I graduated from this Catholic school over 20+ years ago, which was eventually closed down in 2006…read moreand turned into a charter school. I assume the school closed down due to lack of enrollment and outdated teaching resources. By then, there were a few nuns as teachers. I'm uncertain if the convent still exists, but I do know there's still a rectory that conducts its business. My experience as a student was that there were less than 10 asians in my class and there were usual cliques. Recess was dodgeball, jumpropes, and roller racers within the confines of the parking lot. With the exception of kindergarten, there were 2 classrooms per grade level.

IHM School was closed in 2006, but I had to write this to balance an earlier review that appears…read morehere. Years ago, IHM provided a wonderful and warm school experience. The sisters who taught gave their lives to solid, rich instruction and character development for their charges. Days were filled with meaty academics, as well as religion, patriotism, values, and family participation. The decline of IHM began the same way as it did for so many Catholic schools, as they became infected with the same fuzzy constructivist junk that has crippled public education. (For more on that, see: http://www.illinoisloop.org/catholicschools.html) The decisive blow to IHM school occurred when both the principal and pastor positions were filled (at that time) by individuals wildly unsuited to the task. Since these two positions have absolute power in a Archdiocese Catholic school (parents and the school board have mere advisory roles), this spelled disaster. Enrollment plummeted, and the school was closed. The neighborhood is the loser from the loss of IHM school.

Update: April 20, 2015 My children are now 7 and 3-1/2 years…read moreold and I and they love the school as much as ever. Currently, the school announced that they do plan on expanding the school. Update: August 16, 2014 My 6 yr old daughter & 2-1/2 yr old son attend. The school and parent community is still incredible and my only wish is that they expand their elementary program to middle school. Original review: It may not seem like much from the outside, but this school is a hidden gem. I honestly believe that there is no better learning or childcare environment than Gateway Montessori School. My daughter is 3 years old and has been attending Gateway since she was about 10 months old (Infant Program). When my wife and I were interviewing daycares, nannys, etc. for our daughter, we asked ourselves 3 important questions: 1. Can you we trust the Institution and Providers? 2. Will our child be Loved & Respected? 3. Will our child be learning and developing to her full potential? Can you we trust the Institution and Providers... ? Both my wife and I have complete trust in the school's Directress, Shelley Torres (and teachers). Once you meet her, you will understand. She teaches the 1-3 year old class and has the composure and patience that few have (and that is necessary for this age group). She has a long history as a Montessori teacher (AMI) and upholds to the standards that make a true Montessori school a great education. Gateway is a small school with small classes so you know all the teachers and assistants. The school hosts teacher presentations (as well as guest-lectures) and classroom observations. These are great opportunities for parents to see how teachers work with children, understand the classroom environment & materials, and talk with teachers. We leave our daughter at Gateway everyday knowing that she is in the best care outside of family. Will our child be Loved & Respected...? I see everyday not only how loving and respectful the teachers are to the children, but how my loving and respectful my daughter is to others. The teachers exemplify the qualities that I value in a caring & quality school. Among other things, they help the children become independent, guide them with reasoning (rather than control), support them emotionally, and encourage them to support their classmates with love and respect. I think my daughter has developed a true sense of empathy and understanding through working in the classrooms. Will our child be learning and developing to her full potential...? Number One, I want my daughter to be Happy (and she is). Number two, I want my daughter to Learn (and she does). Not only do the children build on their knowledge, but they learn about independence and practical life. They are drinking from cups in the infant class, baking bread in the 1-3 yr classroom, and learning about the trinomial equation in the 3-6 yr classroom. My (limited) experience with Montessori... My wife and I had never heard of Montessori education prior to attending a Gateway lecture. After meeting the director, learning more about Montessori, and seeing the school we were completely sold. Whether you are already familiar with Montessori education or not, you should see Gateway. As my wife and I have learned, this is no ordinary school.

