Tallgrass Sudbury School

85 Kimbark Road, Riverside, IL

Riverside, IL 60546

12 Reviews

School District
Grade

K-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on December 06, 2022

Best decision we made for our son, he has greatly improved his attitude and well being. He has been more positive and excited to go to school
Submitted by parent on October 25, 2022

It's like a daycare for all age kids but worse. My daughter learned more in daycare than she did here. The "teachers" don't lift a finger around there, they just have parents volunteer to do things and bring free furniture around while they just sit and chill all day. Everything is old and gross looking in an abandoned church. The kids don't seem to be educated by their parents NOR the "staff" so they sit with shoes on the couch (same couch you sit on in the parent-meeting conferences, they don't clean up after themselves, they eat at the same table where they do crafts, it's disgusting and no one is allowed to tell them anything because it's a "freedom" school. I'm the biggest believer in freedom but if there's no gentle guidance your kids will become dirty, lazy and inconsiderate. My daughter was ignored the entire time (almost one month) because everyone already had their own friend, it's like she was invisible. Even when she tried to make friends they would just get away from her. I was present when this happened because I volunteered to organize some crafts (which you'd think the staff could do in their VERY free time). The staff there makes over $70k a year (per their own disclosure) to barely just sweep and mop the floors. Even the rags are given to parents to take home to wash. The worst part is that once you sign up you have to pay for the WHOLE SCHOOL YEAR, which I did not realize because I didn't read the contract thoroughly. They give you only one week to test it out, which is not enough time at all. So now i have to pay even though I took my daughter out within one month of going. This school does more harm than good to kids, don't fall for it like I did. You might as well keep your kid at home - it's FREE and it's the same thing. And you can gently guide them easier into not being gross.
Submitted by parent on August 26, 2022

horrible school, will never send my child there again.
Submitted by parent on November 18, 2021

Rating this scale using the Likert scale items is rather difficult, considering how unorthodox Tallgrass Sudbury School is. Homework? There is no homework at Tallgrass, and that is quite effective for the well-being of the students! Are the teachers effective? Everyone is a teacher at Tallgrass, just like everyone is a learner. Self-directed learning happens whenever the student needs it (just-in-time learning, rather than just-in-case learning), so I would consider that highly effective. Leadership? Since the school is governed democratically, all the students are leaders, which makes them quite responsive to student needs! Character? The close-knit community naturally fosters the development of integrity, compassion and respect, even though no one "teaches" it. Learning differences? As a small not-for-profit, there are no special education services; however, most students with learning differences thrive in the environment of freedom and acceptance. Bullying? The restoration committee if an effective process that is run by the students and they have a low tolerance for bullying.Both my children loved this school and we are glad it continues to provide a nurturing, joyful, playful and creative space for families in the Chicago area.
Submitted by parent on November 12, 2021

My son really loves it here! He has learned to be confident, independent and responsible. I love the flexibility in the start & end times.
Submitted by parent on November 11, 2021

Tallgrass has been an amazing environment for our son in the past 4 years. After being told repeatedly that he struggled with directed activities, we sought an environment where he would have more freedom to explore learning. Tallgrass offers that and so much more. The freedom for students to explore learning at their own pace actually accelerated our son's desire to learn to read, and he essentially taught himself to read before he was 6. He loves STEM learning, especially nature and weather and the school helps him explore this via nature walks and other indoor activities.Perhaps the most important thing is that the democratic school model has given him an understanding of complex systems, and the student governance of school policies gives them a lot of confidence in navigating life both in and out of school.If you choose Tallgrass, you'll learn that education doesn't have to include tests and homework. The way that students here grow and develop speaks for itself.
Submitted by parent on October 23, 2021

When covid hit, our public school son could no longer see his friends and could not connect with learning on a computer everyday. My son was in a gifted program in our highly rated public schools, but he was still bored. At Tallgrass, he's able to study what is interesting to him and he looks forward to going to school everyday! There's so much more interaction here than regular school for him - not only for kids his own age but he's able to help the younger students too. I cannot recommend this school enough to anyone who is looking for a school that their child can flourish, encourages relationships and self directed education.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2019

A self-directed approach to learning that is more aligned with how my son learns. A supportive community and approachable structure that encourages self growth and personal development. I would highly recommend Tallgrass Sudbury.
Submitted by parent on August 11, 2017

Excellent school for my son. We transferred after trying traditional schools as well as a few alternatives. The freedom he has here to pursue his interests has been great for him. He is much happier, and is learning and growing so much.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2015

My daughter (age 9) has attended Tallgrass for the past 5 years and we could not be more pleased with the skills that she has developed. She is a self-directed learner with interests in math, art, science, and fashion and often seeks out structured work in these areas on her own time. She taught herself to read when she was developmentally ready (about 7.5) and within weeks was reading for pleasure at her grade level (which she continues to do). She has been an active member of several committees at the school (party planning committee, judicial committee, etc.) and has invested herself in the democratic process of the school. As such, she has a rich appreciation for her civic role in society. I have known adults who are less civic-minded than she is at age 9. She has learned how to manage conflict in a healthy and independent way and has generally felt empowered in essentially all aspects of school life. The friendships she has made have been lasting and she has benefited in many ways from the mixed age setting. She is not intimidated by older kids and adults and feels confident in and out of school.
Submitted by parent on February 10, 2015

In this era of testing and judging kids we have found a gem of a school. Tallgrass allowed my two children to find a path in a supportive community. My son has found a great circle of friends while learning how to function in a democratic society. His passions are varied and the staff and the environment joyfully explore his diving into those passions. He can cook, he can do experiments, he can get into theatrical characters, and yes he can even perfect his gaming skills. If you trust that children have a built in passion to learn this is the place for your family.
Submitted by other on June 22, 2014

Tallgrass is a democratic, student-centered school. I've seen students of all ages and many different personalities thrive here. A supportive community.