I don't even know where to begin with this review--our family absolutely loved RMS, and we'll always be grateful for everything they provided for our son. He started there at age two after we moved him from a daycare that just wasn't the right fit. From the moment we switched, the difference was incredible. The level of care, attention, and the overall environment were a huge step up. The caregivers are exceptional--warm, engaged, and genuinely happy. It's clear they love what they do. At both drop-off and pickup, they greet you with smiles and take the time to share thoughtful updates about your child's day. And one detail that still amazes me: they do your child's laundry on-site. Game. Changer. I couldn't believe this when I heard it. The food at RMS is great, and we received frequent updates throughout the day, which made it so reassuring (and fun) to see how much our son was enjoying himself. He truly thrived at RMS. We would have happily stayed at RMS for years, but we ultimately moved our son to a preschool where his sister attends so we could have one dropoff/pickup. That said, RMS set an incredibly high bar--it will be hard, if not impossible, to match. For any RMS staff reading this - thank you, you are amazing and the impact you have on families is enormous. A few random but important notes: - They open at 7 am, which is a bit unique for daycares in the city (I believe most are 7:30), and allows for a slightly earlier drop off. Our son is an early riser so this was great. - You have free 30 min parking for pickup/dropoff in the parking lot. Loved this. - La Boulangerie is also in the first floor of the building so the occasional morning croissant and coffee was a nice perk. read more

I cannot say enough positive things about RMS. It has been an extraordinary place for my daughter to learn and grow. The staff and teachers treat the children with kindness and respect and encourage them to grow their individual strengths at their own speed. Being at RMS has helped shape my daughter into an amazing little person. She has grown close friendships, learned to be patient, tackled practical life skills, and picked up academics with great speed. RMS also has an amazing community of families. The school actively nurtures connection between the parents by throwing multiple amazing events each year, like a huge pizza and ice cream party each summer and an annual Halloween party. I strongly recommend the school! read more

Ravenswood Montessori has been wonderful for our son. We moved him to RMS because his last Montessori daycare had constant staff turnover. He has really thrived here. All of his teachers and assistants are warm, caring and supportive. The family events that they host help us feel connected and he gets music class which he absolutely loves! We've seen tremendous growth in his progress in independence and social skills. read more

The methodology and atmosphere at RMS have been really great for our daughter. She has grown from a quiet 2 year-old to a very communicative young girl, in large part to the culture and friendly staff at RMS. Overall very satisfied with our experience. read more

Our oldest started at RMS in 2021 when he was 2-years-old and we've had a truly wonderful time. The teachers were patient, kind, creative, and helpful. The other parents have also been a terrific community over the last 4+ years. We loved it so much that we sent our youngest there as well (starting at Sunnyside down the street and then joining RMS when he was 2). Even after we moved further north, we've been more than happy to drive 15-20 minutes each way to keep our kids in this environment. As we approach 'graduation', we're truly going to miss the kids, teachers, and community here. Beyond the community, our oldest also entered Kindergarten well ahead of the curve socially, emotionally, and academically, and RMS was a big reason for that. read more

I can't say enough good things about our family's experience at RMS. My son transitioned there from the sister daycare, Sunnyside. The teachers and all the staff at the school are wonderful, so patient and caring. They made potty training so easy. They have a weekly music class and an indoor playground which my son loved. They've taught my son so much from counting in the hundreds, ABCs, life cycles of butterflies, and they focus on social and emotional skills too. They have various events throughout the year like a special Mother's Day tea time, Father's Day event, pizza/ice cream party in the summer, etc. There's also a great family community. We feel very fortunate for our experience here. My son completely thrived and is more than ready for pre-k 4 read more

RMS is a wonderful place! The school's environment is warm and welcoming and the staff is supportive and engaging. We were consistently impressed with communication. RMS uses Brightwheel to communicate clearly with families. Our daughter absolutely adored the school! Our daughter formed a special bond with her teachers and she adores them all. It is so clear they cared about her and her learning. The teachers and staff really encourage and foster independence and they helped instill in her a deep love of learning and curiosity. Ms. Adrianna was our daughter's most recent classroom teacher. She went above and beyond to give our daughter the best possible experience/education. She is a thoughtful and caring person. All of the classroom activities and learning experiences (life cycles of butterflies, solar eclipse, etc.) were always creative and exciting. Additionally, music class with Mr. Mohammed was something our daughter looked forward to every week. RMS is inclusive: they teach students about different cultures and holidays. Our daughter can count to 10 in four different languages! We have so much faith and trust the school and staff. It is hard to leave RMS after 3 wonderful years. We will truly miss RMS! We cannot thank them enough for everything read more

