Been waiting for the right words and time to express my experience. But here I go.... We started over the pandemic and we chose them because they had safe covid protocol, a tight nit community, and strong philosophy. We loved our first year as the teacher was experienced and communicative. Year 2 we started to get signs that school communication was lackluster and then an inexperience teacher was brought in to the toddler class. We quickly started getting calls with assumptive diagnoses and lack of details on what the issues were. We listened to the feedback about how to improve in our "Montessori parenting but also quick, diagnoses to sensory issues. We listened and found solutions to that feedback to fit in. Year 3 Tidbits that there were issues happening with non specifics or examples given one was that a 3 loved our first year as the teacher was experienced and communicative. Year 2 we started to get signs that school communication was lackluster and then an inexperienced teacher was brought in to the toddler class. We quickly started getting calls with assumptive diagnoses and lack of details on what the issues were. We listened to the feedback about how to improve in our "Montessori parenting" but also quick, diagnoses to sensory issues. We listened and found solutions to that feedback to fit in. Year 3 Tidbits that there were issues happening with non specifics or examples given (one was that a 3 year old " putting materials in water at lunch"... was disruptive) to ultimately a midday work call asking my kid to leave without anything else. Final days: given essentially 30 days to find our son a new school On our last parent teacher conference we saw different parents asked to leave the conference because of a misschedule on the schools part. Not a surprise. 1 out of 5 stars. To this school: Adapt with the times and treat us like humans read more

Chicago Montessori has provided a wonderful educational setting for our son in pre-k. He has been able to learn and explore with the support of wonderful (Montessori-certified) educators and in the company of peers in multi-age classrooms. The classroom environment is spectacular. He was very nervous about starting -- this was his first experience in a large, classroom setting -- but within just a few days he felt totally at home! read more

I love our little school! The teachers and administration are excellent. My daughters have attended since preschool (now in first and fourth grade, respectively) and I am grateful for the down-to-earth education they are receiving and the tight-knit community of staff and parents. Reading the bad review from Yesenia due to lack of diversity is incredibly frustrating. My children are bi-racial but very light-skinned. How can one judge the merits of a school based on the color of its students and staff? For the record, there are Indian, Asian, Hispanic and other Black families at the school including several Hispanic staff members and a teacher of Indian descent - but that does not and should not matter! What ever happened to building a nation of citizens "where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."? For the other parents who found that their children did not succeed at CM; perhaps an AMI Montessori program is not a good fit for your child. CM is one of two AMI-accredited schools with an Adolescent Program in Chicago, which means they follow the original standard of teachings developed by Maria Montessori. There is no technology in the classroom and students are expected to self-govern their time and develop personal responsibility for their work and education, which is exactly why we love the program. In regard to the comment about the "long time veteran teacher" leaving; she retired and is still involved with the school. Furthermore, I can assure you, things are not falling apart. We were fortunate to have in-person learning for all of the 2020/2021 school year with masks, temp checks and frequent hand washing and thankfully there were no Covid outbreaks. CM is a tight ship and my daughters are thriving. read more

I'm writing this review for other parents of color. I probably won't tell you anything you don't already know. My goal with this review is to share a parent's experience so that you can make the best decision for your child. Both my children attended this school, starting with the toddler program. To this day, the only people my children miss and mention by name are Ellen and Citlalli, the toddler team. When I enrolled my oldest child, I was still deciding whether to keep him there for his entire elementary education. I wanted a widely diverse group of students and teachers, but that simply wasn't the case at this school. I initially wrote off the situation as simply being out of control of the director and the board. I've since spoken to other parents of color with children at other local Montessori schools, and I realize that this school wasn't doing anything to change the situation. In fact, when the one lead teacher of color left, she was replaced with a white woman, making the entire lead teaching staff white. Sometime in February 2020, I overheard disparaging, anti-Latinx remarks from a group of fellow CM parents during the mid-day pickup. The same parents that boast that their children understand Spanish were also devaluing Latinx people and culture. Amidst the pandemic, I decided my children would not return to this school. As I researched what to do next, I reached out to other CM parents of color and I found they shared my frustration. From parents of color at other local Montessori schools, I learned about smart strategies meant to build a diverse school community, such as sliding scale tuition and hiring/developing Black/brown lead teachers. The good news is that if you're currently looking for a Montessori school for your family of color, there are many with real diversity, especially on the near West and near South sides. read more

We are so glad to be part of the CM family. We toured a number of Montessori schools in Chicago for our daughter for 1st grade. We really felt at home here. Jennifer and Ms Boland are so nice and great educators. Our daughter is really thriving and growing here and we could not be more happy. I wish we lived closer, but it's completely worth the 30 min drive each way for us. read more

Beautiful classrooms and dedicated professional teachers. You can feel the peace when you walk in.

