Seeking K-8 Private School

I know that St. Benedict is a decently good Catholic school, which is very close to you (Irving Park and Leavitt). Here is their website: http://sbes.stbenedict.com/
Another very popular and good Catholic school in Lincoln Park is St. Clement. I know there is a long waitlist for that school.
Sacred Heart is another school I've heard good things about, located up near the Loyola campus: www.shschicago.org

There are several very good, very expensive, private schools in Chicago that are located more centrally or south in the city, but worth looking into:

Catherine Cook School
Francis Parker
Latin
University of Chicago Lab

Good luck in the search!

Have you looked into St. Josaphat School on Southport? I did some student teaching work there when I was getting my masters degree and I liked it. We joined the church and are considering sending our son there when the time comes(he's only 18 months)- am getting a doctorate degree in curriculum and instruction, so I am very picky, but the school seems like a nice place and the class sizes are small- which is great! Also Oscar Mayer (a CPS School) has a tuition-based
pre-school. There are a lot of schools out there and I am sure you will find a good one. You can always make an apt. to come in and observe any school you are interested in...
Best wishes!

check out St Ben's on Irving Park between Western and Damen. The preschool is great --facility is new within the last 5 years. We send our daughter there and she loves it. But definitely get in touch b/c this year they had a wait list so they opened up another classroom (a total of 7 classrooms for the preschool)

HI,
I know you said you were looking for a private school but have you checked out the magnet schools that Chicago Public Schools offer? Their test scors are usually better than the state's average and they are free! You get in on a lottery system. I'm on the south side and only know the schools around me - but my husband is a teacher at a magnet school in Little Italy. If you are traveling south you could always expand your search a bit. I know the website for CPS has a listing of all the schools and rates the test scores. Sorry I don't have the site at my fingertips but I have a 3-year-old and infant so my time is running out to do something for myself. Hope that helps.

I've heard great things about Queen of Angels, very near you at Western/Sunnyside, q few blocks north of Irving Park
http://parish.queenofangelschicago.org/

I second the mom who said to look into the Northside Parents Network. It's a great resource. You don't have to be a member to attend their school fairs where they have a bunch of public and private schools all over the city represented. My husband and i attended one and learned a ton when we were looking into preschool. The website is www.npnparents.org. Good luck!

L., I live in Bucktown and there are a few of catholic schools right off of the Kennedy between the south side and where you live. You can try St. Mary of the Angels School or St. Stanislaus. Also, St Helen's is on Augusta/Western and was rated one of the top 25 private schools by Chicago Magazine. I have checked out all of these schools and they seem good and none of them have a waiting list. They all also have full day pre-K programs with before and after school care. There is a Chicago Catholic
school website if you need more information.

Hi L.,
I have no advice as we're not looking at schools until next year but the Northside Parents Network has tons of information about schools. There's a fee to join but it may be worth it to you. http://www.npnparents.org/
S.

I highly recommend Park View Lutheran School on 3919 N Monticello Irving Park and Elston. My son (will be 5 in two weeks) is in their preschool program. He loves it, I love it. It is tuition based and on the high side if you ask me but worth it. $155. per week full time. They do have after school and before care. I don't know how you and your hubby feel about religion but I recommend at least checking them out. It's a very small school as well. So your baby will not be overlooked among 30 other preschoolers. They do accept 3 yr. olds but they do have to be potty trained. Good Luck finding a school.

I don't know of any schools in your area, but have you considered a Montisorri school? It is private and they are all over the country. If you've never heard of one it is basically set up to teach the child at their own pace. The schools reputation is empeccable and helps the kids form independant thinking skills. There is probably one in your area and I know there's a web site. Good luck to you!

I send my son to Our Lady of Victory PK. I live by Montrose and Cicero and it was one of the closest full day preschool that took 3 year olds to me. He has been very happy there. There are openings for the fall. They have a Open House January 28 go and see.

They have early drop off (early as 7 am) and extended day (6pm). We do a 5 full day program 8-2:30 and he stays till 6 at the extended program. It is $3800 for the full 5 day program for the school year. Early or Extended day costs are extra. We pay $8 a day for the extended day program. You can do hourly if your daughter will not stay too long after dismissal. The teachers run the early and extended programs.

We enjoy the school very much.

S.

Hi L.,
There are five Lutheran schools within three miles of you-- three about which I've heard really good reports (and know some of the teachers as they graduated from Concordia University in River Forest where my husband works).
St. Philip Lutheran School 2500 W. Bryn Mawr (http://www.stphiliplutheran.com)
St. James Lutheran School 2101 N. Fremont (http://www.stjames-lutheran.org)
St. Johns Lutheran School 4939 W Montrose Ave. (http://www.stjohnschicago.org)
It's worth checking them out. I loved the Lutheran schools I attended here in Chicago-- the teachers are so caring and there's a real family feel about the church and school. I felt more than prepared for high school and college. (Thinking ahead, there's a great Lutheran high school down Irving Park Road, Luther High School North, in the Portage Park area.)
I know the area where you live. My aunt and uncle lived near Irving Park and Sacramento for years. I hope you find just the right school for your daughter!
Kind regards,
R.

Hi L.,
We moved here last year from the east coast and went through a similar situation. My son goes to a private school in Des PLaines. Several parents from Lincoln Park, Evanston, have their kids there so it might not be too far. If you are interested please let me know.
Nitya
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