Schools in Downtown (Chicago, Des Plaines: day care, home, preschool)

[Charmguy2002]

Hi,

My kid will turn 3 this Dec. He currently goes to a day care. I am not sure if I should continue him in the day care or move him to school after he reaches 3. Can someone guide me on this. I am also new to Chicago downtown area. So, any guidance on good schools will be helpful

Thnx

[jessiegirl_98]

Starting a child in pre-K when they turn 3 is always a good idea to get them started academically. Just my two cents, but I'm not familiar with schools downtown. Where are you downtown?

[Charmguy2002]

I am in the Westloop

[Charmguy2002]

Can someone give me some pointers on where I can get this info..

[SloopyJ]

The best downtown school is Frances Xavier Warde, located next to Old St. Pat's church at 120 S. Des Plaines (very convenient to your location in the West Loop). It's not easy to get into, and it's not cheap (though not expensive by upper-tier City private school standards), but it is probably the best of the few schools located right downtown. The school is technically a Catholic school, but strives for 50% Catholic, 50% non-Catholic and parents (starting in 1st grade) get to decide whether to have their child take the Catholic path or a non-denominational path in their religion classes.

The school starts at 3-year-old preschool and continues up through 8th grade. The Old St. Pat's campus is home to preschoolers through 4th graders; 5th through 8th graders are at the Holy Name campus, adjacent to Holy Name Cathedral at State and Chicago Ave.

The school's web address is Frances Xavier Warde Schools.

Other good schools dowtown are Near North Montessori, Old St. Mary's (Catholic), Skinner Elementary, and South Loop School. The latter two are public.