 8th grade, was accepted into all his high school choices (both public and private), and we're so thankful for the support and foundation Pilgrim provided. You won't find this kind of environment and balance in most schools! read more

We love this school! We chose Pilgrim for its excellent academics, small class size, wonderful community and the school has surpassed our expectations. The teachers do an amazing job and the test scores and high school placements attest to this. We are a family with 2 parents working outside the home and have also been so pleased with Pilgrim's amazing before and after school program. In many schools, these programs are an afterthought but the Pilgrim administration realizes the importance of great programming and supervised outdoor/play time outside of typical school hours. read more

Pilgrim is such a welcoming, inclusive community that has excellent academics, social-emotional support, and offers arts education in every grade. We have two children at the school and it has been such a great place for our kids to thrive and receive personalized attention that they were not getting at CPS previously.  The teachers really care about each child and I have been so impressed with the level of communication between parent and teacher - I see how much my kids' teachers genuinely care about my kids as individuals. The class sizes are small, they foster students' interests and curiosity with project-based learning, and they have a full time social worker who integrates social-emotional learning for all the grades. When we were considering whether or not to send our kids to Pilgrim, the small size was initially a concern, but after being here for 2 years now, it has proven to be an incredible asset - all the kids know each other in the various grades, I feel like my kids are in a safe, caring environment where everyone looks out for each other. I highly recommend Pilgrim to anyone looking for a quality education within an inclusive community. read more

Our two children were students at Pilgrim Lutheran School from 2016-2022. We had mostly positive experiences in the lower grades (pre-k, K and 1st) and credit their now retired amazing, kind and exemplary Kindergarten teacher for helping our son get an IEP after having been denied the year prior. Unfortunately that's where the accolades stop. Pilgrim Lutheran School is not equipped to educate children with any type of learning challenge despite telling parents otherwise and happily taking their tuition money each month. If you have a neurodiverse child Pilgrim is not a good fit for them especially in the upper grades (4-8). Having been a very active parent in the Pilgrim community I am extremely disappointed in their lack of leadership, response to staff issues and working to make effective change. Pilgrim leadership is set in doing things the way things have always been done and is opposed to changing to meet the needs of its population. I feel that Pilgrim Lutheran School's motto of "academics with a heart" applies to a subset of children who fit a niche. read more

Pilgrim Lutheran School is a hidden gem in the city! Our kids have attended since kindergarten. The teachers and staff are incredible! Our kids have had amazing development academically, socially and emotionally. My daughter says Pilgrim "feels like a warm hug." If you are looking for a small, challenging and nurturing environment for your children, please check out Pilgrim! read more

If you're the type of parent who dotes on your child and wants to be assured that your child's teacher has a close on eye on him/her and truly cares, this is the school for you. We were previously at another private school, and it just can't compare to the care I feel my child receives at Pilgrim. The academics are outstanding. While my grade-schooler does receive homework regularly, I am almost always impressed with the assignments and feel they are truly worthwhile. My child has just really flourished at Pilgrim and I cannot recommend it enough. read more

My son is graduating after 11 years at this amazing school. The teachers are supportive, teaching at a high level to challenge students and supportive of mental health needs. My son is going to Northside in the fall and we will miss Pilgrim immensely. read more

We have a son who just transitioned this year to the PK4 classroom. And to say we are pleased is an understatement. To find a school where the teachers truly care, where teachers know what is going on with each student, where the current class size is under 15, is remarkable. In addition this school is a great value. We had our son in a Montessori preschool previously, and while we liked it, it wasn't perfect for him. As we knew, it was very work focused, but this didn't mesh well after several years for our son. We found him to be much more play focused. And while they play, it all ties in to their themes. Pilgrim has been a great fit. In addition to the level of academic rigor, we know we can keep him here through junior high; thus ensuring that we don't need to work through the selective enrollment craziness. This is not a school in a glitzy new facility, but what it is, is good, values driven education, with great dedicated teachers, and a community that is accepting of all. In my mind that is a find. read more

