The Children's School

Call Directions Website

The Children's School The Children's School is a K-8 school in Oak Park, IL offering progressive project-based education.

The Children's School fosters a child's natural curiosity, allowing them to explore their world through project- and inquiry-based learning. The philosophy of progressive education lives on a daily basis in our school. If you are looking for our parents' Facebook group, please visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/tcsparentconnect

10/20/2026

🛶 Courage. Confidence. Collaboration. Adventure.

At The Children’s School, learning doesn't stop at the classroom door!

Each fall and spring, our students head out onto the water for one of our favorite TCS traditions—kayaking!

But kayaking is about so much more than learning to paddle.

It's about finding the courage to try something new, building confidence and independence, navigating challenges, working together, and discovering what we're capable of.

It's about taking risks, supporting one another, connecting with the natural world, and experiencing the joy of learning by doing.

These are the moments when learning comes to life. When students discover that they can do hard things, that their classmates have their backs, and that some of the most meaningful learning happens outside the walls of a classroom.

A HUGE thank you to the Greater Maywood Paddling Program and the Forest Preserves of Cook County for generously providing the equipment that helps make these experiences possible for our students! We are so grateful for this partnership and the opportunities it creates.

This is outdoor education. This is experiential learning. This is TCS! 🛶

Our Community, Our FutureOne of the things I love most about The Children's School is the community we've built together...
10/17/2026

Our Community, Our Future

One of the things I love most about The Children's School is the community we've built together. It's something I see every day—in the relationships between students and teachers, the friendships that cross grade levels, the ways families show up for one another, and the shared belief that children deserve an education that honors who they are.

What we have at TCS is special. And I believe deeply that more children and families deserve to experience it.

As we look toward the future of our school, I want to share something that has been on my mind quite a bit lately: Growing and sustaining TCS is a responsibility we share as a community.

Like many independent schools, TCS is facing real financial challenges as enrollment declines. Growing our enrollment isn't simply a goal for next year—it is essential to ensuring that the school we love is here for years to come.

These are real challenges, and they require us to think creatively, make thoughtful decisions, and work together to ensure that TCS continues to thrive.
But here's what I know: We have something worth protecting, sustaining, and sharing.

Every family that discovers TCS represents another child who could experience learning that is joyful, meaningful, challenging, and rooted in relationships. Every new family strengthens our community and helps sustain the educational experience we value so deeply.

And each of you has a role in helping us reach those families.

Sometimes that means sharing a social media post or inviting a neighbor to an Open House. Other times, it's simply telling someone about a moment when you saw your child grow in a way you hadn't expected. Those personal stories and connections are incredibly powerful.

As you read about our upcoming November events, I encourage you to think about the people in your life who might be looking for something different for their children. Invite them. Share your experiences. Help them discover what makes TCS, well, TCS!

This weekend, we launch our first Dinner with Friends, bringing families together around tables throughout our community. I hope these gatherings are filled with laughter, new connections, and meaningful conversations about the school we love.

Our future isn't something that happens to us. It's something we build together.

Thank you for being part of this community and for all the ways you help make TCS the school it is today—and the school it can continue to be tomorrow.

Somos Crew / We Are Crew,
Michelle

TCS to High SchoolThis Thursday, October 15thWondering what the transition from TCS to high school is like?Curious abou...
10/14/2026

TCS to High School
This Thursday, October 15th

Wondering what the transition from TCS to high school is like?
Curious about area high schools and what they offer?

TCS to High School combines a traditional high school fair with an opportunity to hear TCS alumni talk about their experiences and answer your questions.

You'll be able to meet representatives from:
Bennett Day School
Chicago Academy for the Arts
Chicago Waldorf School
Fenwick High School
Francis Parker School
Fusion Academy
St. Ignatius College Prep
Trinity High School
Vine Academy
Wolcott College Prep

10/12/2026

A whole year ahead. So much possibility.

We're several weeks into the school year, and already, so much is happening. Friendships are forming. Curiosity is growing. Children are finding their voices, taking risks, asking questions, and discovering what they're capable of.

And we're just getting started!

At The Children's School, we believe childhood isn't simply preparation for what's next. These years matter. The experiences, relationships, adventures, and discoveries happening right now matter.

Here's to a year of learning, growing, belonging, and becoming. ❤️

This is TCS. Come see what makes us different.

www.thechildrensschool.info

The Learning That Stays With UsThis week, our 2nd and 8th graders headed out onto the water for Fall Kayaking, one of my...
10/10/2026

The Learning That Stays With Us

This week, our 2nd and 8th graders headed out onto the water for Fall Kayaking, one of my favorite TCS traditions. Watching students take on new challenges, encourage one another, and discover what they can do reminds me of something important: some of the most meaningful learning doesn't happen sitting at a desk.

