A Heartfelt Thank You to Ms. Elena Morales and Smaller Scholars Montessori Academy !…read more Our son has been at the school since he was just 18 months old, and this place has truly become a second home for our family. As he now prepares to start elementary here, we reflect with deep gratitude on the impact Ms. Elena has had on his journey. Ms. Elena's dedication, warmth, and the thoughtful application of Montessori principles have been transformational. Thanks to her care and guidance, our son is not only well-prepared to start Elementary but he has also grown into a more confident, independent, and kind-hearted little boy. She has nurtured his curiosity, encouraged his growth, and helped shape the values he will carry with him into this next chapter. Thank you Smaller Scholars for everything you've done for our son and to Ms Elena for all the children lucky enough to be in your classroom. -- The Iannone Family

Great school and great community! We love the school and our daughter has flourished here. Any…read morequestions or concerns are always addressed immediately. I love that all the teachers know all the students name in the school regardless if they are in that class or not. Couldn't be happier with our decision to send our toddler here!

We absolutely love Rainard school!! What an incredibly supportive environment with small class…read moresizes and unique attention paid to each student. Truly a tailored education and a place where kids are recognized for their unique talents.

I checked into Rainard when looking at the private schools in the area and was really impressed…read more The staff was informative and helpful in every aspect and they seem to have a lot to offer. Before being placed in the school, the child must go through a battery of tests - the most important is the I.Q. test on which the student must score 135 or above. If you make it through the screening, you must then apply for consideration to be accepted to the school and pay your $75 fee. If there's a spot, you'd better not second guess your commitment to Rainard because there is a non-refundable reservation fee of $800. At the time we checked into the program, there was no high school. We were concerned about what happens to a child coming up in this sheltered environment then going into a larger public or private school for the last few years of basic education. Now they have implemented a high school and those problems are solved for those attending. The small campus is sweet and certainly an alternative style of teaching but of all of the campuses we investigated, this was among the priciest. We'd heard bad things about it from people that had placed their children here then opted to put them back in public school or another nearby private institution. In the end, we decided the risk was too great for us - it was a very difficult decision but since we got so much bad word of mouth, we backed out of the admissions process. But, if you're looking for some out of the ordinary summer programs, Rainard is among the best on the West Side. Their Summer Incitement Series offers a variety of non-traditional learning experiences that are great for any child. A good sampler if you're looking to get your feet wet in this special school for gifted students.

Caring staff and great curriculum! Highly recommend for kids needing that extra boostread more

I am so thankful I found The Tutoring Center!…read more My Kindergartener was struggling with alphabet recognition, blending sounds and reading by extension. I struggled to help at home and it got to the point where discussions of staying behind a year were happening. After almost two months at The Tutoring Center, I had her end of year conference and she showed an EXTREME improvement . I have a completely different kid who is so confident in her reading/writing skills. Her teacher expressed that she will be completely ready for 1st grade and it is no doubt thanks to The Tutoring Center!

