Our family has been a part of the Smart Love Preschool community since 2021, and it's hard to put…read moreinto words just how deeply grateful we are for everything this incredible school has given our children--and us as parents. All three of our kids have grown and thrived in ways that continue to amaze us, and we attribute so much of that to the thoughtful, loving, and deeply respectful approach that Smart Love takes with every child. The Smart Love philosophy is unparalleled--genuinely child-led, grounded in emotional regulation, and rich with engaging, developmentally meaningful experiences. From the nurturing classroom environments to the vibrant outdoor space and hands-on garden program (where kids learn to grow from seed to harvest), the school is designed to inspire curiosity and joy. Our children are genuinely excited to go to school each day. They come home with bags full of "treasures"--artwork and projects that reflect their unique interests and imaginations. But beyond what they bring home in their backpacks, they bring home confidence, happiness, and a sense of being deeply understood and valued. Our oldest transitioned seamlessly to public kindergarten, and our middle child is currently thriving in the kindergarten supplement program at Smart Love. It's a small, intentional cohort led by a truly phenomenal teacher, and it has given our daughter the most enriching, confidence-building experience we could have hoped for before entering elementary school. Our youngest is currently in the preschool program, and we continue to be amazed by how deeply he is known, supported, and celebrated for exactly who he is. The director and staff at Smart Love take the time to understand each child as a whole person. Her insights and recommendations have been incredibly helpful--like having a trusted parenting expert in our corner. Smart Love has brought joy, stability, and meaningful growth not just to our children, but to our entire family. It's a supportive community where children shine, and where parents are seen, heard, and valued. We truly could not imagine a better early childhood experience.

This school is incredible. We started our 2 year old there this year in the playschool and we've…read morebeen absolutely blown away. The teachers and preschool director are just amazing. We were hoping for a school that would be a great start for our daughter but have been amazed at how the school has actually helped us to be better parents. Couldn't recommend more.

Our daughter started at MGP (Lincoln Square location) a little after turning 3 years old. We have…read morehad nothing but positive experiences thus far. We love that each class has a spanish and mandarin teacher and our daughter recently learned to sing a song in Mandarin! Also, the test prep for SEES (Selective Enrollment Exams) has been immensely helpful so far in preparing our daughter. The teachers, principal and entire staff are always accommodating. Top notch Montessori education. Highly recommend!

We love MGP! The staff, teachers, students, and parents have all been amazing!…read more Our daughter has been enrolled since she was 2, and we plan to enroll our son when he becomes of age.

My son went to Colibri Montessori for 2 years. We couldn't have asked for a better learning…read moreenvironment for his early years. Colibri is a small daycare and really feels like a home more than a school. Ms Pilar creates a very warm and welcoming atmosphere for little kids to explore, learn and play. She approaches all the children with patience and kindness, and her Montessori approach guides the learning activities the children do every day. She spends as much time outdoors as possible, gardening, having picnics, or just splashing in puddles. She provides regular updates on your child's progress and behavior, can help you work through problems at home, and will inform you when your child may need some additional support/redirection. It is all very transparent and collaborative (it takes a village!) Her daycare is also entirely in Spanish, so even though my son may speak to other kids in English in class, he left left being able to fully comprehend in Spanish and also started speaking in Spanish too. We truly miss Colibri now that we are in the public school system but left with only fond memories.

Our family has loved Colibri Montessori for our 3 year old. It is a loving, warm home for young…read morechildren and I always felt confident my daughter was being well-taken care of and loved. The small size helps that. Ms. Pilar is an excellent teacher and administrator. The Montessori method is truly followed, as I noticed my daughter doing so much autonomously at home as the school year progressed. She and the other teachers are great about Spanish immersion and we are so happy our daughter has been able to improve her Spanish fluency while at school!

Our daughter has been attending for a year and we love the school. She's learning so much and she…read moreadores her guides. She's in the Spanish immersion and her Spanish has gotten way better too.

I can't say enough about this program, the staff, and community of parents/families here. Our son…read morewas born at the height of Covid so really didn't have as much exposure to other kids and activities the way our daughter did, so when he turned 3, we opted for the Children's House program at Guidepost in Wicker Park and it's been transformational for our son. When he started, he didn't want to interact with anyone and would scream at anyone who tried to engage with him, but a few months in and wow--this mighty personality that was waiting in the wings just poured out of him. Not to mention, his speech improved exponentially in such a short time. Even now, just one year later, I am so amazed at the rate of development. We've gone from unruly toddler to a little boy who is now a leader and helper to the younger kids, is so independent, outgoing, and already learning to read and write. In fact, he has an older sister at a different school and we thought about transferring him for convenience (and cost savings), but decided against it because it has been so impactful for our son--we didn't want to disrupt the process--and we are so thankful we stayed. It's such a wonderful community and not only is there "school work" but so many opportunities to participate in extra-curriculars like art, dance, tumbling, soccer, etc. The school heads take the time to carefully select the meals for each month and I'm so grateful because my son is a notoriously picky eater at home, so I'm comforted by the fact that he's eating healthy meals on a daily basis at school. The staff is honestly just exceptional and really take the time to know the parents and their kids, regardless of age or which class they are in. We leave at drop off every day knowing our son is in good hands and I would recommend this place to anyone and everyone! Ms. Gladys, Ms. Brittney, Ms. Maria, Ms. Sue, Ms. Katelyn (and all the staff I don't interact with on a daily basis)--thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have done and continue to do for this school and the children. This is really a special place and if I could rewind the time, I would send our first child here as well!!

