Intercultural Montessori Language School - Chicago Campus

The school operates two campuses in Illinois: Chicago Campus in the West Loop at 114 S Racine Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, and Oak Park Campus at 301 S Ridgeland Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302. The Oak Park campus is the original location, and the Chicago Campus serves the West Loop and surrounding neighborhoods. Intercultural also operates inter-campus transportation via a minibus to connect Oak Park and Chicago campuses for certain students.

Toddlers; Early Childhood; Elementary; Middle School

Private nonprofit Montessori school with dual-language immersion (501(c)(3))

United States

Toddler hours: Half-day 8:00am–12:30pm; Full-day 8:00am–3:00pm; Extended-day 8:00am–5:30pm.

Intercultural operates a minibus that departs from the Oak Park campus each morning to transfer Elementary students to the Chicago campus, with return trips to Oak Park in the afternoon.

Intercultural Montessori uses the Montessori method with self-directed, hands-on learning guided by trained educators across Toddler through Middle School. The dual-language curriculum immerses students daily in English plus a target language, with language tracks in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic. The Early Childhood program focuses on Practical Life, Sensorial Exploration, Language Development, Mathematics, and Cultural Studies within a structured yet flexible Montessori environment. The Elementary program aligns with Common Core and integrates Mathematics, Science, Technology, Art, Culture, and dual-language learning, delivered through mixed-age classrooms and hands-on inquiry. The Middle School program combines hands-on learning with interdisciplinary projects, citywide travel, and community service, aligned with Illinois Common Core standards, emphasizing independence, collaboration, and goal-setting as students prepare for high school and beyond.

MAP Percentile Scores (2024-25) for 3rd through 7th grade: Mathematics 91st percentile and Language Arts 87th percentile. 86% of tested students achieved the Global Seal of Biliteracy.

Graduates have gained admission to Chicago high schools such as Lane Tech College Prep, Jones College Prep, Whitney Young Magnet High School, British International School of Chicago, Latin School of Chicago, and Lycée Français de Chicago. Alumni have attended universities including Cornell University, Northwestern University, University of Texas, Howard University, and Purdue University.

The school's Montessori educators nurture independence, empathy, and curiosity in every child. Language-immersion classrooms foster intercultural understanding and global awareness. The elementary program emphasizes social and emotional growth, with a focus on respect, responsibility, and community-building. The dual-language program supports collaboration and intercultural understanding as part of daily learning. The school is an accredited member of the American Montessori Society, upholding trusted standards for authentic Montessori education.

The school's dual-language Montessori program uses Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic as target languages, integrating language learning with the Montessori curriculum. Lower Elementary uses a bilingual model where a target language teacher and an English teacher co-teach and deliver content in both languages. Upper Elementary features intensive target-language instruction in small groups with native-speaking teachers. Languages offered across programs include Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic, supporting bilingual proficiency and cultural understanding.

Montessori education supports social and emotional development; the Elementary program emphasizes respect, responsibility, and community-building. Trained teachers nurture independence, empathy, and curiosity, contributing to students' mental wellbeing. Language immersion and intercultural learning foster empathy and global awareness. Social-emotional growth is integrated into the curriculum as a core element of student development.

The school maintains an Anti-Bullying Policy, including a bullying prevention framework. The policy defines bullying, requires reporting to a designated administrator or bullying report manager, and outlines an investigation process with a timeline (including notification to parents within 24 hours and completion within ten school days). The policy also provides for social work services, counseling, and restorative measures as part of handling bullying incidents.

1. Schedule a Tour. The best way to experience Intercultural is to see it in action. Schedule a tour of either our Chicago or Oak Park campus to observe classrooms, meet educators, and learn more about the curriculum. Tours are available by appointment and provide an opportunity to ask questions.

2. Submit an Application. After your tour, you'll receive an application link. We recommend applying early, as spots fill quickly in many of our programs.

3. Family Interview & Child Observation. Once we receive your application, we'll schedule a child observation so our team can meet your child in a relaxed, natural setting. A family interview is part of the process.

4. Enrollment & Next Steps. Once accepted, families will receive enrollment details on next steps, including tuition, program details, and important dates. Our admissions team is available to support you through this transition.

Toddlers program (15 Months and 3-year-olds) and Early Childhood (Preschool–Kindergarten) use a waiting pool when space is not available. We are often able to offer a second-choice language program or location. Enrollment can change quickly, and the school aims not to keep families waiting for long; communications are made as clearly and as often as possible. Elementary and Middle School programs are highly selective, and a space may not be offered if there is limited space or if the Admissions team and teachers feel it is not a good fit.