Parents searching for preschools in Chicago may have noticed that The Gardner School has five schools inside the city, in Lincoln Park, River North, the West Loop, North Center, and Ravenswood. Each one is an academically focused preschool that welcomes children from six weeks through Pre-K, keeps the same 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. hours, and serves meals from an on-site Kids’ Café. At the same time, each school has its own neighborhood, its own building, and a few features that families at that location talk about most. As parents narrow a list of preschool and daycare options in Chicago, it’s a good idea to take a closer look at what the five schools share and what makes each one unique.
The Gardner School locations in Chicago
- The Gardner School of Chicago – Lincoln Park, 2850 N. Lincoln Avenue, is NAEYC accredited and has an indoor playscape, an enrichment studio, and a computer lab.
- The Gardner School of Chicago – River North, 500 W. Superior Street in the Montgomery Building, is NAEYC accredited and has a large indoor playscape and a Kids’ Café that serves organic meals.
- The Gardner School of Chicago – West Loop, 1301 W. Madison Street, is NAEYC accredited and has a dedicated S.T.E.A.M. lab and an indoor playscape.
- The Gardner School of Chicago – North Center, 3819 N. Western Avenue, has a S.T.E.A.M. lab, large indoor and outdoor playscapes, and new infant and toddler rooms.
- The Gardner School of Chicago – Ravenswood, 1525 W. Wilson Avenue, is NAEYC accredited and offers a Spanish immersion program and an outdoor playscape for its youngest students.
- All five schools are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, serve infants through Pre-K, and have an on-site Kids’ Café.
What do The Gardner School locations in Chicago have in common?
Every Gardner School in Chicago follows the same academically focused approach, with lead teachers who plan each week around a research-based curriculum and enrichment classes that add music, sports, computers, and a foreign language to the school day. Each building has two security checkpoints at the entrance, and an open-door policy for parents who want to stop in during the day. The hours are the same at every location, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. This gives working parents a consistent schedule, no matter which neighborhood they call home.
The Gardner School of Chicago – Lincoln Park
The Gardner School of Chicago – Lincoln Park is located at 2850 N. Lincoln Avenue, just north of Diversey Parkway, and is led by School Director Shanti Cooper. The school is NAEYC accredited and features an indoor playscape, an enrichment studio, and a computer lab, with enrichment classes that include gymnastics, BeSmart Computers, Spanish, music, karate, and sports. Families in Lincoln Park and Lakeview appreciate our location on a main neighborhood street with the Diversey Brown Line station a short walk away.
The Gardner School of Chicago – River North
The Gardner School of Chicago – River North occupies space in the Montgomery Building at 500 W. Superior Street, under the direction of School Director Brittany Williams. The school is NAEYC accredited and is known for its large indoor playscape, which gives children room to run and climb on cold or rainy days, and for a Kids’ Café that serves organic meals. Enrichment classes include BeSmart Computers, Amazing Athletes, music, gymnastics, and karate. Our River North location suits parents who work in the Loop and like to have drop-off and pickup close to the office.
The Gardner School of Chicago – West Loop
The Gardner School of Chicago – West Loop sits at the corner of Madison and Throop Streets at 1301 W. Madison Street, Suite 100, and is led by School Director Ann Gabelbauer. The school is NAEYC accredited and stands out for its dedicated S.T.E.A.M. lab, featuring science, technology, engineering, art, and math activities. An indoor playscape and open floor plans offer plenty of windows to see what’s going on outside. Enrichment classes include gymnastics, sports, martial arts, music, and BeSmart Computers, and the school participates in the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood fee assistance program for eligible military families.
The Gardner School of Chicago – North Center
The Gardner School of Chicago – North Center is located at 3819 N. Western Avenue, near Irving Park Road, and serves families in North Center, Roscoe Village, and Lakeview under School Director Lorena Reyes. The school has a S.T.E.A.M. lab and large indoor and outdoor playscapes, and it recently added twelve infant spots, a new toddler room, and a new two-year-old room. North Center also accepts the Illinois Child Care Assistance Program for eligible families and offers part-time schedules for many ages.
The Gardner School of Chicago – Ravenswood
The Gardner School of Chicago – Ravenswood is at 1525 W. Wilson Avenue, at the intersection of Wilson and Ashland, and is led by School Director Emily Davidson. The school earned NAEYC accreditation in 2025 and offers a Spanish immersion program, alongside enrichment classes in Spanish, Amazing Athletes, music, BeSmart Computers, karate, gymnastics, and yoga. An outdoor playscape serves the youngest students, and the lead preschool teachers hold four-year degrees.
Choosing among preschools in Chicago
Families who live or work near more than one of these neighborhoods may want to tour more than one school before determining a best fit. Across our Chicago-area locations, curriculum and hours are the same. Families can choose the optimal school for their children based on the commute, environment, and other factors. Parents starting that search may find it helpful to read about what to consider when looking for a preschool in Chicago. Parents comparing preschools in Chicago are welcome to schedule a tour at The Gardner School of Chicago – Lincoln Park, River North, West Loop, North Center, or Ravenswood, and ask about hours, meals, and the daily schedule at the location closest to home or work.
