About Countryside

Countryside has been providing an exceptional learning environment for children in preschool through 6th grade for over 40 years.

Countryside has no religious affiliation and welcomes students of every race, sex, color, and national or ethnic origin. It is a not-for-profit corporation with financial assistance available to those who qualify. Each applicant is individually considered for admission and offered the opportunity for enrollment. The school draws students from Chicago's North and Northwest suburbs.

Brief History

In 1967, Franklin C. and Annette B. Kulle founded Countryside Montessori School, starting operations in Glenview. Satellite classes were opened in Skokie in 1969 and in Northbrook in 1970. In 1971, they moved the school to its present site. The Elementary Program was added in 1972. A major addition was completed in 1995, and other renovations were completed in 1999. Today, Countryside has an enrollment of over 150 students.

Fully Accredited

Countryside Montessori School is one of only 2 Montessori schools in Illinois to receive the highest recognition status for the full Montessori program granted by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) which was founded by Maria Montessori in 1929 to protect the integrity of her work. Read more.

Serving the Needs of the Child

Our classes are multi-age, in keeping with the Montessori practice. The mixed age groups provide for peer teaching, role models and leadership experience; they also enhance the sense of community within the classroom.

Since a successful Montessori environment depends so greatly on children having focused periods of time in which to complete tasks and activities, we make a priority of maximizing uninterrupted work time.

Above all, we place the highest importance on serving the needs of the child, for as Maria Montessori said, "One test of the correctness of educational procedure is the happiness of the child itself."

Everything in the classroom is designed to meet the developmental needs and interests of the children. There is no ceiling to what children can learn, and they are able to advance through the curriculum as they are ready, without being limited by the progress of their peers.

Countryside's traditional materials have been researched and developed during decades of classroom use. Our teachers take great care in preparing the environment so that materials are arranged sequentially, children have comfortable work space and there is freedom of physical movement.