My daughter has had a wonderful experience at MGP. Her 3 teachers are caring, kind, and wonderful role models to guide and support her learning. She has learned so many skills - from being more independent, to learning Spanish songs! The curriculum is a nice balance of physical (indoor playground on-site and frequent walks around the neighborhood) and mental (languages, early math skills, art, etc.) development. We are impressed with the attention to detail and the communication between staff and parents. This school is top notch and we are so lucky for our daughter to have attended!

Reasons to send your kid to MGP:1. They were the reason my 5 year old was accepted into a Selective School2. Amazing teachers3. Great leadership4. Great curriculum with Spanish/Mandarin immersion5. Indoor and outdoor playground6. We have a 2 year old currently attending and a 1 year old that will soon attend.

Our daughter attended Montessori Gifted Prep from Oct 2020 to June 2021. We sought out MGP at the height of the pandemic because of their strict and comprehensive health regulations, and to date, theyve had zero Covid cases within the staff and student body. Their commitment to Covid precautions is impressive--the teachers and students wear masks, when the vaccine became available, all teachers were encouraged to schedule appoints as early as possible, and each class has a separate entrance to minimize co-mingling. We also appreciated their outdoor and indoor play areas. During the winter months, the students are able to enjoy playtime at their extensive indoor playground. Ultimately, MGP was a wonderful experience for our two-year old.

I found the best fit for my family at Montessori Gifted Prep (MGP). The Head of School, JC, is giving of his time and committed to his mission. JC and his team put their hearts into caring for the families at MGP.My child attends MGP because of the caring administrators and trained teachers, intimate community of genuine parents, on-site playground and gym, mixed age classroom, and opportunity to be in a clean, calm room with teachers who value building independence. The teachers are consistent and observant.MGP is located in a former church building that has ample indoor space for the kids. MGP uses an app for check in/out, sharing daily photos, messages, and updates on food and potty. When I feel curious about how/what my child is doing at preschool, I use the parent’s live webcam for reassurance. The monthly newsletters help parents engage with lessons in the classroom. Staff and teachers are responsive.The school’s responsiveness to COVID-19 has been serious and detailed. Everyone 3+ wears masks.I share this review in the hopes that other parents will have the opportunity to experience such a smart, loving and warm community.

Our 2 year old joined MGP right before the pandemic and like other cautious parents we were hesitant to send him back during Covid-19. Six months of in person learning later, we couldnt be happier and more confident in entrusting MGP with the safety & care of our children. Since reopening in early July, the school has been Covid-free. JC, the super engaged & responsive principal, has gone above & beyond the CDC guidelines by installing Intellipure HEPA air filters (also used by CPS), checking the temperature of both parent and child at drop off, implementing a rigorous hand washing protocol, etc. Concerned about the lack of personalized instruction & socialization due to virtual CPS learning, we enrolled our 5 year old as a kindergartener in the 3-5 classroom at MGP. She has benefited immensely from the exploration, movement and discovery of the Montessori learning environment - something she simply wouldnt have received from online learning. We commend JC and the dedicated team at MGP for successfully navigating the school through these uncertain times while keeping spirits high and families and students healthy and happy!

We have had the privilege and good fortune of being a part of the Montessori Gifted Prep community for the last 2 years. Having moved to Chicago from LA, we needed to find a school for our then 2 year old. We had high expectations and after touring a few schools in the neighborhood, we were beginning to feel panicked. We were concerned we wouldnt be able to find a school that balanced education and creativity, and was highly communicative. Until we come into Montessori Gifted Prep. Our oldest son thrived at Montessori Gifted Prep as has our 2nd son. We, as parents, couldnt feel more grateful for the trust and confidence that Montessori Gifted Prep has afforded us as the boys grew. We have always been listened to, communicated to. When in unexpected situations have come up (need a last minute baby-sitter, need outreach for nanny recommendations, etc.), we have been able to lean on the Head of School for help and guidance. Never once have we felt like we are just another family, the folks at Montessori Gifted Prep have always personal and genuine. The school is putting so much effort to constantly improve their offerings (they now teach computer binary coding, robotics and sequencing). They will certainly listen to you and accommodate your needs if any. I would (and have) highly recommend Montessori Gifted Prep as a phenomenal place for kiddos and parents alike.

