Chicago Montessori, NFP

My kid has been at Chicago Montessori for a bit now and honestly, the health stuff is just okay. It's a small non-profit vibe, so they don't have the massive resources or dedicated medical staff you'd see at a bigger private school. They definitely stick to the child-led Montessori philosophy, but sometimes I feel like the 'wellness' part is a little too hands-off. Communication about bugs going around is hit or miss—sometimes we get an email right away, and other times I find out from a neighbor that half the class is home with a stomach flu. The building on Cullom Ave is older, and while they keep it decent, it's not exactly what I'd call high-tech when it comes to air filtration or anything. It's an average experience—no major red flags, but definitely room for improvement on the transparency side.

Honestly, I’ve been really happy with how Chicago Montessori handles things. They have a very 'common sense' approach to health. Since it’s child-led, the kids are naturally washing their hands a lot throughout the day as part of their routine, which I think helps keep the seasonal bugs at bay. The school is pretty diligent about sending out emails if there’s a case of strep or something going around for sure. My only slight gripe is that the sick policy is super strict—if your kid even looks a little tired, they might give you a call—but at the end of the day, it keeps the classrooms cleaner. It’s a nice, cozy environment and doesn't have that 'industrial cleaner' smell some schools have.