Lakefront Academy and the teaching staff have been absolutely phenomenal. We are so appreciative to have been part of this community. As a former educator, I am deeply thankful for the amazing support they provided for my son over his two years at the daycare. During this time, he was able to develop strong literacy and math skills along with the socio-emotional growth that built his confidence and led to his acceptance into a Gifted Center for Kindergarten. I have tremendous respect for this team and cannot recommend them highly enough. I would be happy to speak with anyone who has questions about our experience. read more

Lakefront Children's Academy is highly qualified child care and education establishment in Chicago, and probably the best thing that my family have received from living in Chicago. I would simply say the best investment you can do in your life is investment in your kids, LCA is fully worth it !!!! Kids are really missed their friends and teachers and the extensive curriculum when we moved out of Chicago, and now we are looking for at least something similar to LCA in our current place... and nothing compares to it. Thank you LCA, and kisses and hugs from our kids! We miss you... read more

If youre looking for great customer service DONT bother calling here. Emailed, called THREE times, left voicemails and not one response. Thankfully there are other preschools in the area to pick from! read more

My daughter attended LCA for 4 years, during which she learned so much. She came into kindergarten reading and doing addition and I really was amazed. Unfortunately, the staff aren't great--the owner doesn't make her self available except between 9 am and 5 pm. The administrator is cold and rude. When I brought my daughter there, the website stated that 96% of graduates went into selective enrollment schools. When my daughter was graduating, out of a class of about 12 kids, only one got into a selective enrollment school. When I brought this up to the owner, she was vague and dodged my questions about the veracity of the claim. I see that she still has this blatant lie on the website. Another parent was concerned about interactions between some of the staff and her son. Her son made a claim that prompted her to ask to see the videos. The administrator said that they can't share the video due to privacy issues. When pushed multiple times (you can't put pictures up on facebook and then claim that you have security policies), the administrator admitted that the cameras don't actually record (but swore they were still effective because the teachers didn't know). My daughter learned a lot but I can't recommend a child care center that repeatedly lies. read more

Our son has been attending Lakefront since he was two years old. The teachers and caregivers at the school are sunny, warm, and professional. I thought my son was rather shy and introverted before we started sending him. But boy, did he come out of his shell! I can tell that he is thriving under their expert care. Lakefront's program provides a one-on-one piano lesson twice a week for each child over four, frequent fieldtrips to all the right places, weekly gym classes that include baseball, soccer, basketball, even yoga! Their summer program is especially wonderful with weekly fieldtrips and swimming lessons for older kids. Our son has been to more musuems, cultural centers, and theaters than I have! t's a one-stop shop for early childhood education. All of these facts aside, I can see that our son likes going to school, likes his teachers and friends, and best of all, likes to learn, thanks to them. read more

My daughter attended LCA since she was 3 years old and graduated from kindergarten in 2016. This is by far the best preschool in Chicago and I would highly recommend this excellent academy for children. The academics are amazing and my daughter learn and excel in reading, math, social skills, science program, and music (including weekly piano lessons). The staff are committed to educating your child in a positive and innovative environment and they encourage your child to enjoy and explore learning. The school is very diverse languages and many cultures ( Europeans, Indians, Asian, etc.) My daughter was speaking Spanish and Chinese!!! She also loves playing the piano as well. AMAZING.... The full time schedule is great with full day hours from 7am-6pm, (school starts at 9am). This is also a great benefit for working moms and days and flexible drop off and pick up times. The daily food plans are healthy, organic and nutritious. No worries they have it all covered!! The school is very safe, secure, and is actually affordable compared to the very expensive schools near by that don't even come close to the LCA.The owner is fantastic and she clearly understands proper childhood development and her dedication to providing excellent care to children is certainly appreciated. I also sent my daughter to the summer camp each year which she enjoyed weekly field trips, swimming, and out door activities. I am happy to provide the full details and wanted to ensure that anyone looking for a great preschool, LCA is it. read more

Lakefront Children's Academy was a wonderful school for my son throughout his prekindergarten years! The owner and staff were like family to us and provided an excellent education in preparation for kindergarten, while making it fun and exciting for him to learn. We especially liked the attention they gave to each child for their individual needs and academic level. They focused on creating a creative learning experience with a very competent and caring staff. The facility is clean and well run with beautiful parks on both sides of their center that the children play at. We had only the best experience and I would highly recommend it without hesitation. read more

Great place for kids. Had my granddaughter from Joliet enrolled for several weeks in their summer camp and she had a marvelous time. The staff is engaged and attentive, and the activities throughout the days were well-rounded, educational, and fun. My granddaughter asked to go again next year, and even said that when she grows up she would love to work there. After her last day, she asked if she could go back one day and say hello to everyone. I couldn't have picked a better place for her to spend some of her summer. read more