We have been at Pilgrim for three years now and couldn't be happier. The community of this school consisting of teachers, staff, and parents is truly focused on an education that is targeted at the individual child's needs, skills, and talents. The reason that Pilgrim is able to do this is their very small class sizes combined with their highly experienced teachers. For instance, my sons's kindergarten class is about half the size of a typical CPS class and has both a teacher and an aide. Additionally, the school's students have been extremely successful getting into the elite area high schools including Northside College Prep, Jones, Whitney Young, etc. If you are looking for a great place for your son or daughter to grow this is it! read more

Pilgrim is a caring, nurturing and safe environment for our 2 kids. We've been parents of Pilgrim students for 9 years now, starting in early childhood 3 year old program up through junior high. The classes are small, the teachers are dedicated, experienced and they genuinely care for our children. The older children become leaders and chapel partners for the younger ones. From the play-based learning approach in early childhood to the upper grades academic challenges, the school educates the whole child and I feel strongly that our children will be well prepared for high school when the time comes. read more

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We just moved our son this year to Pilgrim, and we couldn't be happier. The teachers have a love of teaching that shows through. They get excited about what they are teaching and in turn, gets my son excited. My son used to say he hated school, something that was so hard to hear, but I NEVER hear this anymore. He loves it there. I also see a happiness in him that is hard to describe. I see him smiling, laughing and being himself. I think it comes from feeling safe to be himself and not fear being teased. The teachers do not tolerate meanness, and work to develop the children's character. Its a school filled with really nice kids that are confident in themselves, that in turn allow others to grow in confidence in themselves. I'm extremely impressed and very pleased with the school. read more

Pilgrim Lutheran School (PreK-8) is a hidden gem in the city, located in the heart of a residential neighborhood on Cullom and Winchester. We have two daughters (3rd grade and Kindergarten) who have both attended since preschool. I cannot say enough about the excellent, experienced teachers, who manage to provide the highest level of education in such a warm and nurturing environment. It is amazing how well the teachers know each student (not just the ones in their classroom) and how much they care for them as individuals. Pilgrim also partners older students with younger students, which paves the way for them to move to the upper grades with confidence. Additionally, nearly 75 percent of graduates who applied were accepted into selective-enrollment high schools. By the time the students graduate, they are not only well-prepared for high school, but also to be compassionate leaders in the community. read more

I have had 2 children of mine attend & graduate Pilgrim over the years from Pre-K through 8th grade. Pilgrim is solid educational alternative to both the CPS and the Catholic school programs in Chicago. Maintaining small class sizes 12-16 students per grade, the teachers provide a rich and caring environment for students throughout their education. A strong family oriented Parent community enriches the school by supporting additional extra-curricular activities for students. Majority of students continue on to TOP Chicago public and private High Schools, I have watched multiple classes of graduates going to Northside, Whitney Young, Payton, Lane, Latin, Francis Parker. I've also seen some of those students continue on and matriculate from colleges such as Univ of Illinois, University of Minnesota, Purdue, DePaul, Northwestern, NYU, and Stanford. Pros - Small class sizes Solid Extra-curricular options High Academic Standards with significant support services when necessary! Tradition of success Affordable tuition Cons - Limited parking near school ;-) read more

I am so grateful to have found this hidden treasure of a school for our daughter. The teachers treat the students with such compassion and as individuals with unique challenges and gifts. My entire family has been welcomed as part of this learning community (we are not members of the church). The teachers and administration are open (and desire) to work with parents and have been a wonderful resource for us. Parents are very involved here, and fufilling volunteer opportunities abound. read more

When I was looking for a school for my sons, I was overwhelmed with my choices. I was looking for a school that had a safe and loving climate, but also was academically rigorous for my children. I was lucky to find all of this and more at Pilgrim! My boys LOVE school. They love their principal, teachers and friends. They LOVE learning and this to me is the best testament to Pilgrim Lutheran. As a parent, I couldn't want more for my children. The education they are receiving in the core subject areas is excellent. Pilgrim also has a strong arts program that is missing in many of the schools. The added bonus is that Pilgrim helps reinforce our family values such as helping the less fortunate through service projects and being mindful of others. I feel very fortunate to had found Pilgrim. read more