I cannot say enough wonderful things about the STEP-UP CAREER ACADEMY CENTER From the moment I…read morewalked through the doors, we felt a warm and welcoming atmosphere that immediately put us at ease. The staff is professional, nurturing, and genuinely cares about each child's well-being and development. The children have thrived in their care throughout the years--socially, emotionally, and academically. They also offer a great variety of activities like music, art, Storytime, and outdoor play that keep the kids engaged and excited to come each day. I absolutely love his company, thank you for all you do to help, grow, and prepare our children for their future. Review from Alisa D. Wimbley Chicago, IL.

I have nothing but positive things to say about this daycare/school. The staff and owners are very…read moreprofessional and are very nice people. The teachers are great. Ms. Shawny is a sweet person. She keeps this place going. If you want your child to attend a school where the staff and taechers care and actually teach your child and focus on development and social skills as well personal growth, this should be your choice . The extra activities is a plus.. always learning and stepping up on another level at A Step UP Career Academy.

Amazing school! Public CPS Montessori School with wonderful and dedicated staff. Suder supports…read morestudents to be self-starters and lifetime learners! Such a joyful place for kids to learn and grow.

This school has traumatized my child specifically the 1-3 grade teacher. She is a good teacher she…read moretakes her time and really cares for them academically, however she does overstep her boundaries and is extremely passive aggressive and condescending. The school is ran like a sorority and all the faculty aids in abed their bullying behavior so having an issue with a teacher will get you tag team. There are teachers that work there and don't live in the community or Chicago for matter

Great teachers who work incredibly hard to support their students! Highly recommend :)read more

We are writing this review as parents who ultimately made the difficult decision to withdraw our…read morechild from the school for the 2026-2027 school year. We did not make this decision lightly. We raised concerns, communicated with teachers and administration, and genuinely tried to work with the school because we wanted things to improve--not only for our child, but for the students and families in the school community. Unfortunately, over time, we became increasingly concerned about the school's leadership, academics, discipline, communication, and overall environment. Leadership and Support: Our biggest concern was the lack of effective leadership and support from Principal Doyle. We repeatedly brought forward concerns and attempted to have constructive conversations about changes that we believed would benefit students and the school. We also reached out to the priest for support. Instead of feeling supported or seeing meaningful follow-through, we ultimately felt that our concerns were dismissed and that we were left on our own. As parents, we expected school leadership to listen, communicate, and work collaboratively with families when legitimate concerns were raised. Academics: We were also disappointed with the academic rigor. The work did not consistently feel challenging or sufficiently rigorous for our child. Homework was often not assigned and, in our experience, sometimes had to be specifically requested. We raised these concerns with both teachers and the principal, but we did not see meaningful or sustained changes. We also felt that the school placed a disproportionate emphasis on Spanish while other important academic areas did not receive the same level of attention or rigor. We wanted a well-rounded education that challenged our child across all core subjects. Student Discipline and Classroom Environment: Another serious concern was the consistency and fairness of student discipline. From our perspective, rules and consequences did not always appear to be applied equally to all students. We observed what we perceived as greater leniency toward students who had multiple siblings enrolled at the school, while students who were the only child from their family sometimes appeared to receive stricter discipline. Whether intentional or not, this created a perception of unequal treatment that we found deeply concerning. We also felt that a lack of academic challenge and classroom engagement contributed to students becoming disengaged and, at times, acting out. When we asked for additional resources, strategies, or administrative support, we did not feel that those requests were adequately addressed. Teacher Turnover: The level of teacher turnover was another concern. Frequent teacher changes create instability for students and can affect relationships, classroom consistency, and the overall educational experience. We were concerned that this did not appear to be treated with the level of urgency we believe such an issue deserves. Communication: Communication was another recurring problem. We often felt that concerns were heard but not meaningfully addressed. We communicated directly with teachers and administration about academics, discipline, classroom concerns, and support. Unfortunately, conversations did not consistently result in follow-through or noticeable changes. Effective communication is more than simply listening--it requires responding, taking concerns seriously, and following through. Overall Environment: Ultimately, we reached a point where we no longer felt that the school environment was the right one for our child. We wanted our child to be in a supportive, stable, academically challenging environment with consistent expectations, strong leadership, and adults who genuinely listen to and support students and families. What makes this particularly disappointing is that we did not leave without first trying to encourage positive change. We reached out because we cared about the school and believed improvements could benefit the entire community. Unfortunately, we felt that when we needed support, both the principal and priest turned their backs on our family rather than working with us toward solutions. We sincerely hope the school takes feedback from departing families seriously. In our view, meaningful improvement would require stronger leadership, greater accountability, consistent academic expectations, fair and consistent discipline, better communication, and a serious examination of teacher turnover. We are sharing this review because prospective families deserve to understand our experience before making such an important decision for their children.

This review is long overdue. I am a graduate of Small Stride Academy and my oldest daughter has…read morealso graduated from there and attends their after school program. My baby girl is currently enrolled in their day care program and I couldn't be happier. Ms. Allen has been in the business for decades and with that comes a great knowledge of how to care for and love on these babies. She has created a gem with Small Stride Academy and I have referred many of my friends to her as well. The teachers are so loving, friendly and nurturing. Ms. Harrison has a way with children that will have you asking her for tips. LOL She is able to work with children with various personalities and that speaks volumes to her gentle spirit and loving heart. I was a nervous wreck when my baby girl started school and Ms. Harrison and Ms. Kalena were there to calm me and my husband's fears. The Co-Director Ms. Kalena is so sweet and such a joy to talk to. She never got irritated with me calling multiple times a day to check on my baby and even encouraged me to do so to see how she was adjusting. By the third day my baby was jumping out of my arms to go to school and when she did that I knew once again that I had made the best choice for my baby by sending her to Small Stride. Another plus is they are open during convenient hours for us working parents! I highly recommend you check them out, they are such a blessing to my family!