It happens when a child tries something they aren't sure they can do. When they work through a disagreement with a friend. When they discover that their voice matters or realize that someone else needs their encouragement.
These moments are not separate from academic learning. They are part of what makes deeper learning possible.

At TCS, we want children to develop strong academic skills, certainly. But we also want them to become thoughtful, curious, courageous people who know how to navigate challenges, build relationships, and contribute to their communities.

That kind of growth takes time, intention, and a community of adults who believe in children.

And sometimes, it takes a kayak.

Continuamos / We Continue,
Michelle

“Our family has been at TCS for five years and both of our children are thriving. They are happy, curious, and confident...
10/08/2026

“Our family has been at TCS for five years and both of our children are thriving. They are happy, curious, and confident -- even our middle schooler! The Children's School offers the very best of progressive education: a laser focus on learning for life and citizenship, not just for the next step in a child's academic career. A culture of care permeates the building; children are not just accepted but celebrated for their individuality. TCS is growing individuals who trust their voice; who believe they have something to offer and something to learn; who know how to listen, have a productive conversation, and contribute positively to their community. We couldn't be happier with our children's education at The Children's School.”
– Parent review on Niche

10/05/2026

Know a family who might love TCS? 🍁

Our next Coffee Talk & Tour is this Friday, October 9 at 9:00 AM! If there’s a friend, neighbor, or family you’ve been wanting to introduce to TCS, share this post, invite them to join us - or come along with them!

Sometimes the best way to understand TCS is simply to experience it.

☕️ Come curious. Bring a friend. We’d love to welcome you.

RSVP: www.thechildrensschool.info/visit-1

Curious about The Children’s School? Come see us in action! 🍂Join us THIS Friday, October 9 at 9:00 AM for our monthly G...
10/04/2026

Curious about The Children’s School? Come see us in action! 🍂

Join us THIS Friday, October 9 at 9:00 AM for our monthly Get to Know TCS Coffee Talk & Tour.

Come have a cup of coffee, walk through our school, peek into classrooms, ask questions, and learn more about what makes a TCS education different — from hands-on, student-centered learning to the relationships and community at the heart of our school.

No big presentation. Just conversation, connection, and a chance to experience TCS for yourself.

Know a family who might be looking for something different for their child? Please share this with them!

RSVP: www.thechildrensschool.info/visit-1

A Full October AheadAs I look at the calendar for October, there is a lot ahead at TCS. A lot! And as I started thinking...
10/03/2026

A Full October Ahead

As I look at the calendar for October, there is a lot ahead at TCS. A lot! And as I started thinking about everything coming up, I found myself thinking less about how busy the calendar looks and more about what all of those things say about who we are.

Next week, our Fall Kayaking tradition begins. Throughout the month, students will head out onto the water. We’ll continue our Wednesday Woods Days. Later this month, we’ll gather for TCS to High School and hear from alumni about where their journeys have taken them. And we are already looking ahead to November and opportunities like Special Friend Day and our Kindergarten and Middle Level Open Houses to invite others into the TCS experience.

These aren't extras around the edges of school. They are school.

I’ve written recently about the learning you don’t always see and about what rigor means at TCS. This is part of that same story. Rigor isn't only found in a difficult math problem, a piece of writing, or a challenging text - although our students are doing all of those things, too. It is also found when a child has to persevere when something feels unfamiliar, take a risk, apply what they know in a new setting, collaborate with someone else, accept feedback, solve a real problem, or discover that they are capable of more than they thought.

That is authentic learning, and it happens all over TCS - in classrooms, in the woods, on the water, on fieldwork, and in the many spaces where our students engage with the world beyond our walls.

And, of course, classrooms are humming. Kids are reading and writing, wrestling with math, asking questions, making things, solving problems, navigating friendships, receiving feedback, revising their thinking, and doing the everyday work of growing up.

October will be full. There will be a lot of places to go, things to remember, and probably more than a few emails from me. But underneath all of that activity is something much simpler:

Our kids are learning, our community is connecting, and we get to do this work together.

I’m looking forward to the month ahead.

Continuamos / We Continue,
Michelle

Address

820 Ontario Street
Oak Park, IL
60302

Opening Hours

Monday 8:45am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:45am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:45am - 5pm
Thursday 8:45am - 5pm
Friday 8:45am - 5pm

Telephone

+17084848033

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Children's School posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share