Guidepost
Montessori

at Downers Grove
.

Tours & Events
Downers Grove.
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)

925 Ogden Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Julie Lyon
Our school in Downers Grove is accepting enrollment in our Children's House program!
Julie Lyon . 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

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.

Explore our school's upcoming events

explore our school's upcoming events.


take a peek at our school.

what parents are saying.

All
4
Google
4
Michelle O'Rourke
Jun 28, 2023 on google
Our son started at Guidepost DG in the young toddler room when they first opened. Previously, he had attended a traditional daycare a few days a week but we were looking for a change. We liked a lot of the practical life skills Montessori offered. We were blown away by the professionalism, planning and attention to detail at guidepost. The individual and group lessons the guides planned were always around high interest topics that were timely with his development. We noticed a month or so after his enrollment that his language exploded and he was interested in everything. Our son is a wild little guy and can be a lot to take on. All the staff was supportive, understanding and helpful as we navigated tricky situations for us as first time parents like hitting, tantrums and potty training. Even his transition to a big boy bed was smooth and my husband and I both attribute it to the set up at Guidepost for naps. All the staff works together so well. My son knows everyone so even something like transitioning to an older class that I would have worried about in the past, was not a concern at all. We cannot say enough positive things about the incredible staff at Guidepost DG. They are so hardworking and dedicated to supporting your child in all stages of development. It is such a relief to know your child is going to a place where you know they are loved, looked after and learning. We have a daughter who will start in the fall and we are so excited for her to be a part of the guidepost community too!
Read more
Emma Cecchin
Jun 28, 2023 on google
This location has fantastic teachers who really care about the students and get to know the families. It’s a fresh, clean environment where they teach students to care about their learning and space.
Read more
Sardor Shukhratov
Sep 19, 2022 on google
Today was first day for us. Mrs Sarah and all the teachers were friendly with kids!
Read more
Jill Hemphill
May 10, 2023 on google
Read more

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