Hi! Just moved to Naperville and am overwhelmed by the amount of preschools to choose from. Any recommendations for a great school?
I am going to send my son to Wheatland Salem next year. It is on book and 95th. My sister has sent her kids there for the last two years and has loved it. I have spent a lot of time talking to the teachers trying to decide whether to start in pre 3 or 3. They have been extremely helpful and concerned.
Good luck!
I love Kensington School of Naperville. I drove 25 minutes each way just for my boys to attend school there. They offer a Transitional Kindergarten class for my 5 year old that did not make the Sept. 1st cutoff because of his late birthday. Few programs offer this. It is not cheap, yet not super expensive like The Compass School. It was too expensive for us, but I have heard good things about it. At Kensington, the teachers are certified (4 year degree in early childhood education) and they use up to date resources including Jolly Phonics, Animal Island, Math their Way, and Handwriting without Tears. The teachers we have had have all been absolutely wonderful!!! The kids attend weekly spanish and music classes with teachers specializing in those areas. The facility is lovely, kept very clean, and is secure. My sons were more than ready for kindergarten after attending. I am a third grade teacher in the public school system and I believe Kensington is a great school that really prepared my boys! There is a guide to preschools that used to be published by PACES (a moms group) for the whole area. PACES is not doing it anymore but I heard another group has taken it over. Unfortunately, I don't know that group but maybe someone else on here will. Good luck!
Check out The Compass School. They have 2 locations in Naperville. I recommend taking a tour. The teachers are so warm, energetic and really enthusiastic about what they do.
We absolutely love The Children's Center off Washington St. in Naperville. It is affiliated with Our Savior Lutheran church. I have three children and have used three different preschools. This one, by far, blows the others out of the water. It is not just a supervised play-date for the kids they actually learn and have fun at the same time. Good luck.
Children's Creative Corner is awesome
I do NOT recommend Kensington - they are all show, but no substance
I am currently sending my second child through Wheatland Salem. I really LOVE this school. Great teachers, great facility (the school is in its own wing, not just a room or two in the church), etc. Also have many friends/neighbors who have sent their children to Wheatland Salem and all have had great experiences. If you are interested, I would contact them right away for a tour. I know that several of the sessions already have waiting lists for next year. I personally have not sent my kids to Kensington at all, but have a friend who had a negative experience there and pulled her child out of the school. I'm not sure of the details, but just sharing for what it's worth. I'm sure many people love that school. Good luck & welcome to Naperville!
I have had children in both the kindergarten classroom and preschool classroom at Montessori Moppet Centre. in Naperville. The teachers are caring, warm and extremely qualified. The facility has been in Naperville for over 37 years and their methods are tried and true. If your child misses the sept. 1 cut-off date for kindergarten, they can enter their kindergarten at 4 years 9 months and qualify for 1st grade if going to district 204 schools in naperville, It worked perfectly for my daughter. It is an academic environment and not a day-care but found the Montessori method very condusive to my child's enthusiastic learning style. Definately worth a visit.
