I've been working with Sara Denaro to help guide my son through the college application process,…read moreand I honestly don't know how I would have managed without her support. From building a smart college list to helping him brainstorm and polish his essays, she has been organized, encouraging, and incredibly knowledgeable every step of the way. My son feels more confident and less overwhelmed, and it's been a huge relief for me as a parent to know that he's in such capable hands. Sara has a great way of balancing honest feedback with positivity, and brings out my son's authentic voice in his writing--something I really appreciate. If you're looking for someone who is experienced, responsive, and genuinely invested in your child's success, I highly recommend Sara Denaro. This has been one of the best decisions I've made during the high school years!

Sara has been an incredible support for my four kids during the college application process. She…read morehas a unique ability to meet each kid where they are and provide personalized help in the areas they need most. All of my kids have talked about how easy it was to work with her and how much confidence they gained in navigating the process. As a parent, Sara's guidance has been an absolute godsend. Knowing she was there to help my kids every step of the way made the entire experience so much smoother and less stressful for all. I cannot recommend Sara enough to anyone looking for expert, compassionate help with college applications!

Ms. Salmon is the nicest, funniest, and most helpful tutor! She helped me review my math and learn…read morenew things. She is the best!

I am a kindergarten teacher and noticed a few of my students needing some extra help. I referred my…read morestudents to fishbowl tutoring. It was such a great experience. Anna worked closely with me and reinforced the concepts and skills my students needed to succeed in school. My students raved about Anna and with her help my students were able to reach their goals. I highly recommend Fishbowl Tutoring!!

Going into college entrance exam season, it wasn't clear to me what would be the most effective and…read moreefficient way of arming my twin teenage sons with the comfort and skills that would allow them to choose the right test and to perform their best. Each has his own strengths and weaknesses, and their study and learning habits differ vastly. Once Steve met with us and reviewed their baseline untimed scores, he easily guided each of my sons to the test that would elicit the best results, and he confidently assured that tutoring them together would not only meet each boy's individual needs but would enhance each other's learning, by virtue of the group process. Indeed, Steve was exactly right. He helped my kids to put in perspective the importance of these tests and to set goals commensurate with their college choice aspirations. His teaching style elicits discipline and engagement, without instilling undue stress and worry. He's calm and steadfast in his claim that if a person is willing to put in the practice and study time and comes prepared to tutoring sessions, he or she can incrementally improve. He makes the goal score feel accessible, and this helped to keep both of my kids motivated, hard-working and hopeful. The three of them worked together for 24 hours, over 12 sessions, and utilized a variety of materials, including prep books, websites, and group meetings to get them ready for the test. He tracked their progress, keeping me updated throughout, and though he worked with them together, he tailored the lessons to each of my kids. Now that both boys have sat for their chosen test, it's abundantly clear that Steve assessed them accurately, and guided and taught them well. My sons each reached their goal scores, one improving 3 composite points (4 with super score), and the other improving 6 composite points, to do so. Needless to say, both of my kids are pleased with the outcome, as am I, and I suspect this will open doors at schools they might not have considered. From beginning to end, and especially as measured by the results, Steve successfully ushered my kids through what could easily have been a stressful and demoralizing process. He simply understands these tests and how to master them, and we couldn't be happier to have benefitted from his expertise.

Steve helped my daughter move from high-performing on practice ACT tests (33 and 34) to earn a…read moreperfect 36 composite score on her first try! My student was already doing well in Math and Reading, but yearned to improve in Science and English. Most other courses or tutors offered full on prep -- very costly and time-consuming. Steve assessed my student's specific needs and provided individualized coaching and resources to help her use her limited time wisely. After only two sessions (about 4 hours total) and some homework, my student's confidence was boosted. Beyond improving an already great composite score by 2 to 3 points overall, specific increases included 4 points improvement in English (from 32 to 36), and a whopping 5-point improvement in Science (31 to 36). Steve was meticulous, positive, and patient. He used a variety of materials, including websites, prep books, and lessons at my home. The resources he has to offer are up-to-date and not stale, which is important since the tests have changed over time. He kept detailed notes on my student's performance to help track improvement and keep me updated. Would definitely recommend.

