First School

1403 East Oak Street

Mahomet, IL 61853

11 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-K
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on September 12, 2017

Great experience! Teachers are great and my child loves it and learns so much!
Submitted by parent on August 17, 2017

Horrible customer service. I immediately felt uncomfortable. The smell when I walked in was so weird and unpleasant. Then they informed me that my five year old son would have to take a two hour nap everyday. I told them he doesn't nap anymore, and they said that was fine but he had to lay on a cot for 2 hours every afternoon. What five year old lays down for two hours during the day? I was very nervous about signing that day, so I asked them to call me with their weekly rate, and they never returned my call. They pretty much made my decision for me. Please don't subject your kid to this place!
Submitted by parent on January 03, 2016

We had our kid to this school in Toddler room. Mrs Vy was awesome !! Our kid was hyperactive and creative but never on purpose or with bad intention harmed any kids. Everything was good in toddler room and we saw the difference in a year.Pre K school was different story. Teacher was new but had different approach. She was unable to handle our kid. Our Kid had few good days for some days she had complaints. My wife was always worried about what teacher would tell us next day. We were patient as we thought time would teach kids lot of thing. Teacher suggested psychiatrist for our child to figure out the issues with kid. Being a leader for more than 15 years in my life and managed all different types of people i knew there was nothing wrong with my kid. I did talk with lot of parents with kids of his age and there kids have similar behavior. One fine day school told us they could no longer have our kid in there school after couple of weeks. I explained to my wife that it was inexperience of the school that let them down and not our kid. Kids with different thought process should be taken as a challenge and that is how you gain experience and learn and become better. If you avoid such challenges you cannot improve. This holds true in any sector you work. I wanted to give Bad review, but for Ms Vy effort and Mrs Rayburn (she retired) making it average. I could see both teachers were trying to make things better. Our kid then went to church school and now in mahomet pre K school and both places have positive feedback. May be teacher should start sharing classroom so that they can learn from other teachers and kids will just do fine since they are still to be molded in life :)
Submitted by parent on July 11, 2015

We used to love it here....until the administration decided that they care more about money than the families and students. They don't seem to want to talk to parents about their kids. They don't like it when you ask questions. Why wouldn't I want to know how my kid did in school today?? If she can't remember what she did all day, and the teacher doesn't like talking to me, then what am I paying for?!??! This place is more like junior high. Small town equals big drama. Beware.
Submitted by other on April 20, 2015

Terrible pre-school/daycare. The good reviews will not help you if you have a child who is a little different. People go here because it is in Mahomet. Definitely not Montessori based (I taught at Savoy Montessori for a long time). Ill-qualified teachers and staff. They don;t have a clue if the child does something out of context. I personally know at least 4 parents whose kids have been labeled "troublemakers" and terminated from the program. Try the pre-K program in the school district. They don't need to learn frogs skeleton system at this age, they need to be happy and develop confidence and skills; the rest will follow.
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2014

Our daughter has been going to First School for two years now. It is a great facility with great teachers. The curriculum is based on Montessori and a child's progress is tracked and emphasis is focused individually. The educational program is great, as well as the social element of classroom and playtime interaction with classmates. The facility is nice with large classrooms (lots of windows everywhere), and a huge play area outside with themed sections (playground, nature, stage, garden). Food/nutrition is also very good. Children are moved through the different levels at their own pace. The school does fantastic and is stand-alone. I rated The leadership and parent involvement one star down a piece here, as this website emphasizes parent involvement. First School accommodates this if wanted, but we fall into the category of two very busy parents with long hours & rely on the curriculum, teachers, and leadership there to keep everything moving forward. We appreciate this operational independence greatly. We started in the 'best' Champaign school, but prefer First School. Do your homework and visit - don't rely on opinions. See the facility, program, and teachers.
Submitted by parent on April 05, 2012

My children have been going to this school for years. My son started at 2 and my daughter at 6 weeks, they are now 5 and 3. I highly recommend this school and the program they follow. Great caring teachers and support staff. My kids love going to school and are learning, A LOT! Well done First School and Thank You!
Submitted by parent on March 19, 2012

I don't usually participate in online reviews, however when I read the negative reviews about this wonderful early learning environment, I had to give my voice. First School is so inviting, relaxed, and yet somehow becomes an excellent source of academic excellence. It is a school that is "based" on the Montessori theory, and is not a strict Montessori school. The child to staff ratio is always in check or better, whenever I have been in any of my children's classrooms. All of my children have attended F.S. and some of my niece and nephews, and they all are advanced or accelerated learners in the elementary schools they now attend. They have this love of learning that they some how found while attending preschool in such an enriching environment of supportive educators who took the time to prepare a classroom for individuals and not for a group who had to learn all at the same time. I challenge you to check out the wonderful place where children thrive, want to stay and learn or play, and can't wait to come back the next day.
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2011

We just put our son at First School and are pleased so far. We put a lot of research and visits into this school. They're clean, affordable, friendly, safe (you need your thumbprint to sign your child in and out of the school), fenced in play areas, someone is always at the front door and during the "non-rush" the doors are usually locked. We were hesitant at first because of the 3 negative reviews on the internet.... but out of the 15 years they've been in operation and hundreds of students that have gone through their doors -- three negatives is not bad at all. A lot of the faculty in the UofI Engineering dept send their kids here (and that's where we got our references from) and they all said that their kids are reading well beyond their age level and their communication skills are excellent! I've also heard (from parents who have kids that went here AND who didn't go here) that the kindergarten here is way ahead of the Mahomet district. The Mahomet K is 3 hours (complete with nap, recess and playtime which doesn't leave much time for anything else) vs FS-K which is all day.... where would you want your child learning??
Submitted by parent on August 19, 2011

Don't be fooled by the nice facilities, this place keeps it's costs low by employing as few teachers as possible resulting in high teacher turnover and extended periods where too many children are being watched by too few teachers. Of the teachers they do have, very few have formal teaching educations or certificates and some actually perform administrative duties while they are supposed to be teaching. Their eye is always on the bottom line and that is placed above the care of the students. The curriculum is advertised as Montessori, but is not followed. Children seen as troublemakers are singled out, isolated, and generally treated poorly to persuade the parents to remove them from the facility. Do your child a favor and avoid this place at all costs!
Submitted by other on October 08, 2010

~The teachers do not have teaching certificates ~There education is not best practice. ~They claim to be Montesorri, but are not a legitamit school. ~This is a glorified babysitter, pretending to be a school. ~DCFS has been called many times on this building and its staff