Dearhaven Childcare & Learning Center

We loved being at East Lake Academy for 8 years. My daughter started in 1st grade and son started in 5th grade. When we started at ELA my children felt welcomed by their classmates and teachers. The teachers foster an environment in the classroom where newcomers are welcomed and positively acclimated to the classroom since the values of kindness, patience and virtue are reinforced constantly by the teachers and administrators. The strong academic, solid faith formation and inclusion of sports and clubs make this school the solid foundation that has really allowed both my children who are now alumni (High school sophomore and College Sophomore) to flourish and succeed. It is also a great family community! Teachers work with and listen to parents - which we loved! Thank you East Lake Academy!

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.

I have been to 8 different schools, and this is by far the worst experience I have ever had. The kids are all mean and stuck up, and the teachers don't care. The counselors go out of their way to spread your private information. They are very liberal and I wasn't comfortable with boys who claimed to be girls in my bathroom. I say this because I had a boy come into the bathroom to look under stalls and this wasn't just one child. I went here for 6th and 7th grade and have never been more uncomfortable, violated, or exposed by the teachers and students.

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.