What a fantastic school for children! We have been at the school for 2.5 years and had a wonderful…read moreexperience in every way. The owners and management of the school truly care about the children and families. The teachers are passionate and engaged. I highly recommend the Skokie Goddard School for anyone looking for a program for their child.

I couldn't have asked for better or more attentive leadership from the family that ran itread more

I cannot say enough positive things about RMS. It has been an extraordinary place for my daughter…read moreto learn and grow. The staff and teachers treat the children with kindness and respect and encourage them to grow their individual strengths at their own speed. Being at RMS has helped shape my daughter into an amazing little person. She has grown close friendships, learned to be patient, tackled practical life skills, and picked up academics with great speed. RMS also has an amazing community of families. The school actively nurtures connection between the parents by throwing multiple amazing events each year, like a huge pizza and ice cream party each summer and an annual Halloween party. I strongly recommend the school!

I don't even know where to begin with this review--our family absolutely loved RMS, and we'll…read morealways be grateful for everything they provided for our son. He started there at age two after we moved him from a daycare that just wasn't the right fit. From the moment we switched, the difference was incredible. The level of care, attention, and the overall environment were a huge step up. The caregivers are exceptional--warm, engaged, and genuinely happy. It's clear they love what they do. At both drop-off and pickup, they greet you with smiles and take the time to share thoughtful updates about your child's day. And one detail that still amazes me: they do your child's laundry on-site. Game. Changer. I couldn't believe this when I heard it. The food at RMS is great, and we received frequent updates throughout the day, which made it so reassuring (and fun) to see how much our son was enjoying himself. He truly thrived at RMS. We would have happily stayed at RMS for years, but we ultimately moved our son to a preschool where his sister attends so we could have one dropoff/pickup. That said, RMS set an incredibly high bar--it will be hard, if not impossible, to match. For any RMS staff reading this - thank you, you are amazing and the impact you have on families is enormous. A few random but important notes: - They open at 7 am, which is a bit unique for daycares in the city (I believe most are 7:30), and allows for a slightly earlier drop off. Our son is an early riser so this was great. - You have free 30 min parking for pickup/dropoff in the parking lot. Loved this. - La Boulangerie is also in the first floor of the building so the occasional morning croissant and coffee was a nice perk.

My child has been at Goddard since the summer and we are getting ready to leave to go to a new…read moreschool that is closer to our new house, and we are heartbroken. The staff and teachers at Goddard so deeply care for her, and I have seen her grow both socially and intellectually in really incredible ways. The teachers have been curious about her and her needs, and I feel like she wakes up looking forward to attending. Everyone there knows her, and admin has been really accommodating and helpful when they didn't need to be. I was very picky and did a lot of visiting and research before I chose Goddard--I chose them because I love the private playground and community activities. But the school itself has been a really big blessing to my kiddo, and I have seen her explode in confidence, language, and social skills. I am very sad to be leaving.

Avoid this institution!!! They do not understand how to manage two year olds, justify injury after…read moreinjury, and are racist. The Goddard School allowed my student to be bitten over and over again and then labeled my student as the problem and continues to take tuition while isolating him and pushing him out. I will continue to tell every single person I meet and speak to that this is the absolute worst place to send any child.

We feel so lucky that we discovered Baker. When we walked into Baker for an open house, we…read moreimmediately sensed the warmth of the staff and parent community. Our family is a two-mom transracial adoptive family. We were blown away with how comfortable we felt. Baker truly welcomes everyone. The hands-on learning experiences meet the needs of each individual child which has led our son to love school both academically and socially. Baker teachers and staff are flexible, compassionate, engaging, creative leaders in the field of education. Furthermore, Baker has resources that many private schools do without. There is a full-time learning specialist, social worker, and a nurse. We needed a school that would accept and embrace our son's food allergies. Baker goes above and beyond to make each student feel safe and important. Coming from a family full of educators, we realize that while no school is perfect Baker is a true gem!