My 2 year old attended this school for 7 months. I was really excited about him attending the…read moreschool because it was a Montessori and they were more reasonably priced than where my daughter attended several years before plus they provided diapers/wipes. Ms Abby seemed very professional and stayed on top of everything happening at the school. Everything was going good until it wasn't. He'd caught hand, foot and mouth after attending for a few weeks, had a couple of falls, one that I felt was a little suspect because he was sleeping on the cot and apparently there was a metal part that when he got up being only 1.5 at that time he was wobbly and hit his head causing a nice little cut. I excused because things can happen and he'd just really learned how to walk but I didn't understand why they would have cots with metal exposed in that way. Nevertheless we continued moreso because he seemed happy there and we were saving compared to others in the area. The final incident was when he was bit by ants in the yard. No one called me, Ms Abby just sent an email. When I got home and my MIL who picks him up from school asked me if they'd called and I said No, then checked my email I was furious. They'd called several other times when his temperature was slightly elevated even after taking him to a doctor and letting them know there was no cause for concern (mild congestion) but not this! My son's arms were filled with bite marks and I immediately called Ms Abby but it was about 630 that day. She didn't answer or call back. I was traveling the next day (Friday) and she said she called back but I didn't see a missed call or receive a vmail. We didn't discuss until Monday when I got back in town. She was very nonchalant about it and apologized but couldn't assure me of anything. She said the teachers didn't know there was an ant pile in the yard, which told me they aren't really paying attention to the kids like they should outside nor were they properly safeguarding the yard. She said they'd removed the ant pile but it should have never happened. I also informed her of a possum I saw one day a few weeks before and asked if she knew that they were around her property and she looked really surprised. My son was speech delayed at that time and Ms Abby and one of the teachers who was assisting outside kept pointing out that he didn't even cry he just came to them with his arms out showing them the ants crawling on him. Imagining that still haunts me) In that moment, there were too many things she didn't know and I realized this was an unsafe place for my son and we had to find another school for him. It would have been a nice gesture to return the remaining tuition we'd paid but she and her partner (who is her dad) refused to give me the money back for the remaining weeks that we'd paid for that month. That told me they took no responsibility for their neglect. I was supposed to forgive and forget. If there was someone else who could watch my son his last day would have been the day of the incident. We were able to get him moved a week and a half later. I would have never forgiven myself if anything else happened to him. It could be a 4 or 5 star review had I been lucky enough to not have my kid have this experience but when they are met with challenging situations to navigate, I was able to see their true colors. Being reactive versus proactive is just not acceptable when dealing with children. I couldn't afford to risk any other incidents at my son's expense. We sent him to the more expensive Montessori and he has been thriving there. I guess you get what you pay for.

So many extracurricular activities available that come to the school its amazin. Karate, gymnastic,…read moreballet, basketball and soccer it really frees up our weekends. Also the teachers are amazing!!!-Hunt

School front staff unprofessional can't give you no transcripts or info regarding your child. Lack…read moreof communication from their behalf as well as some teachers.

We absolutely love this school, I am so happy that we were able to find this hidden gem. My kids…read morelove their teachers, the principal is fantastic, he is on top of everything that goes on there. They have a great open door policy, it is so easy to meet with our teachers anytime we have a concern. It is a very diverse school, which we love, and all the parents are great! The level of education my kids are receiving is excellent, the IB program is wonderful.

I am kind of disappointed to say I think this preschool has gone lukewarm in terms of christianity…read more We used to do summer camp before 2020 and it was full of fun activities and christian related activities, but when I revisited in 2021, there was nothing like that. You were in a room all day except when going outside.

If I could give this school no stars, I would. The experiences I personally had at chrysalis were…read morebad enough to keep you up at night. The current director is aware of a teacher putting their hands on two children and that teacher has had no consequences. She has a "30-day suspension" where she is still allowed to work around kids, including the two she put her hands on. I would not recommend working here nor bringing your kids here. I keep in contact with parents and they repletely tell me what the administrative staff tells them, how rudely they talk to them and how little they make the parents feel. One time I had one of my kids choke on a piece of food and I had to do the Heimlich maneuver on said kid. Thankfully it came out and the kid is ok, but they did not inform the parents of what happened to their own child. So said child went home and said she choked on a piece of food, the mother texted me that night furiously asking me what happened. When I explained the situation and told her I told the administrative staff, she was even more furious. They failed to contact the mother, which resulted in me having to calm her down. Another time I had one of my kids hit his head hard, to the point where he was bleeding and had to go get surgical glue for the cut. I called on the walkie in tears saying I needed help, and no one came. It took another teacher to tell them to come to my room. The front obviously had favorites, but they are so petty to the point where they would ignore a bleeding child simply because they did not like me. All the front desk did was ignore us and talk bad about the parents. So bad to the point where a parent left in tears and withdrew her kid, I still keep in touch, and she was so happy for me when I told her I was not at chrysalis anymore. They will talk bad about you and your child; I have heard it with every single kid who walks in that door. Chrysalis never ever had one good thing to say about me. I was there for almost two years and on my last day my boss told me the following "None of the parents or kids liked me. I am not fit to be a teacher; I was a bad teacher, and I should have been gone a long time ago." The office staff is very petty and very messy, after my time at chrysalis I had staff tell me "So and so said this about you" one month after I was gone. The front desk women are very messy and very unprofessional. They made the work environment so unbearable and toxic. The teachers there were overworked, tired, crying, and the front and director did nothing to help. She gave us a chocolate bar and that was it. I loved my kids, to this day I babysit and keep in contact with them. It was never the kids. They were the best kids to me. The main problem was the front desk, the director and the way they ran things. I have more and more stories about chrysalis, but it keeps me up at night feeling so bad the teachers who are good teachers there. PLEASE DO NOT WORK OR BRING YOUR KIDS TO THIS SCHOOL. If my coworkers are reading this, I hope you realize the pain you have brought upon me. Chrysalis 'Christian' preschool is nothing but a scam. Do NOT contact me.