My son just started his third year at Gateway Montessori and both he and I couldn't be happier…read moreabout it. This hidden gem of a school has enriched my child's life immensely and witnessing how he has been progressing with hands-on math, science, geography and culture as well as reading and writing has been brilliant. Did you know the second smallest country in North America is Belize? I didn't until my four year old informed me of it and then pointed on a map to where it was located. Shelly, the headmistress, is wonderful and has a way with children that is astoundingly calm, nurturing and loving. All of the teachers have been incredible as well, so much so, that during summer break my son woke up one morning and out of nowhere asked if he could write his teacher a letter. The letter was "Dear Tracy, I love you." The TL;DR of this review would be the same but changed to "Dear Gateway, I love you."

As I write this, my daughter is in 4th grade and my son just started Kindergarten. We cannot be…read morehappier. Our daughter started at this school in preschool and we have seen her grow and experience everything this school has to offer. She is just getting into the sports programs there which will elevate her confidence even more. The small class sizes, great families, and teachers all put forth an effort to insure that your child will excel in life. Also, most of the children that have graduated from this school have qualified for great high schools in the area, from Loyola, Notre Dame, and St Ignatius to Northside College Prep and Whitney Young. Great Choice, Great Community, Great School. Eva K, not sure who you are, or when you went, but those comments are far from our family's experience.

We love St. Edward. I am an alum who learned both values and academics needed to succeed in high…read moreschool, college, and graduate school. This community is exactly what our children need. We watch them go off to school full of happiness and eager to learn. We couldn't ask for better environment for our children. Thanks to Ed's for providing a balance of education, community, service, faith, and bringing joy to their students.

A Graduation Speech by: Someone Who Did Not Earn Valedictorian or Salutatorian…read more Freshman Year: Pimple Ridden. My freshman year was the first time I had witnessed a fellow classmate become sexually abused via a Chicago bus. Yo, what? Sophomore Year: Geometry Stricken. Junior Year: Trigonometry went swell. Senior Year: I met the one. I hope you're safe out there. Sometimes Chicago feels and looks like a grey jungle. Was I an individual or an outcast? This is something I still ponder to this day. It's hard to find love in a city filled with so many souls that are constantly rushing everywhere. Chill. Slow down. Enjoy the little things. Life is finite. Appreciate people. Give respect to earn it. Von taught me these life lessons. Thank you. Good luck to all future generations to come. GO PANTHERS! Sincerely, A 2013 Alumni P.S.: Special thanks goes to every teacher I had the honor and privilege of meeting between 2009 to 2013. The intelligence you shared was priceless.

Education, yes, respect and appreciation for a job well done. Athletics for females? Completely…read moreshocking that a school with female principal and vice principal provide so little support for the girls sports. The only time you will see them at a female sporting event is if there is another event happening simultaneously or afterward - so they make an appearance. The new Athletic Director (and boys baseball coach) Cott...there is not a shred of evidence that he cares in the slightest. Good place to learn and grow....and I guess it is a great example of what the young ladies may unfortunately face the rest of their lives.

I'm a resident of Old Irving and absolutely love our historic neighborhood! When my girls…read moreapproached school age, I started looking into potential schools nearby. Unfortunately CPS provided nothing but headaches- between their crazy lotteries, distance challenged schools and larger class sizes. So I had to think outside the box. That's how I ended up sending my non-Catholic girls to St. Viator and couldn't be happier. :) St. Viator puts an emphasis on academics, community and smaller class sizes. Teachers leverage online programs like Super Kids (reading), Rosetta Stone (language) and Go Math. Peace Builders are also core to their education and I can see a difference in how my girls treat people kindly and with respect. As a working parent, we take full advantage of the after school care and wonderful enrichment programs. So far they've taken chess, hip hop, drama and building robots. But in the end, what really matters is that they are happy, challenged and surrounded by people who love and support them at school. That's why I'm glad we found such a wonderful neighborhood school that my girls are thriving at.

Low key this place kinda whack but some of the teachers pretty chill ngl. Mr Z has the best gym…read moreclasses I've ever experienced and computer was always fun with the projects we did. Plus Mr Slawik always keeps it fresh with the assignments and his QUIA system was probably the only time I've ever studied for fun lol. Anyways this place is overall fun but a lil pricey. Lunches were good too. Anyways I'm prolly gon send my kids here Fr.