Ravenswood Montessori School was the perfect environment for my kid. We had just moved to Chicago and were clueless on where to look. After visiting at least half a dozen schools I was not convinced on where to leave my 2 year old in this new town until we spoke with Rob. We felt at ease and reassured about their techniques and safe environment they create. Our daughter had barely turned two and because of Covid did not have much interactions with other kids or adults. Within a week she felt at home going there. Not only that but when she started RMS she did not speak one word of English (we speak French at home). She never hesitated to go there and by the end of her first month she was fluent in English. We love the family energy you get once you step in. Our daughter loves her teachers and still talk about them. Thank you so much fie taking good care of her and giving her a positive and solid educational foundation read more

RMS is a magical place. Our oldest child started as one of their first classes in 2018 and stayed until starting kindergarten and our youngest started in 2022 and is graduating this summer. The facilities are immaculate-think beautiful, china place settings but miniaturized, real wood furniture and extensive quality "works" allowing each child to learn and develop. No cheap plastic in this school! They also have a large indoor play space complete with slides, tunnels and a climbing wall so children can burn off energy when the weather prohibits outdoor play. When outdoor play happens which is usually daily, they take walks around the neighborhood or run and explore on their private playground. The staff has been largely consistent for the past 7 years which is a testament to the treatment of staff and the quality of individuals hired. We have come to see the school as a family and have developed lasting friendships with fellow families in the program. We are sad that this is our final chapter at RMS but see that it has prepared our children exceptionally well for what lies ahead. read more

We loved our time at RMS. Both our kids were here from age 2-4, and then transitioned to parochial PreK. They are very different kiddos, but RMS worked with both their personalities. My eldest started in a 2-year-old classroom with a teacher who was great, but moved on after a year, then she was in a 3-6-year-old classroom under Ms. Samina. My youngest started with Ms. Violetta and then aged into a classroom with Ms. Ioana. Mr. Muhammed was an assistant and music teacher, but now I think he leads his own classroom (my kids adored him). The assistants are all fantastic, too; we heard a lot at home about Ms. Monica, Ms. Krystal, Ms. Zohra, and Ms. Francene. Ms. Ioana teaches ITALIAN in her classroom! We were thrilled. Several times, my daughter launched into counting in Italian, and could do it up through 20. I think most of the other classrooms teach Spanish. Both kids loved their teachers, loved their friends, and loved the work. Potty-training went off without a hitch, and the staff was great about stepping down naps when it was time. They get the kids outside regularly. We were pleased with the app, downloading a lot of the pictures and videos, and our girls still like to look at them and remember the work and their friends. Pre-covid, there were optional soccer and cooking classes for an additional fee. And, once, we attended an evening parenting seminar that was educational. Hopefully, those activities will come back someday. read more

We love Ravenswood Montessori! We can't say enough good things about this school. Our daughter started here when she was two years old, and has been here for several years. The teachers and the staff are incredibly knowledgeable, responsive, and fantastic with the kids. I don't know much about Montessori before coming in, but it is so helpful that my daughter now that she is 4 years old is able to do so much on her own. She does a lot of independent play, she knows how to dress herself, she knows how to take dishes to the kitchen and wash them. This facility also did a really fantastic job and managing Covid. We have only had one closure in two years, which is pretty incredible given that most other facilities I know of have had to close down more often than that. My child comes home every day and talks about how much she loves playing with her teachers. The one small downside as we are not able to go in and visit classrooms because of Covid protocols at this time but I imagine this may change in the near future. I would highly recommend Ravenswood Montessori School to anyone looking for childcare!! read more

My kid just graduated from this amazing place after almost two years of attending. He started there with a super shy and isolated personality, after two years, he changed A LOT! He is confident, caring, kind and most importantly, he knows how to socialize with other kids and have made some really good friends here! The teachers are amazing, they set clear rules but also respect kid's own development. They are all very professional! The communications between teachers and parents are very easy. They actively updated my kid's academic and social-emotional status with me and gave very helpful advice. My kid got encouraged all the time. They have various of toys (at Montessori we call them Works), some toys they put out seasonally which made them very special. My kid loved RMS so much and was sad to say goodbye! We will miss here for sure! read more

The only reason we are leaving RMS is because we are moving back to the East Coast. RMS deserves a huge shoutout. We enrolled our 3 year old daughter February 2022, and our experience has been beyond wonderful. Our daughter loves her classroom, and their curriculum allows her to learn at her own pace. The directors and teachers are extremely empathetic, lead by example and are always open to receiving and giving constructive feedback. Little to no teacher turn over - and RMS does a fantastic job communicated updates, changes, etc to families. I thank our lucky stars that we met RMS and their teachers. Thank you so much for taking such good care of our daughter. read more

