Schooner Learning Academy - Chicago, Illinois

Joy J.

We love love Schooner and can’t imagine parenthood without this school and its community! Our daughter started at 6 months and is now in the pre-k class. The staff is kind, caring and committed (even in those defiant phases!). The school’s management staff is experienced and organized. First time parenthood can be especially daunting but Kelli and her team facilitate a safe environment for our kids and their parents to learn, grow & make friends. The parent happy hours are amazing to get to know others in a relaxed environment. Our child has learned SO much and can’t wait for school everyday. It is truly a community. We couldn’t be happier with our choice.

Shena P.

Our daughter had her start at schooner as a tiny student that couldn’t yet walk at 14 months into the toddlers room. She had many doctors and therapy appts and schooner was always flexible with our schedules. All the teacher’s took her in as your own, taught her and cared for her so well. They have done the best jobs possible at managing her allergy while helping her feel included, not secluded from her friends.

She will cherish all of the great memories schooner staff and teachers have provided and we are so greatful to have made friends in the community as well!

Schooner will always hold a special place in all our hearts and we are so grateful for them giving our daughter the best school experience ever!

Ariane P.

We absolutely love Schooner! We have graduated one kid from there, have another there now and we have one more baby joining in the spring. Every teacher and administrator is so loving and kind and so focused on the well being and development of our kids. I couldn’t be happier to have found such a great place for their early development.

Erin S.

I highly recommend Schooner Learning Academy for your childcare needs. Both of my children have attended since they were ~1.5 years old & ~5 months and we have had such a positive experience during their enrollment. First, the facility is beautiful - lots of natural light (even with privacy windows), well organized and sized rooms and cleanliness is a clear priority for them. The owner and directors are very communicative and organized - keeping all parents informed on a regular basis. The teachers are so kind and loving and truly care about the children. This is more than a daycare center - our children have learned so much during their time here and I'm always amazed at what knowledge they bring home every week. On top of what I view as mandatories like safety, education, cleanliness, etc. - some additional benefits that we've so appreciated are the following -- they only close on major holidays, there is no spring break or week long shut-down during the holidays and minimal staff in-service days. Food (meals and snacks) is included in the tuition - which makes getting out the door every day much more seamless. They also do their best to get the children outside 2x a day - daily walks and visits to a park. Finally, they use an app that tracks eating, sleeping, etc. and also provides real-time photo updates - which helps me get through the work day. If you get off the waitlist and can enroll your children into Schooner, you absolutely should!!

Stephanie J.

We had both of our daughters at Schooner, and have experienced every class room at SLA - from infants to pre-k. We could not have had a better experience. It is a great community to be a part of. The teachers, administrative staff, and owners are wonderful and truly care about the students (and parents). We have been so impressed with how our girls have grown there - emotionally and academically. They are always happy to go to school each day! We would highly recommend SLA!

Noam A.

We LOVE LOVE LOVE Schooner. We moved our daughter there when she was two y/o and she was there until she started kindergarten. Our soon started there when he was 6 months old. This place is like a 2nd home to them. The staff is highly professional, educated, caring and attentive. The owner and management are very thoughtful in their communications and their decisions. The way the managed the pandemic was careful, thoughtful, with always thinking about the parents' perspective. They invest a lot in creating a community - planning get together for families or happy hours for parents only, which is really nice, especially for new parents or families that are new to the neighborhood.

Our children thrive(d) there. We were amazed by how much our daughter learned at PreK, in terms of phonics, spelling and math. We cannot recommend this place enough. Also, unlike other places that we've been to/ heard of, the teacher attrition is very low. Most teachers have been there for a long time and are true educators. They help parents work through any challenge their kids face with the required sensitivity.

Lastly, the facility is gorgeous. It's a new building and everything feels very clean, stylish, high quality and very welcoming for children and their families.

Caroline N.

Our daughter was at Schooner from Toddlers through to Pre-K. we had a great experience sending her there. She loved going to school and developed close relationships with her teachers and classmates, through consistency, education, kindness and a very strong sense of community. We were so sad to leave!

Ashley J.

Our daughter attended SLA for almost 3 years and our son is currently there - it is a wonderful place! Everyone truly cares about your child and their development. Our kids have loved it and so have we!