Park West Cooperative Nursery School

Park West Cooperative Nursery School Park West Co-op is a play-based cooperative preschool located Chicago, IL. est 1971 Children learn through Play and Social Connections.

Park West Co-Op is a Play-Based Preschool in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, IL. We have leading expert teachers in Early Childhood Education and classrooms with award winning, resource rich learning environments. Purposeful, developmentally appropriate curriculum and small size classes for Parent & Tots through Junior Kindergarten. Celebrating 50 years, since 1971! Who we are
We're a diverse group of teachers who are experts in early childhood education. We've dedicated ourselves to understanding and developing teaching methods that cater to each child's individual needs so they can grow in a positive way. A community of involved parents
Park West Cooperative provides a stimulating and nurturing preschool environment where parents play an integral part in their child's first school experience. What we believe
Founded by parents who wanted to be involved in their children's education, Park West has a strong tradition of community and a commitment to helping each child grow as an individual and as a member of a group. How we’re structured
To help keep parents involved in high-level decision making as well as day-to-day operations, we're managed by a board of directors and committees that are comprised of parents.

09/30/2026

Reading on our own, with friends, and with the grown-ups who care for us📚☀️

Every page build curiosity, connection, and a lifelong love of learning. Who doesn’t love a good story?

✨Applications for the 2027-28 school year are now open. Come see us at a Pop-In Tour or Family Open Gym. (Link in bio!)

What does a child experience when their parent steps into their preschool world?At Park West Co-op, assisting in the cla...
09/28/2026

What does a child experience when their parent steps into their preschool world?

At Park West Co-op, assisting in the classroom is about much more than lending an extra set of hands. It’s a chance to see what captures your child’s curiosity, get to know the people and routines that fill their days, and show them that their school world matters to you.

In our latest blog post, our executive director shares why being in the classroom is such a meaningful part of the Park West experience, along with a few ideas to help parents make the most of their assisting day.

Read Why Being in the Classroom Matters on our blog.

The rain couldn't keep our Park West community away! 🌧️💕🫧Thank you to every family who attended (and stayed dry-ish) for...
09/24/2026

The rain couldn't keep our Park West community away! 🌧️💕🫧

Thank you to every family who attended (and stayed dry-ish) for our annual Fall Block Party. Even with a shortened afternoon, there were bubbles floating, smiles aplenty, live music filling the air, and fellowship between friends old and new.

This is what community looks like — showing up for each other, rain or shine. We're already looking forward to next year!

Once a single family home built in 1896, now a place where children come to play, learn, and grow. ✨Step inside our sun-...
09/21/2026

Once a single family home built in 1896, now a place where children come to play, learn, and grow. ✨

Step inside our sun-filled classrooms — bright, charming, and full of character in every corner. This space has held so many stories — and we're proud to call this neighborhood our home.

P.S. Our facility even received the 2019 Urban Land Institute Chicago Award for Historic Adaptive Reuse!

🍂What a great turnout at our Fall General Meeting! Thank you to all the families who showed up to connect with fellow Pa...
09/18/2026

🍂What a great turnout at our Fall General Meeting!

Thank you to all the families who showed up to connect with fellow Park West parents, hear updates on this year’s Board initiatives, and get the scoop on committee roles for the year ahead.

It’s this kind of involvement that makes our co-op community so special. Here’s to a great year of working together!🧡❤️

Hello from our 2026-2027 Teachers and Staff! ☀️
09/03/2026

Hello from our 2026-2027 Teachers and Staff! ☀️

Join us on Saturday, September 19th for our annual Fall Block Party! 🍂🎉 We look forward to seeing Park West families and...
08/31/2026

Join us on Saturday, September 19th for our annual Fall Block Party! 🍂🎉 We look forward to seeing Park West families and neighborhood friends alike. Will we see you there?

08/26/2026

Our staff has been hard at work preparing for the 2026-2027 school year to begin! We are so excited to welcome children and their families back to Park West Co-op. See you soon! ❤️

The Park West gym got an upgrade this weekend and our campers are loving our new swings! We can't wait out to try out th...
06/29/2026

The Park West gym got an upgrade this weekend and our campers are loving our new swings! We can't wait out to try out the monkey bars and zip line in the coming days!

Families often ask us "where do families go after attending Park West?" The answer truly is, "wherever they want to." Se...
05/18/2026

Families often ask us "where do families go after attending Park West?" The answer truly is, "wherever they want to." Selecting what comes next, at all levels of the education journey, can be a big stress points for families, especially with the vast amount of options and processes in Chicago. At Park West, we’re honored to support our students and families as they grow and move on to thrive in an array of outstanding schools.

We have a long standing program of advising families through this process. With hosting Grade School Visits at Park West, one-on-one advisory meetings with our Education Director, families leave with the connections, knowledge, and confidence to choose the perfect next step for their child. Our Co-op model and ongoing parent education give families a unique, deep understanding of their child, so when it's time to move on, they're ready to make the best decision possible. Check out our most recent blog post highlighting where families will be matriculating on to for fall 2026:

At Park West, we’re honored to support our students and families as they grow and move on to thrive in an array of outstanding schools in Chicago including Bennett Day School, Bernard Zell, Edison Regional Gifted Center, Francis W. Parker , Hawthorne Scholastic Academy , Latin School of Chicago , ...

Address

2214 N. Bissell Street
Chicago, IL
60614

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+17733271115

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