Clapham School

This school has been an incredible experience for my child! We have one child who has been enrolled for 3 years now and one child who will start this Fall. The education is incredible and is based on a Charlotte Mason classical model. My child is learning about so many classic books, learning to love God’s word, use foundational concepts to build up to the next level of learning, to do all things with excellence and careful consideration, and thinking logically. The staff cares deeply about my child, both her learning and her heart. They are well trained and versed in classical education. The community is very welcoming and there are numerous ways to get involved. It has been easy to get to know other parents just by serving alongside of them at school events, etc. Overall, such a positive experience and happy to invest our time and money here!

We have two children at Clapham and our third child will enroll next year. We tried other educational environments before coming to Clapham. We have now been a part of the Clapham community for four years and have been very pleased with our experience. We find much continuity between the Christian classical education that Clapham provides and the kind of learning and formation we foster at home. Indeed, this is our favorite part of Clapham: the meaningful partnership we have with administration, faculty, and other families. Together, we are cultivating our children’s love of all that is good, beautiful, and true. We see so much excellence at Clapham, including leadership, curriculum, faculty, community, resources, generous financial aid for those in need, extracurriculars, character formation, a joyful and diligent learning environment, community service, and thoughtful scheduling. We encourage you to visit and see this distinctive school for yourself!

Yes, very bad

This has been our school for the last 10 years. We have tried another private school for a brief time but returned because we love the Christian Classical curriculum at Clapham. We love the depth of the subject matter, the good books used as texts, the order and the beautiful habits that Clapham teaches. Our children have made lasting friendships and the parent community has offered us the greatest support through everything life has thrown at us. If you value a rigorous education focussed on advanced math, cursive writing, spelling, reciting beautiful poems and text, studying artists and composers, learning classical languages like Greek and Latin, all taught by highly qualified staff, then this is a school worth looking into.

We moved our two elementary-aged children to Clapham one year ago and have not looked back since. We were initially drawn to it by word of mouth, but after visiting several classrooms for ourselves, we were sold!

Clapham fosters an environment where children “learn to think”, through a Christian classical liberal arts curriculum, taught by exceptional teachers (many of whom hold Masters degrees).

Throughout this past year, we have been struck by how well each teacher gets to know and understand the children on an individual basis. The learning material is presented in the form of good literature books, original poems, interesting field trips (such as to the Art Institute downtown), and advanced math—to name just a few. The world-class material our children are being exposed to has excited them in the joy of learning.

Children are encouraged to interpret what they read/see/hear from their perspective. Further, we really appreciate the high expectations set by the teachers and staff alike. They treat each child as a person, not someone who needs to be “talked down to” or have information “dumbed down to their level”. Our children have grown in their confidence since attending Clapham. Even in seemingly small things, such as shaking hands with an adult while looking them in the eye or answering questions in front of class.

We highly recommend Clapham. We encourage you to visit the classrooms because it is important to see first-hand the incredible learning environment Clapham provides.

We have been a part of Clapham School for 5 years and currently have 5 children enrolled, ages 5-10. There are so many outstanding features of being part of a private, classical, Christian community like Clapham. The teachers are committed, qualified, and in tune with our kids' needs and personalities. We love the emphasis on caring for the whole child, including physical, academic, and spiritual. These priorities are more than stated goals--they are truly present and actively pursued by the entire staff. The curriculum is rich and engaging and centered on outstanding literature that challenges and inspires. We highly recommend Clapham and encourage a class visit to anyone interested in learning more!

You truly need to come visit to experience the unique education provided here. Clapham School has been a haven of educational excellence where it is exciting to see students love learning and take joy in the relationships around them. Students learn the beauty of subjects in-depth from the intricate reasons behind mathematical concepts to discussing deep living ideas in literature, history, and science. The Classical tradition is known for its rigor and Clapham also adds a deep emphasis on discipling students in love for one another, teachers, and the subjects with which they interact daily. I have experienced the holistic education in-depth as students are called to do their best work always and do all to the glory of God!