A friendly mixed race church that focuses on trusting the message of Jesus as the solution to every…read morechallenge, doubt , road map and community . Everyone is relatable and interested in connecting , supporting transition , and learning how a life that knows Christ is significantly better than trying to find meaning in other areas... it's the primary source of balance, insight, and understanding of being a fulfilled human.. absolutely the best opportunity you can find in chicago..

This is an outstanding church! Their clear love for Jesus and efforts to demonstrate that love to…read morethe community around them is refreshing and truly life changing. You feel welcome before you even come through their doors. They are diverse in backgrounds, race and age, so anyone can call this place home. If you've been looking for a church home or simply trying to find some answers to this crazy life, Anthem church is for you!

My son went here for half a year. His teacher was poorly trained and received her degree in…read moreadministration on line. She could not teach him and told us that he had a language disorder. We agreed to have him evaluated, and she and the principal did not listen to the results of the evaluation, before asking him to leave. He is now in public school, the academics there are stronger, the teachers and administration kinder and better trained, and he's getting A's. If you want your child to get a good education and be fairly treated, look elsewhere I have no respect for anyone who blames her own failures on children. Children deserve better.

This is a terrific school. The school uses the latest research to design its curriculum,…read moreincorporating experiential learning with every opportunity. The class sizes are small, so the teachers get to know each student individually and tailor their approach to the student's needs. The graduates of this school have a very high acceptance rate at the CPS selective enrollment schools as well as selective private schools. Highly recommend this school.

I can't begin to describe what a phenomenal experience we are having at Concordia Day. We chose…read morethis daycare after an extensive search of in-home daycares and daycare centers. We started there when our child was about 5 months old, and there hasn't been a single day that we've worried about her well-being. We are confident she receives excellent care and attention. The teachers love the babies so much and share in the parents' excitement when babies reach milestones. They don't seem the least bit stressed or bothered by crying, babies that won't nap, babies that won't take a bottle, or anything else. They use an app to send pics and updates, which, as a new parent, is priceless. The facility is spotless, all state mandated protocols are followed, and the director and assistant director are easy to get in touch with and responsive. We are now enrolled in the toddler room, and as expected, it's been a phenomenal experience. The teachers are wonderful! They follow a curriculum, which is shared with parents at the beginning of each week. The toddlers engage in art projects, story time, free play, and neighborhood walks (among other things). They gain new knowledge and skills every day and have fun interacting with their peers. Our daughter is so excited to go to daycare each day that she actually stands by our front door and waves bye to us....20 minutes before it's time to leave the house! Your child will thank you for enrolling at Concordia Day!

Our daughter started at Concordia when she was 5 months old and we've had nothing but an amazing…read moreexperience for almost a year now. The administrative staff and teachers are great at communication which made transitioning to daycare much easier for us. She has so much fun every day, and we absolutely love getting photos of her each day through the app. We honestly could not recommend the infant room at Concordia enough!

I will never understand why parents who's kid(s) are accepted into Lane Tech did not have their…read morechildren go there, instead going to a run down school with no academic achievements. I will forever regret not taking more opportunities at Lane, and taking advantage of all it had to offer. Looking back, I realize just how lucky I was to have taken the classes I did as none of my friends in other high schools had the option of taking those classes. I wish I had joined clubs and not ran to work after school every day because I preferred making money. I feel like I'd have a lot more memories about my years in high school, but I have very few. Either way, if and when I do have kids, and they are off to high school, Lane Tech will be the number one choice. Yes, I will make that decision for them! Lane has evolved in every way, and continues to be one of the top schools with thousands of students which is why I can only imagine what it will be like in 10, 20 years and so on. I definitely plan on going back for a tour and just walking the halls, not worried about making it to the next class across the entire school in four whole minutes!

This school is amazing, so many different opportunities for every single student. You aren't forced…read moreto take a path because there are so many more to explore on your own. The teachers are great and get along with the students. The food is actually decent compared to the other high school foods. There's off campus lunch with lots of different food options around you. Lane literally has a bit of something for everyone. There are 100+ clubs it's so much fun. If you want a true high school experience then lane is the way!

