Frances Xavier Warde School

This school has serious issues with instructional consistency and administrative accountability.A teacher’s return was described to families as a “fresh start,” yet within a very short time there were multiple unplanned absences with no advance communication. This caused repeated disruptions and instability in the classroom, directly affecting students’ learning.This does not appear to be an isolated incident. Similar disruptions have occurred before, suggesting an ongoing pattern that has not been adequately addressed. When the same problems continue to impact students year after year, it reflects a failure of oversight and leadership.Children should not lose valuable instructional time due to unresolved staffing and management issues. Based on our experience, it is difficult to recommend this school to families who value consistency, transparency, and accountability in education.

I love the school itself. They relocated last year and it isn't in the best area. The teachers really care but they seem to be overwhelmed sometimes due to the extended school hours. My child has been going to this school since 1st grade, and she loves it. The activities, learning courses, programs etc are all amazing. The only bad thing Is some children here can be a really bad influence, and they tend to expose other children to things that children should not speak of.

Bennett’s administration frequently failed to communicate effectively. They neglected to inform us when initial problems with our son began, leaving us unaware until situations escalated. School leaned into the behavior concerns and did not see the connection between behavior and academic challenges. In one instance, she called to discuss my son's challenges while he was in the room, ignoring the privacy and sensitivity of the matter.School recommended we have our son tested, because they did not know what more they could do and ‘maybe’ medication was an option. So, yes we had our son tested and learned he has an IQ is in the gifted range and a reading disability. He is a 3rd graders with 1st grade reading skills. Thanks to CPS, he has access to a special education teacher, and in-class support to ensure he can fully participate. Bennet is a great option if your kid does not need support. If you kid needs help, school administration becomes passive aggressive till you leave.

Our son has had a full academic career at Intercultural Montessori Language School spanning pre-K through 8th grade. The strong cohesion between the school's dual language and Montessori programs makes for an exclusive education. Ms. Xiang sets expectations high with her leadership in the Chinese Program! It has been a joy to watch our son grow from simply reciting his numbers and colors in Mandarin to developing a command over the language, both in written form and contextually. Exposing him to one of the most different languages at the age of 3-years, when his brain was hard wired for language reception in an environment that fosters peer and group collaboration, allowed a simple mean of communication to blossom into an integrated love, respect and objectivity for the complexity of cultures that shapes his outlook of the world today. His schooling is light years beyond the obligatory 2-year foreign language high school requirement that I grew up with and not something our single-language family could have offered him otherwise. We greatly value the outcome of his full 11-year immersion education. The school has a strong English reading and writing program as well. I've been impressed with the diversity of our son's writing skills, something that will serve him well as an adult in any profession. Math was an academic weak spot during our time there requiring supplemental support outside of school however, speaking to some of the newer families, that inconsistency is being effectively addressed. You can opt out of the standardized tests the school offers (NWEA MAP). That said, we found them a practical device for measuring strengths and weaknesses and helpful learning experience for him when preparing for the high school entrance exams. Praises for the way Intercultural handled the Covid 2020 shut down! The children were sent home on a Friday in March and by Monday morning, they were fully virtual. Come September, classes were back in-person with social distancing measures in place and a strong Covid protocol on how to handle a community outbreak without shutting down the entire school. Intercultural didn't miss a beat the benefits of a small school with strong leadership!Our family had a comfortable experience with the administration. Any issues were addressed quickly and respectivelyNo school is perfect and you will have to advocate for your child along the way, but I whole-heartedly believe that Intercultural is one of Chicago's distinct gems!

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.