Guidepost Montessori at Wicker Park - Chicago, Illinois

Puja G.

We love Guidepost Wicker Park!

Our older son attended for 3 years spending one year in the toddler classroom and then 2 years in the childrens house classroom with Ms. Maria who is wonderful! She is an amazing teacher who is also so caring and kind. Our younger son now attends there and he also started in the toddler class and is in his first year in Children’s house. We are lucky both of our boys could have Ms. Maria as their teacher!!

The new head of school, Ms. Gladys, is amazing. She really cares about the school and the students. She’s been a teacher here and the assistant head of school for the past few years and really is a fixture at this location. Both of her kids also attend here. She definitely listens to parents suggestions and tries her best to incorporate these into the school.

We also have wonderful afternoon activity options ranging from Indian dance, cooking class, piano, yoga, & soccer. The school also organizes monthly family activities on Saturdays- cooking, painting or gardening to get parents involved with the kids! The school also organizes an awesome Fall Fest every year.

The kids often do nature walks and field trips around the neighborhood and the school is also in close proximity to Wicker Park for special occasions. The classrooms are large and clean and have a variety of different activities for them to choose from daily.

We overall have loved our experience at Guidepost Wicker Park and absolutely recommend others to send their kids here. It is a wonderful and safe space for kids to learn and grow!

Ashley G.

Our child has been at Guidepost for a year and 1/2, attending both the toddler room and Children’s House. We moved to Guidepost after our original daycare-> preschool program left us wanting more.

We’ve been delighted with everyone that works at Guidepost: guides, aids, administration. All 10/10, committed to these kids and making an amazing community.

The education is wonderful. They offer a variety of programs to fill the afternoon schedule. We also love that there are dedicated play spaces both inside and outside. Hopefully elementary school won’t be a step back.

Brooke L.

Our daughter has been attending Guidepost since November 2018 in the Toddler Spanish Immersion program and we only have wonderful things to say about the school, administration and the guides (teachers).

From the moment you enter the building you are greeted with calm, warm and loving faces from all the staff in a clean, beautiful and organized environment. The administration and guides genuinely care about the children and love seeing them learn and grow in a true Montessori environment. After only being in the Toddler Spanish Immersion program for five months, our daughter can understand simple sentences in Spanish, is more polite (says things like, “are you ok?” “Do you need a hug?”) and even likes to help us set up the table for dinner (she is only 2.5 years old!)
They also offer opportunities for parents to learn and connect by attending open houses such as, Morning Yoga and Yogurt, or parent only seminars to help us implement the same teaching style at home. Compared to other Montessori schools we have visited, the classrooms are well stocked with authentic Montessori materials. Our daughter is also in the Extended Day program where they offer cooking classes, advanced art (pastels, watercolor pencils etc.) and outdoor activities (all included with tuition!). We love this school and hope they will open an elementary soon so we can continue to grow and be a part of the Guidepost community.

Jasmine L.

Guidepost Montessori Wicker Park has been my family’s second home in Chicago. My two sons have grown with so much confidence and independence thanks to the loving care and kindness of all the staff. I have been part of the teaching staff and I’ve experienced first hand what it is like to be caring and making sure that we meet the needs of the children, no matter which classroom. We work as a family, second parents to all of them. The teachers work hard and give their best to maintain the consistency that the children need in order to thrive in their environment. Despite many challenges, the teachers are present and show willingness to help and guide the children each day. I’ve seen this in all staff that have come and gone. Wicker park stands strong because they have teachers who have stayed long enough to keep and maintain a solid foundation within this community.

Rachel H.

We have been so happy at Guidepost Wicker Park! Our daughter has attended since 2021, first in the 2-year old classroom with Ms. Eliana, who was wonderful, and now in the "children's house" room with Ms. Maria and Ms. Sue, who are also wonderful. Ms. Maria in particular is incredible, bringing a calm warmth and joy to the classroom. Our daughter is learning a ton academically and socially. The new head and assistant heads of school, Ms. Brittney and Ms. Gladys, have also brought a great warm energy, and there is a sense of community. We're very glad we chose this preschool!

Eliana S.

I could not be more happy for the decision to have chosen Montessori education for my son. He has been at GP Wicker Park since he is 2 years old. Ms. Gladys, now AHOS was his lead guide in toddler. With her all the discovery about independence and learning was fun and motivational. Ms. Paulina and Ms. Nayeli as his lead guides in Children's House provided him with a great opportunity to love his interest for learning while my son explored all the academic areas from the classroom. While each Childs learns at their own paste, he started to read at four years old and now he is about to turn 6 and ready for joining Elementary Education at GP at MagMile. My son has been thriving in many aspects thanks to his guides. The most important is that guides follow each child's interests and learning desires!

Marissa A.

Where do I even start?!

I first enrolled my older daughter in Guidepost Montessori Wicker Park in 2018.

Our initial and on going experience has been nothing short of exceptional. My younger daughter, is currently enrolled and on her last year here. It pains me to leave so badly, I almost contemplate having another baby.
(…Almost ! Lol)

We put both girls in their Spanish immersion program from the start. (Age 2)
Let me say, if you are given the option, please do. It has greatly changed our lives and the trajectory of theirs for the better. Since not only are they learning another language, but in doing so, being exposed to dual language opens up problem solving regions in the brain that only are available during a portion of child development.
That being said- Myself and others are blown away by their comprehension and over all language skills . (We are not a Spanish speaking household )
My oldest, now entering 3rd grade, has been accepted into the gifted Spanish program in her school because of the time she spent here. The manners, and general practice of a Montessori sit very high on my list of priorities. The children are in a truly Montessori space with raw materials and focus on developing their fine motor and social skills.
My younger daughter had an initial rougher time adjusting at 2 (Covid baby)- but in knowledge of this, the staff took extra steps, time and personal care to ensure her adjustment was easier. Now she’s more confident and independent than I could even imagine!
The school feels like family. It is warm, it is adorable, the children are all the just cutest friends. The families are delightful as well. It really brings the sense of belonging.
They host many great mixers and are really involved in the bucktown community.

I’ve made lifelong bonds with families and feel so deeply trusting to this school, their values and practices.

I couldn’t have asked for a better school experience. Ms Gladys, Ms Nayeli, Ms Paulina, Mr Ricky, Ms, Julia, Ms Kewana, Ms Brittany amongst numerous, numerous others (seriously could just list the whole school) are just the absolute best in the business. Theyre diamonds in the rough, and we feel so blessed to have them in our lives. N

Michelle R.

We were referred by friends who had a great experience so that was reassuring as we had just moved from out of state. And they were right! The teachers, the curriculum, the families - you instantly walk into a very special and rare community. We watched our 4-year-old's personality just explode in a few short months she was there. She confidently expresses herself, insists on doing things on her own and we can see she has developed a true love of learning. Her teacher, Ms. Maria truly has a special gift with the children. We can't say enough about her and Ms. Sue and all the love, care and heart they bring the kids daily. Certainly the kind of teachers kids don't forget. We are so glad our little one has this school as her foundation before she heads to public school. Can't say it enough!