I rarely write reviews but I feel compelled to do so because there may be a parent out there…read moresearching for that key to their child's educational success. Three years ago I was in search of the very same thing and stumbled upon Launch Academy. Since then, this educational institution has been instrumental in nurturing my son's personal and academic growth. Initially, I held reservations about enrolling my son in a private school, primarily concerning tuition expenses and daily commuting logistics. My journey started with a profound understanding of the concept of Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), which mandates that schools provide tailored special education to address each child's specific needs. It became increasingly clear, after years of struggling with my son's elementary school, starting from kindergarten, that they were falling short in upholding this fundamental right. Our discovery of Launch Academy came through a trusted colleague whose son had graduated from Launch the previous year and a freshman in college. She had wrestled with her child's education for years, transitioning him from the public system to multiple private schools. She confided that she had begun to doubt her son's chances of ever graduating from high school until she turned to Launch Academy as a last-ditch effort for his future, which remarkably proved to be successful. After hearing her story I was still a bit skeptical, but we decided to visit and tour the school with my son. Meeting with the head of the school, Mr. Richard Kelly, was a life-changing experience. Mr. Kelly, a remarkable individual, effortlessly engaged with my shy, introverted son, and within a mere 10 minutes, my son eagerly joined a class without any hesitation. The dedicated staff and educators are not only highly qualified but also genuinely caring. They go above and beyond to ensure that each student's unique needs are met. The curriculum is innovative and engaging, keeping students excited about learning. My son has developed a strong foundation in various subjects and has shown remarkable progress since joining Launch. Prior to Launch Academy, my son used to complain of various illnesses daily in an attempt to stay home from school. Now he is excited about going to school and for the last 3 years he has maintained near-perfect attendance. Launch Academy places a strong emphasis on character development and instills values such as respect, responsibility, and empathy in its students. This holistic approach to education is commendable and sets the school apart. Launch Academy has consistently surpassed each and every expectation. The transformation in my son is truly remarkable. He has evolved into a confident young man with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. I am so grateful to each and every staff member, you guys are amazing!!

Outstanding school for socially quirky kids and kids who struggle in traditional large schools…read more Dr Karen Jaggers, LPC

Lycee Montessori is truly a diamond in the rough, and I want to express my sincere appreciation for…read morethe open and effective communication we've experienced. It's clear that feedback is always mutually beneficial, leading to the best possible experience for my children. When I have had concerns, they have been typically addressed with thoughtfulness and care. If I feel there is an issue, the staff is quick to correct, and get to the root problem. The one area I could see for improvement would be around daily photo consistency. There are some days where the photos are flowing in, and others leaving us wondering what our children did for the day. It's nice to pair our conversations with them to photo proof. I would love to see more frequent daily photos so I can get a better, more consistent glimpse into my children's day and see their activities. I understand the staff is busy, and I want to emphasize that I'm looking for a smooth, efficient way to update this without it becoming an annoyance or a significant burden on their daily routine. Thank you again for everything your team does. We are very happy with our children's experience at Lycee Montessori.

We are extremely pleased with Lycée Montessori. The staff are not only highly trained but also…read moretreat the children with genuine respect and care for their growth and development. The thoughtful attention to detail, research-based curriculum, and nurturing environment they provide are truly impressive. We are truly grateful the entire Lycee Montessori family.