St Matthias School

"Budlong School has been a truly wonderful place for my child. As a parent of a child with disabilities, finding a supportive environment is incredibly important, and this school has exceeded my expectations. The nurses and staff are absolutelv amazing--kind patient, and always willing to help They treat my child with so much care and respect, and they communicate openly with me about everything. The atmosphere at Budlong is warm and welcoming, and I'm grateful every day that my child is surrounded by people who genuinely care."

chappell elementary is a wonderful neighborhood school that we feel incredibly lucky to have in ravenswood. as a world language magnet cluster school, every student studies spanish, which adds so much depth to their education. native speakers have a heritage language program to build on their existing skills, while non native speakers in grades six through eight complete the equivalent of a first year high school spanish course.the arts programming here is truly impressive. students have opportunities in music, visual arts, and even participate in musicals. they also get to explore multiple instruments, which is not something every school offers.what really sets chappell apart are the hands on environmental education programs. students learn through gardening and even beekeeping, which are supported by the amazing friends of chappell group. these experiences help students connect with nature in meaningful ways.not sure if most people know this but academically, the school ranks quite high and has particular strength in science. chappell was recognized with thrive awards in both 2021 and 2024 for its positive impact on student learning, which says a lot about the dedication of the teachers and staff.there is also a wide variety of extracurricular options like sports, chess, garden club, and computer club, all of which contribute to a well rounded experience for our daughter.for families who need it, the school offers very early before care and an after care program as well. this kind of support makes a big difference for working parents.if you are curious about getting involved, the friends of chappell is a very active and welcoming parent community that plays an important role in the school’s success.

I am a student a McPherson so I will be writing from a student standpoint. In my year of going to McPherson I have went through countless teacher some but not most of them Made excited to learn. But I will say the family engagement is amazing the family are very involved and participants in many fundraisers. Special education at McPherson I can not talk about really because I am not in special education classes but from my point of view the treatment of the students in special education is decent as I said before I can not really can not talk about.

Waters has an excellent philosophy on the whole child, which was important to our family. I felt compelled to write a review based on what most of us parents experience and defend, a great local community school with high standards and an ability to constantly collaborate with stake holders. Thank you, Waters, for being what you are to our family.

I am thrilled to recommend NPES to families as it is a place that really centers and cares about children. As a small, independent school it is able to be responsive and nimble and I have seen so many excellent additions to the program in recent years. This is truly a gem of a school in a challenging chicago landscape.

If you’re looking for a welcoming, inclusive community where your child will have personalized attention from teachers who care about your child, then Pilgrim is definitely the school for you. We were not happy at our previous CPS school. Our daughter wasn’t happy, she felt ignored, the focus on timed tests (in 1st grade!) made her anxious and she started to not like school. Since we moved to Pilgrim, she has absolutely thrived. Her love for learning is due to the amazing teachers at Pilgrim. She’s a straight A student, scoring in the 90th+ percentile in both reading and math. She’s in her 8th grade year and Mrs. Andreen works one on one with each student to prepare them for the high school application process. She’s been a lifesaver! Our younger daughter loves her teacher as well. I love the care and support she has provided to my youngest and as parents we love the fact that we can communicate easily with teachers. They are very supportive and responsive (which was not our experience at CPS). It is also by far the most affordable private school option. There’s no way we could have afforded the other private options on the north side. Pilgrim’s like a hidden gem. I can’t say enough good things about our tiny but mighty school community!

Queen of Angels was a wonderful choice for our son's elementary education. We sent our son to Q of A for Kindergarten and couldn't be happier with the decision. Each of his teachers has been supportive, communicative, encouraging, and thoughtful in their approach to the students' education and our son has grown more than we could have expected. The entire staff at Q of A has been incredibly welcoming, warm, and supportive. The infectious kindness of the staff can be reflected in how sweet and kind the students act toward each other. Q of A offers an incredible environment for kids. The after-school enrichment programs are also top-notch and far-reaching; the kids will never lack for choice of activities. The families are involved and welcoming. Q of A definitely feels like a big family that is always open to new members. The administration is very open and communicative and we have never been concerned for our son's safety as Q of A. Queen of Angels was the best kindergarten decision for our son's educational and emotional growth. We are thrilled with what Q of A has been able to offer our son. We would recommend Queen of Angels to anyone looking for a warm and friendly place for their child and family to grown and learn.