My son attended Lakefront from 3 yrs old through kindergarden. In addition to learning Math, Language Arts and Science he became proficient in Spanish, Swimming, Computer and Piano. He received a quality, nurturing, intimate education that set the frame work for his exceptional grades and social skills through his elementary school years. He is now thirteen and still takes weekly piano lessons through the Academy. He has remained close friends with many of his Lakefront classmates. I would highly recommend Lakefront Childrens Academy to any family that desires a educational environment that promotes and encourages the child to reach his highest potential. read more

Our son currently attends Lakefront Children's Academy and we are very pleased with the administration and staff. The school is a developmental center which focuses on the individual evolution of each student. Our general impression is that the administration and staff genuinely care about its students which is evident through each child's advancement as many alums go on to some of Chicago's top select enrollment schools. Lakefront Children's Academy is a great school in a good neighborhood. read more

When my daughter got near perfect test scores for CPS selective enrollment (99.9% for both math and reading), I knew I have to thank Lakefront Childrens Academy for the solid academic foundation they built for her. The school is very structured in teaching reading, math, science and social studies. All kids I know in the oldest class can read well, despite the fact that several of them speak a different language at home. The school is a very warm and loving place. The head teachers of the three classes have been there for a very long time. Many older kids from our neighborhood graduated from there, and they still approach the teachers to chat whenever they see the teachers on the playground or in the park. The school is steps away from Grant Park and two playgrounds so the kids play in the park a lot when the weather is nice. They have a very good summer program as well. It's play-based, which is different from the rest of the year when they devote much more time on academics. I am so glad that I sent my daughter to Lakefront Childrens Academy to get her early education. read more

This review is long overdue, but I didn't want to write a review until both of my daughters graduated. Now 5 and 7 years old, my daughters both attended this school since the day, almost the minute, they turned 2. A huge plus in choosing it, was the location. It is on the 7th floor of my building! But we stayed because it is an incredible, nurturing environment that was as close to home as possible, both in location and in the heart. We do not live in a school desert. Right across the street there is Gems Academy and Chalk. We could have transferred to those schools that seem to have more bells and whistles, but at Lakefront my children not only received the benefits of a thorough and personalized curriculum, but also had teachers into whose arms they ran into every morning. And when you see the teachers smile at your kids, it is obvious when the affection in their eyes is genuine. At Lakefront it is 100 percent genuine. The facilities are small, but so are the children. I never noticed a problem with overcrowding. It is also exceptionally clean. The curriculum is structured and the younger children learn from the older children in the daily "oral lessons". It was sweet to watch my youngest speak with pride about how the "jellybeans" struggle with the concepts that she had mastered as a "dolphin". I had both of my children tested for the gifted and classical public schools. Both scored high in the gifted and classical tests, but due to the competitive nature of the entrance scores did not get in. However, several of their Lakefront classmates did. I also know Lakefront students who did not get in to classical/gifted schools in kindergarten, but did in first grade. I credit the school for their excellent preparation and individual attention. Finally, I am often told I have great kids. They spent 8-10 hours a day 5 days a week at Lakefront for 3 years of their life. I have to give credit where credit is due. read more

