Forrestal Elementary School

As a parent of two daughters attending the Montessori School of Lake Forest, I couldn't be more pleased with our experience. From the moment we joined the community when both were toddlers, we felt welcomed and supported by both the staff and other families. The sense of community here is truly remarkable, fostering a nurturing and collaborative environment for both students and parents.The Montessori methodology employed at the school has been transformative for my daughters. They have become independent, critical thinkers who love to learn. The hands-on, student-centered approach has allowed them to explore their interests deeply and develop at their own pace. It's incredible to see how confident and self-motivated they have become.None of this would be possible without the exceptional teachers. They provide personalized attention and guidance to each child, acting not just as educators but also as mentors who genuinely care about the holistic development of their students. The emphasis on respect, responsibility, and community is evident in every aspect of the school's culture. Additionally, the beautiful campus offers ample outdoor learning opportunities, which my daughters thoroughly enjoy.There are several great schools in the area, but the Montessori School of Lake Forest has exceeded our expectations in every way. My daughters are curious, compassionate, and confident individuals because of the school. We are grateful to be part of such a wonderful community and highly recommend this school to any family seeking a nurturing and enriching educational experience for their children.

After researching many school options across the country, our family has chosen to live in the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff area specifically so that our children can attend Forest Bluff School.No other school “gets it” quite like Forest Bluff - their methods may seem old school in our ultra-high-tech society, but these methods are in fact timeless, and they have been proven again and again to be what is optimal for a child at each stage of development. If you are willing to follow the approach at home and take advantage of the many resources that the school provides (blog posts, book discussions, hand-outs, parent events, classroom visits, toy and activity recommendations - the list goes on and on), then your child will almost certainly be successful there.Today, during a classroom visit, I was astounded as I watched my 3-year-old tie her own shoe (we have never worked on this with her at home). She has also begun reading, doing basic math, and she has learned tools for handling peer social situations in a courteous and effective way. Most importantly (to us), she is excited to go to school each morning, and she genuinely loves her teachers and classmates.We are thrilled to have found such a special school and community, and we sincerely hope that others will consider giving their children the gift of a Forest Bluff education.

Recent administrative changes have resulted in great improvement of the district overall. The district's Covid-response plan was the best of any district in the area. The new Director of Student Services is a huge improvement from the previous administrator. Some educational programming definitely needs to be updated, but overall this district is moving in a positive direction.