Schooner Learning Academy

Honestly, I was so stressed about starting my daughter at a daycare in the city because of how easily germs spread, but Schooner Learning Academy has been a breath of fresh air. The facility on Western Ave is always super clean when I drop her off, and you can tell they actually stay on top of their sanitizing routines. Unlike other places we toured, it doesn't have that 'old milk' smell, and the staff is really communicative if there’s a bug going around the classroom so we aren't blindsided. It feels more like a boutique, well-managed environment than those massive, chaotic centers where kids are constantly sick. We’ve had a great experience with their wellness policies so far!

Honestly, finding a daycare in Wicker Park that doesn't feel like a germ factory is tough, but Schooner has been great so far. My little one has been there for a bit now and I've been really impressed with how clean they keep the place; you can tell they actually stay on top of the disinfecting because we haven't dealt with nearly as many back-to-back colds as my friends at other centers. The communication about any sniffles in the classroom is always super quick too. It’s a smaller, professional setup managed by Ryan and you can tell they really care about the kids' wellness and keeping a healthy environment. It’s such a relief to not have to worry about mold or gross carpets when I drop him off every morning!