The best place for a caring Montessori education. I had to move back to Florida this year and cannot find anything that competes with Chicago Montessori. Jennifer Hanna cares about each student and built a school that empowers and develops each child to their full potential. I was amazed at my daughter's language and fine motor skills development within 6 months of attending the school. My daughter was 2 years old and sewing better than I! Ellen was her teacher then and is an integral part of what makes the school wonderful. I felt comfortable knowing my daughter was in capable and caring hands. Each teacher is Montessori trained and connected to other Montessori teachers throughout the country. It was easy to get updates on my child's progress one a daily and weekly basis. The teachers are available by phone or email and communicate regularly. read more

We transferred our two boys to Chicago Montessori from another AMI school when the eldest reached elementary age . Unfortunately we did not have a positive experience at CM and withdrew them after a year. Our youngest was placed in the Primary classroom at age 2 years, 9 months and it quickly became evident that he was not ready for the room. He was disruptive and especially struggled with nap time. These were not issues we'd encountered with him at home or in his previous school, and the school did not seem equipped to help him acclimate. Instead they sent us threatening messages about him needing to show timely progress on his work, the undertone being that his place at the school was not secure. In his new school, he's back to having no issues. Our older son started as a first-year in Elementary and regularly came home complaining that kids were mean to him. Children bragged to him about living in mansions and getting $100 from the tooth fairy. One peer of his was particularly antagonistic, and when we raised the issue in a meeting with the director, we were lectured for not attending more school social outings and advised to arrange a playdate with the child in question. We arranged a playdate at the kid's house and he brought our son into a hidden space and tried to reach down his pants. We had a similar incident with the same child in the classroom a couple of weeks later. Reports to the director were agaimet with defensiveness and skepticism. We could not in good conscience make our child continue there, especially without faith that the director took our concerns seriously. For additional context see below. read more

We just finished our time with the Toddler Program. If you're looking for something that's half-day, this is it! Our daughter is an ask-for-forgiveness kinda gal, and I couldn't see myself saying no and trying to hold her back for the next year. We needed something that worked WITH her fearless spirit. We started at 19 months, and, very quickly, I noticed her become more focused and purposeful at home... and less Tasmanian Devil. She was happier! My biggest concern was whether the potty-training method would work for her, but she breezed through! I came to respect and admire Ellen, the Toddler Program teacher, so much. She's the pro, and we are newbs. We implemented at home the tactics our daughter successfully used at school, and found that they did transfer. Two nights ago, as I was preparing dinner, our kiddo stood on her toes, opened up a kitchen drawer, and grabbed out a set of silverware. I almost stopped her, but decided to see where this was going. She put it on the table in front of a chair. Came back for another set. Etc. I was AMAZED. You will be, too. (However, once a week, I try giving her a drink in those cute little shot glasses they use at school, and it's 50/50 she dumps it on the floor and laughs at me, so it's not like Montessori turned her from toddler to Princess Kate.) I loved the enrichment and informational lectures that they offer to parents, and took advantage of them to learn new techniques, and the parents and Montessori method better. CMS has a great community. Be aware that each family does the class laundry (smocks, napkins, dish towels, etc) and grocery shopping (cooking supplies & flowers) about twice a school year, and there are bank holidays, Christmas and Spring breaks, and teacher planning days when the school is closed... this is NOT like daycare; it's school. Parent/teacher conferences are typically on Saturdays, which was really great for my husband's schedule. They suggested homemade valentines, and had school pictures, including a group photo, toward the end of the year. We're heartbroken to leave, and are only doing so because our care situation changed, and we now need something full-time. CMS was absolutely the right choice for our spunky child this year. read more

We have been going to CM for only a couple of months but felt that I have been part of the community for way longer. We have taken part in book clubs, parent events (pre-covid) and became part of the community before our spot opened up. Our search included visiting several school options for our toddler (no shortage in our area). We decided on CM because of the clear commitment to the Montessori method by the staff while also accounting for the unique needs of the child (my daughter is the only kid in class who isn't potty trained yet), and commitment to community by the staff and families. Specifically, in our toddler classroom, we learned that one of my daughter's classmates mothers happens to be a Montessori teacher herself which has been a vote of confidence in our decision to send our daughter to CM. We couldn't be any more grateful!! read more

