Guidepost Montessori at Wicker Park

Our child has been at Guidepost for a year and 1/2, attending both the toddler room and Children’s House. We moved to Guidepost after our original daycare-> preschool program left us wanting more. We’ve been delighted with everyone that works at Guidepost: guides, aids, administration. All 10/10, committed to these kids and making an amazing community. The education is wonderful. They offer a variety of programs to fill the afternoon schedule. We also love that there are dedicated play spaces both inside and outside. Hopefully elementary school won’t be a step back.

Guidepost Montessori Wicker Park has been my family’s second home in Chicago. My two sons have grown with so much confidence and independence thanks to the loving care and kindness of all the staff. I have been part of the teaching staff and I’ve experienced first hand what it is like to be caring and making sure that we meet the needs of the children, no matter which classroom. We work as a family, second parents to all of them. The teachers work hard and give their best to maintain the consistency that the children need in order to thrive in their environment. Despite many challenges, the teachers are present and show willingness to help and guide the children each day. I’ve seen this in all staff that have come and gone. Wicker park stands strong because they have teachers who have stayed long enough to keep and maintain a solid foundation within this community.

I could not be more happy for the decision to have chosen Montessori education for my son. He has been at GP Wicker Park since he is 2 years old. Ms. Gladys, now AHOS was his lead guide in toddler. With her all the discovery about independence and learning was fun and motivational. Ms. Paulina and Ms. Nayeli as his lead guides in Children's House provided him with a great opportunity to love his interest for learning while my son explored all the academic areas from the classroom. While each Childs learns at their own paste, he started to read at four years old and now he is about to turn 6 and ready for joining Elementary Education at GP at MagMile. My son has been thriving in many aspects thanks to his guides. The most important is that guides follow each child's interests and learning desires!

Where do I even start?! I first enrolled my older daughter in Guidepost Montessori Wicker Park in 2018. Our initial and on going experience has been nothing short of exceptional. My younger daughter, is currently enrolled and on her last year here. It pains me to leave so badly, I almost contemplate having another baby. (…Almost ! Lol) We put both girls in their Spanish immersion program from the start. (Age 2) Let me say, if you are given the option, please do. It has greatly changed our lives and the trajectory of theirs for the better. Since not only are they learning another language, but in doing so, being exposed to dual language opens up problem solving regions in the brain that only are available during a portion of child development. That being said- Myself and others are blown away by their comprehension and over all language skills . (We are not a Spanish speaking household ) My oldest, now entering 3rd grade, has been accepted into the gifted Spanish program in her school because of the time she spent here. The manners, and general practice of a Montessori sit very high on my list of priorities. The children are in a truly Montessori space with raw materials and focus on developing their fine motor and social skills. My younger daughter had an initial rougher time adjusting at 2 (Covid baby)- but in knowledge of this, the staff took extra steps, time and personal care to ensure her adjustment was easier. Now she’s more confident and independent than I could even imagine! The school feels like family. It is warm, it is adorable, the children are all the just cutest friends. The families are delightful as well. It really brings the sense of belonging. They host many great mixers and are really involved in the bucktown community. I’ve made lifelong bonds with families and feel so deeply trusting to this school, their values and practices. I couldn’t have asked for a better school experience. Ms Gladys, Ms Nayeli, Ms Paulina, Mr Ricky, Ms, Julia, Ms Kewana, Ms Brittany amongst numerous, numerous others (seriously could just list the whole school) are just the absolute best in the business. Theyre diamonds in the rough, and we feel so blessed to have them in our lives. N

We have been so happy at Guidepost Wicker Park! Our daughter has attended since 2021, first in the 2-year old classroom with Ms. Eliana, who was wonderful, and now in the "children's house" room with Ms. Maria and Ms. Sue, who are also wonderful. Ms. Maria in particular is incredible, bringing a calm warmth and joy to the classroom. Our daughter is learning a ton academically and socially. The new head and assistant heads of school, Ms. Brittney and Ms. Gladys, have also brought a great warm energy, and there is a sense of community. We're very glad we chose this preschool!

We were referred by friends who had a great experience so that was reassuring as we had just moved from out of state. And they were right! The teachers, the curriculum, the families - you instantly walk into a very special and rare community. We watched our 4-year-old's personality just explode in a few short months she was there. She confidently expresses herself, insists on doing things on her own and we can see she has developed a true love of learning. Her teacher, Ms. Maria truly has a special gift with the children. We can't say enough about her and Ms. Sue and all the love, care and heart they bring the kids daily. Certainly the kind of teachers kids don't forget. We are so glad our little one has this school as her foundation before she heads to public school. Can't say it enough!

We submitted a $100 deposit in August 2021 for our daughter, hoping that she could start at Guidepost Wicker Park in July 2022. As of July, Guidepost will not return any of my messages. Our contact is no longer with the company, but her out of office contact has not responded to two separate emails nor did anyone reply to the form submission on the website. Submit a deposit at your own risk. Update: We contacted by the school after this review, and discussed the situation with them. They apologized for the lack of responsiveness, and acknowledged that the emails and list were lost in the transition of people on their side. I appreciate their acknowledgement of the situation and they refunded our deposit.