Park West is the most amazing place! My kids absolutely love it. My first child thrived and developed in so many ways, and now my second child is too. The teachers and staff truly care about children and take them and their ideas seriously. The school itself is beautiful. The environment is welcoming and comforting to children. Overall it has been a wonderful experience that we are very grateful that we found this school.

My two have attended Park West Co-Op and it has had a profound impact on my and my childrens lives. I am a more compassionate, caring and thoughtful parent because of my family involvement at Park West Co-Op. They have taught me to understand my childrens behavior and respond from compassion and care. I truly believe that Park West Co-Op has given my children the foundation to become amazing adults. It has been an amazing experience and I am so happy we choose to drive the 30 minutes each way for 5 years to have my children learn from such amazing teachers and community.

Words cant begin to describe Park West....its so much bigger than that...its the overwhelming sense you get when you walk in to a space and experience sheer child bliss! Every child walks in and begins to explore, create, develop, and imagine and quickly pulls you in to a world that is just theirs. The teachers are beyond brilliant and have created a very calm, warm, and responsive environment so that every child can be themselves and gain the confidence to take risks and grow! Oh my...both my children have grown up learning to vote and create lists and tallies so they can make decisions that considers others, not just themselves. As a Park West parent, I have re-learned how simple life can really be when we look through the eyes of children and its all thanks to our amazing years at Park West.

We love Park West! It is an amazing place where my child has thrived and developed in so many ways. The teachers and staff here are truly invested in the children. My child loves going to school here because it is an environment that encourages children to engage and explore the world around them. My child has trusting relationships with the teachers because ideas are taken seriously. I know that my child feels genuinely cared for. At the beginning of the school year there is a thoughtful separation process that takes place so that your child can become more comfortable in their new surroundings and develop trust with their teachers that will help them settle into their new classroom. Overall it has been a wonderful experience that we are very grateful for!

Park West Cooperative Nursery School is the best of the best! The teachers are incredible as is the school director, Jane Nolan. The school is play-based, all about exploration and the staff truly takes all of kids and their ideas seriously. The facilities are wonderful (they are moving into a brand new facility in 2018) and everything about the school is well thought out. Our kids cannot wait to go to school everyday! Because it is a coop, parents are fully involved and get to assist in the classroom a few times throughout the year. The Park West community is kind, supportive and understanding and we feel so fortunate to be a part of this wonderful school. Top notch in all areas--definitely worth checking out for your young ones. Thank you Park West Coop!

Park West Co-Op has had a profound impact on my and my childrens lives. I truly believe I am a better parent today thanks to the school and its educational philosophies. Through assisting in the classroom, I was able to observe how teachers interact with children, guide learning and handle conflict. When they say that Park West is a place where children and their ideas are taken seriously, they truly mean it. Teachers help children construct knowledge organically through play, instilling a love a learning that will last a lifetime. And rather than disciplining children who act out, teachers help students to understand the reason behind their behavior, the effect it has on others, and how they can better express their emotions moving forward. Ive actually heard through the grapevine that you can often spot Park West kids at elementary schools, as theyre usually the ones mediating conflicts! Park West has given my children the tools they need to be successful socially, emotionally and academically as they continue their school journeys. I cant say enough wonderful things about my experience at this school, its teachers and its staff. They are superstars (and some might even say saints, on certain trying days)!

Park West Co-Op is THE place for children. It has been amazing to experience the impact the school has had on my children, my family, and me. Its a school that understands early childhood development and the importance of play-based curriculum. Jane, the director, and all of the staff are a joy to know and learn from and they have such an appreciation for children. This school make a childs introduction to school exactly what you would want. Theres also a great community of families. I wish they went beyond the pre-school years!

This is the school you have to send you r preschoolers to. Every current article you read on child rearing and ways children lean best, have long been the standards of Park West. Park West will support your child in whomever he or she is as well as provide a wonderful environment for parents to connect and make life long connections. The teacher and staff are gifted educators who care about each student and family.

