British International School of Chicago, South Loop

As new parents at BISC - SL we have been highly impressed with all aspects of the school for your 12-year old daughter. They offer a world-class education with a focus on the individual student, giving them the tools and confidence to learn. What they avoid is the pressure-cooker system of rote learning and memorization that is in fashion at many top private schools. Great new campus in a safe part of Chicago, and an expanding list of sports, make this a great option when considering elite schools in the Chicago.

A great school with a great community (both parents and students). We've been at the school for about 13 years (from Reception), first at Lincoln Park and then at South Loop as soon as it opened. The IB program is fantastic, and all through the years the teachers focus on making sure students understand the material instead of just memorization. We have had a few questionable teachers but they have all since left as I don't think they last very long at this school. Most of the teachers are truly outstanding and they really make the effort to inspire students. A special note on the community: there are many international families who come and go based upon jobs. They bring a lot of diverse culture with them, and the school also makes a special effort to give the students a global perspective. On special education, it isn't just students with disabilities - gifted students also require accommodation and they do this very well.

I love this school a lot!My son started from Nursery and stayed there for 2 years. Then we moved out of Chicago. This school has been the most thing I missed about Chicago. The teachers were amazing! Great communications. They have a well-designed curriculum even for nursery kids! I couldn't believe my little one started reading by himself at 4.I missed this school so much. I wished I could found a school like BISC in my current city.

We have been extremely happy with our experience at BISCSL. The teachers have overall been exceptional in individualizing content delivery, listening to and addressing our concerns about learning and performance and just truly caring for our children as individuals as we think they would for their own. It’s an amazing diverse caring community where we feel welcome by teachers, staff, parents and students and fortunate to be a part. There are numerous activities and clubs offered in addition to the outstanding academic, language and performing arts curricula and we find our children thriving in the all-embracing school environment.

“You want the best for your child, so do we.” Several months after our daughter started Nursery last year, the school installed privacy screens with a variety of statements, including this one.I love this sentiment because it captures our experience at BISC-SL, specifically the way all of the teachers have engaged with our daughter. This ethic infuses the teaching, the curriculum & the engagement with us as parents. The teachers have always met her where she is and encouraged her to embrace the next challenge, whether it be academic, social, physical, or artistic. We greatly appreciate the regular, open communication about her progress & areas for growth. While immensely appreciative of the rich academic environment, we think the school also does a tremendous job of fostering characteristics like kindness, perseverance and enquiry. As a parent, I value what we have found at BISC-SL and am beyond grateful that our daughter has such a wonderful, well-rounded educational experience. We value the diverse student body, the regular communications from the principal & executive administrative team, and the overall sense of community.