My daughter loves going to school everyday, has a great community, and has risen to the standards…read moreof the school. Thank you for changing her life's course.

I am a parent to two Children's School graduates and I am thrilled to share that both children and…read moreour whole family had an excellent experience at TCS. We had children enrolled for 8 years. Both kids were wholly engaged in the curriculum and supported in all aspects of their development while building beautiful, meaningful relationships with the other students, parents, teachers and the two amazing directors. They especially enjoyed being able to delve deeper into subject matter with TCS's project-based learning style. They loved being outdoors, having loads of field trips, learning art, music and theatre in addition to reading, math, history, civics and science. They learned to be critical thinkers, problem-solvers, good citizens and helpful friends. They were both welcomed and honored for their uniqueness and learned to further celebrate the diversity of others. Progressive Education at The Children's School was the right fit for my kids. Both of my children thrived at TCS and are now doing very well at our local public high school. It was a financial investment for our family but one we are so glad we made. I'd enroll them again in a heartbeat.

We moved to the area at the start of the pandemic and by 2021 were ready to send our 4 year old to…read morea Montessori. So began our hunt for the best of many in the Oak Park area. We didn't know any folks who had sent their kids to one near by so had to do cold calls and tours. I reached out to a few in the area and Mrs Eggerding was the fastest to callback and schedule a tour, starting us off on a great foot about how well the school had their act together. We got to observe a classroom and we're extremely excited by the vibe of the guides (Montessori speak for "teachers") and the children. There was just so much independence and respect that we knew we found the right school. At first our 4 year old was resistant. He had been with his grandmother for the last 1.5 years of the pandemic so I get his resistance. But even after day 1 he was excited to share his experiences. We eventually sent our second child there too in a different classroom, which they were happy to accommodate. We couldn't have been happier with our choice even with a 10+ min drive every day. We're definitely planning to send out third there as well. At first it doesn't seem too different from other schools as far as what they're able to do but by even a few months in they're showing so much more independence and eagerness to do more. It's a challenge to me to expect and enable them more at home. The guides have been wonderful about getting to know our children and guiding them on their journey. We've had a few parent teacher conferences which are helpful to peek behind the current as they're often exhausted in a good way by the end of the day. Our child's guides and the front office staff were very receptive to questions and helped us both understand Montessori better but also our child. It was funny for us as parents to go from a city daycare that sent us his eating, peeing, pooping, and activity schedule with activity photos nearly as they were happening to come to Montessori which is really trying to put the child first and focus on them, not logging everything they're doing. I had been a Montessori student so expected that but it was still funny. We get photos and reports every couple of weeks and had parent teacher conferences that did align with what he was saying or what we figured was going on.

If i could rate this place half a star i would. i took my daughter here for preschool and she loved…read more1 teacher only 1. as soon as she got into her 1st year at that school she was getting bullied by everyone and the teachers because she had a physical disability. the classrooms are VERY packed, my kid was in a class of 35 from preschool to 6th grade. she was the happiest little girl and she loved dressing up and having parties, but as soon as she got into 1st grade she was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. she was CONSTANTLY having fights with her teachers because of her depression, later she was diagnosed with explosive anger issues. because of her teachers . she was coming home crying because of the kids bullying her. she eventually had to leave in the middle of her 6th grade year because her mental health was super bad. she is now happily at gwendolyn brooks middle school and doing much better.

As an employee of Alcuin, I can speak highly of this school's teaching faculty, who are among the…read moremost intelligent, talented, and committed Montessori teachers I have met in the field. The families who send their children to this school seem highly committed to helping their children reach their highest potential, and see their children as whole beings with social and emotional needs, as well as academic ones. As a teacher here, I have greatly enjoyed my relationships with parents, as they have been so collaborative and positive. We have newly begun a terrific adolescent program, and I encourage anyone interested in finding an alternate middle school, or a high-quality educational program for any age child to inquire. I have been so happy to work at this fantastic and excellent school, which is truly a haven for Montessori teachers who love to nurture and challenge children!

We absolutely love Alcuin. Our son has thrived in the Primary classroom, and our daughter is new…read moreto the Toddler class. Both children are happy and actually look forward to going to school! Since starting at Alcuin, my daughter has shown significant progress with her verbal skills and interest in potty training/toilet learning. It's only been a short time, but the difference in her is truly remarkable. For those considering a high-quality, Montessori education in a loving environment, look no further!

