We enrolled our daughter midway through the 2017-18 school year after we moved in from the suburbs to the city. At the time when we were touring different preschools, we had a few good options in the Lincoln Park/North Center area. However, when we walked into Prairieland, there was something about it that immediately made us feel that it was the right place for our daughter. The staff maintains a culture that really does feel like a little community-focused family. They teach the kids to work through their problems (Montessori style) while also teaching them to be respectful both by their words and their actions. Our daughter loved going to the wide array of summer field trips that included the Chicago History Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, and more. It kind of felt like a summer camp more-so than the school year. We really do feel our daughter developed into a better version of herself by being enrolled at Prairieland and the school has set her up for success as she starts elementary school. read more

If only I could give more than 5 stars! That's how highly I recommend and love Prairieland Montessori! Both of my girls started their pre-K experience here (Lincoln location) and loved every second of it (across 4 years). The entire experience has been stellar from the incredible teaching staff, administration, classroom environment, Montesorri teachings and the health and safety of the kids. A true neighborhood pre-school gem!!! read more

My daughter recently graduated from Prairieland and we couldn't have had a better experience! She was able to develop independence and a love of learning, and she has excelled at her new school because of her experience at Prairieland. I would highly recommend this school to families who are interested in a community that embraces the Montessori philosophy in a welcoming, vibrant, and fun atmosphere with fantastic teachers! read more

We loved Prairieland! I worked in a Montessori school and we've always sent our kids to Montessori schools. After moving into the neighborhood, we enrolled our kid in Prairieland. It was a fantastic experience. The school implements the Montessori philosophy in a very warm, welcoming way. My son met his best friend, gained confidence and thrived socially - which was really important to us given the pandemic. Ms. Jill is fantastic. The school communication is excellent. We absolutely recommend it. read more

Our son was attending a different (non-Montessori) preschool for years 3-4, but we decided to try this Montessori school for his last year in preschool. This was our first experience with Montessori, and we are very happy with it. In fact, we were so happy with the Montessori style, our son is attending Rogers Park Montessori starting next week. The Montessori learning method has worked really well for my son, and he's made great strides over the past year in the basics of reading, writing, and math. One extra nice thing they have here is a 'kindergarten enrichment' program for 5 year olds to prepare them for Kindergarten. Instead of nap time, they do extra projects and work on journaling every day. It's a bit more money, but I think it has really helped my son's progress, and was totally worth it. One special thing the kindergarten enrichment group did was a poetry slam. Parents came in the afternoon to see the students (wearing berets) read their original poems aloud to the group. The school is reasonably priced for a private preschool in Chicago. The teachers, staff, students, and parents were all wonderful - my son was (almost) always happy to go to school and see his teachers and friends again. Parents volunteered to come in and teach about different fun topics like science, different countries, or most recently, fish. It felt like a good community. All in all, I definitely recommend Prairieland Montessori. read more

I've worked at Prairieland Montessori since the school opened in August of 2014 and in that time I've grown not only as a child educator but as an individual. I've decided to pursue my teaching certification which is why I am no longer there but the people that remain are the best coworkers anyone could ever ask for. Being a Montessori school we encourage curiosity and we allow the children to explore that in safe and caring environment. We also allow them to develop their independence. This is a great school with an amazing and caring staff. read more

I cannot say enough positive things about Prairieland Montessori. We had kids in both the Lincoln and School Street locations and both offered a loving and safe environment that my kids were excited to attend. We are moving out of the area but I wanted to share our phenomenal experience - especially during COVID. Specifically to the Lincoln location - we transferred our 3y old son from a non-Montessori program in the summer of 2019 to better prepare him for a classroom setting and could not believe the change in his behavior and focus after enrolling. Our son is HIGH energy and the mix of independent, supervised work time with structured classroom curriculum worked well for him. We couldn't believe our son would fit in with an entire classroom of kids doing work quietly but he is now almost 5 and we feel confident he is ready to start Kindergarten. He had the same teacher and assistant the entire time he was there and when staffing changes did occur we were notified well ahead of time. There was care taken to make sure teachers and assistants fit well with each other which I thought was important for the success of the classroom. I also want to specifically applaud the staff and management on their handling of COVID. As two working parents with no local family or help nearby, we so appreciated that each location opened as soon as safely and feasibly possible. They were extremely transparent about protocols, distancing, mask wearing, and new procedures put in place to make sure everyone was safe. We wanted to keep our kids on as normal a schedule as possible as well as keeping our sanity during the day and we could not have had as much success in 2020 as we did without Prairieland. We are sad to be moving out of the area and leaving Prairieland as it has really made a difference in our lives. read more