There's simply not enough good things to say about RMS. Our son spent nearly three years here graduating this past summer. We had a wonderful experience from start to finish. Moving on to kindergarten has really made us appreciate what a great start he had at RMS. Ms. Ioana, as well as the entire staff, were just incredible. Everyone in and out of the classroom was kind and caring, and the teacher to student ratio was excellent. We always knew exactly what was going on from lessons and activities to what he'd eaten that day. Although we're very happy to see our son growing up and moving on, we all miss everyone there dearly. Ms. Ioana, Mr. Rob and Ms. Francine put a smile on our little boys face every day, and we can't thank them enough for everything they did. read more

Our daughter attended one of the first 2-year-old classrooms when the school first opened until the age of 5 this past June when we moved out of the city. Even though we were moving 10 miles away, we loved it there so much I seriously considered making the commute until she starts kindergarten because our experience there was amazing. 1. All of the staff, and especially the teachers (we were in classrooms led by Ms. Violeta and Ms. Ioana), are fully vested in the emotional, physical, and intellectual development of the kids. They are very compassionate and supportive, and tailored 'work' and activities for each child based on their needs and progress. 2. The facilities are exceptionally clean and well equipped for learning and fun. New 'work' is rotated through the classrooms to engage the kids. The indoor and outdoor activity spaces are well utilized, and added activities (pre-COVID), like soccer, music classes, and cooking classes were regularly offered. 3. The school is great at communicating news and information. There is a newsletter, an app for check-ins and notes to the staff, and they always easy to reach via phone. 4. I was so impressed with how everyone handled the challenges of COVID, and very grateful that we could rely on RMS throughout that time. They actively researched and enacted safety measures throughout their operations, and kept parents updated every step of the way. I highly recommend RMS without hesitation. read more

I am so grateful to send my children to a place that helps them grow and explore as well as keeps them safe during COViD chaos. At every turn, I've been impressed with RMS's protocols and procedures to ensure that children can safely learn and staff can safely work. It goes beyond the pandemic. My kids were at RMS during the Derecho a few months ago and the school and staff handled that curve ball calmly. They kept the kids safe and calm-- what else can you ask for? My children love their teachers-- and we've built relationships with other families. This isn't just a nursery school; it's a community. I'm pretty sure there is a waiting list these days-- I'd suggest you get on it. read more

My son started spent over 2 1/2 years at RMS, from the time he was 2 years old. Overall, we cannot speak highly enough about RMS, the staff, teachers, and all who help out at the school. Every single person that works there truly cares about the education, well-being, and safety of the students. It is very obvious they all care about the kids and never slack on giving the love and attention these little ones need. Even through the challenges of Covid, the staff never missed a beat and kept the students and teachers safety in mind. If you're in the neighborhood looking for a great place to send your child, I'd recommend RMS as your first (and possibly only) stop. You really can't go wrong. read more

Cannot say enough about this amazing school!! Our twin boys have been going there since they were 3 (transitioned from in home nanny care). I cannot believe how much they've grown and learned since starting at RMS almost 2 years ago. The facility is new, clean, secure and they have their own private playground right outside the building. All the staff at RMS is so incredible. The communication between teachers, administrators and parents is exceptional. They provide updates throughout the day (with pictures) on the activities the kids are doing, progress their making, meals, naps, etc. RMS also finds creative and exciting ways to involve parents as well. Whether it's birthday celebrations, in-class readings, Father's day BBQ, Mother's day tea or their Thanksgiving luncheon, there's never a shortage of events for parents to participate in. We had the benefit of getting to know two different teachers because our boys were two different classes. Both were outstanding. Ms. Joanna and Ms. Samina's dedication and care helped fully prepare our boys to successfully begin kindergarten (which they will this fall). Our boys have learned so much and have come so far since the first day we dropped them off back in 2018. I don't think either of them would be nearly ready for kindergarten if it weren't for what they learned at RMS. Our time at RMS has been some of the most positive and most important and we'll carry those experiences with us always. If we could give RMS 10 stars we would. We highly recommend RMS. read more