Lakefront Children's Academy is what I would call a "boutique" child's daycare and pre-school. My three boys attended Lakefront Children's Academy throughout a 12 year span and I can honestly say the first year was as great as the last. I am surprised by a couple of negative comments posted here but you can't please everyone. The overwhelming 5 star reviews I read I can agree with 100%! The summer program (camp) is a learning camp. The summer is packed full of activities, swim lessons, field trips, etc...but they still keep the children engaged in learning. One review said this was not an academy. I totally disagree. These children are learning from day one. No, they are not doing calculus but they learn not just basic academics but learn many important things such as social etiquette and compassion. They learn a lot of ABCs & 123s -but also how to tie shoes, how to talk to each other respectfully, how to help each other when another person needs help, and they learn to be a friend...a good friend. "academy" is defined "a place of study or training in a special field".. well this place is definitely that! Special field of everything positive you hope your child learns before the age of 6! I loved how the program would have the Pre-K and kindergarten students go help the younger classrooms. Not only did the younger students feel special by the extra attention from "the big kids" but the "big kids" felt so important and full of honor, respect, accomplishment and self-esteem. My oldest was one of the first children in the school in 1998. He learned piano and the teaching there had him at 2 grades above level by the end of pre-school. ( I also like they teach each child at a level where they are challenged but not frustrated) He tested in the Northwestern University "Center for Talent Development" program. He also tested into a regional gifted center. Lots of parents had their kids test and they got into the special programs. Young mommies we were! The second son we did not test. He was in he Northwestern program like his brother but by this time most parents realized the neighborhood school, Ogden, was in many was superior to the gifted school. Having the kids go to the neighborhood school with his childhood friends is also a heavy weigh in. One post claimed not that many went to gifted programs after Lakefront but I know many that did not even test because they knew their child was going to Ogden. My oldest spent 1/2 year at a gifted school and by Christmas we pulled him and put him in Ogden. My two older sons started their education advanced because of Lakefront and then (in the neighborhood school) were heads of their classes and 1-2 years ahead. Reading and writing small things at 4 and paragraphs by 5. This groundwork helped them through and they ended up with a 34 & 35 on the college ACT exams! and it all started at Lakefront. 10 years after the start of my first son I had another son attend Lakefront. Everything I loved about the first 7 years was true years 10-12. The program, the academics, the nurturing - all fantastic! Through all the years I found the staff very friendly to me but much more important - they were awesome with the children! Some days they would be real busy and I just getting off work would want to chat - but I would realize they were still working and had things to do for the school, for the children... so some days not as involved with me as others - but they were always friendly, always there, and always PROFESSIONAL! The owner was around and accessible at almost any time. The owner and staff are there for our children and show our children love and respect while challenging them on every level... academically and socially! I honestly hope the school is still the same when I have grand kids! read more

My son attended LCA for about 4 years. All the teachers he had were amazing and he learned a lot. I have no doubt he is prepared for 1st grade. Unfortunately I will not recommend LCA to any prospective parents due to an incident that occurred that ended with my son being kicked out of kindergarten. There was more concern about disruption to the school environment and the community than the emotional and social well being of my son. Overall the incident was handled poorly. Despite there being video in the classrooms, I was not given an opportunity to view the tapes myself when asked and i was not given the opportunity to meet with the other parents or the parent of the accused to talk through the situation. I had to obtain an attorney to send a demand letter which all demands were denied and my son was subsequently dismissed. My son had never been in trouble before nor exhibited bad behavior so the end result was extreme. Especially since the owner admitted to me via telephone conversation that the tapes did not support the accusation. He was looking forward to graduation but could not participate. Try explaining that situation to a 6 year old. To support someone that doesn't have your back when it counts is disheartening but a lesson learned. As I said, I will not recommend LCA. That was a painful chapter in our lives that we have gotten over, matter of fact we went to Disney World. In all seriousness, I have lost respect for the owner solely based on how this situation was handled. I cannot trust anyone that is more concerned about enrollment than the well being of students. read more

We feel so fortunate to have found this school. Our son attended 2009-2012 and our daughter attends now. It is the staff of caring and knowledgeable people that keep us coming back. In fact, we make the effort to bring her from our Bucktown neighborhood due to the teachers and curriculum. It feels like dropping of your children with a family member. It is an environment bursting with welcoming energy beginning with a hello to every parent and child by name as you pass the front desk...Ms. Eilleen Mallary handles the routine with class and ease even with her daily challenges of balancing the morning and evening rush, administrative duties, parental/children's/staff needs, and unexpected occurances (such as taking over the director's responsibilities when she was out for an extended leave due to family needs). The amount of learning provided in a day is staggering, but equally impressive is the empahasis on self reliance, manners, and respecting self and others. Our son left for kindergarten with self confidence and a base of knowledge we would have never anticipated and also tested into our first choice of CPS's classical school after scoring 99.9% in reading and math. Our daughter is thriving as well. However, to save the repetition, I agree with Lynn P.'s review wholeheartedly. read more

My son has attended Lakefront Academy for the past 2 years. We started when he was 2 and he is now 4. SImply put...I LOVE the school. Simply love it!! Not only are they teaching him Math, Language Arts and exploring Science through projects and field trips alike, but he is also learning Spanish and Chinese. It is a small school where the staff treats your child as if he/she is family. The staff cares and it makes all the difference in the world. He is also taking computer and piano and will learn how to swim during the summer program. I can't say enough about the school...the nurturing above quality education and structured environment has been great and just what my son needs. I would highly recommend Lakefront Academy to any family that wants their child to be a structured learning environment that not only teaches but motivates and inspires the child to excel! The school has been a blessing for our family.. read more

It's a very nice and disciplined school with very experienced and nice teachers. My daughter started it when she was 4 and preschool curriculum was so awesome that she learnt how to read also, maths, science. Good field trips as well and she loved her piano lessons. Overall excellent experience. read more