Holly was extremely unfair in how she dealt with our enrollment issue. My husband got a transfer for work and our family had to unexpectedly relocate. Our son was enrolled to start in the fall and with the unanticipated life change AND six months notice she refused to refund a portion or any of the $700 deposit. She wouldn't work with us at all and was very dismissive to the matter. This is unlike any Montessori experience I have ever had. We feel cheated. read more

My daughter spent almost four years at Prairieland (both the School and Lincoln locations) and we loved every minute of it. The teachers and staff are amazing. I was constantly blown away with how much my kid was learning every day. read more

We enrolled our two kids for a short while between their old preschool closing and CPS Pre-K starting. We were at the Lincoln Ave location. We loved our experience. The teachers are wonderful, the use of Brightwheel was extremely helpful for us as far as communications, and we loved that they used the neighborhood as a site of learning and exploration. Pickup and drop off was also a breeze. Great school, would highly recommend. read more

My daughter attended school here for 2 years. It was a wonderful experience all around and we were so sad to leave the school and teachers when we moved out of the city. I truly believe my daughter is a better student (she is in kindergarten now) and person because of Prairieland Montessori. I promise you will not regret sending your child to this fabulous school. read more

Our son and daughter have been at Prairieland for the last two years. We couldn't be happier with the quality of the teachers and thoughtfulness of the program. The facility is always clean and ordered. The Kindergarten Enrichment program has left our son in great shape to begin Kindergarten. These teachers are loving, smart and dedicated. Send your kids here. You won't be sorry. read more

Please take the time to visit this beautiful Montessori School in Roscoe Village. The classrooms are lovely with large windows for natural sunlight and brick and hardwood floors. It is warm and comforting-an extension of home. The staff is Montessori trained and has your child's best interest at heart. There is a fenced-in park in walking distance. Prairieland Montessori offers both full and half day programs and an organic, catered lunch for all students. read more

Prairieland Montessori - Montessori Schools Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Prairieland was great for our son and us after spending 9 months at home during the pandemic. They did a great job getting him ready for kindergarten. read more

My two kids enjoyed moments here and I really appreciate the clean classroom full of sunshine, warm and helpful teachers and all nice kids here. They have done a fantastic job to protect kids in COVID. Highly recommend! read more

Absolutely loved this little school/daycare. We were only there for a short time as we had already committed to another school and they are not allowing dual enrollment at present time but even within that brief time, our daughter learned so much--how to zip up her jacket, participate in cleaning up, and even how to write her name. Ms. Kristina and Ms. Maria were both so caring and we loved how they took walks several times a day, participated in Montessori activities, the range of ages in the classroom, and their careful approach to COVID precautions. It definitely felt like a preschool but with the added benefit of going year round and all day. read more

This school was the perfect choice for our then three year old daughter. We've been there ever since and sadly have to say goodbye as she starts Kindergarten next week. I'm so grateful to the Prairieland staff and teachers who helped prepare her for essential life skills in and out of the classroom. We begged them to go past pre-k because we would never leave! read more

Excellent teachers and happy kids. Our daughter has been with Prairieland since she was 2 (now almost 5 - she transitioned to Lincoln location when she was 3) and we plan to enroll our son (18 months) at the School St location this fall. As a former elementary school teacher, I highly endorse the activities that the children are engaged in everyday. Our daughter has grown into a VERY independent young person because of the Montessori approach. We will be sad when she has to leave! read more

It's been an incredible two-and-a-half years at Prairieland on Lincoln Ave, and we have so much reverence and admiration for the Prairieland community. The materials and themed-based learning work so well; you'll be surprised by your child's ability to learn so much about countries, creatures and categories that you yourself may not yet have discovered. Children might join Prairieland not knowing how to roll-up a rug after completing a work, and graduate having mastered concepts and, in some cases, led younger children/groups through select works/activities. The teachers are very kind, patient and nurturing - they really do have the child's best interest at heart. Their interactions are as gentle as expected in this type of environment, with the efficacy and influence to instill curiosity, appreciation and awareness. And the administration/director are constantly looking for new ways to engage children, their families and the community in which Prairieland resides. Prairieland imparts such a strong recognition for each individual's place in the world, and also the ability for each individual to effect change in the world. read more

