The Goddard School of

Skokie - Evanston/ Wilmette

4.9 (37 reviews)

School Phone Number: 847-773-0200

, School Hours: 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

School Address: 9651 Gross Point Road, Skokie, Illinois 60076

Proudly Accredited by:

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School Highlights

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Air Filtration Systems
Air Purifying System
All Organic Foods Served
Antimicrobial Treatments
Art History
Catering
Handwriting
Computers
Biometric Entry Device

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Where They Start Matters

At The Goddard School of Skokie - Evanston/ Wilmette, we believe that the start of your child's journey matters. Families choose The Goddard School of Skokie – Evanston/Wilmette for a warm, academically rich environment where children feel known, valued, and inspired to thrive. Conveniently located in Skokie, near Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glenview & Morton Grove, we serve children from infancy through Pre-K with engaging, hands-on learning that builds confidence, independence, and lasting school readiness, guided by experienced educators. Schedule a tour today to experience the difference.

Expert, Caring Teachers

Our extraordinary educators shape your child’s experience, creating a fun and engaging learning environment with personalized lesson plans focused on whole-child development.

Meet Our Teachers

Curriculum

Our education program, Wonder of Learning^®, is the most innovative and well-researched on the market. It was created by early childhood development experts to empower children to explore their natural curiosity.

The Goddard Difference

Goddard is more than just a preschool. With a proven track record of academic and social excellence, we've earned the trust of countless happy families who have seen their children exceed expectations and step into the world with confidence and compassion.

Leading with Curiosity

The Goddard School’s high-quality educational programming is designed to ignite curiosity and fuel a lifelong love of learning.

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Meet Mary & Andrew Fratini On-Site Owners

Hello, we are Mary and Andrew Fratini, proud owners of the NAEYC-accredited Goddard School® of Skokie - Evanston/Wilmette. We’re honored to bring The Goddard School’s exceptional program to families across the North Shore. Andrew is a graduate of the University of Dayton, and Mary of the University of Iowa. As proud parents of two Goddard alumni, we saw the need for a high-quality early childhood option in the North Shore and opened our school in August 2016. Our mission is simple: to offer families the very best in early childhood education. We’re proud recipients of Goddard’s Circle of Excellence and President’s Club honors, reflecting our commitment to quality and family experience. We invite you to visit our beautiful, NAEYC-accredited school in Skokie. We’re excited to introduce you to our incredible faculty and leadership team and to share more about The Goddard School’s play-based curriculum. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of your child’s early learning journey!

Meet The Team

Classrooms & Programs

From infants and toddlers to pre-K, kindergarten and beyond, our classrooms are designed specifically with your little one’s needs in mind.

Infant

6 w - 12 m

In the Infant program, our teachers provide your baby with all the cuddles and care they need with opportunities to begin exploring the world around them.

Toddlers

12 - 24 m

As your little one rapidly develops physically and cognitively, our Toddler classroom is where their natural curiosity is fostered and their budding skills are nurtured.

Twos

2 - 3 yrs

In the Twos classroom, experienced, caring teachers guide your child through playful exploration, helping navigate big emotions while providing hands-on learning experiences that nurture their innate curiosity.

Bridge

2.5 - 3.5 yrs

As your child continues to gain independence, build self-care skills and learn more about themselves, the Bridge classroom provides the support they need to thrive in a preschool setting.

Preschool

3 - 4 yrs

In our Preschool classroom, your child starts their journey into a cooperative learning environment where they can discover interests and learn in a more structured setting.

Pre-K

4 - 5 yrs

As your child prepares for Kindergarten, our Pre-K classroom offers exciting opportunities to develop important skills, make new friends and explore the world around them.

Summer at Goddard

Summer at Goddard is all about capturing the carefree feeling of the season. Your child will learn, play and grow in a safe, familiar environment with expert teachers guiding them as they explore, make friends and build confidence.

Prioritizing Health and Happiness

Explore all the features and programs found at The Goddard School of Skokie - Evanston/ Wilmette.

Health and Safety

Air Filtration Systems
Air Purifying System
Antimicrobial Treatments

Biometric Entry Device
Crash-Rated Fencing
Disinfectant Sprayer
EPA-Approved Cleaning Products
Finger Guards
Gate Alarm
Halo
Outdoor Security Cameras
Parking Lot Bollards
Supervised Lobby Entry
Water Filtration System

Food and Nutrition

All Organic Foods Served
Catering
Fresh Fruit/Veggie Snacks

On-Site Cook

Enrichment and Environment

Art History
Chess
Computers

Dance
Degreed Teachers
Dramatic Arts Space
Engineering
Handwriting
Imagination Playground
Indoor Gym
Kodo Kids
Music Appreciation
Nutrition
Physical Fitness
Playground(s)
Rock Wall
STEAM Cart/Computer Lab
Secondary Languages
Sports & Fitness
Tablets
Tenured Teachers
Wonder of Learning®
World Cultures
Yoga & Mindfulness

What Our Goddard Village Is Saying

My son loves going to Goddard each day! We appreciate all the support and encouragement the teachers offer the students, they make the classroom a great place to learn and have fun (a special thanks to our current teachers Ms Darris, Ms Kristina, and Ms Mahveen). The directors and the owners keep things running smoothly and create a nice sense of community. We could not be happier!