My daughter has been attending MGP since Jan 2020. Since then I have seen such a drastic change in her behavior as well as language skills. She started school not speaking any English since we only speak Polish at home and now 6 mo into her education she is able to communicate in English. She also is able to communicate in Spanish and Mandarin. I was in miss belief once we started online learning with how much Mandarin and Spanish she actually knows. The teachers are all very welcoming and go above and beyond to teach the kids. Now that schools are about to resume she is excited to go back and tells me every night that she can’t wait to see Miss Diana, Doveen, and Daphne. I can’t speak highly enough about how amazing of a facility MGP really is. Highly recommend it to everyone.

Great teachers who push your child in a multilingual and Montessori environment. We feel lucky to have found this place, you wont go wrong here. The staff are loving and have helped teach our daughter so much independence while fostering a sense of curiosity. Our daughter is being immersed in Mandarin and Spanish and uses it around the house. This place is truly great.

We have enjoyed Montessori Gifted Prep so far. Our daughter started in February 2018, just after her 2nd birthday. She seems to be doing very well. We align with the approach to learning and appreciate how caring everyone is. We particularly like the approach of preparing our daughter for a CPS gifted program, as we plan to remain in the city and would like to take advantage of the public schools.

My wife and I were under pressure to find a preschool for our son...We checked out the Waldorf school and a number of Montessori programs. We felt most comfortable with JC and the team of educators at Montessori Gifted Prep. I would describe MGP as Montessori with a healthy amount of evaluation and feedback. That was just what my wife and I were looking for. With the help of Mr. JC, Ms Angie and many others, our son tested into a selective enrollment CPS elementary school (we live in tier 4).The ultimate compliment will come when we enroll our twin 18 month old boys... We plan on sending them to MGP and wouldnt consider anywhere else.

We enrolled our daughter at MGP when she turned 2. Weve been very pleased with the toddler program. Our daughter has flourished in the Montessori environment--she has a great sense of independence and inquiry. She loves her teachers and is excited to go to school. We also like that she is exposed to multiple languages, including Spanish and Mandarin, and a culturally diverse group of teachers and children. We are already excited for our younger daughter to go to MGP too.

Our daughter started at MGP at age 2 and has truly flourished in the past year. She loves going to school, adores her teachers and her friends and we couldnt be happier! As a longtime Montessori mom, I am so pleased with the education that she is receiving from MGP. Our daughter is also learning Spanish and Mandarin from her bilingual classroom teachers and can sing songs and name objects in English, Spanish and Mandarin. With a great Lincoln Square location, early/late drop off and pick up hours as well as amazing teachers and a very involved headmaster, we highly recommend this school for a strong Montessori early childhood education.

I was working on my type 10 language teaching license and completed my field experience hours at Montessori Gifted Prep for my first and second language acquisition class. I had competed 125 field hours in 7 different schools and this school was by far the best learning environment for children as well as research educators such as myself. This school is truly amazing. Children with zero backgrounds in Mandarin and/or Spanish before coming to the school were actually speaking and reading/writing in Mandarin and Spanish at 4 years old. They were also reading/writing in English! I saw 4 year old MGP children working at a more advanced English reading/writing level than many of the 5 year old monolingual children I visited at other schools, AND these children are able to read/write in Mandarin and Spanish. Ah-mazing! For all those parents afraid of raising trilingual children for fear of hindering their English progress, read the research on multilingual children, and visit this school! Children do not suffer in school when raised as multilingual - these children are proof of that. Ive seen that these children were speaking more fluently in Mandarin and Spanish after one year at MGP than college students studying Mandarin and Spanish for one year.The teachers were all very professional and caring. It was great to see them in action with the children. I believe that I learned a great deal from them and I was able to walk away with a lot of great ideas for what I want to do in my future classroom. I was thoroughly impressed! I would absolutely send my children here!

