Our daughter has attended Kensington since she was an infant, and we couldn't be more pleased with…read moreour experience. She is learning and thriving while she is at school. She is exited to start her day when we drop her off. The teachers are all professional, friendly, and caring to the children. We receive photos of her throughout the day and lots of artwork, which we love! They have done an excellent job keeping kiddos and staff healthy/safe during the pandemic. Their staff has been receptive and compassionate whenever we have had any sort of concern. We recommend Kensington to all of our parent friends.

They don't post their policies for review and the ones the do post contradict others. They also…read moresteal huge deposits from families so be aware what you sign your child up for. They may have once been a great establishment but that is no longer the case. They are not doing the same things they used to as far as enriching your children but they are still taking the same if not more tuition fees for non service. They also move the kids around from classroom to classroom so you may not be able to fond your child when you are picking them up at the end of the day.

My junior girl scout troop had a great experience at Studio Nafisa. We had a session there last…read moreweek to earn the jewelry badge. Our lively 10-year-old girls were calm and focused in Nafisa's peaceful studio. They made earrings, bracelets, and necklaces during the 2-hour session. The girls' creations were lovely, and it was a stress-free event for the adults. Highly recommended!

Love Studio Nafisa! My daughter has attended fall and winter art camps as well as attended a…read morebirthday party and Girl Scout outing there. Nafisa does a great job teaching and exposing the kids to a variety of art techniques. We will definitely attend again.

Was lucky enough to tour this school, and find out what they have to offer a gifted child. It is a…read morevery small private school that does charge a tuition, but there is really nothing like it that I've seen. Having been around gifted children, I've seen how difficult traditional schools can be for them and that sometimes they are not being challenged, but here they cater to exactly what the child needs. The school has a very open floor plan that allows the teachers to have a bit more freedom to teach each child how they need and want to learn. The school itself is very clean and tidy, with plenty of books, some instruments, and technology for the students. A new head of school seems excited and eager to bring her years of experience and knowledge to the school and community. Excited to see what this new school year brings for the school!

Vanguard Gifted Academy is designed to serve the special needs of gifted children. They…read morepersonalize learning by ability level and pacing allowing children to enjoy delving deeply into topics they are passionate about and working at advanced levels where they are challenged. The STREAM program is exceptional! Each afternoon the students become fully engaged in learning across subject areas with authentic peers who spark each other's imagination as they collaborate on problem solving, and hands on learning applications that lead beyond mastery of a concept to innovation! Want to check it out come to a Showcase. They are on the website events page.

We have sent all 3 of our kids here since our eldest went to Pre-K back in 2014. They are AMAZING…read morewith how they incorporate academics AND social/emotional growth into the curriculum. The focus shifts between learning how to make and play with friends, learning letters, numbers, shapes, colors, etc, and how to respect and act in the traditional classroom! We are sad, this year, to have not been able to finish out the year with the preschool program due to COVID-19, but have absolutely loved every minute of every day that our kids have attended and adore the growth mindset that the teachers use and the kids leave with. Thank you to ALL the wonderful teachers for doing a beautiful job growing our children and loving on them like you do!

I can't believe a wonderful place like this exists through a park district! The price is amazing…read moreand the teachers are phenomenal. I didn't discover this gem until my younger son was ready for pre-k, but I wish I had for I was completely satisfied! 5 days a week for just over 2 hours and my son was much more prepared for kindergarten. Absolutely a must for any child who is ready for preschool.

I went to this preschool when I was younger. I absolutely loved it and it taught me so much. When I…read morestarted kindergarten in a different city, I was surprised at how little the other kids knew. There were so many fun memories there, field trips, toys, gym days, and the fun playground. The teachers were so nice and helpful, and would combine the learning with fun activities so I was always excited for class. 100% Reccomend!

We have had a great experience at this preschool and plan to send our daughter again next year. She…read moreis coming right along with learning her letter sounds and writing of letters. The teachers are very knowledgeable and caring towards the children. I especially like that they have open gym days at the park district building to help the kids burn some energy in the winter months. I am a teacher of older children and like to see the combination of schoolwork with fun activities. I'm saddened to see that another reviewer gave this program one star. It sounds like he is using Yelp to resolve a personal issue. My only concern has been that my daughter's car seat has needed adjusting after picking her up from the program (they escort to the car.)

