The private pre-K program at Fantasy Island Schools for Kids makes the year before kindergarten count, so your child walks into an American classroom ready and confident, for families across Chicago’s Northwest Side and nearby suburbs.
The year before kindergarten goes fast, and every parent wants it to add up to more than another year of waiting. Our pre-K follows a kindergarten-readiness curriculum built on the same gifted, experiential approach as the rest of our preschool: early literacy, math, science, social studies and art, learned through hands-on, collaborative activities.
Readiness is also about the school skills that are easy to overlook: following a classroom routine, working in a group, listening to a teacher and finishing a task. Brain Gym sessions twice a week support the focus and coordination that make those skills easier. Small class sizes mean your child’s teacher can see what is already strong and what still needs practice.
If your family speaks Polish, Ukrainian or another language at home, you may worry about the first day of kindergarten in English. Pre-K is a good year to settle that. English is our language of instruction every day, and our goal is to prepare children to continue their education in American schools.
By the time your child finishes pre-K, they have spent a full school year learning, playing, singing and following directions in English. Families who also want to keep their home language strong can read about our Polish-speaking teachers and Friday Polish classes on our Polish preschool page.
Chicago families often weigh private pre-K against CPS Pre-K. CPS Pre-K is applied for through Chicago Early Learning, which handles program options, eligibility and the application process. Because details change, check chicagoearlylearning.org for the current information.
Pre-K at Fantasy Island works differently. You enroll directly with our school, and your child stays in a setting built for ages 2 to 6, open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Tuition includes three meals cooked on-site, weekly music with a qualified music teacher, Brain Gym and the Gifted Enrichment Program, and we accept families participating in CCAP.
Changing schools right before kindergarten means a new building, new teachers and new routines all at once. At Fantasy Island, your child can move from pre-K into our kindergarten for ages 5 and 6, where the curriculum is designed to prepare children for gifted programs. An overwhelming majority of our kindergarten graduates are accepted into gifted programs.
Staying put also means your child starts kindergarten already knowing the building, the routines, the meals and many of the classmates. Instead of spending the first weeks adjusting, they can put that energy into learning.
Leave your phone number and your child’s age. We will call you to pick a time to visit our classrooms at 6100 N Milwaukee Ave. Prefer to talk now? Call 773-206-4627.
No. Chicago Early Learning is the application route for CPS Pre-K. Fantasy Island is a private, Illinois state-licensed school, so you enroll with us directly. The usual first step is a tour, where you can see the classrooms, meet the team and ask about current openings for pre-K.
Pre-K is the year before kindergarten, within our preschool program for ages 3 and 4. The age cutoff for kindergarten itself is set by your public school system or district, and it can change, so check your district’s website for the current rule. We can help you think through which year fits your child best.
Your child follows our gifted, kindergarten-readiness curriculum in English: early literacy, math, science, social studies and art, taught through hands-on, multi-sensory activities. The week also includes Brain Gym twice a week with our founder, Beata Bielic, weekly music with a qualified music teacher, and dance, art and STEM. Plays and concerts give children practice performing with confidence.
Our curriculum is designed to prepare children to continue their education in American schools, whether that is a CPS kindergarten or a suburban district school. Your child practices the classroom routines, early academics and English that kindergarten expects. Applications and registration are handled by CPS or your district, so check their official sites for current steps and dates.
Both are possible. We offer full-time and part-time enrollment, and the school is open Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. If you want the whole workday covered, see our full-day preschool page. If you prefer a few days a week, our part-time preschool page explains how to choose days that include the activities that matter most to you.
See all preschool options on our Preschool page, compare costs on Tuition & CCAP, or read parent FAQs.