This is a one-of-a-kind school. We moved out of state and one of the hardest things for us to say goodbye to was Chicago Montessori as my son truly loved it there. It was very special. The staff are lovely and very talented too, and they care a great deal about the children, their families and the school community. I loved going into the classrooms to observe; it is a magical, peaceful, purposeful, inspiring place. I cannot recommend this school enough. My then 3-year old son attended for a year and we've seen so many positive changes in him. His confidence and independence blossomed and he's learned a lot not just academically but in more important aspects like taking care of his environment, respect for himself and others and how his contribution to a community matters. The school runs a number of events for parents throughout the year - opportunities for us to learn and grow with our children, as well as learning more about the Montessori approach. I have found all of these valuable. I have no doubts that the children here are getting the highest quality Montessori education. I encourage you to join a tour of the school during their open house :) read more

Chicago Montessori was good to my two children for four years. We miss the school and community we had built during that time. Once the pandemic hit, we moved to the burbs for some land and nature. The director has continued to be helpful in our school search for a proper Montessori school in the suburbs. We can only hope our kids' current Montessori school will compare to some extent to the wonderful experience they had at Chicago Montessori. read more

I have 2 kids-ages 4 and 10-who have been attending Chicago Montessori since they were 2 years old. The school happened to be in our neighborhood and I had limited knowledge of the Montessori method, but once I saw the toddler classroom I knew it was something I wanted my children to be a part of. Their personalities couldn't be more different...but I believe this school has been the most defining influence on how my children have become thoughtful, confident, and independent kids who love their peers and take pride in their school. This is in equal parts through the teaching and the way the school is run, and through the way this school has taught me to be the parent that it has made me to be. There is a strong and supportive community within the school. There are informative parent education nights as well as organized parent gatherings throughout the year. If you are considering a Montessori education, I encourage you to research the differences between AMI certified and non certified schools and schedule a tour here. read more

If a Montessori education is what you're looking for, then I highly encourage you to tour Chicago Montessori. If you're not sure what kind of educational philosophy you're looking for, then I highly encourage you to tour Chicago Montessori anyway because it may very well open your eyes up to one of the most beautiful ways for children to experience learning. Being an AMI accredited school, CM upholds the highest standards for a pure Montessori education. We currently have three children at CM ages 9, 7, and 5...our 3 yo will start in the fall. We can't say enough about how happy we are at CM. I was a traditional school teacher in CPS, so I already knew I wanted something that was more aligned with actual child development research. My husband was not as concerned as I was about avoiding the traditional classroom. However, after five years of witnessing the learning environment that goes on, my husband is just as passionate about our school as I am. This school is for people who want to see their children grow and learn as the individuals they are. Children are given the space and respect to engage in meaningful work on a daily basis. In the 3-6 classroom you'll see children doing an array of work ranging from practical life (preparing snack, folding cloths, sweeping, flower arranging) to cursive writing and geometry. In the 6-9 classroom, children take on research projects, plan outings, conduct science experiments, utilize concrete materials to explore and practice sophisticated math skills, and perform presentations of their work. Additionally, Spanish is taught in a truly bilingual way with a Spanish speaking teacher in every classroom who works with the students all day, every day. We have watched our children grow and mature in ways that we truly believe can be attributed to their responsible independence at school. We're so happy that they get to be in an environment where they are treated like capable, self-sufficient people who willingly learn because the materials and content draw them in. I can't imagine sending them anywhere else. read more

