The Catherine Cook School is a place where everyone knows your child's name -- and yours! We are a school where students thrive in small classes and imbibe a truly joyful approach to learning and community. Our rigorous curriculum introduces world languages before first grade, builds mastery of fundamental skills and critical thinking, stimulates creativity in the visual and performing arts, and uses the best of instructional technology to expand the possibilities of learning. Our academic program centers on age-appropriate experiential learning and independent thinking, augmented by rich opportunities in the arts, athletics, and service learning.

As a junior school, we focus on the unique developmental and educational needs of children from preschool to eighth grade. Our 360° approach to education provides abundant opportunities for students to demonstrate their potential for leadership, to work collaboratively, and to develop an ethic of service. Beyond our walls, the diverse cultural resources of Chicago serve as an extended classroom, teaching important lessons about civic responsibility, inclusivity, and stewardship. Catherine Cook graduates are prepared for personal success at the most selective high schools in the city and across the country, taking with them habits of mind and of character that serve them well for a lifetime.

The Catherine Cook School is far more than a campus of students and teachers-we are an inclusive community of families and educators, committed to inspiring and educating children for life. We are a community where older students share learning with younger children through classroom partnerships and weekly assemblies. We are a community that embraces families who value excellence in education, joyfulness of spirit, and eagerness to become fully involved in the life of the school. In short, we are what school should be.