Guidepost
Montessori

at West Loop
.

Tours & Events
West Loop.
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)

1000 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607
Tremaine Bowers
Guidepost Montessori in West Loop is one of the most trusted Montessori schools in Downtown Chicago, Illinois. We are located on the corner of Washington Blvd. and Morgan St.—just a few steps away from the famous Madison and Randolph St. Our rooms are spacious, bright, and light-filled, creating a warm and calm space for children to work.
Tremaine Bowers . Head of School
Tours & Events

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!”

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.

take a peek at our school.

what parents are saying.

All
6
Google
5
Yelp
1
Ryan S.
Oct 5, 2023 on yelp
Our son has been at Guidepost in the West Loop for a little over a year. While he started as an infant, he has since moved up to the Young Toddler...
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Deepti Gangwani
Sep 9, 2020 on google
My daughter has been going to Guidepost Montessori at West Loop since its very inception (over a year now). The people including not only the lead guide, assistant guides but also the administrative staff are what make this school incredible. They truly care for the students and it shows. Guidepost corporate has also been a great partner in offering virtual classes and building lesson plans during the pandemic/stay at home quarantine times. Felt very supported in much needed times!
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Ivana Chen
Oct 7, 2020 on google
Guidepost Montessori West Loop is truly a special place! Our son started attending the Young Toddler room and absolutely adores going to school. Nothing is more comforting as a parent! The administration is caring, knows every family by name, and we feel 100% confident with how they've kept the kids safe during COVID-19. Every guide is extremely diligent and we love receiving the daily picture updates! Highly recommend sending your children here: you won't regret it!
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azlan tariq
Jan 2, 2020 on google
We are so fortunate to have our 2 year old son start at Guidepost. Prior to starting at Guidepost he was always at home. Guidepost has been very accommodating for him and us as parents since he started. He looks forward to going everyday and does not want to leave at the end of the day. The administration, teachers and helpers are spectacular. Communication is amazing. Aydin is learning real life skills and we have seen him mature to a become a wonderful 2 1/2 year old. He brings the skills he is learning from school to home. The early drop off and extended day is also a blessing for us. The environment is very friendly and supportive for him and us. They are even helping him get potty trained! I could not have asked for a better start for him and highly recommend Guidepost.
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Marie Huguelet
Oct 9, 2020 on google
We could not ask for a better group of people to care for our children. We've been there since the school opened and the staff continuously goes above and beyond to care for for them. Our kids love going, they love their teachers and we cannot thank them enough for everything! Especially all their help over the last couple of months :) Thank you!
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Andy H
Sep 2, 2020 on google
Great program, teachers, and management. Our son is doing great here and so we are now enrolling our daughter as well. Highly recommend.
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