Five Star Learning Centers - Troy, Illinois

Hailey S.

We have had a fantastic experience with five star. Our daughter enjoyed her time there. Every week they were doing new and stimulating activities. Each time we dropped her off, every teacher greeted her and was excited to see her, knowing her by name from the very first day even those not teaching in her classroom. The management was always quick to respond and address any concerns/questions we had. We truly have no complaints and will recommend to others

Lacy O.

Five Star Learning Centers is a top notch childcare facility. All of my interactions with the staff have been pleasant and welcoming. I love that they always have something fun planned. My daughter is excited to go to "school", learning through play really is great for the children!

Jordan

My 3 year old attended this daycare and I feel obligated to share our experience with other parents before they choose this place to care for their children.

-They have an app but it will not be updated regularly. Diaper changes, correct nap times, meals, etc. are not documented accurately or at all most days. You will receive Zero pictures, which is not a huge deal but this was not what was communicated during our tour so do not be fooled.

—NUMEROUS times when we picked up, my child has had dried feces in his diaper causing a diaper rash. We have brought this to either the teachers, assistant director, and directors attention every time. No change. We have asked for camera footage to be checked but only the director has access to this and she is not always on site to check the cameras. It is a normal practice to have the children stand/bend over when wiping and changing their diaper (not in the bathroom, in the middle of the room) I have heard other parents complaining about the same type of issues, as well as potty training regression once starting at this facility.

-Drop off is always extremely hectic, children screaming and running around with no shoes, clothes, and some days we are not even acknowledged by staff. Multiple times there have been 20+ children in one room (over the legal maximum group number) During one instance, I dropped my child off and he was not checked into the app for over 30 minutes. I had to call multiple times and once the assistant director answered, they did not even know my child was at the facility based on the app and had to walk to the room to ensure he was there. If your child has any emotional reaction when you leave, do not choose this daycare. I have witnessed children bawling when their parents leave and teachers completely ignoring them, or briefly consoling the child when the parent is in the room and then immediately leaving the crying child alone once the parent is out of sight.

-No curriculum or daily activities will be shared with the parents. You will not know anything that your child is working on or learning about. No crafts, no lesson plans shared, nothing. When I inquired about their curriculum, the director says the 3 year olds “learn through play”, which is completely understandable at a young age, but we have witnessed extreme regression in the child’s skills since leaving our prior daycare, despite none of our at home teaching practices changing. If you are fine with your child participating in independent play all day long, then this place would be great for you. For reference, our prior daycare shared a monthly lesson “focus”(learning about nature, animals, colors, etc.) and shared different activities they did with the children, so I do not believe the lack of communication from Five Star is normal.

Overall, we were completely unsatisfied with our time here and the response we received from management when our issues were brought to their attention. I truly fear for the children’s’ physical and emotional safety while at this facility.

Holly J.

My child is finishing up her last month at five star. She's about to start kindergarten. She has been going since she was a toddler and we absolutely love them and all the teachers My daughter Absolutely loves going to daycare/school on the days She don’t go She ask if she can go back! She has learned so much from being there! We are sad that it’s time to leave but they have Prepared her for kindergarten! She has never had a bad thing to say about anyone! We appreciate everyone so much! Thank you five star learning center for being so kind and caring to my child and me!

Traci D.

This daycare is possibly the worst daycare center. They are unorganized, very little control of classroom activity, and it was a daily occurrence for children not to be clothed at pickup. I found it extremely inappropriate, during bathroom breaks and diaper changes, the children would have to stand up and bend over in front of the class or visitors so the daycare worker could wipe their stool off of their bottoms! Updating the app for the parents was out of the question. Drop off was very chaotic and if you would like your child comforted after you leave, even for a couple of minutes to get through the separation from the parent, this is not the place for you or your child. Picking up your child was not any easier or organized…often times I had to make it clear to the teacher that was taking a child especially if they were outside, otherwise they would have not even known the child I was picking up was gone.

Kyle H.

First, take note of the photo attached to this review. They do not update the app. They will tell you they do, but it is sparsely updated at best. Notice May 8-10 our child wasn't even checked in, and then there are LITERALLY NO UPDATES BETWEEN MAY 10-17. My child was indeed at daycare those days, but they wouldn't know because they never checked her in or put any updates in the app.

This is unfortunately the least of the issues with this daycare. The teachers are apathetic. Many times I walk into classrooms with crying kids and the teachers are just talking to each other or doing nothing or on their phones.

Did you know you can write things down and have procedures and notes about kids written down so all teachers are aware of kids needs and special issues? Because they apparently didn't know this. Nothing is ever written down or communicated effectively at this place. I would ask one of the teachers for a medical device we left for our child to take home, and they didn't even know they had it, let alone that my child may have needed it, nor where it was stored.

I cannot recommend this daycare at all. Please, for your child's sake, look elsewhere.

Anna

They have some "woman" working there that constantly yell loudly at the children and tells them they are discusting instead of talking and guiding them, what I consider as abusive instead of nurturing. Not a place I would want my child to have to endure.
Children screaming and crying ALL DAY LONG, not normal.

To the owner, no, all you have to do is go and listen on the playground she's out there yelling and at the kid every day.
I don't know why your other workers don't report her?
When the children stop screaming and crying and your employees stop yelling, scaring and belittling the children, so will the reviews! 👍

Kasey F.

This daycare center is quite possibly the worst I have ever seen. Toured some time ago and was absolutely appalled at the state of the building/ quality of the classrooms. I saw several teachers on their personal cellphones while in the classroom. Small bugs crawling around the interior doors of the building. Infants sitting in bouncers for the duration of my visit. ( 30+ minutes)
I spoke personally with a teacher who told me herself not to bring my children here. She also told me that majority of the teachers are not even qualified.
I did some research on the director and found out that she herself is barely even qualified. The classrooms were bare and extremely dirty. I researched this school and also found that they have had MULTIPLE violations in the past 5 years.
Prices are cheap, but you get what you pay for. If you’re happy with your child sitting in a dirty classroom full of bugs, this is the place for you.

After leaving the center, I did contact DCFS.
I was absolutely shocked that this place is even open!

Also, don’t mind the fake 5 star reviews that were recently left. The school informed families that they would have part of their tuition taken off if they left the school a 5 star review.