Baker nurtures that spark for learning…read more We started at Baker last year. When district 65 wouldn't allow us to switch our assigned school, we realized just how curious we were to explore other options outside of district 65. We noted what we valued most in our kids schooling experience & as we heard really good things from others and read about Baker ourselves, it seemed to tick all the boxes... but on the website. And any website can say whatever it wants to say, but was there proof? Concrete proof of all the amazing claims? And tuition almost prevented us from taking a tour at all. But we had to just go see for ourselves. Once we toured, we were so excited and we just knew. The school is adorned with student creations and with self portraits and It's colorful! it's vibrant, it's lively. It's welcoming!! The energy is just good. Once we saw the classrooms, I knew I wanted my kids to go here. I wanted this to be their daily experience. The rooms have movement, they're (again) vibrant & lively. You WANT to learn in this space. I had toured our district school prior and I remember feeling anxious and so put off by how sterile and uniform and bland my sons kindergarten room was going to be. Like he's never going to sit still and shut up. And I don't want that for him. I knew if he wasn't stimulated enough & not challenged enough, he was going to act out. That his blossoming brilliance & sensitivity we see, would turn into goofiness & misbehavior. And my daughter would just be squashed & silenced by that method of teaching and atmosphere. That environment was going to kill the spark for learning for them. It would dim who they are. Environment MATTERS. The academic material is received so much better in a joyous, stimulating & nurturing environment. That is Baker. In our district school, I wondered... where's playfulness and joy and various charts and expression and tools for learning and learning through discovery and PLAY?? Baker is that. Baker values that. We value that! We have been at baker for a school year and a half now. During these extraordinarily fundamental years... the ones that shape their experience & relationship with schooling and academics for years to come , the years that shape confidence and self awareness and help establish their voice... these are the years I want them learning by exploring, by seeing and feeling and truly experiencing what they are learning vs the way I did ( and the most of us did) which was through our ability to regurgitate the material. The resources are outstanding. Our teachers have been extraordinary so far. My children are being nurtured. They're being taught well and excelling in all areas. They're overcoming challenges as well as being challenged. They are seen for who they are. They're thriving! And I see proof of that every single day. Baker is a community. I'm watching my kids cultivate community. Baker fosters that. I am proud to have my children at Baker. And I'm proud to share of my time, gifts and talents with Baker to help our school continue to grow, . I am proud to be as involved as I am. I'm invested! And genuinely interested in doing so. Despite running a small local business and having a family and all the time constraints and responsibilities like everyone else, l make time because this school matters to me. Because it matters to my husband. Because this school matters to my children. We are so fortunate to receive a scholarship to attend. So fortunate to be here. I always wanted to feel genuinely confident in our kids school and where they were going to be spending so so much of their time and who with. I love this school. I love the people who make up Bakers teachers and staff. As parents we are acknowledged and heard. As parents, we notice so many other parents genuinely involved in school. Invested in more ways than one. Again, community. A strong ever growing & involved community. I don't know what middle school is like or any of the other grades. However, I can confidently speak on our personal experience with lower school. And we have been thrilled. No school is perfect. Not even this one. But this one is really really good for our family right now. And we're so happy to be a part of it

We've had such a wonderful experience here! The teachers are so caring and create a warm,…read moresupportive environment where kids feel excited to learn. The Montessori approach is beautifully done, encouraging independence, curiosity, and confidence. Highly recommend this school to any family in Andersonville or Uptown!

We are extremely pleased with both the school and its exceptional staff. The pace of our daughter's…read moredevelopment has been remarkable. At not even two years old, she is now speaking Spanish at home and demonstrating a level of independence far beyond where she was before enrollment. She has also gained a clear understanding of appropriate behavior, which we attribute directly to the dedication and expertise of her teachers. Overall, this has been an outstanding five-star experience.