The Gardner School of Chicago - Bucktown Facebook Googlemaps

   243 Reviews
1612 W. North Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
773-661-0151
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Recent Reviews:


Chicago, IL
Reliable, approachable, and academically oriented
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Chicago, IL
The administrations attention to detail, the teacher's commitment and focus, the grounds and physical plant. Everything is outstanding.
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Chicago, IL
We love the teachers and how warm and welcoming the school is. The teachers are like family
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Chicago, IL
Very happy overall!
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Chicago, IL
We have been at TGS for a little over 3 months now, and we’ve loved our experience so far! Our son’s teachers are incredibly kind, caring, thoughtful, and communicative. The way they decorate the rooms, plan meaningful, interactive activities for their students, and know each and every one of their personalities so well, we know we’ve picked the right place. Our son has learned so much, has had so much fun, and we trust that he is in the best hands with his teachers.
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Chicago, IL
The teachers try so hard to make my child feel appreciated and learn to their greatest ability. The classroom stuffed animal is an amazing touch as well. You can tell the teachers really love their jobs and take pride in taking great care of my kiddo. 15/10 would recommend.
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Chicago, IL
I love that my child is happy at school. I love that he has had the same teachers and there's been limited turnover. I really appreciate that even teachers from other classrooms know Victor and call him by name - it means a lot. I also love the social events for families and the extra activities (pumpkin decorating, performances) that the Gardner school goes above and beyond to put on. I really appreciate the academic focus and how they make learning fun. I appreciate the clear and consistent expectations so my son knows how to engage and that his peers are held to the same standards.
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Chicago, IL
Our family absolutely loves The Gardner School of Bucktown, and we couldn't imagine sending our children anywhere else. We have two children enrolled, both of whom started at just 18 weeks old. Returning to work as a parent is never easy, but knowing our children were in such wonderful, loving, and capable hands made that transition so much easier. From day one, we have been incredibly impressed with every teacher, aide, and administrator. The entire staff is kind, fun-loving, nurturing, and genuinely invested in the children. We have never once questioned our children's safety, care, or happiness while they are at school, and that peace of mind is truly priceless. The communication is exceptional. We love receiving photos and updates throughout the day and knowing exactly what our children are doing, learning, and experiencing. Whether it's outdoor play, circle time, music and movement, or classroom activities, it's wonderful to see how engaged, happy, and stimulated they are throughout the day. Most importantly, we truly believe the foundation our children are building at The Gardner School is setting them up for future academic success. They are learning, growing, developing confidence, and building skills that will stay with them long after their time here. The school is welcoming, clean, safe, and full of people who genuinely love what they do. We are so grateful for the teachers and staff who care for our children as if they were their own. Choosing a daycare is one of the biggest decisions a parent makes, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have found The Gardner School of Bucktown. We recommend it wholeheartedly!
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Chicago, IL
Great culture. Great student learning. Highly organized. Clean and well kept facility. Great staff. True GEM!!
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Chicago, IL
I love the effort and care that the teachers and staff put into taking care of the children. The daily updates and pictures on brightwheel are the highlights of my day. I know that when I drop my kids off at school they are in a safe environment where they can learn and grow.
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Chicago, IL
We’ve loved having Sonny at Gardner. It’s been wonderful to see how much he’s flourished academically and socially, and we’re so grateful for the teachers who make him feel supported and excited to learn. Gardner has become such a special community, not just for Sonny, but for our whole family.
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Chicago, IL
All of our son’s teachers have been incredible. He’s learned so much in his preschool class. I’m amazed that he can spell his nam, recognize letters and count to 20 before turning 3!
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Chicago, IL
We started with Gardner earlier this summer and our toddler has loved it. He is developing well, the school environment is very welcomign and positive.
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Chicago, IL
Our experience at Gardner Bucktown - for both of our children - has been nothing but positive. We know they are both taken care of day to day, and both of them absolutely love being there. The growth our toddler has shown socially and academically is a credit to the teachers and their curricula, and we look forward to our infant having a similar experience.
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Chicago, IL
His first teachers, Ms Cassidy and Ms Raven, set the foundation. They were patient, warm, and made drop-offs feel safe from day one — Naseeb went from clinging to us at the door to running into the classroom without looking back. His current teachers, Ms Teresa and Mr Noah, have taken it from there and then some. He comes home every day with new words, new songs, new facts, and stories about his friends. Watching him become this social, self-assured little person has been amazing. Beyond the classroom, the whole team is exceptional. Executive Director Ms Megan runs a tight ship and clearly sets the tone for the entire building, and Ms Gloria at the front office (admin) is a constant friendly face who knows our kid by name and always makes him feel special. Everyone here treats the kids like their own. If you’re looking for a place where your child will be loved, challenged, and truly known, this is it. We can’t thank the Gardner team enough for helping Naseeb become exactly who he is
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Chicago, IL
So many things we appreciated at TGS: the cleanliness, the curriculum, the other kids. But ultimately, it all comes down to the teachers. Ms. Cassidy and Ms. Raven were like family. It felt more like dropping our daughter off at a relative's house every morning than a daycare.
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Chicago, IL
Our experience at the Gardner School of Bucktown was overwhelmingly positive. First, we felt it was a very safe and secure environment for our son from the time he entered as a 8-month old and left as a near 5-year old. Second, the staff, especially during ages 0-3, were exceptional. They communicated great, showed sincere care, and encouraged our son's development. We feel that his emotional and academic development while there has positioned him well for success after Gardner. The only things holding us back from a 10 are: - The in-room experience in his 4th year was not as good as previous years. It was a high bar to clear, but we felt that the room lacked the clear curriculum and direction we had experienced previously. - We felt that some of the activities that parents were asked to financially sponsor were, in short, a little ridiculous. An example we saw was a request to specific parents (not ourselves) in the class to supply 36 custom decorated cupcakes for a school-wide party. It felt like an abuse of the generosity of parents.
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Chicago, IL
Teachers and feeling of safety. Seems as though all the staff know my children by name.
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Chicago, IL
The Gardner School of Chicago Bucktown has been such a special place for our family. From the very beginning, we felt the warmth, professionalism, and genuine care of the incredible team behind the school. The teachers and staff are truly amazing, thoughtful, loving, attentive, and deeply committed to each child’s growth. Our son learned so much during his time there, not only academically, but also socially and emotionally. The program is beautifully designed, engaging, and full of meaningful activities that helped him become more curious, confident, and independent. What makes this school even more special is the community. The families, teachers, and leadership create such a welcoming environment, it truly feels like a gem in Chicago. We are so grateful for the love, support, and foundation The Gardner School gave our son. We will always remember this chapter with so much appreciation. Highly recommend!
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Chicago, IL
Ms. Victoria and Ms. Alexis's class has such rich programming! We've been so impressed with how Eliot has developed while in their room and impressed by how much he's been exposed to this year. Thank you for all you do!
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