My daughter has been at Prairieland for a year and a half (she's 4). We love the Montessori method, the curriculum and learnings, but more importantly this is a place where our daughter feels safe and secure and is also encouraged to stay curious, grow her independence, and be an advocate for herself. I love the focus on empathy, compassion, protecting and nurturing friendships and sense of wonder in the environment and world around them. I just love the observations she shares about nature, about friends (conflicts and resolutions), her work in school, and all the songs she sings throughout our home. The teachers are responsive and kind, very easy to talk to, and very attentive. They support her natural human growth, through learning, through play and through example of healthy behavior. We couldn't be happier with the academic preparation she's getting as well as the social and emotional growth she has experienced here. We will certainly be sad to say goodbye when she enters kindergarten but know she will be well prepared. read more

Yes, this place is really as good as the ratings suggest! We feel like we lucked out and found the most amazing environment for our son. I've watched him thrive during his time at Prairieland (in the Cottontail classroom). Dropping him off with total confidence has been fantastic as a parent. I love seeing how the teachers model respectful interactions with the students; how our son would be interacted with (as this becomes how THEY interact with others) was really important to us, and our teachers excelled in this. Their thoughtful focus on each child as an individual comes through as well. And it's amazing to see what he comes home talking about (jazz, the park, fossils, sharks, etc.). I also appreciated the responsive and clear communication from Margaret (the director) over the course of the year. We've moved on to a different school for a longer term option (K-12), but we will very much miss this time at Prairieland. It's a gem! read more

My son went here for two years ( Lincoln Ave location, preschool, August 2014 - June 2016). He absolutely loved it, as did my husband and I. We miss this school and the instructors a ton! My son worked with Margaret, Becky, Keisha, and Emily in his classroom. They are all fabulous! I knew that he was in great hands each day. They each formed a relationship with my son and really got to know him (and us as well). Margaret was the lead teacher for his class at the time. She really understood what made him tick, paid close attention to his learning style, and then tailored his work to that. Margaret's passion for her work, and genuine love for the kids (she said she missed them over the weekends) was evident. She was always willing to extend advice when I needed it, and I actually still use her words of wisdom. My son really took to the curriculum (and the teaching style). He left Prairieland reading very well. Actually, he walked into kindergarten (CPS) already able to read at the 'goal level' for the year. He also gained a solid understanding of math concepts (the way they introduce this is awesome), soaked up lessons on culture, and he still talks about the science experiments....and Becky's guitar playing... the thoughtful art projects... cooking....gardening...all lots of fun for him...I could go on...but the bottom line is - they gave him a solid foundation and instilled in him a true love for learning. The food is catered (no lunch packing!), all organic, nutritious and nut free. They will work with dietary restrictions as well. *By the way, my son has a nut allergy and they were always accommodating, and professional regarding this... which was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders! The environment is clean and green. The rooms are filled with lots of wood and natural materials, and they keep it uncluttered which is true to Montessori style. I really enjoyed that we got to see the classroom each day for pick up and drop off. This was very laid back and instructors were happy to chat about the day for a few minutes at that time. Email and phone conversations were always welcome and promptly answered. Regular conferences helped assess progress and were thorough and insightful. Margaret (my son's former lead teacher) is now the director of Lincoln Avenue. I have witnessed her positive influence over the students and other instructors, so under her direction things can only get even better. The owner, Holly, realized a passion of hers by opening Prairieland, and she was super great to our family. Overall, we could not have asked for a better preschool experience. My son absolutely flourished here. We were really amazed at what he was able to accomplish with Prairieland's guidance. We moved out of the area recently, and so we are pretty devastated that our younger daugher will have to attend a different preschool. I know she would have loved Prairieland! read more

Prairieland has been an excellent fit for our family. The teachers are patient and demonstrate kindness and respect to their little students, which is learned and modeled back. They have an emphasis on the natural world and stewardship - there is nothing sweeter than my 4yo pointing out the "bootiful" flowers, bugs and sky to us. We look forward to him continuing his academic and personal growth here. read more