Marion & Max's Mother

Pre-K Classroom

We have absolutely loved Goddard. It runs more like a school, rather than a daycare. There is basically zero turnover, a true testament to how well the staff is treated and how much they care about their role as teachers. After being at 2 other daycares before Goddard, I can truly say Goddard is best in class!

Rose & Cooper's Mother

Infant Classroom

Our daughter has flourished at Goddard, both socially and academically. The teachers are fantastic. There is very little turnover which indicates to us that the teachers like where they work. Most importantly, it is run to make the parents' lives easier. Can't recommend enough.

Annika's Father

Pre-K Classroom

Vibrant curriculum, teachers who are engaged from drop off to pickup, and the care the school administration puts into the small details. We've actually recommended Goddard to a student who is starting this fall!

Joshua's Mother

Preschool Classroom

We have had the most wonderful experience at Goddard. Leela has learned so much and has grown tremendously and we couldn't be more thankful. She's had amazing teachers that she has loved and we have always felt heard if we needed help or had a request. The directors are lovely and so helpful!

Leela's Mother

Goddard Graduate

This school is everything. The teachers and support staff are all incredible. Our girls love this school and so do we. I am so thankful for this school and all they have taught us.

Morgan & Rory's Father

Pre-K Classroom

My daughter, 11 months, LOVES her teachers. Drop off is rarely a problem and if I have to pick her up early, she doesn't even want to go with me - she wants to stay with her teachers! (Sea Lions!)

Cora & Poppy's Mother

Infant Classroom

Austin absolutely loves his teachers in Sea Lions. He has learned so much academically and socially and he’s only been there 7 months. My husband and I can’t wait to see him continue to grow and go to the other classrooms with the rest of the fantastic teachers at Goddard!

Austin's Mother

Infant Classroom

Preview the Fun

Get a snapshot of what happens in our classrooms at The Goddard School of Skokie - Evanston/ Wilmette.

Upcoming Events

March 13

Music with Mr. Kevin (Preschool/ Pre-K)

9:30 AM - 12 PM
March 18

Music with Mr. Kevin (younger rooms)

9:30 AM - 12 PM
March 20

Music with Mr. Kevin (Preschool/ Pre-K)

9:30 AM - 12 PM
March 25

Music with Mr. Kevin (younger rooms)

9:30 AM - 12 PM

View Our Events Calendar

Care You Can Trust

The Goddard School is proud to be recognized for our commitment to quality care and early learning! These accolades reflect our dedication to providing a safe, nurturing and enriching environment for every child.

CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE PRESIDENT’S CLUB

The Circle of Excellence President’s Club Award recognizes franchisees that meet the highest standards set by Goddard Systems in the areas of health and safety, curriculum, overall quality, punctual reporting and business operations. Eligibility is limited to franchisees that achieved the highest level of excellence, scoring in the top ten percent in each category.

March 2025

NAEYC ACCREDITED

Accredited +

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accredits early childhood programs according to health, safety and education standards. The standards are intended to provide a reliable and accountable accreditation system to encourage the field of early childhood education to strive for a new level of excellence.

August 2019 - September 2029

CRADLES TO CRAYONS

We work with Cradles to Crayons on their mission to end clothing insecurity for children. The organization collects new and nearly new children’s items which are distributed to children in need, free of charge.

January 2023

HUMANITARIAN AWARD

The Humanitarian Award honors a School that ‘does well by doing good.’ This award is given to the school that has demonstrated selfless devotion to serving those in need and demonstrates a commitment to community outreach. This award recognizes the life-enriching programs the School has participated in and positive contributions the School has made through community outreach endeavors.

February 2024 - February 2025

CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE

The Circle of Excellence Award recognizes franchisees for elevating the Goddard School brand, reputation and business performance through outstanding achievements in education and operational delivery. The Circle of Excellence program represents the very best of the system and reflects Goddard’s mission and values.

March 2024

READER'S CHOICE - DAILY HERALD

This award recognizes the best in the Chicagoland area as voted by the readers of the Daily Herald.

January 2019 - December 2026

BERNIE’S BOOK BANK

Bernie’s Book Bank collects, processes and distributes quality new and gently used children’s books to significantly increase book ownership among at-risk infants, toddlers and school-age children throughout Chicagoland.

January 2017

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

The Rookie of the Year Award recognizes the rookie Goddard School that has met the highest standards in the areas of overall quality, health & safety, curriculum and business operations.