Absolutely one of the best places to bring your family. The staff and owner truly care about you…read moreand your children!

My daughter hates it. Before the first day of school the school and teachers didn't look mean,…read moreduring this time I wasn't looking at how the dress code was so strict! It is so difficult to get my daughter dress code approved. My daughter complains about how theres one class room for each grade, In my honest opinion I'd be mad too. Not to even think of it, why do children from the age of 5-14 have to pay just to get a meal?! some families tell there children to eat at school because they don't have enough ingredients for meals at home. I will be transfer my kids. NEVER coming back. Although it serves great Christian purpose. Keep in mind, this isn't a highschool, the kids are too young to be paying.

Great school that integrates education and Christian values…read more My daughter has attended since pre-K and this school has provided a sound, fundamental education for her.

This is an excellent facility. As a working mother, I had my reservations about putting my newborn…read moreinto daycare. Choosing COA was the best decision we could have made in a daycare choice. Children of America has a lot of advantages over the other daycare facilities in the area: Daily reports can be viewed electronically (versus paper ones...SAVE THOSE TREES!), surveillance option, astroTurf for the outdoor playground (versus wood chips and dirt...that little ones like toddlers can easily gnaw or chew on,etc.). Last but not least, excellent Teachers and Directors. My son has now moved up to his 3rd room. Every room that he has been in, the teachers were excellent, welcoming, interactive with the kids and communicative. If only COA had a location in the Mokena area as well *hint*

My daughter has been attending COA since she was 8 weeks old and now she is nearly 3. The teachers…read moreand admin at COA have always taken care of my baby and taken any concerns I may have had seriously. I appreciate how much my daughter has learned and grown from knowing her colors and shapes before one and all of her letters before 2. I've always been amazed at stuff she knows, like counting backwards, cause I knew I wasn't responsible for it (LBVS). Some teachers who have stood out are Ms. Linda, Ms. Theresa, Ms. Caitlyn, Ms. Leann, Ms. Destiny, Ms. Kat, Ms. Kobe, and Ms. Tricia. I would certainly recommend COA as they provide updates daily in an app along with video capabilities. I also appreciate the activities they have after school to keep parents active (Bentley activities) and informed (parent conferences). I'm so thankful for COA.

We've had a wonderful experience with All Day Montessori since 2021. The teachers are warm,…read moreattentive, and truly understand how to guide young children in a way that builds confidence and independence. Our children have blossomed--gaining early math and reading skills, but more importantly, developing a real love for learning. The Montessori approach here is authentic and well-implemented, with beautiful materials and a calm, respectful environment. We especially appreciate the focus on social-emotional growth and the strong sense of community. It's a place where our child feels safe and supported. Highly recommend for any family looking for a thoughtful, nurturing start to their child's education.

Some of the teachers care the administration does not. The head of school is horrendous. Rude. Not…read morecompassionate. She's yelled at my child in front of me. She leans on policy and punitive measures rather than developing intelligent, active, curious children. She hands out $20 late-fee notices down pick up line if you're a minute late. She hands out incident reports for every single interaction your toddler has that is negative. Pinching a teacher. Pouting and not listening. Blowing raspberries. Our kid was two. We don't need paperwork because she blew raspberries. Needless to say, we didn't make it through the school year. They're uneducated in childhood development and would rather place blame around, particularly on the children, than work with families to develop healthy kids. Do not go here!

Our family loved Peter Pan preschool! Both of our daughters went through the program - both 3 year…read moreold and 4 year old preschool. Mrs. V and her staff took excellent care of them and they were both well prepared for Kindergarten. Not only that, because of Peter Pan, we have made lifelong friendships. I highly recommend this preschool to anyone looking for a fun, loving environment to send their child for a great learning experience.

Peter Pan preschool is an amazing preschool, best in the area honestly. Both of my children went…read morethrough their program and I have to say they were more than prepared for kindergarten. They have a play based approach, but don't let that deter you, the things my children have learned is astonishing. Mrs. V and all the other teachers are awesome. They care so much about the kids. My daughter cried when leaving the first day because she was going to miss her teacher, that should give you an idea of how the kids are treated and how much the kids love it as well. Peter Pan also follows the district, they start a bit later and end a bit earlier than the district so you have time to drop off and pick up your other kiddos. If I could I would give them 1,000 stars. I did read some of the negative reviews and I disagree with them; this is an absolutely spectacular place to send your children. My kids love school and Peter Pan helped build that foundation for them. For that I will forever be grateful. I will always recommend this school to whoever asks or is looking. I would like to add to Dominic Leodoro. He stated in his initial review that Mrs. V was a nice woman, yet he keeps his review. Mrs. V can't go back and own the business, so she did the best she could being an employee. She has taken this business over and made it into a wonderful place and program. Replacing what the problems were there. Now while this does not change your experience with the previous owner I think there should be an acknowledgement of the positive changes that have been made since Mrs. V acquired the business. You stating that the program is laughable and that they are babysitters is not a reflection on what it has been changed into.