Ehh! I'm not always lovin it. Nice helpful teachers but assistant principal. Mr Hibler isn't nice…read moreand yells at kids. Who likes that? Not me! Otherwise this school is great and my children enjoy going here!

My three children have attended Riverwood Elementary School (Zoe, 8 Kayla, 11 Michael, 5. ) I love…read morethis school! This Principal, Mrs. Robinson, is a very nice lady and will take ANY questions you may have about ANYTHING!!! Assistant Principal, Mr Hibler, is just O.K. He yells at children, which is why I gave the school three stars. I would say the classrooms are decent size, but could be bigger, especially when you have a bigger class. I'm not sure the yelling at children helps stop the child from doing bad things, but it may seem rude to parents, and may scare the children. I love the teachers my children have had. The children's teachers are: Kayla: K Miss Tessler, 1 Ms Fricke, 2 Miss Micklinghoff, 3 Mrs Hauck, 4 Ms Hare (Kolowaski) 5, Ms Sterbenz (now) Zoe: K Miss M, 1 Ms Erber, 2 Miss DeBlok, 3 Miss Hauck (now) Michael: K Miss M (now) So overall the teachers I have crossed paths with are nice and helpful. Would recommend except for the assistant principal!

Both of our children attend Da Vinci Waldorf School. One is in the grades and the other is in…read moreKindergarten. I cannot say enough good things about the well rounded education my kids are receiving at Da Vinci. Waldorf has instilled such creativity and a deep love of learning in both of my children. They are not just learning facts and numbers. They are learning how to learn and how to think and do and create as well. My favorite example is when my older child started reading. He recently found a series of books he is just devouring. But, on top of his voracious reading, he is also applying the hands on skills he is learning at Waldorf by drawing his own images for the series and he is even now writing and binding his own stories. I am the owner of a technology company. When I see my son and daughter learn a skill, then make the connection to roll up their sleeves and create something on their own, I get a big smile on my face and it shows me that they know how to apply the things they are learning. I know my kids (like all kids) have an innate passion and curiosity for learning and the Da Vinci Waldorf School is the perfect place to help it grow.

Two of my kids went there for many years and there are some nice things about the school. The…read moreembracing of imagination and use of hands to create is unique and not found in many schools. But the people running the school (in many cases, is your kid's teacher) left a lot to be desired. It was like no one is in charge. Communication was unclear, rules were unclear and always changing. We left because we did not have confidence in the school to be the primary education source for our kids as it seemed that no one was qualified.

As a parent and now former employee- I'd give them zero stars if I could. Leadership is dishonest…read moreand incompetent at best. Most of the teachers are amazing, but unfortunately, a few have slipped through the cracks. My youngest unfortunately has Ms. Defort and has been telling me since January that he feels she doesn't like him. When I brought this up to the assistant principal it was dismissed. We are counting the days until his 3rd grade year is over. They fired me as lunch supervisor- on my birthday- claiming "a student was lost due to not being watched under my supervision". Turns out that was a blatant lie. They keep longtime supervisors who get into verbal altercations with each other in front of the kids. Their online menu is inaccurate and I had to leave on several occasions just to get my own child lunch because again, incompetence. The principal, Cherish, doesn't seem to manage stress well at all and it shows. I am so glad we are almost done with this school.

If you live in Waukegan, you should really have your kid tested to come here. I woudn't be the same…read moreperson I am today without my experiences here. The teachers wer patient and caring, and I really learned so much, and was challenged. I'm so glad I came here.

I have been at the school since kindergarten. I think it was a wonderful school with full of great…read morepeople there to encourage kids to learn. I would love to go back to Andrew Cooke magnet, it's a wonderful school!

We moved to East Lake from a different Catholic school and I had no idea what a difference it would…read moremake in my kids. They were quickly becoming more confident, happier and their academics took off in a way that I had never imagined was possible. When I ask myself, what is the difference? The answer is the community and staff. The staff actually love our kids and love their jobs, they all know my kids by name and are extremely in tune with their needs. Everyone from the top down makes you feel like you are family. The principal has been with the school for 20 years and the way that she leads the staff is so impressive. It is just a very special place. My kids often thank me for switching them to East Lake. When I ask why - their answers say it all. I feel that our children are surrounded with love when they walk in the doors. This school is a hidden gem.