Our daughter was at another Montessori school in the city that we unfortunately had to leave due to moving (logistics). RMS is smaller than the other school we were at, but we love it here! Mary and Rob have gone above and beyond to make our daughter feel comfortable and cared for during what could have been a rough transition. As mentioned by someone else, if you want to know more about Montessori there are countless resources, so I won't go into that further, but I will say that I'm excited to see the school grow into a nurturing community of students, teachers and parents, and know it will only get better. As for the someone else's comment about accreditation, I have no idea what she is talking about, my daughter's classroom definitely has a Montessori-trained teacher. In fact, RMS is one of the schools featured on the AMS website. The last school we were at was one of maybe 2 accredited AMS schools, but that's because the process literally takes years to complete. It in no way reflects RMS's teaching philosophies and practices. read more

Wow, what a great school. My son had been in 4 different preschools before we enrolled him in RMS (we moved around a bit). RMS was like a breath of fresh air. Teachers and staff are awesome. The school is clean. The curriculum is engaging. The school also does a lot to support the parents including convenient curb side drop off in the mornings. My son grew so much while at RMS. The school also uses the Brightwheel app to keep parents updated on their child (with photos and videos) and the goings on at the school. We'll miss everyone, best of luck! read more

Our oldest two children both attended RMS starting at the age of 2, and the only reason we are leaving is due to a move. The teachers and staff have cared so deeply for our children and our family and have created a wonderful sense of community and support for all the families they serve. They truly are invested in the well-being of our children. The teachers provide updates throughout the day on the Brightwheel app and meet twice a year with us to talk about the progress our children are making in their development. They support our children's interests in specific types of work, while also encouraging them to explore other types of work that will expand their interests and knowledge. Our son, having a sensory processing disorder, has been slightly more challenging for his teachers, often times having big emotional reactions and needing additional time and care. His teachers are so patient with him, are in tune to his levels of disregulation, are in touch with us frequently to discuss what works both in the classroom and at home to keep him regulated, and have never made us feel that he is a problem or inconvenience. The staff greet our children each morning with a bright smile, laughter, jokes, hugs, and it just sets the tone for the day, making our children feel that they are safe and cared for - because they are. We cannot thank the wonderful teachers, directors, and staff at RMS for being such an important part of our children's lives. read more

Ravenswood Montessori is wonderful! My daughter had a difficult transition to school when we enrolled her at the age of 2 yrs, 10 months, however, after a few weeks, she adjusted so well and began to grow more and more independent. She's been there about a year now and we have nothing but great things to say about this RMS. The staff and teachers are caring and communicative and our daughter is thriving in so many ways. read more

Excellent school!!! We are so thankful that they created an environment where our 2 kids had fun learning and great educational activities! They utilize a BrightWheel app which gives you daily updates, notes and pictures. Teachers and Staff are very communicative and friendly. I really appreciate the services your provided for my kids, and I'll always be thankful for the peace of mind and comfort you gave us while at work. read more

Our daughter has attended RMS for the last few years and today was her last day because we are moving. I can not say enough good things about Mary, Rob, Ms. Samina, Ms. Zora, and Mr. Muhammad. They have been instrumental in taking care and developing our little human. As any parent can understand it is always hard being away from your child but it was easier because I knew she was with Ms Samina. We will miss them all so much! read more

Our son attended Ravenswood for the better part of a year. In that time we saw growth in him well beyond our expectations. The school fed his curiosity about the world around him, and encouraged him to be more independent. This, of course, does not happen without a staff that is committed to creating a safe environment for thirsty young minds. Everyone from the front desk, to the office, and of course the teachers were friendly with us parents and very much in tune with the needs of our children. I cannot recommend this school enough. Had we not moved out of the area, our son would still be there. read more

Our daughter has attended RMS since shortly after it opened and is about to graduate to kindergarten as a well-prepared, thoughtful, empathetic, and curious 5-year old - all things to which we give credit to the incredible teachers and staff at RMS! They have shown patience and love at every step of her development and have instilled in her a love of learning rather than a goal-oriented outcome of learning. We will miss this school terribly and know that others will find it as wonderful an environment as we have. read more

RMS is such a special place, our family will really miss it! We couldn't be happier with our experience at RMS. The teachers are incredible, the classrooms are beautiful, and the location is perfect. We've been so happy at not only what our daughter has learned academically, but also the way the school encourages exploration, independence, curiosity about the world, and how to work well with others. read more

Very happy here. The faculty is engaged and kind and well-qualified. They are extremely responsive and accessible. The facility is new and impeccably clean and filled with works, and they maintain a peaceful environment where children can play and learn. My daughter especially loves the music classes they have regularly and is greeted warmly by her teachers. Highly recommend. read more