I am so grateful that we found Prairieland Montessori and couldn't recommend it more highly. I found the Director (Margaret) to be very helpful, communicative and flexible throughout our entire time there. My daughter started right as she turned 3 years old, one of the youngest in her class of 3 to 5 year olds. The teachers are absolutely FANTASTIC (we love Ms Emily and Ms Sarah in Cottontail!) and do a great job creating a welcoming community where the children learn via the Montessori method. At first, I was nervous that it wouldn't provide enough creative or play time, but my daughter brought home art every day and loved all of their activities. She truly gained a sense of confidence and independence as she learned how to do more and more stations. It was fun to see her open up and blossom into a more confident and kind person (ask about how conflicts are handled via the 'peace rose'!). She made a ton of friends and talked about them often. It ended up forming a solid community where we enjoyed going to birthday parties, and parents had fun chaperoning field trips to the Chicago History Museum and other local destinations. I also liked how they did giving programs (diaper drives, food drives), classroom observations, and held parent nights for us to learn how to bring Montessori methods into our homes. Once COVID came about, I was so impressed how they initiated a remote learning program via FB posts / activities, Journal prompts, FB Live classes and Zoom calls. Through this, we got exposure to many more of the fabulous teachers (Ms Keisha, Ms. Kristina and others) and I would have been happy with any of them leading my daughter's class. We never got to take advantage of their Kindergarten enrichment program, but recommend it to those with older kids. In short - it's an excellent school and any kid would be lucky to go there! read more

We had such a great experience at this preschool for the entirety of my daughter's two years+ attendance. The teachers and staff are truly committed to supporting their students. I'm amazed at how much she learned from a social perspective as well as academic perspective while still maintaining a strong sense of play during the school day. Highly recommend. read more

We have been at Prairieland Montessori since the moment our son turned three and we are SO happy! The teachers are kind, thoughtful, loving and patient with all of the children. The curriculum is exciting and engaging, ranging from pastel painting, to cooking and preparing meals, to learning about cultures from around the world. Often when I pick up my little boy at the end of the day he asks me if he can stay longer - I think that speaks volumes. We love PM, the teachers, and the community. read more

Our son attended the School Street location from 2 years old until 3 years old and then on to the Lincoln Ave location from 3 years old until he was just shy of 4 and a half. The faculty at Lincoln Ave are amazing, and the facility is perfect for growing little minds as they prepare for kindergarten. We loved everyone at Praireland so much and only moved our son to a local Pre K as we moved neighborhoods. We were all super sad to leave our Prairieland family but we have already been back to visit our sons friends at the park afterschool, we will always see ourselves as part of the Prairieland community, I can't recommend them highly enough. read more

We sent our son to Prairieland for a little over a year and a half (age 2-3.5) until we moved to the suburbs. It's been a joy to watch him blossom into an independent kid. He's made good friends and always loved going to school in the morning. Great experience and great teachers! read more

We have had such a great experience with Prairieland and I highly recommend it. My son has been there for almost a year and has grown incredibly in that time. He loves all of his teachers and, as a parent, I feel confident and comforted that he spends his time in such a calm and nurturing environment. The school sends home tips for expanding the Montessori method into the home, which we have acted on and can see our son's independence grow as a result. read more

We have been a part of Prairieland for over 4 years. We have three kids and my second one is graduating this week. We have had a wonderful experience. My oldest just finished kindergarten and I can guarantee that Prairieland was a wonderful prep for him for kindergarten. The program not only prepares the kids academically, but also makes them socially aware and gives them self confidence. The teachers and the director at the Lincoln location are fantastic. We still have two more years left with our youngest going and I am excited to see his growth as he too gets closer to kindergarten. I would recommend this preschool to anyone! read more

My daughter has attended Prairieland for over 2 years and I can't recommend it enough to parents looking for a warm and welcoming environment for their child. Others have expressed themselves more eloquently already and I echo their words. If you are in the search for a place where your child feels secure and empowered to learn and where you are happy to drop him/her off every day then I encourage you to visit. Having a young child can present a lot of challenges, I am grateful for the Prairieland team and all of their help and support over the years - and my daughter is so proud to tell everyone where she goes to school. read more