We couldn't be happier with our transition to East Lake Academy! Our two sons are thriving in the…read morerigorous yet nurturing and loving environment. The teachers truly foster a deep love for God and provide an amazing academic program. They love music and art and we love getting to see what they create in class. Being at East Lake has helped our family connect even deeper with our Catholic faith.

The school is awesome. Dooley has a dual language program that teaches Japanese. They start from…read morekindergarten. The staff is very friendly and personable. I also like the fact that the school is a bit smaller than other schools. Unfortunately we had to move out of district last year, but will be returning again this summer. I rate this school at 5 STARS!

I can't say enough good about this school…read more If you live in the area & are wondering which school to send your child to (since there are a couple options) -- this one is a great choice. The principal is amazing, the staff is great and the PTO puts together great events. My son and I loved our Mother & Son Bowling night, and my daughter simply loves getting all dressed up and going to the Daddy Daughter Dance with her father. They are very welcoming, yet also keep the building secure. There's a lunchroom/cafeteria, where they also serve hot lunch each day (this is something I didn't have when I attended schools -- at least not until I reached high school). It's reasonably priced (I think it's $2.50 for the student meal) and it gives the kids a few different options to choose from each day. They even serve breakfast in the morning as well! The grounds always look nice, and the building is always clean. This shouldn't be a surprise because even my kids know the janitors. So their presence within the school is well noticed.

Our family had five children attend Forest Bluff School over the course of seven years…read more Unfortunately, our experience there was not a positive one and caused our children a lot of unnecessary hardship. The school presents itself as a place where every child can thrive. In reality, Forest Bluff School only caters to children who are typical learners, very compliant, and medium to low energy. Forest Bluff does not hesitate to kick kids out of the school if they don't fit the mold. For our children who learned differently, especially one of our sons with a learning disability, the school not only failed to meet his needs but actively dismissed them. The head of school would often state, "We don't do dyslexia." When we advocated for accommodations to support our son, we were treated poorly. The administration threatened to kick all our children out of the school if we continued to speak about the issues/advocate for our son. Rather than working with families, the school requires parents to trust blindly. Twice a year, students bring work home. Other than that, there is no communication on how your child is doing academically. They do not perform any formal reading assessments or monitoring. As a Montessori school, we expected an environment that valued individual differences, freedom to explore, and curiosity. Instead, their approach was rigid and limiting. The children were rarely given free playtime outside and often never went outside at all. The school claimed they didn't want to "interrupt" their concentration by going outside. Forest Bluff School values strict routines over allowing children to move their bodies. They claim they get exercise inside the classroom because they move around and carry different work. My children (especially my 3 boys) did not have their physical needs met and felt so relieved when we switched to a more progressive Montessori school that allows kids free time outside. Leaving the school was the best choice for our children's well-being, mental health, and academic success. Forest Bluff may work well for certain children, but if your child is high-energy, learns differently, or needs a more flexible and supportive environment, I would strongly caution you to look elsewhere. Forest Bluff School caused my children a lot of anxiety, stress, and academic deficits that needed to be addressed after we left. I whole heartedly regret sending them there at all. My suggestion for all parents considering Forest Bluff School is to take a tour, ask a lot of questions, look closely at the students, access whether you see joy in their learning, and then listen to your gut. I wish I had.

As part of my Montessori training, I have observed in Forest Bluff classrooms extensively at almost…read moreevery age level and have been deeply impressed by the consistent authenticity and care, both of the students and the environment. It is increasingly common to find hybrid Montessori programs that include random popular pedagogical trends or succumb to external pressures, but not Forest Bluff. Forest Bluff is a special place, thanks to the dedicated staff who love what they do and exude respect for both their students and one another. Indeed, much of what seems to make Forest Bluff so special is the diligent pursuit of its noble, explicit mission. Within the Montessori community, both AMS & AMI, Forest Bluff remains an increasingly rare example of quality, authentic Montessori. It is the kind of school I wish I could have attended myself and to which I wish I could have sent my daughters.