Our 4-year-old son has attended RMS practically since it opened, and our 2-year-old started attending this year. The kids love it. The facility itself is beautiful. The teachers are engaged and responsive. Communication is excellent. And the kids have really grown a lot -- they respond well to the Montessori environment that RMS has established. We have nothing but kind words about our RMS experience. read more

Our daughter was here for a year. She absolutely loved it! We absolutely loved it. The teachers are excellent. She talked about them all of the time. What I noticed most was the development of her speech - vocabulary and grammar. That's all from the teachers! She loves music time. There's a nice playground onsite. The facility is so clean. They've also made it convenient for parents. They're rarely closed. They have early and late hours. They take care of laundry when there are accidents at school. There's an app with info, photos and video from the day. You can also leave notes for the staff and teachers through the app and they respond quickly. At RMS, our daughter was well cared for, she learned a lot, and she was happy. Plus, they made our lives easier! read more

In a way it is unfair of me to give a negative review because I never had a child at this school. But as a public service announcement, I wanted people to know that after taking my non-refundable $100 fee in January of 2019 and telling me that my son would "probably" be able to enroll in spring/summer and "almost definitely" be able to enroll by October, it is now mid-October and we have not been offered a spot. Each time I am told to call back in a couple of months when they will "know more" about their enrollment. I'm not sure if they had unexpected enrollment numbers or if they just didn't want my son for some reason (they never met him, and I promise that I didn't throw things or yell at anyone on the tour), but other daycare centers were far more transparent in the way they handled the waitlist and enrollment process. read more

Our 4 year old was at Ravenswood Montessori School (RMS) after transitioning from another local preschool. From day one our son was engaged, supported, and well-cared for by the teachers and the administrators. Each day he was able to pick his work and was always engaged with new work introduced by the teacher or harder levels of work they encouraged him to attempt. We were amazed how his skills increased, not only academically, but social-emotionally as well. We were able to track his daily activities on the app (Brightwheel) utilized by the staff (super convenient when our son 'forgot' what he did during the day). In addition to regular Montessori activities weekly music class, the fun playground, and the indoor play-space kept our energetic child happy. Additional benefits include door drop off and pick up and a parking lot (with 20 minutes of free parking) for drop-off/pick-up ease, Mother's/Father's day events, the most adorable graduation for outgoing children, and other social events. A word about the staff and administrators -- I have never met a group of people who really care about the development and health of children as much as all the staff at RMS. read more

Cannot say enough about this amazing school!! My daughter has been going there since she turned 2 (transitioned from Sunnyside Childcare Center, same owners as RMS and also wonderful). I cannot believe how much she has grown and learned since attending RMS. She is really thriving under the Montessori principles used, and I am consistently impressed with the content and activities that are packed into each day. The facility is new, clean, and secure, and they have their own private playground outside the building. As other reviewers have mentioned, the staff at RMS are incredible. My daughter is constantly talking about all of her teachers, and she is genuinely excited to go every day. The communication between teachers, administrators, and parents is exceptional- I get updates throughout the day (with pictures) on the activities my daughter is doing, her meals, naps, etc. They have had several events outside of classroom hours to get the parents and kids together, as well as special days with parents to celebrate Mother's and Father's Day. I am so happy my daughter will be here until Kindergarten- and she will be well prepared for that! Highly recommend this school. read more

We've been sending our 5-year-old to RMS for six months (more or less since the school opened), and plan to send our 3-year-old there in the fall. We all -- parents and kids -- absolutely love it here. It is straight-up Montessori, from the philosophy to the daily structure to the education to the discipline, so I won't waste anyone's time describing those elements you can easily research. Either you'll love Montessori (and therefore will love RMS), or you should exclude RMS from your list. What makes RMS unique is the management, from whom all wonderful things flow. The experienced mother-son team of directors clearly want what is best for everyone, from the always-smiling and professional staff and teachers who miraculously never appear to be tired or in a bad mood (and yet they're very human -- it's a mystery); to the joyful, well behaved, and respectful children who receive loving and personal care and education; to the beautifully appointed and impeccably clean facility with every Montessori "work" and plaything you can imagine; all the way to the happy parents. I think we're all waiting to find a flaw, but among the parents I've spoken with, no one's found anything to complain about. Still, RMS is always coming up with new ways to grow and to improve everyone's experience -- including a morning street-side drop-off, a fantastic app with multiple daily updates/photos, parent-teacher conferences (in preschool!!), and little parties for Mother's/Father's Day, parent socials, etc. It's slightly more expensive than the daycare where we were before, but the experience isn't even comparable. I feel like we're getting far more than we're paying for. read more