Music and Drama
Children explore rhythm, movement, and creative expression through hands-on music and drama. They learn fundamentals like melody and notation while building confidence through storytelling, puppetry, and simple performances.
The Gardner School of Chicago – Lincoln Park
Where Learning Feels Like Home
Caring, Connected Preschool in Lincoln Park
At The Gardner School of Chicago–Lincoln Park, families find a warm, welcoming space where children feel safe, supported, and excited to learn. As a NAEYC-accredited preschool serving infants through Pre-K, we offer exceptional early childhood education rooted in emotional connection, strong routines, and trusted academic foundations. Our convenient location on Lincoln Avenue makes daily drop-offs simple for busy parents.
A Community That Helps Children Thrive
Children are greeted each day by teachers who take time to understand who they are and what helps them learn best. Bright classrooms, enrichment studios, and indoor-outdoor play areas create a joyful environment where curiosity and confidence can grow. Small group sizes, caring relationships, and consistent routines help children feel grounded and ready for each new experience. Many families say they knew it was the right fit the moment they walked in.
Location
Inside this School
Learning
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Our research-based curriculum supports early literacy, math, problem-solving, and social-emotional development. Teachers use hands-on activities, purposeful play, and structured routines to help children gain confidence and build strong academic foundations.
Safety and Health
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With controlled-entry access, clean and calm classrooms, and a secure school layout, families feel at ease from the moment they arrive. Nutritious meals and snacks in the Kids’ Café support healthy growth and happy mealtimes.
Movement
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Children enjoy active play in a spacious indoor playscape, outdoor spaces, and a dedicated enrichment room. Daily movement helps build coordination, strength, and joyful energy.
Community
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Families appreciate our open communication, real-time updates, parent-teacher conferences, and welcoming school culture. A close-knit community and engaged teachers create strong partnerships that support each child’s growth.
Academically-Focused Programs
At The Gardner School, learning truly begins with care. Our infant classrooms provide a nurturing start built on a nationally recognized, research-based curriculum that supports early learning and development. With teachers who understand both the science and the soul of early education, babies grow in an environment that builds trust, curiosity, and confidence from the very beginning.
Toddlers are natural explorers, full of curiosity, movement, and new words waiting to bloom. At The Gardner School, our toddler classrooms nurture and celebrate this growing independence through play-based learning and intentional teaching. Each day builds confidence, language, and friendship in an environment that’s safe, structured, and full of joy. Our early childhood education program develops the whole child — encouraging physical coordination, emotional confidence, and early cognitive growth in every discovery.
Two-year-olds are bursting with curiosity and confidence. At The Gardner School, our classrooms encourage this new independence through hands-on learning, nurturing guidance, and joyful discovery. Teachers help children explore, experiment, and build social and self-help skills in a safe environment where learning and laughter go hand in hand. In this two-year-old early learning classroom, children begin to strengthen emotional regulation, independence, and empathy while exploring the world around them.
Preschoolers are natural problem-solvers and collaborators. At The Gardner School, our classrooms inspire curiosity, confidence, and creativity through hands-on learning and purposeful structure. Teachers guide children through new concepts in literacy, math, science, and art, helping them build independence, friendships, and a lifelong love of learning. Our preschool classrooms encourage critical thinking and pre-academic foundations that set the stage for kindergarten success.
Pre-K is a milestone year filled with confidence, curiosity, and preparation for what’s next. At The Gardner School, our teachers guide children through meaningful, play-based learning that builds academic readiness, social skills, and independence. With a curriculum designed around kindergarten preparation, students develop the focus, responsibility, and love of learning that will carry them into elementary school and beyond. Our Pre-K program helps children grow the attention, independence, and social skills they need to feel confident and ready for kindergarten.
Enrichment Programs
Sports
Active, structured classes help children build coordination, strength, and confidence. Through sports like soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and yoga, they practice teamwork, listening skills, and healthy movement habits.
Martial Arts
Martial arts introduce balance, discipline, and respectful movement in a safe, beginner-friendly format. Children learn basic stances and controlled motions that build focus, confidence, and body awareness.
Dance and Movement
Children build balance, coordination, and spatial awareness through beginner dance and creative movement. With simple steps, stretching, and expressive motion, they strengthen motor skills while growing confidence and joy in how their bodies move.
S.T.E.A.M.
Hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math experiences spark curiosity and critical thinking. Through simple experiments and creative projects, children explore how things work and discover the joy of learning.
Foreign Language
Through songs, games, and simple vocabulary, children are introduced to the basics of a second language to enable basic conversational skills. Lessons built around familiar themes make learning fun, natural, and age-appropriate.
Seasonal Experiences
Children participate in seasonal, multi-week, or pop-up enrichment classes that may include cooking, gardening, or exciting seasonal activities. These experiences offer fresh ways to learn, create, and discover.
School Leadership
Shanti Cooper
Executive School Director
Shanti Cooper
Executive School Director
Shanti loves the warmth and connection that fill The Gardner School of Chicago – Lincoln Park each day. “Hands down, those warm hugs and happy smiles!” she says. Whether it’s hearing children call her name in the hallways or feeling their excitement as they run up for a hug, those joyful moments capture the heart of the Lincoln Park community she’s so proud to lead.
Keishla Vega
Assistant Director
Keishla Vega
Assistant Director
For Keishla, the heart of The Gardner School of Chicago – Lincoln Park lies in the connections she builds each day. “I love seeing a child’s face light up when they see me behind the front desk,” she says. Those little moments of joy and recognition remind her how powerful relationships can be. Keishla believes in taking time for heart-to-heart conversations with families, helping to create the warm, trusting atmosphere that makes the school feel like home.
Schedule a Tour
Please select a date and time that works best for you (tours are ~45 minutes). We recommend visiting in the morning between 9:30 – 11:30 am. Of course, we completely understand that is not always possible with families’ schedules and welcome families to join whenever is most convenient for you. If you aren’t ready to tour yet or these times below don’t work for your family, use the Contact Us button below, and we will coordinate a time together.
Contact Us
If you aren’t yet ready to schedule a tour or the available times do not work for your family, please click Contact Us to connect with someone from The Gardner School.