I was a student at Ravenswood Christian School, then known as Ravenswood Baptist Christian School,…read morefrom August 2001 till I graduated Class of 2014. It's unclear to me why "Baptist" was removed from the name (Could it be a branding thing?) but I do feel the current name lacks the same rhythm it once had. What is more, it totally ruins the cheers the cheerleaders recited at basketball games. ("The Patriots are the best! / Yes! / R-B-C-S!") Although, these days, I'm unsure if the school still has a cheer team, let alone a basketball team, to speak of. But times change and so does leadership. I submit I can't speak to the current school administration, nor to their conduct with their students, save for one particularly egregious actor. (More on that later.) At glance, it seems some former classmates of mine are now themselves staff members of RCS. But I digress. I can only speak to my own experiences as a former student, which I would describe as unpleasant. Bad, even. And though I don't resent my parents for enrolling me here, I do believe it was an error on their part. But I know of many other students who had it far worse, who were themselves victims of severe bullying by both students and staff alike. I'm ashamed to admit I was often a participant in this bullying, often greenlit by the staff, when I myself wasn't a target. Even still, that was no excuse. I recall one incident where our math teacher Mr. Ullmann (Long since dismissed, but too little, too late, frankly.) kicked a chair from under one student, V.F., humiliating him in front of the whole class. I even joined in on that chorus of laughter and to this day feel sick to my stomach that I'd been party to this bizarre humiliation ritual. I hope wherever V.F.'s at now he's in a better place and knows that wasn't OK. Last I heard, which, granted, was many years ago, Ullmann got a job as a truck driver following his dismissal. Now, that could've just been schoolyard gossip, but, if true, that's probably a better job for him. Nevertheless, Ullmann's inappropriate behavior spanned numerous incidents, yet, sadly, it took a posse of concerned mothers applying steady pressure on the school admin to get him removed from the faculty. But, as I said earlier, by the time he was dismissed, the damage had been done, and a whole lot of kids were mistreated as a result of the admin dragging its feet. A tale old as time. But that's all in the past, right? Surely the dregs have all been weeded out since then, no? I wish this was the case, but since checking the R(B)CS website it appears Mr. Bob Szontagh is still employed at the school as a secondary teacher. That's too bad, and what I find to be a glaring error on part of the new admin, because this man should have absolutely zero influence on a child's developing mind, and I, now an adult, am worse off for having been his pupil. Szontagh's conduct with us was so vulgar and so inappropriate he made Ullmann look like a Boy Scout. (More than once Szontagh referred to his genitalia as "Big Daddy" in gym class.) Why he is still a teacher there can be explained by way of what clout he has within the larger church congregation, for he's of the last of the "Old Guard" I knew from then and has taught at R(B)CS for decades at this point. And, to his credit, he had undeniable charisma and was often a favorite among the children. His lessons, however, would often shift into these long, tangential lectures that had little to do with the subject at hand. They were akin to watching a two-bit standup comic practicing his tight five for the Klu Klux Klan open mic. And his jokes were awful as they were bigoted. I remember once he opened a science class with "What do you call a gay guy on rollerskates?" ..."Rol-AIDS!" Well, a lot of us 11-or-12-year-olds were fortuitous enough to not suffer from heartburn, so, mostly, the joke went over our heads. Even still, this was a science class. Did my parents really pay my tuition just so I could be sat down to watch this guy make AIDS jokes in class? Short answer: Yeah, more or less. I'd like to say that it's unbelievable how Szontagh's still teaching here more than a decade later but, given what I know about the school, I actually find it pretty believable. Mostly I feel bad for the kids who are getting robbed of a decent education and for their parents who are paying for one that's second-rate.

When I went to school here they gave is seats. The principal spanked kids with a paddle with the…read moredoor closed. You could hear kids crying and screaming. Meanwhile the principles kid got knocked up. I thought I had leprosy as a child making us read the king James version bible. They forced. Me to eat food I told them I couldn't until I vomited. Good times! Watch the movie Jesus camp. That what this school is. Let us pret is another one about fundamental Baptist like this. Two stars because I was a good kid so my experience with the teachers was good. I liked them. I also got a good education.