I was completely turned off by what I saw when I entered LCA. To call this a "Children's Academy" is an overstatement to say the least. The staff was completely rude and the quality of the facility was awful. I have toured many centers and this rates up there with one of the worst. I would NOT recommend sending your child to this facility. There are plenty of locations throughout the city to send your child where you know he/she will be nurtured and cared for in a clean and loving environment. read more

My Daughter absolutely loves Lakefront Children's Academy. I can see that she is getting better at communicating and engaging with children her age since she started going to LCA. The staff members are always there to hold her hand along every step of the way. Great school, great staff and great location! read more

Both my son's attended Lake Front Children's Academy. The faculty was professional and the curriculum was stellar. Both of my boys attend the South Loop Regional Gifted Center and are at the top of their class. read more

My daughter attended the school for a year, until we moved to Seattle. Great school. Good teachers and a disiplined group of kids. The School has a public park conveniently located which the school use all the time. My daughter likes going to park with her friends more than going to park with me. Summer camp was awesome. School took kids for one field trip a week and is was a good way to introduce places in and around Chicago. With both parents working, it is not always easy to visit places around the city. My daughter loved swimming lessings also. read more

My grandson attends Lakefront Children s Academy since he was 2 years old. He is 5 years old now and what a difference! We moved here from Minnesota and not knowing anyone here in Chicago we happened to select Lakefront based on location. This school was very close to The Tides Apartment complex where we were living when we moved here. So we were very apprehensive about everything here in our new place call home - downtown Chicago. We wanted to move here but we also was looking for a glimpse of that Minnesota family feel. We definitely found that at Lakefront. The class size was small and the staff was very caring but engaging for the students to learn and have fun at the same time. My grandson went from a not talking much little guy - to a great conversationalist and quite the performer in the Holiday Revue Program the school had today. I was so elated to see his growth and confidence. The most beneficial characteristic I am thankful to Lakefront for is their way of teaching that allows for all styles of learning which enriches the learning experience and the kids actually think that learning can be very fun too. I just cannot say enough good things about Lakefront and we have been here for 3 years. I wish they would cover even more grades. Thanks a lot for enriching our lives and helping in shaping our grandson into a vibrant young learner. read more

Words cannot adequately express our gratitude for the incredible preschool program you have run for our son. Each morning he eagerly runs off to school and each afternoon he shows excitement about the day he has had. We appreciate how comprehensive the program is and how emphasis is put on growth and development on ALL areas - social, emotional, cognitive, etc. My son has been exposed to SO much and we really feel that he has been enriched through the various lessons and experiences he has been privy to. The quality of the specific class curriculum as well as the school wide special programs is excellent. The staff is exceptionally dedicated, warm, and loving; my son is always fondly mentioning the teachers at home. It is obvious to us that each child is loved individually and valued for his/her uniqueness. Thank you LCA for the tireless effort you have put into making our son's first years in preschool as wonderful as it has been. At 5, he knows his letters in sign language, his numbers in both Spanish in Mandarin and is starting to read already. We look forward to sending our daughter there next year! read more

My first impession about this place was depressing. Everything looked old and worn out. Too many kids in a small room. Overpopulated facility. They have 18 toddlers in a small group and when they do oral lessons, the total amount kids in the small room is above 60. They think that it is beneficial to share knowledge between all ages and therefore they combine all age groups together. Agree with the above review " To call this a "Children's Academy" is an overstatement to say the least." My child got terrible virus infection the first day he entered the facility. In two weeks after serious treatment we decided to give another try. We got another flu/ear infections. It was in May/June, when the flu season was over. I am sure this is due to unsanitary conditions in the facility. When you have more then 60 kids in one small room the germs spread increases! I do not reccommed this facility! read more

Our daughter attended Lakefront for two years (2-4yrs). As an incoming two year old she received the proper balance of day care and early instruction (introductions to colors, numbers, etc). As she grew from a toddler to child, they knew just how to help/encourage her to learn. She loved to do the practice sheets which were sent home. There were lots of extra learning opportunitities like Spanish, Chinese, piano, music, and swimming that are not available at most daycare shools. They really did a great job preparing her for kindergarden. Lakefront also offers regular field trips which are often integrated into their curriculum. The facility is small, but they are right on Randolph next to two parks and they go outside as often as weather allows. Security was always very good and the hours/year round availability excellent which for two working parents is very important. We really appreciated the amazing, caring, supportive, thoughtful and fun teachers and principal, and the owner who clearly knows how to run a great combined daycare\school. My daughter loved being there and we can't say enough about this wonderful place. read more