When should I apply?
We recommend that you submit your application before January 15th to ensure there is space available. Still, we welcome applications throughout the year and offer mid-year enrollment as long as space is available. Apply online here once you are ready!
Can my child visit the classroom?
Yes, as part of the admissions process we do ask that students interested in grades 2 through 7 visit the classroom for a few days. This gives your student the opportunity to get a feel for the classroom and the teachers the opportunity to really get to know your child. During the summer, when school is not in session this is not required.
What is the school’s media policy?
Waldorf education strives to nurture children’s growing capacities for imagination, independent thinking, healthy feeling, and active willing. Supporting the imagination is necessary for the development of critical thinking. The fact that consuming media, including television, movies, video games, and computers, can interfere with the development of these capacities is well-documented. A reliance on ready-made pictures reduces a child’s ability to visualize both the written and spoken word, thereby reducing reading comprehension. Students accustomed to passively receiving impressions often have difficulty with the inner demands necessary to sustain imaginative thought.
Media influences easily enter the classroom and the rest of the class. Urban Prairie recommends that parents limit the exposure their children have to such media, especially during the school week. If you have questions on this topic or would like resources for further study, please discuss it with your class teacher.
What are the school day hours?
All Classes start at 8:00am and end at 3:30pm – on Thursday classes end at 2:30pm. Early Childhood half day ends at 12:00pm & full day ends at 3:30pm. We also offer aftercare for all students who need additional care from 3:30-6:00pm.
Is my child ready for 1st grade?
Children who turn 6 years old by May 30th are eligible for 1st grade in September. Since the transition from early childhood to first grade is a major one, we asses each child’s potential readiness through a First Grade Readiness screening.
How does Urban Praire differ from Public Schools?
Our school is not restrained by government regulations. No Child Left Behind has resulted in long school days with little or no recess, homework in kindergarten and first grade, and the elimination of art and music as part of the daily curriculum. Urban Prairie Waldorf School puts the love of learning first, and we recognize that students love learning when there is a balance between academics and the arts, between the head and hands and heart, between schoolwork and good, old-fashioned outdoor play. Our students are also not plagued by frequent standardized testing that has become common in public schools.
Do your alumni transition into high school well?
Yes, our Alumni get into some of the top schools in the Chicagoland area. They really are the best testaments to the success of Waldorf education. They transition to High School with confidence, a strong sense of self, and a passion for learning. Our Alumni have indicated that they are able to quickly and confidently acclimate to different social and academic environments and that many of their high school classes feel like a review for them because of the strong education they received at Urban Prairie. For more information about the schools our alumni have attended as well as test scores, click here.
Do you offer any Tuition Assistance?
Yes, we employ a Variance Tuition Model to help us support our families and make Urban Prairie accessible to families. Click here for more details.
Have an additional question? We would be happy to answer it for you! Please contact our Director of Enrollment, Jennifer Zielinski at 312-858-4562, or fill out the form below.
Link to Big Sis Inquiry form
Notice of Nondiscrimination Policy
Urban Prairie is committed to fostering a fully inclusive school community. We actively seek and welcome students and staff of all races, ethnicities, nationalities, religions, socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientations, and spiritual values. Urban Prairie does not discriminate based on race, color, nationality, ethnic origin, or physical disability in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial assistance programs, and other school-administered programs.