Guidepost
Montessori

at Old Town
.

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

Nido (6 weeks to 15 months)
Young Toddler (15 months to 2 years)
Toddler (2 to 3 years)
Children's House (3 to 6 years)
Spanish Immersion (2 to 6 years)

311 W Division, Old Town Park, Chicago, IL 60610 US
Kassandra Koll
Guidepost Montessori in Old Town is one of the most trusted Montessori schools in the Old Town neighborhood of Chicago. Indoors, rooms are spacious, bright, and light-filled, creating a warm and calm space for children to work.

We pride ourselves on offering a nature oriented approach to our programs, providing students with ample time outdoors to explore their creative needs and ideas.

Our campus provides a private parking zone for drop off and pick up, a place to park strollers between drop off and pick up, and a private outdoor playground.
Kassandra Koll . 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

discover the benefits of our spanish immersion programs.

Children under the age of six absorb language effortlessly, which is why we are pleased to offer bilingual environments. In our Spanish Immersion program, children learn both Spanish and English literacy skills, however, the prevailing language spoken throughout the day is Spanish. The overall emphasis on Spanish rapidly increases fluency, as children feel naturally compelled to communicate with their Spanish-speaking guides. Learn more about our Spanish Immersion program here

The gift of language: Spanish Immersion at Guidepost Montessori

what parents are saying.

All
11
Google
5
Yelp
1
Winnie
3
Yin Jingfeng
Sep 15 on google
We’ve had a wonderful experience at Guidepost Montessori at Old Town. The staff is caring, attentive, and truly committed to providing a nurturing environment. My daughter loves going to school here, and it’s clear she feels happy and comfortable every day. The Montessori approach they follow is well-implemented, allowing her to grow at her own pace and develop a love for learning. The facilities are clean and well-organized, and the communication with parents is excellent.
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Israt Jahan
Sep 10 on google
My 4-year-old son attended the Spanish Immersion Children’s House at Guidepost Montessori at Old Town this summer, and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. The lead guide, Jesenia, is incredibly kind and caring, and my son absolutely loves her. Ms. Melissa is also wonderful—she takes such great care of him, and we’re truly grateful for her dedication. We’re especially thankful to Ms. Kassie for giving us this opportunity. This Montessori is a fantastic place for young children, and we’re so glad we chose it!
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Katie N.
Jul 26, 2023 on yelp
Our daughter started at Guidepost at four months old in 2021. She has thrived at Guidepost and the teachers are incredible, caring, and compassionate. Our...
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Reshma Sultana
Sep 9 on google
My grandson attended the Spanish immersion program at Guidepost Montessori Old town this summer, and we are very pleased. Ms. Jesenia and Ms. Melissa took great care of him, and we are grateful to Ms. Kassie for the opportunity. It’s a wonderful place for children!
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Muhammad Rezwanul Haque
Sep 5 on google
Guidepost Montessori at Old Town has been a wonderful experience for my 3-year-old child. The teachers are incredibly kind and caring, making sure every child feels supported and engaged. The Head of School, Kassie, is truly incredible—her dedication and passion for the school are evident in everything she does. If you’re considering enrolling your child here, rest assured that you’ll feel welcome from the moment you walk in. It’s a fantastic environment for young learners!
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Floriana
Jun 11 on winnie
Our son loves the school and his teachers at Guidepost Montessori Old town. Everyone is very caring and keen to nurture the curiosity of the kids having them learning while experimenting new things. A great experience and highly recommended
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Katherine G.
Jun 5 on winnie
We've been part of the Guidepost family since our son was just 6 weeks old—around 8 months now—and we couldn't be happier. One thing we never worry about is the quality of care he receives. The staff at Guidepost are exceptional; they're not only communicative and friendly but also genuinely caring and attentive. The facility itself is well-organized, with a strong emphasis on the children's developmental needs. Additionally, the family activities they organize really help foster a sense of community. I can confidently say that Guidepost offers the best childcare in the area and I highly recommend them to any parent seeking peace of mind and a nurturing environment for their child.
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Prashmi
May 21 on winnie
We absolutely love Guide Post at Old Town. My daughter has been there since a couple of months now and I have zero complaints. The guides are great we get a daily status of nap time, food consumed, pictures and any notes. Truly love her guides Miss Shaela and Miss Osmara. I could not have put her in a better place!
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Katie Newberger
Dec 1, 2022 on google
We love this school!! We decided to send our daughter here when she turned 2 and we couldn’t be happier with our decision. Our daughter is thriving and we are constantly astonished at the things she has learned, how independent and creative she has become, and how she has learned to interact socially with others. We love that the Montessori philosophy also focuses on emotional growth; we see it in our daughter every day. We have learned so much from our daughter’s guide, Kara, about what she is capable of. Our daughter loves going to school there every day and has loved Kara from the start. My husband and both wholeheartedly believe that the staff and management is truly invested in our daughter’s growth and well-being. They communicate very well and we never have to wonder about her health or safety. Highly recommend this particular school!
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Zdenka Matoušková
Jul 9, 2021 on
Being at home for the first 18 months of his life we were curious to see how our little guy would do going to school. He has transitioned so well into the program! Everyone has been very patient, supportive and has been exceeding the already high expectations as you can imagine 🙂 Planning to have his sister attend as well and so, so glad they opened here at Old Town.
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Andrea Cruse Cheskis
Jun 7, 2021 on
This school has been absolutely amazing and I couldn’t be more thankful for the wonderful staff. I feel like they’ve gone above and beyond to make my son and my family feel welcome. My son loves going to school so much and I know he will carry his love for learning with him throughout his life because of his positive experience at Guidepost Old Town. I highly recommend this school!

take a peek at our school.

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.

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
Spanish Immersion.
For children ages 18 months to 6 years old
Guidepost at Home.
For children ages 0 to 12 years old

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