Guidepost
Montessori

at Edgewater
.

Tours & Events
Edgewater.
Monday-Friday | 7:00 am – 6:00 pm

Nido (6 weeks to 18 months)
Toddler (18 months to 3 years)
Children's House (3 to 6 years)
Guidepost at Home (0 to 12 years)

6001 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60660 US
Samone Harris
Guidepost Montessori in Edgewater is one of the most trusted Montessori schools in Chicago, Illinois. Indoors, rooms are spacious, bright, and light-filled, creating a warm and calm space for children to work. Located off of Clark and Peterson, Guidepost Montessori at Edgewater is in the heart of Chicago's vibrant Edgewater lakefront community.
Samone Harris . Head of School
Tours & Events
Child crawling with toy

Learn more about Guidepost from the comfort of your own home!

Just starting your childcare search? Not ready to tour in person?

You’re invited to Making the Most of Childhood: A Virtual Tour of Guidepost!

Get your questions answered and learn more about our:

  • curriculum and approach
  • schedule and a typical day
  • communication & collaboration

what parents are saying.

All
10
Google
9
Yelp
1
Lajune Davis
Nov 18 on google
I can't say enough great things about Montessori at Edgewater! The level of care and attention they provide is exceptional. Ms. Maria creates such a warm, nurturing environment where each child feels valued and supported. I can see how much the children thrive, not just academically but emotionally and socially as well. The Montessori approach really shines here — the focus on independence, hands-on learning, and respect for each child's unique pace is truly remarkable. The facility is always clean, bright, and welcoming, and the staff is incredibly friendly and professional. It’s so reassuring to know that the children are in such a safe, positive space. I wholeheartedly recommend Montessori at Edgewater to any parent looking for a nurturing and enriching environment for their child. It’s truly the best!
Read more
Morgan Dixon
Sep 23 on google
We have absolutely loved our time at Guidepost Edgewater. Our 16 month old has several food allergies and the teachers and staff have been very gracious and thoughtful in their accommodations for him. He also thrives in their Montessori curriculum and I see it reflected at home every day.
Read more
Mrugesha
Oct 15 on google
we have had a very good experience so far for our 8 month old,the teachers are very thoughtful and have been very patient with her, we have seen her transition from a shy girl with stranger anxiety to a playful cheerful girl, we are very happy with guidepost!
Read more
Makayla Anderson
Nov 15 on google
Guidepost Montessori at Edgewater, is wonderful for my nephew in the toddler room. His teacher is very sweet and makes sure the kiddos are learning and staying on track. I would definitely recommend this center!
Read more
Kelsy Cowley
Nov 14 on google
This center is absolutely amazing. Ms Samone is such a breath of fresh air. I love her professionalism and the way she makes every interaction with my family so personable. Thank you for such an amazing experience! I wish I could give 10 stars. my nephew is in Ms Maria’s toddler class and I love that he absolutely loved school. Great job !
Read more
Amy Lanuza
Mar 12 on google
We were looking for a Montessori school for my little one and without a doubt choosing Guidepost was the best decision. She had never attended a Montessori school before, so it was something new. Initially, I was a little nervous (like every mom). However, from the first day, all of the staff tried to make her feel comfortable and accompanied during the adaptation process. Guidepost staff are professional, empathetic, and friendly. Mrs. María and Huma helped me at all times so that the adaptation was respectful and successful. Finally, Now we see the evolution and how Guidepost Montessori has positively impacted her development and empowerment. Seeing her so happy makes us feel proud to know that it was the best decision we ever made.
Read more
KJ
Invalid Date on google
We have been attending Guidepost for around 2 years. I acknowledge the recent negative reviews which stem from a falling out with a previous administrator. There are now new administrators who are making the positive changes our school needs. Our child has been happy and thriving during their time at Guidepost and we truly love it there. The staff love each child and their unique personalities and our child has grown leaps and bounds since attending.
Read more
Boris S.
Oct 31 on yelp
Good daycare for parents who are busy. We've been with them since they opened. Yes, there were some bumps in the road and high turnover rate with teachers at the beginning. However, overall, in my opinion they are the best in the neighborhood. There are no other daycares in the area that are open on most federal holidays that have long hours like this place. Also, the quality of education that our son is getting there appears to be excellent.
Read more
Rebekah Stasinopoulos
Feb 28 on google
After some brief tumult when we first enrolled due to staffing and management turnover, we have since had a very positive experience at the Edgewater location at Guidepost. My child was previously at another daycare center but we really liked the Montessori style of learning and wanted him to get more personalized attention. We enrolled him at Guidepost when he was 10 months old in the Nido room. Our son has some medical complications and the team has been fantastic in ensuring a smooth transition for him in and out of the room when we have big doctor days. They also worked with us and our Speech Therapist to ensure my son could have space to work with the therapist while at daycare. The nido guide has been very communicative and when we share what the Speech and Physical therapist are working with him on she also tries to incorporate those exercises with him to reinforce his growth. Regarding cost, the initial price seems a bit on the higher end but they offer financial aid and with that discount the cost was comparable to other schools that are not Montessori and have larger teacher to child ratios. We love the small ratios and our son has done very well with the personalized attention.
Read more
Nuha Sana
May 24, 2022 on google
Read more