Picking the right school for your child can be extremely hard. This is not the case with Montessori Gifted Prep. The second my wife and I walked in and were hugged by Mrs. Gloria and Mrs. Anis we knew this was the best choice as parents we could make. I work in the education field, so my standard of care/education is pretty high, MGP far exceeds all expectations. JC has made sure the right staff is in place to give your child the absolute best foundation possible. The staff are some of the caring people I have come across in this field. My son speaks Spanish and Mandarin, by most importantly had an excellent set of manners.Each day you and your child are warmly greeted, you are give access to watch your child on the cameras inside the center. The menu is beyond amazing and each day you are given a verbal and written report of naps, food and bathroom sessions, along with an email about further events and photos from that day. Again, absolutely amazing! Staff A+. Structure A+. Care A+.Price A+. This is hands down the best care you can give your child in the area.

When I think of Montessori Gifted Prep four words come to my mind: community, generosity, devotion and diversity. Our family loves Montessori Gifted Prep! It has become such a vital part of our daughter and sons life. MGP is not only preparing them as students, but influencing and shaping the person they will one day become.Let me start out with the first word that describes MGP: community. Since enrolling my children, MGP has been like a second community to our family - from attending school concerts (Christmas and end of year) and activities (Grandparents Day, Mothers day breakfast, Fathers Day lunch), to going on field trips (Museum of Science & Industry, Planetarium, Aquarium, Botanic Gardens), and engaging in school potlucks and celebration (Christmas, and graduation). MGP has shown it is committed to not only being a school but a place where the child and family can call community.Second: generosity. Mr JC is a very generous and warm director. I believe Directors sets the tone for the school they are running. Simply by Mr JCs nature, the school is unsurprisingly generous and warm. I remember when I toured MGP with my daughter, the attending children were very interested in getting to know my child. They asked her for her name, they asked her if she was coming to the school, one child was eating a snack and asked her if she wanted some of his cheerios. The kids were warm and welcoming and I knew that MGP was the place she needed to attend. The children and teachers at MGP help each other learn and grown, and I can see that the children there work hard and take great pride in being kind and generous to one another.Third: devotion. MGP is extremely devoted to the childrens growth and development. Mr JC has two parent-teacher conferences within the school year. These conferences have been so important in communicating to us our sons and daughters strength and weaknesses and what action plan to take in order to make sure they continues to thrive. The parent-teacher spreadsheet report that our teachers gives us is very detailed and the amount of work that goes into making such a report shows her devotion to the students. Additionally, any concerns that I have risen with the teacher, she has been very responsive in working out a solution. Her commitment and communication style shows the devotion she has for the children and the school.Fourth: diversity. I find myself being extremely proud that my children attend a very diverse preschool. So many of our friends in Chicago want to find the prettiest looking school but often the student body looks fairly homogenous. What I love about MGP is the different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. Children learn to embrace other cultures and take pride in their own. Not only is the student body diverse but MGP has shown their commitment to diversity by celebrating other cultural holidays, and introducing children to different ethnic foods. Even the teachers represent a truly diverse mix. MGP has been a beacon for diversity.There are plenty more wonderful and amazing things about Montessori Gifted Prep. Community, generosity, devotion and diversity have been most prominent to me. MGP has been such an integral part of my childrens growth. It is such a joy to have a place where little children learn to become loving and warm people

