We've had a wonderful experience at Goddard. The teachers were incredibly patient and supportive,…read moregiving our son the time he needed to get comfortable with his classmates and other teachers. He has grown so much socially and truly enjoys going to daycare. We've also built great friendships with other families and found a wonderful sense of community. The school does a fantastic job organizing fun activities throughout the year, making it an engaging and enjoyable environment for the kids. We're very grateful for the care and support our family has received and highly recommend Goddard

The Goddard school in Hawthorn Woods is an incredible school, I highly recommend them. The…read moreteachers are loving and caring and follow a thorough curriculum. My children transferred from a previous daycare to Goddard and I immediately noticed the difference in their learning and education. The office staff and owner is just as incredible. I wouldn't bring my children anywhere else.

Megan, Devon and Ms Pat in the infant room are the best!…read more Our son has been in the infant room for 3 months now and it's been a wonderful experience! Right before we started at Kiddy Garden my son was starting to reject his bottles , they helped us greatly get him back on track and they figured out a solution! He is always happy to be dropped off :)

We were looking for part-time childcare for my daughter so she could socialize with others her age…read more Kiddy Garden has done so much more than that for us! She has had separation anxiety from me everywhere except Kiddy Garden. She is excited to go to school and absolutely loves her teacher. I have greatly appreciated the consistent communication from staff. She had one challenging day at drop-off and they made sure to send me photos of her having fun and participating once she settled in, which was very reassuring. Miss Pat, Miss Colleen, and Miss Laura have been so wonderful and I could not be more grateful knowing my child is safe and happy at school.

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.

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.

For the past three years, Friendship House has been such an important part of our family. We…read moreswitched here from an in home daycare. After touring, I knew immediately this was the right place. My oldest child started here first and truly blossomed. Now my 16-month-old has been attending since he was just 8 weeks old. Knowing that both of my children have been loved, cared for and encouraged every day has meant more than words can express. The teachers truly go above and beyond. They create a safe, nurturing environment while helping each child learn and grow. It's clear they genuinely care about the children, and that love shows in everything they do. Barbie and Jamee in the front office are equally as incredible. They are always welcoming, kind and willing to help with anything we need. From the moment we walk through the doors, we are greeted with smiles that make us feel at home. What truly stood out during our tour is they know every single family and child that comes through their door. After these years, Friendship House truly feels like an extension of our family. Leaving your children in someone else's care is never easy, but they have made that trust come naturally. We are so grateful for every teacher and staff member who has loved our children as if they were their own. My children have grown so much here and enjoy coming every day (even wishing to come on weekends) Thank you for making such a positive impact on our family, we couldn't imagine a better place for our boys.

This location just opened and my son has attended a few of the summer camps. The camps are…read moreinnovative and fun. The staff is wonderful and upbeat. Kids science labs is the first camp that keeps my son learning and engaged. Solar system camps, science, engineering, architecture. I am so happy this location opened in Vernon Hills!

My seven year old son has loved science for years so we're thrilled KSL opened in Vernon Hills! The…read moreowners are hands-on, passionate about kids and science, and care about connecting to the community. This was one of the easiest parties I ever hosted. They handle literally everything and keep the kids engaged, excited and learning the entire time. They go the extra mile and keep the birthday child at the center of everything making their day extra special. This is also a prime location for parents! They can shop, dine, and exercise within steps of KSL. We will be back many times over the years! Can't wait for Camp!

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 great if your child can be a good little soldier and fit inside the school's tiny box…read morementality. My child attended there a few years but it became apparent that the school was woefully lacking in it's willingness and capability to meet my child where he was concerning learning styles and assignments. Even after a few meetings with teachers and school administration, I thought we were all on the same page. They did some things to try to accommodate his needs, but the school did not follow through with the plan we agreed upon. They recently informed us he was no longer welcome to attend WCA just a few days before school started. Imagine our stress to come up with an education plan with such short notice. If this was their intent at the end of the previous school year, we should have been informed then, not at the last minute​ - completely unprofessional on their part. I suppose though it is their prerogative to do so since they are private with closed enrollment - still an unclassy move in my opinion. One winter there was a fire alarm that went off. My child was in the after school care trailer when it happened. They rushed all of the kids outside without coats when it was bitter cold. Thankfully I was arriving when that happened and was able to get my son into my car which was warm and dry. I made a very constructive suggestion to the school on how to handle a future event like this so kids wouldn't be without a coat. Suggestion was ignored. My child is now in public school where there are definitely more resources available to him. Makes me question why we wasted all of that money on sub-par education and sub-par professionalism. I would not recommend this school as it is under-equipped, has mediocre facilities and resources and is out of touch with current educational styles. You are better off in a public school where resources are far superior to WCA. They proclaim a message of hope. However, there is no hope for your child if (s)he doesn't fit exactly into the school's less than flexible approach.

As a Westlake Alumni, there's a lot I can say about Westlake! It has it's flaws, the school is not…read moreperfect-but what school is? Many people criticize the fact that there are not as many resources and opportunities that public schools offer. However, every year they add more opportunities, more classes, and improve in every way they can. Most importantly, you get a Christ centered education. It is more important to go into college having a strong Christian background and a faith of your own than enter with 10 college credits. They left me with a strong foundation in the gospel, wisdom, and I learned so many practical life things from the Christ-centeredness that they so strongly focus on. It doesn't matter if you don't have AP this or that. Westlake is a school that helps your child be spiritually strong. As a little bonus, basically anyone can play on sports teams. My friend was a 5'2" basketball starter, I played volleyball for 4 years, and every sports team is a way to grow in friendships, physical strength, and in your faith.