take a peek at our school.

explore our programs.

Our approach is designed to empower each child to achieve independence by combining our hands-on curriculum with personalized learning to create an environment where curiosity flourishes, independence grows, and academic excellence is a natural outcome.

We want your child to see and believe: “I am capable!”

Nido.
A nurturing space for babies to walk, talk, and explore
Toddler.
For children ages 18 months to 3 years old
Children's House.
A preschool for hands-on reading, writing, math and more
Guidepost at Home.
For children ages 0 to 12 years old

what makes us stand out.

How is the Guidepost Montessori approach different from conventional education?

At Guidepost, we join with parents on their mission to help their child grow and live well. Together, we design an education to empower each child to build the knowledge, skills, and confidence she needs to craft an independent, flourishing life.

Though there are many differences between the conventional approach and Guidepost, here are some of the most important:

Conventional Education vs Guidepost Montessori
What is the Guidepost Mission?

At Guidepost, our mission is to support each child in achieving her own independence. To do this, we help her gain the knowledge, build the skills, and craft the personal character she needs to flourish. Above all, our goal is to cultivate joy—in the pursuit of knowledge, in effort applied to work worth doing, in the achievements of herself and others, and in taking the steps to author her own life.

Read more about the Guidepost Mission.

Learn about the key milestones we support—from infancy through high school.

Read more about why we educate for independence, and how we support independence for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-age children.

What are the outcomes of your programs?

Montessori education is known world-wide for having positive impacts on both academics and social and emotional skills.

At Guidepost Montessori, when we design an environment to meet the developmental needs and interests of children alongside personalized care and support, the child can learn advanced skills at an accelerated pace.

Our students, for example, regularly learn to read by the time they’re 4-years-old and can perform all four math operations with 4-digit numbers by the end of their Kindergarten year.

The language and math skills of our kindergartners are on a par with what children in conventional programs learn in 3rd grade or beyond! What’s more, our students learn advanced academics joyfully—while simultaneously developing deep focus, self-discipline, and positive social skills.

Read more about the Guidepost Montessori advanced Language Curriculum in Children’s House.

Read more about the Guidepost Montessori advanced Math Curriculum in Children’s House.


Do your programs include Kindergarten?

Yes! The third year of our Children’s House program, designed for 3- to 6-year-olds, is the capstone kindergarten year. In this year, the child has been well-prepared to experience an explosion of literacy, learn advanced math concepts, and use her hard-won ability to focus, problem-solve, and persist through challenges to then make advanced gains across the curriculum. Children who continue with Guidepost through Kindergarten are often well-ahead of their peers when they enter 1st grade.

Learn more about the capstone Kindergarten year at Guidepost.

Learn more about the next exciting stage: the Guidepost elementary program.

Following elementary, students continue on to our Montessori middle and high school, the Academy of Thought & Industry: a school that combines a classical liberal arts emphasis on history and great books, and a Montessori emphasis on independence and agency.

How does Guidepost partner with parents?

At Guidepost, we want to make the best education the best for children and parents. This is why we provide year-round, extended-day programming at no extra cost, enabling consistent and uninterrupted access to the care and developmental support parents expect. We invite you into your child’s world—with daily photo and video updates, regular milestone meetings, and parent-child events that showcase your child’s progress. We work to understand your unique context and needs, so that we can provide support for milestones at home as well as at school.

In everything we do, we strive to cultivate joy as you watch your child grow!

Read about Transparent Classroom, the app that provides a window into your child’s day.

Read about recent family events such as Grandparent’s Day, a cultural celebration, and a spring celebration.

start your journey with us.

Our team of admissions specialists are ready to meet you and get you started on your journey within the Guidepost community. We're here to provide your family with the information and confidence you need to enroll in one of our programs.

Learn more about Montessori.

Read our enrollment guide.

Book a school tour.

Submit your application.

Start your journey with us