We have been a part of the Park West family for two years. My son is currently in their Junior Kindergarten and my daughter is finishing her first year in their parent-tot program. To say that they love going to school is an understatement. The Park West team makes all of their decisions in the interest of young children and you can feel it from the moment the door opens. All the adults in the building are child development experts and take the time with each individual child to make them feel welcome and ensure all their needs are met. My son used to cry every time Id drop him off at his previous preschool and he literally runs into Park West every day with a smile and without so much of a good bye to me. They pay attention to the details important to early learners, the things I fail to think about in our busy day to day routines.Theyve helped us better understand our children and their unique personalities and as such we have become better parents. They create activities that interest the kids so that there is no difference between learning and playing. My son has thrived at Park West and my two year old daughter already feels so comfortable in the school she walks into classrooms to say hi. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a preschool in Chicago. One caveat - this is not a daycare equivalent. It follows a school calendar and is a half-day program by design. You apply in February for the following fall, so mark your calendars! Also, for those 3 year olds who only get into the afternoon program, its so worth it! Its hard to imagine your kids not napping six months from now, but the nap will end and the experiences your child will get are worth it!

Our family has had a fantastic experience at the Park West Co-Op. My sons ideas are taken seriously, and he is given room to explore, to play, and to navigate social situations. All of the teachers are thoughtful, and genuinely care about the children and their development. When I drop of my pre-schooler, I know that he is in the most capable of hands and will come home with so much excitement about his day at school.

We have been at ParkWest for our 2 children, and love the teachers, environment and way of learning. we have seen our oldest excel and learn confidence and great cognitive skills in her 4 years here, and they will be very prepared for elementary school.

Next year will be the first time in six years that I do not have a child attending Park West Co-Op. This bittersweet moment made me realize that I needed to let my love of this school live forever on the internet! Plus, anything that I can do to ease a new mom’s pre-school stress feels like a win to me as well.When I began my search six years ago for a pre-school I had many boxes that needed to be checked. I wanted a school that was half day, play-based (but where learning actually happened organically), had a community vibe, and stellar student/teacher ratios. Park West not only met all of those requirements but went way beyond them. They have taught my girls how to problem solve, how to talk to their peers, and how to not be afraid to ask questions and express their opinions. All amazing qualities that I know will follow them well into adulthood.The teaching staff is some of the best that you will see. I swear I was a better parent coming home from my assisting days because of the mornings or afternoons that I would spend listening to the teachers interact with the students. I could hear the teachers’ voices coming out of me when trying to explain to my daughter why we cannot have an entire box of cookies for dinner.I honestly could go on and on about Park West but I think the best part for me is that my younger daughter is literally sad on days that she does not have school. She will tell you she only likes “green dot days”. (How they mark school days on the calendar). If that doesn’t make you feel like your kiddo is in the right place, then I don’t know what will.New moms, do not stress. You’ve come to the right place. Attend an open house, visit the school’s website, or find time to have a chat with the director, Jane, who quite literally is family to us at this point. You won’t be sorry!

When I was first thinking about preschool programs for my child, I really didnt know much about what makes a preschool good but I knew what I wanted for my child - an environment where she would be free to explore and learn on her own terms and teachers who would support her not tell her what to do and how to think and definitely no memorization or worksheets. I had heard lots of things about schools in the area from word of mouth on the playground and heard about the Parent-Tot program at Park West. I had lots of questions so I decided to call up the school and half expected to be told to set up a tour or check out the website, but not at Park West. The Director of the school, Jane, spoke with me at length about the philosophy behind Park West and how they take learning and kids ideas very seriously. She gave numerous examples of how play based situations in the classroom led to kids discovering and making connections on their own and that these connections would be long lasting because the kids came to the answers themselves. She told me how the kids arent forced to share but that they take turns and create sign up lists to make sure everyone gets a chance and that they work through things and feelings and emotions and not just tell the kids what to say and how to say it. I was SOLD. I almost didnt believe that such a magical place existed! Needless to say, 4 years and 3 kids later I can absolutely say that Park West is a magical place where all kids are supported and encouraged to flourish in their own way and have I learned a ton on how kids brains develop and effective strategies to use at home in communicating with my kids. I can honestly say I wouldnt be the parent I am today without the community of parents and teachers that is Park West. And it is amazing to see what kids can learn when they are guided and given the chance to carry out their ideas all while acknowledging their feelings and giving them the confidence to speak their truth in a safe place. Thank you Park West for all you have done for our family!