I attended Holmes school from third through the eighth grade and found it to be a great school. Of…read morecourse it was a long time ago but when my boys attended schools in Park Ridge I learned that they weren't even close to the education I got at Holmes in Oak Park. All of my teachers in Oak Park were exceptional, Miss Boehm for music, all three art teachers, Mrs. Andrews, Mr. Fleming, Miss Baskoff, Mrs. Hepker, Miss Ribordy, Miss Hill and others. It was an education that is obviously not common in our elementary schools today. No one talked about trans anything. The only person that was worthless was the school nurse. She had a great office, 2 tiny bedrooms, her own bathroom and a neat little uniform but she was useless the one time I got sick. Warned my boys NOT to marry a nurse, but they went ahead anyway. One is already divorced and the other is probably miserable!

This is a great school and I love it because of the really nice teachers. I recommend getting the…read more5th grade teacher ms.cofsky she is really nice. The principle isn't very nice but he gets mad really easily and if the kid cry and another kid comes over and try's to make them fell better he yells at them also. Not a very good role model anyway.

Mr. Nate fed me carrots. gotta say they were good carrots, please dont let me ever in that building…read moreagain. overall 5 stars amazing!

As a teacher myself, choosing the right school for my children was incredibly important, and I…read morecannot commend how well St. Vincent Ferrer School has shaped my daughter intellectually, socially, and spiritually. Over the past four years, I have watched her truly blossom into a well-rounded student. The deep sense of community here is remarkable, it truly feels like an extended family. This connection is beautifully on display during school traditions like the All-School Olympics Challenge and our annual Fun Run, where older students step in to guide and mentor the younger students through different obstacles. Seeing that culture of leadership and kindness in action solidified why parents choose this community. We are so thrilled with our experience that my son will be starting at St. Vincent Ferrer in the fall, and we are excited for him to thrive in this warm, loving environment.

I would caution any family considering St. Vincent Ferrer to think carefully before enrolling…read more I have been a parishioner since I was 13 years old and received my Confirmation here, and my children have attended for the past five years. Because of that long history, I expected a strong, supportive, and safe environment for families. Unfortunately, my experience has not reflected that expectation. Concerns raised as a parent were not taken seriously, and I did not feel that issues involving student well-being and bullying were addressed with appropriate urgency or accountability. As a result, I did not feel confident that my concerns about my children's emotional well-being were being properly supported or prioritized. Based on my experience, I would encourage parents to ask very direct questions about how bullying and student concerns are handled before making a decision to enroll.

Enrolling our child into the Language and Music International program proved to be one of the best…read moredecision for our family. Originally we were drawn to the Spanish emersion element with the talented Maria Emilia, but we quickly learned it was so much more. The personalized attention to the children's learning styles, sense of community, variety in programming, flexibility and responsiveness is one of a kind. If you are searching for a place that values the linguistic, academic and social emotional development of your scholar, you may want to check them out!

Our daughter has thrived here over the past 6 years that she has been a student in the primary…read moreschool and Spanish immersion program. The school environment focuses on students' social emotional learning and their individual learning styles, allowing the kids to learn in fun and engaging ways. The school's non-traditional style means small groups, individualized learning, and opportunities for the kids to explore what they are interested in. This environment has really suited our daughter and has allowed her confidence, independence and love of learning to flourish.

We changed to Grace this year after having less than positive experiences at our local public…read moreschool and couldn't be happier. It is a caring, welcoming environment and our kids are thriving. The academics are excellent and the school has done an amazing job of using caution and diligence through COVID to safely keep kids in class but also offer options for kids who want to learn remotely.

When knew if we had children they would come to school here. We'd go to the beautiful Christmas…read moreservices with the children singing and playing bells and thought any place that can pull off a performance like that with all the kids contributing knew what they were doing and how to do it. Our son has been there since junior kinder and senior kinder all the way up to 7th grade where he is now. Class size has never been more than 25 students and he has grown up with at least 15-20 of them since kinder (families moving). His homework loads have progressed throughout his years and are positioning him well for high school. This is especially validated by parents whose kids have entered high school. Athletics (basketball, volleyball and track) are offered which has rounded him off. The school, teachers and support staff have always facilitated a caring and nurturing environment. No place is perfect but the heart is in the right place. Also, there is an opportunity to tech-up the technology area but that is surmountable. With candid conversations with the teachers or principal there is always a good landing. The tuition is currently in the $7k-$8k for his grade and reasonable for what they have provided our child who is now a young boy with one more year until high school. Kinder years are less than that and after school programs are also available. Way to go, Grace!