Bethesda International Academy, Chicago | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

I was really excited about this school since it was very close to my home and because they offered a Preschool 3 program. Sadly, I was very disappointed. Firstly, the school is very old and outdated, there is no air conditioning in the main building and the school functions in a disordered fashion. Parents are not allowed to enter the school and must drop their 3 year olds off at the front of the school and leave them to their own devices! They ask that parents avoid entering school due to space issues. Also, you are not allowed to pick up your child without notification and then you have to wait at the front desk until they go and “collect” your child. I completely understand this type of policy for school age children because they are similar to the policies of most public schools, however, for a preschool program this is crazy. There was never any kind of communication between me and the teacher because I was never allowed to see her. Even more interesting is the fact that the Preschool 3 teacher is not even full-time! She leaves the class at noon, and in her place is a teacher’s aide who is not professional, caring, or nurturing. When asked what the children do in the afternoons, I was informed that they mostly nap and do crafts! I also caught this same teacher’s aide yelling at my daughter upon pick up from the after school program where my daughter was playing unsupervised in the hallway. She was yelled at for opening the door for me because the teacher’s aide was using the bathroom and had left all of the children in the afterschool program unattended. This school needs a lot of work, and now I understand why the student numbers are so low. After confronting administration about this issue I felt it best to remove my daughter from the school. There was no follow up from the principal or administration…it was almost like they didn’t care. And guess what, they refused to return my payment for tuition even though my daughter only attended 3 days! This school could’ve been such a great hidden gem in the West Rogers Park area since there are so few schools that cater to the preschool age. The curriculum is questionable and on day one my daughter arrived home with a white sheet of paper with one red scribble on it and at the bottom the following was typed “This is what I drew on the first day of school”. At my daughter’s previous school they explored with fabrics, leaves, paint, etc. and to receive this was such a disappointment! If you dare to enroll your child here be mindful of the red flags! This review is not only from a parent, but a previous administrator of an early childhood program. I do not even believe the preschools teaches hold any form of certification.

Reply:
Jadey Cakes, you are free to have a completely different evaluation of this program, however, my experience was extremely poor. Next time when you make a review, stick to reviewing the subject at hand, not evaluating another parent’s experience with this school. A review is meant to inform other individuals of your direct experience with a specific setting. While your experience seems positive, mine was not. My current review of Bethesda still stands as previously stated whether you believe it to be full of hot air or not. This school needs a lot of improvement.

Also, My daughter left her old “Superior” school because of her age! If they enrolled preschoolers, she would still be there…and also, you did not respond to the fact that she was yelled at by a teacher (I guess you’re okay with that), the teachers’ lack of certification, lack of customer service, lack of creativity and planning around activities, no opportunity to make contact with the Lead teacher daily, and the fact that the teacher is only in the classroom for 3-4 hours a day. If you’re going to criticize my evaluation, please be thorough and consistent. Best of Luck!

My daughter is in 2nd grade at Bethesda and has attended since she was three. My daughter has thrived at Bethesda and loves her school. Our family appreciates the small, family-like environment of the school. Every teacher and student knows each other no matter the age/grade. Since the classes are so small, teachers have been able to really individualize their instruction and care to best meet my daughter’s needs, abilities, and talents. All of her teachers have shown her so much love and have been very supportive of our family. The school’s student population is also very diverse and my daughter has made meaningful connections with her peers and teachers.

I have been a student at Bethesda International Academy for 9 years and I have not regretted one second of it! It has been an experience full of friendship, learning, and meeting new people! This has been a big part of my life and it has helped me tremendously! When I go off to high school, college, and all throughout my life, I will always have Bethesda in my heart! Bethesda is a great school and it will grant you many memories! It has never been a dull moment at Bethesda International Academy!!!