We sent both of our sons to Prairieland (Lincoln Avenue location) as soon as it opened in the summer of 2014. Our older son stayed from age 3-5 (he's now in CPS kindergarten), and our younger son from age 2-5 (he is still there and will stay until he begins CPS kindergarten this fall). CLASSROOM: 5 STARS. In our experience, the teachers genuinely care for our boys and have played a large part in helping them become independent learners who are figuring out how to make good choices for themselves and are more then prepared for kindergarten - a perfect combination of caring child-oriented human beings who also have deep experience and a clear understanding of a pedagogical philosophy that I strongly believe in. The teachers actually walk the talk when it comes to Montessori philosophy, but without getting cult-ish about it. My younger son is asthmatic, and periodically needs an inhaler during the school day - they have always been super responsible and amenable to helping him us out with that. They listen to our concerns and requests, and we've always been able to come to mutually agreeable decisions and solutions that have our kids' best interest at heart. Specifically, we've worked with Ms. Becky, Ms. Margaret, Ms. Keisha, and Ms. Jill most. The lunches are organic, and my kids ate well every day. And you can't beat the hours - 7am-6pm year round preschool for 2 full-time working parents is *golden.* ADMINISTRATION: 3.5 STARS. When I was laid off a year and a half ago, I had to talk to the administration about reducing our boys' time at school. Given that we'd had a strong relationship already, they were very accommodating about our situation. 5 stars for that. On a day-to-day communication basis, administration was more on the average side. I think the previous director wasn't a great communicator (not a particularly warm personality) and in the past we've had minor issues with administration over things like tuition/days off and other logistics, but nothing that couldn't be resolved. I think other parents have also complained that tuition policy - especially as it related to summer months - was not always clearly communicated. Totally valid but we never encountered this, since our kids attended year-round. Another big complaint I heard from parents was related to the slow start to a promised "kindergarten program" - again, our kids not involved in that so I can't speak to it, except knowing that it the program is now up and running. Additionally there have been recent changes to administration, and Ms. Margaret has recently taken on the role of director at the Lincoln Ave location; I expect that this will improve a lot of past concerns and make administration-family communication stronger. I should also mention that I only have experience with the Lincoln Avenue location. BOTTOM LINE - Our boys have loved every minute of their time at Prairieland. They never complained about going to school and there were many days when they were disappointed to leave at the end of the day. They are more than prepared for kindergarten. Any administrative issues our family encountered were satisfactorily resolved. Our boys have made wonderful lasting friendships (and so have we with other families/parents), and have received a great foundation for learning how to make good choices in life. Not a single regret for deciding to send our kids there. If you're curious about the place, go visit. See the classrooms for yourselves and watch how the kids interact with one another and with their teachers, and decide for yourself. read more

We are in love with Prairieland Montessori!! Our two daughters are currently enrolled and our son will be starting at 15 months in October. We have been thrilled with the community, our teachers, and the learning experience at PL. We would absolutely keep all of our kids here through 8th grade if we could! My eldest daughter has been at PL since she was 2 years old, and her development, passion for learning, and love of her teachers and friends is everything we could have hoped for. Our 2 year old has grown leaps and bounds, her vocabulary almost doubling in the first few months. We are so appreciative of the inclusive, welcoming community of teachers and parents and have enjoyed so many wonderful friendships outside of school as well! Our kids have fallen in love with learning and are genuinely excited to go to school each day thanks to the amazing team of educators who run the school. We're so excited to have our son go through the same experience as his sisters!! read more

My child was at another preschool daycare from 5 months to just over 3 years and transitioned here shortly after his 3rd birthday as we moved to the neighborhood. We did not know much about the Montessori experience prior to enrolling, but he has thrived tremendously under the care of the wonderful teachers at Prairieland. We have three children and we both work, so our time is spread thin, but he has blossomed in the most beautiful way and has just learned so much there. Within the first month he was zipping his own jacket, dressing himself and cleaning up after himself and going around organizing various parts of our house (food storage container, shoes, etc.). As an older student, he learned all of his sounds and eventually letters, learned to read, and does all sorts of amazing math works. They also incorporate a variety of seasonal and multicultural lessons throughout the year which have been fantastic. It has also been wonderful to see him move through the mixed age classroom first as a younger student, and now as one of the older students, helping guide the younger ones. We enrolled our youngest at the School Street location recently and have been similarly impressed and pleased. read more