Our son has been a student at MGP since November of 2015. He was one of the first students to begin work there. Over those months I have seen my son mature as a person as well as intellectually. He is able to work within a group as well as individually. He has become more adept at using the restroom, eating, picking up after himself, communicating, behaving and many more life skills. Not only is he at home singing and verbalizing in English but he also has a lot of the basics in Spanish as well as Mandarin. One of our requirements in finding a school was the ability for our son to become proficient in Spanish and he is receiving those lessons daily. The Mandarin is fantastic to hear at home because it is a language we are completely unfamiliar with. Not only learning words but pronunciation and song.MGP is located beautifully in the Lincoln Square neighborhood. When weather permits the children walk to and from parks. I absolutely love that they are also learning these types of life skills as it is very important living in a city neighborhood such as ours. Admittedly, I did not know the whole process of finding a great school for a child. He is our first son and I am blown away and so proud of what he has consumed as a very young person in such a short time.I would recommend every person with a child between the ages of 3-6 to MGP. JC, Ms. Angie, Ms. Ms Monica and Ms. Y care and are at the top of their game. I was not familiar with the works of Montessori but after seeing it firsthand I will be sending all kids to MGP and JC and team. They dont see their work as a job, its what they love.Sean Hammer - Father of a recent Graduate / Father of current student.

We chose MGP for its low teacher-student ratio, and the multilingual environment. My daughter has been in MGP for two years, and she loves the school. The teachers genuinely love the kids and provide exceptional care and education.My daughter becomes more independent and is very eager to learn. She has become very interested in Spanish and is able to carry simple conversation in Spanish. She just turned 5 and is able to do basic math, and reads little books and signs, as the school teaches them the sound of letters and how to consolidate them together. We are often amazed by how much she has learnt in MGP.MGP also features its test prep program for CPSs selective enrollment exam, which is provided at no additional cost during the extension class hours. They introduce the test prep practice in a very reasonable pace and my daughter enjoys being challenged by the questions.We feel very lucky to find this school!

As often as I read reviews, I figured its about time I contribute, and I whole heartedly want to thank Montessori Gifted Prep for a wonderful education for my son. During our sons graduation this year, there were many teary eyes (from the parents that is, the kids had no clue). Why I chose Montessori Gifted Prep three years ago:1) It started while I was with my son at the local Vogle Playlot Park, I remembered being impressed with how well behaved the kids from the school were. Seriously, how were they able to get these little 3 year olds to be so good?2) The administration: Since the school ends at 6 years old, they are not incentivized to shunt you to their elementary program. During the period when we were applying for elementary schools, I had almost daily updates on deadlines to be aware of. Very helpful when the whole process is ridiculously complicated. Staff and teachers are all very approachable3) Montessori system: My son was shy and not the type that opens up if he were pushed/cajoled/bribed to do what the other kids were doing. I needed a place that allowed for him to progress at his own rate with less rigidity. The small school size and high teacher-student ratio (1:5) helped build valuable friendships and all families who attend are a joy.4) Hours- they have a 12 month option, enrichment programs to 6:30 PM. Given that most parents there have to work, its nice to know that this school realizes that and works with it.5) Family Community – I really love the parent community. There are many opportunities to meet other parents. The school organizes field trips every other week in the summer, has a farm trip in October, Winter show and Spring show that brings over 100 loved ones to watch the kids perform in Mandarin, Spanish, and English, Grandparents Day, Mother’s & Father’s Day luncheons, and on and on. We were invited to sooo many birthday parties from other families as well. The most valuable part for me was that we unexpectedly made many wonderful friends.6) Globally Aware – There are many opportunities for children to be exposed to other cultures. Teachers and students are from all over the world. The school invites parents to share their culture with students too. I was most impressed with MGP’s sister schools in Colombia and China whereby students interact via video streaming. This provides MGP students the ability to stand in front of other children and speak in Mandarin/Spanish. This experience REALLY helped my son blossom from a shy kid to a confident public speaker.Three years later, it proved the right decision for us. At five years old, he is reading simple books, dressing himself, and even doing multiplication and division with his classmates. Hes attending a gifted and talented public school program in September.I hope this is helpful. I wish you the best of luck on this crazy process.