My children are thriving at Goethe Elementary! I feel feel so lucky this school community is in our…read moreneighborhood. Both my son and daughter consider Goethe a second home.

My son is just beginning Kindergarten at Goethe elementary in Logan Square. I cannot say enough…read moregreat things about how welcoming the staff, teachers and parents have been during this difficult transition from Preschool to Full day Kindergarten! The community play groups have been a great way for my son to connect with other classmates and for me to meet other moms.

We've been part of the Children's Learning Place family for over 10 years, starting at the Lakeview…read morelocation and moving to Logan Square when our oldest was just one. From day one, CLP Logan Square has felt like a second home. The care, consistency, and community have made parenting in the city so much easier. The staff is incredible. Every teacher and team member has shown our kids so much love, patience, and support. It gave us real peace of mind to know our children were not only safe but also thriving. They made friends, learned through play and structured activities, and participated in engaging specials like Spanish, music, and yoga. We also loved the occasional field trips that brought learning to life. The value is outstanding. Tuition is reasonable and includes meals, snacks, diapers, and formula. When we were expecting our first and touring multiple centers, this all-inclusive model made CLP the clear choice. It removed so much of the daily logistics and let us focus on just being parents. The extras really added up too. The Parent's Night Out program gave us time to recharge, and we appreciated being able to hire CLP staff for babysitting. It was comforting to have a network of familiar faces who knew our kids well and cared for them deeply. After a full decade with CLP, we are so grateful. This community has played a meaningful role in our family's story, and we can't recommend it highly enough.

CLP Logan Square feels as much like a supportive family as it does a daycare. For years, the great…read moreteachers and staff made our non-traditional family feel welcome and often went out of their way to meet our needs. We can't recommend CLP enough and we'll never forget the years we were part of this diverse, friendly and fun community!

If only I could give more than 5 stars! That's how highly I recommend and love Prairieland…read moreMontessori! 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!!!

My daughter recently graduated from Prairieland and we couldn't have had a better experience! She…read morewas 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!

Update: April 20, 2015 My children are now 7 and 3-1/2 years…read moreold and I and they love the school as much as ever. Currently, the school announced that they do plan on expanding the school. Update: August 16, 2014 My 6 yr old daughter & 2-1/2 yr old son attend. The school and parent community is still incredible and my only wish is that they expand their elementary program to middle school. Original review: It may not seem like much from the outside, but this school is a hidden gem. I honestly believe that there is no better learning or childcare environment than Gateway Montessori School. My daughter is 3 years old and has been attending Gateway since she was about 10 months old (Infant Program). When my wife and I were interviewing daycares, nannys, etc. for our daughter, we asked ourselves 3 important questions: 1. Can you we trust the Institution and Providers? 2. Will our child be Loved & Respected? 3. Will our child be learning and developing to her full potential? Can you we trust the Institution and Providers... ? Both my wife and I have complete trust in the school's Directress, Shelley Torres (and teachers). Once you meet her, you will understand. She teaches the 1-3 year old class and has the composure and patience that few have (and that is necessary for this age group). She has a long history as a Montessori teacher (AMI) and upholds to the standards that make a true Montessori school a great education. Gateway is a small school with small classes so you know all the teachers and assistants. The school hosts teacher presentations (as well as guest-lectures) and classroom observations. These are great opportunities for parents to see how teachers work with children, understand the classroom environment & materials, and talk with teachers. We leave our daughter at Gateway everyday knowing that she is in the best care outside of family. Will our child be Loved & Respected...? I see everyday not only how loving and respectful the teachers are to the children, but how my loving and respectful my daughter is to others. The teachers exemplify the qualities that I value in a caring & quality school. Among other things, they help the children become independent, guide them with reasoning (rather than control), support them emotionally, and encourage them to support their classmates with love and respect. I think my daughter has developed a true sense of empathy and understanding through working in the classrooms. Will our child be learning and developing to her full potential...? Number One, I want my daughter to be Happy (and she is). Number two, I want my daughter to Learn (and she does). Not only do the children build on their knowledge, but they learn about independence and practical life. They are drinking from cups in the infant class, baking bread in the 1-3 yr classroom, and learning about the trinomial equation in the 3-6 yr classroom. My (limited) experience with Montessori... My wife and I had never heard of Montessori education prior to attending a Gateway lecture. After meeting the director, learning more about Montessori, and seeing the school we were completely sold. Whether you are already familiar with Montessori education or not, you should see Gateway. As my wife and I have learned, this is no ordinary school.

My daughter has been attending Gateway Montessori School since she was 3 and it was located on…read moreMontrose Avenue. It's now in a brand new building on Pulaski specifically built for the school and my daughter is now in 5th grade. She loves it. She feels connected to the community and safe in the environment. I love the school, the teachers and the Director who has 35 years experience and I learn from her every day. The new space is large and bright with a lovely garden area for playing. The classroom sizes are still small with one trained teacher "Guide" and one assistant in each room. Classes are broken into 15months to age 3, age 3-6, and elementary age 6-12 years. Gateway is one of only two Montessori schools in Chicago that is recognized by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). This means they follow the original teachings of Dr. Montessori and they have all the required materials. All of the classroom teachers have under graduate degrees as well as the required AMI certification program for the level they teach which requires several years additional training. I feel really fortunate to have found Gateway Montessori.