15 years ago we chose Montessori Education for our children. It was an investment we were…read morepassionate about. WMS offered the perfect conditions to nurture and "grow" our children. I wrote an essay years ago, Locally Grown, about our experience of the treasured early elementary years. Fast forward and our oldest is graduating High School and youngest is a freshman. As a family, we are compelled to share our honest and sincere feedback of this experience from a retrospective perspective. These thoughts have been communicated with the head of school directly however, we feel called to share publicly as to offer insight to those families considering the AP. Our children's recommendation is: "Stay through 6th and skip the AP". The Adolescent Program at WMS presents a conflicting experience for several students and families, highlighting significant concerns and areas for improvement. While the school claims to provide a holistic approach to education, it falls short in crucial areas, leaving some students unprepared for the challenges of high school. The AP  has strayed far from the original Montessori philosophy, which emphasized neutrality, respect for individuality, and a focus on grounded, thoughtful education. The current approach has deviated from those principles, favoring an agenda-driven model that seems to place the needs of its teachers above those of the students. The most striking issue is the lack of preparation in foundational subjects, especially math and writing. My oldest states she was at a disadvantage due to the insufficiency in these core areas, leading to regret and frustration as struggled to catch up in her freshman year. She expressed she was profoundly underprepared for the rigor of her high school, acknowledging the gap could have been much wider had we not chosen to leave the AP before the completion of the 9th year. The social environment at WMS also presents challenges. We observed evident favoritism towards certain students, creating an atmosphere of exclusion and uneven attention. Additionally, teachers engage in questionable behaviors, including texting students and discussing other students in a negative light both in front of students and sometimes parents. A total lack of integrity. The teacher-student dynamic often feels less like a mentorship and more like a friendship-seeking relationship which undermines the authority and maturity required in an educational setting. For example, encouraging students to experiment with nail polish, twerking, and other frivolities rather than teaching math and writing. Some teachers seem more interested in fulfilling their own emotional needs through vulnerable adolescents than providing the guidance, wisdom, and leadership that students require. The program's attempt at inclusivity and open-mindedness is overshadowed by a lack of neutrality. Teachers actively promote personal social beliefs, leaving little room for objective discussion or diverse perspectives. The curriculum, too,  leans heavily into certain ideologies, and teachings, creating an atmosphere of comparison, while neglecting broader educational goals. As parents, we were told by staff "The adolescent brain is broken " and they will struggle with decision making and managing emotions. Indeed, the adolescent brain's developmental limitations are not adequately considered in decision-making. The emphasis on identity exploration, and identity-dependent worthiness, adds to the confusion and emotional turmoil during a period when students should be focusing on personal growth and academic development.  Our observation has been that the adolescent program has strayed from"following the child" to "following the cause".  A distinct contrast to the original Montessori philosophy, which emphasized neutrality, respect for individuality, and a focus on grounded, thoughtful education. The current approach appears to favor an agenda-driven model that often places the needs of the school and its teachers above those of the students. In conclusion, while the WMS Adolescent  Program may appeal to some families for its progressive approach, it is our determination it falls short in preparing students for future academic success and personal development. A return to the original Montessori mission--focusing on respect, objective learning, and appropriate developmental guidance--could better serve the needs of these adolescents during one of the most critical stages of their growth. Investing in a Montessori education was a good parenting decision but pulling them from the Adolescent Program was our greatest decision.

Our son has been at WMS since January 2023, and we couldn't be happier with the quality of…read moreeducation he is receiving. He attended preschool and Kindergarten (primary ages), and Montessori learning has been wonderful for his development. Thank you particularly to Mrs. Berdick for her help in bringing our boy out of his shell even more and helping him excel academically but also in his independence. We plan to have him enrolled through 9th grade, and we can't wait to be long-term members of this great community.

Amazing! Miss Lauren…read moreand all the teachers here have been excellent. All the staff have been patient, firm, sincere, and unflappable. The atmosphere is friendly and upbeat, but also calm and a good combination of structure and independence. We've been grateful for the chance to have our kiddo spend some time at this center and I would highly recommend this location to anyone looking for quality daycare.

We love the Winfield KinderCare! We had to drop off our first child at this daycare during the…read moremiddle of COVID and we were not able to enter the building at any point. We were already nervous dropping out daughter off at day care for the first time to then add all the regulations of COVID on top of it. However, the staff and teachers at KinderCare made us feel so welcome and continued to communicate with us to help us through such a hard transition! We cannot wait to be back next fall!

All three of my children attended St. John's. I cannot say enough positive things about their…read moreexperience! They made friendships that they still maintain years after graduation. They were taught by kind, loving, knowledgeable teachers. They were well prepared for high school and college. They learned valuable life lessons like service and prayer and mentorship. And I found a community of parents who are friends. So very grateful for this school.

My kid's attended St. John's School and we are so grateful for the Christian Education, college…read morepreparedness and friendships. This Christian education laid the foundation for their journeys at Butler University and John's Hopkins. We still attend church there and volunteer when ever possible. I am so glad that we landed in Illinois and can see that God had a plan for us all along. Keep up the good work.