I loved this school years ago, however, it has morphed into something completely different than its original mission. My first daughter transferred from an East Coast AMI certified Montessori during her first Primary year and it was a perfect fit. We sailed through the second year without issue, just gaining steam to keep her their and send our second child. The beginning of our daughter's kindergarten year, however, everything changed when her teacher left and the director brought in a teacher that was just not a good fit, so much so that this teacher was asked to leave at the end of the year. So here is where I took issue: when kindergarten began, our daughter loved to read. From September to November, she went from loving reading, to being blasé to absolutely hating it (her exact words were "I hate reading"), which is crushing for a parent to hear. We scheduled meetings with the director and attempted to schedule with the teacher (the director doesn't allow meetings with the teacher-she has a firm grip on managing communication and her way seems to be the only way). The first time we met (September), the director told us not to worry, our daughter was doing great, she would talk to the teacher to ensure things were on track. Our second meeting, in October, we went in with an open mind, asking if they really believed our daughter was a good fit. Again, we were assured everything was wonderful, she would again talk to the teacher. At that time, our thinking began to shift from Montessori to alternative methods. We began searching for other schools, all the while being told by the Chicago Montessori Director that everything was fine, what was happening with our daughter was normal. In November, our daughter went from hating reading to hating school. (I don't know any 5 year olds that hate school, I was extremely worried.) Our November meeting included a sit down with the teacher (we only were allowed this meeting because of patent teacher conferences), where we were told "I will make her my project." In January, the Director called a meeting with us where we were told our daughter was no longer a good fit for the school and that a more structured program, specifically a public school, would serve her learning methods. We finished out the school year feeling as though we wasted our daughter's kindergarten year. We spoke with other parents in the class and they, too, were having reservations about returning. We went in with so much hope and all we received in return for tuition paid, was a confused child who hated school. Again, we were not the only parents feeling this way. A few weeks into summer, the teacher was let go, however parents weren't told until August (another issue I have with this school-poor communication). The reason I am writing this review with only one star is this: zero accountability was taken by this school. With all the proactive questioning and communicating we did with the director and teacher, we got nothing but passive responses back and an otherwise highly intelligent child who was wildly underprepared for first grade. Our last day, the director ran out to say goodbye and reminded me that she would save a space for our second daughter in the toddler program. Thanks but no thanks. It's been a year since we finished. Since then, the toddler teacher was let go and a long time veteran teacher has also left. Things seem to be falling apart here. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD(REN) HERE. There are too many other amazing alternatives in this city when considering private schools. read more

Our son has been at Chicago Montessori for over a year. My husband and I have been beyond impressed with how the school is run, the classroom environment, how amazing the staff is, and most importantly how well our son is growing. Given that our son is in the toddler program I love that it isn't a high pressure environment and he is encouraged to develop at his own pace. That being said he is a little over two completely potty trained, speaking in sentences, has a handful of Spanish words, is beginning to count, and most importantly his imagination is phenomenal. I credit CM for this and the skills they have given me as a parent. I cannot encourage you enough to tour Chicago Montessori. read more

I'd like to rebuttal Beth's review. I have three children ages 6, 8 and 10 years old attending Chicago Montessori and it has been a great experience for us. The younger two have been attending since preK and the 10 yo consistently since 2nd grade with one year for Kindergarten. My 8 yo experienced that same year where there were teacher changes and he's doing very well as a 2nd grader. That year was an exception and to be fair, that teacher was not great, but the wonderful thing about private schools is that they can fire a bad teacher. That is exactly what happened. The kids who are his peers from that same are all doing very well and almost all the kids have remained in the program. In fact, the new teacher that replaced them did a wonderful job catching the children up to snuff. As far as reading goes, as a parent I made it my mission to teach my children how to read no matter which program I send them to, public, private etc... In addition, my children love reading, because my husband and I encourage it so much and we have read almost daily to our children for the last 8 years. We tried the public school system with our first and it was not a great experience for my 10 yo. He had 1.5 hours of homework every night as a first grader and only reported playground discussions at home. Once we made the shift, he talked about school! All the projects he was doing and how he loved going. Last year he had trouble with math and they do the major Public School test twice a year. After seeing that he struggled with math, we worked together with the school and his score rose significantly. My 10 yo says he never wants to leave the school. You'll never find the perfect school and if you do than I'm very happy for you. I think that there was always something I didn't like at all three of the schools my oldest attended, but what I was most keen on is that my children like learning. And at this school, they love learning and they are all at least a year ahead in their skills. This is a small school and it certainly has it's drawbacks for it's size and if that is something you don't like or want then it really isn't a good fit. It is a business and the director has been careful about her community and how she runs her school. Beth and the director were not a good fit and that happens. But if you like a small community bubble that feels like homeschool with the benefits of learning with autonomy and confidence then check it out! read more

My daughter is in her 3rd year of the primary program and Chicago Montessori has been nothing short of excellent. She is happy, thriving, and learning so much. She's particularly thrilled with math and Spanish, but really she enjoys all aspects of her day. We're happy with the community that the school offers and its commitment to the Montessori philosophy (it is one of the only AMI certified schools in the city). read more