First year at this school and my kids love it! They are both so much better behaved and have…read morelearned a lot during their first year here. The principal, Mrs. Mitchell, is a firm and fair principal that knows how to run a school well. She addresses any problems with any student and makes sure they are performing as they should at school. All the teachers are well trained, patient, and experienced. Mrs. Olsen (3rd Grade) has helped my son immensely with his academics as well as shaping him to be a great student! Mrs. Morawski and Mrs. Pozezinski (Kindergarten) have taught my daughter quite a bit and she is a much smarter girl because of it! The school is well maintained and they teach the Roman Catholic faith quite thoroughly as well. I am very satisfied with St. Mary School and recommend to anyone who wants a quality education both academically and spiritually to enroll their children here. A+++

If your child wants a true education, enroll them in Elgin U-46. They have all the resources you…read moreneed to help your child succeed. St. Mary's facilities are old and outdated.

When my mother took us to apply for admission to Elgin Academy, a Boarding School. I was…read moreinterviewed by the then Headmaster. After admiring my transcript and noting that I spoke three languages, his first question of me was "How do you think your parents will be paying your tuition here?" I replied that since my father had a successful Law Practice and my mother sold Commercial and Industrial Real Estate as well as being a History Professor, I assumed they would be paying with money. I asked to be excused so that I could go out to the waiting room and verify that. The Headmaster flushed a very bright red and said "Don't tell your mother I asked you that question." Hearing this, I was uncomfortable. I excused myself and told my mother the question, and that I had been told not to tell her I was asked that question. Mother picked up her purse, said "We are leaving, girls," We left, and were soon registered in a lovely Catholic Boarding School in Iowa. My tuition was discussed with my mother, not with me. I was also able to continue my language studies.

I was a student at garfield and i loved it there it was the best the teachers are fun and nice the…read morefood was nice

My Alma Matter! So to speak.. I've got so many great memories of this school. I'm sure most of the…read moreteachers who taught me have retired, but if they've continued to hire fabulous teachers and staff, this place is the best.

As a new mom, there were much guilt that accompanies the role. The biggest of all and a myth IMHO…read moreis that a child thrives best with the mother for its first five years. So it was with a lot of trepidation and questions when I toured childcare facilities around me. With so many by me, and upon the recommendation of neighbors who had lived in the area for a while, The Learning Tree has consistently been the lauded choice. The building was very unassuming, a low-lying ranch nestled between an auto parts place and a furniture store, off a busy street. Inside, while it lacked the fanciness and spaciousness of some facilities, it was clean. It smelled clean (and not in a chemical way), felt clean, looked clean, and continues to be so to this very day. I want my house to be this neat and clean! How do they do it??? I enrolled my child when he was 9 months old, and every day, I continue to marvel at the progress he has made under their care. I honestly can attest that I will not be able to prep him for all the development that he has undergone if he had stayed home with me, or a private caretaker, or an au pair. The teachers and staff are warm, loving, firm, and highly knowledgeable. I have sought them out for advice on numerous occasions. from discipline to teaching/learning. They even helped potty-trained him before he turned 2! Every teacher knows all the children by name, even those whose classes he had not even attended. As I write this during the COVID shelter in place, I am tearing up at the thought that he would not be back with them as this is his last year there. He should be spending fun summers with them, growing even more robustly. I can only take comfort that when this COVID is over, we are still near enough to drop by to visit. Field trips and holiday activities are included in the experience. My son has met Mrs. Claus, the Easter Bunny, fire fighters, librarians. He's been apple picking, visited maple farms, fire stations, libraries, parks. He's had "cooking" lessons. What was enviable among my other parent friends in other suburbs is that my son got an additional enrichment by learning Spanish, which was an option when he turned 4. Plus, at the end of every school year, we received a folder of his progress. That was also unheard of with my friends' children at their daycare. I cannot recommend The Learning Tree enough. I could go on, but I highly suggest you give them a consideration.

I can't say enough good things about the learning tree the staff is amazing and you can tell the…read moreteachers truly love what they do they are all very attentive and I couldn't think of a more safe place to have my babies! I have two children enrolled a two year old and an almost 6 month old they have an app that they update through out the day and I love that I can open it and see pictures of my kids and see what they're up to and the fact that I can message the teachers throughout the day if I need anything gives me such peace of mind

I went here in the mid-90's and even driving by this place brings back terrible memories of how…read moreawful this school was. Mr. Paul, if you're reading this, just know that you're the reason I'm glad teachers are underpaid.