Chicago · Licensed center
City Garden Waldorf School
At a glance
- Medium play-based center, licensed for 73 children.
- Hours 8:15 a.m. to 6 p.m., 5 days a week.
- Tuition Toddler $1,526, preschool $1,525 a month, full time. See costs
What to know
The license is the range the state allows. It does not say which ages have openings.
What the state has found
The state cited rules at all 6 of its licensing inspections since March 2019.
See each inspection
Licensing inspections
Apr 16, 20269 citations
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(5)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(4)
Background Checks for Personnel
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
Jan 15, 202512 citations
Organization and Administration
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(i)
Nutrition and Meal Service
Nutrition and Meal Service
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(a)
Application for License
Application for License
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.50(b)(3)
Provisions Pertaining to the License
Provisions Pertaining to the License
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.60(g)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(a)(1)
Organization and Administration
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(k)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(k)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(a)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(2)
Background Checks for Personnel
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(8)
Jan 23, 20233 citations
Background Checks for Personnel
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(f)
Jan 20, 20217 citations
Background Checks for Personnel
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(e)(1)
Substitutes
Substitutes
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.170(a)
Apr 1, 20191 citation
Provisions Pertaining to Permits
Provisions Pertaining to Permits
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.65(g)
Mar 4, 20194 citations
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d)
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(f)
Guidance and Discipline
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)
The state cited rules at all 6 of this center's inspections. Most Chicago-area centers inspected 6 times had fewer: 63% of 139.
How all 139 Chicago-area centers inspected 6 times compare
Of the 139 Chicago-area centers the state inspected 6 times, how many of those inspections cited a rule:
- 1 of 62%
- 2 of 64%
- 3 of 612%
- 4 of 614%
- 5 of 631%
- All 637%This center
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — Illinois DCFS
- Last visit
- April 16, 2026
- On file
- 6 visits since March 2019 — all of them cited findings
- Fixed?
- The latest correction deadline was May 16, 2026. Illinois DCFS does not publish whether it was made.
- Most serious
- Illinois DCFS does not publish a severity level for a citation, so there is no most-serious to name.
Illinois DCFS cites each subsection of a rule separately, so one audit of a filing cabinet can produce ten citations. It publishes the rule’s title and a correction deadline, but no description of what was observed.
Apr 2026 Monitoring visit 9 findings
Monitoring visit · April 16, 2026
Personnel Records
5 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) through (e)(4) · Violation substantiated · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(a)(5) · 407.120(e)(4)
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · Violation corrected
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation substantiated
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation substantiated
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 564188 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jan 2025 Monitoring visit 12 findings
Monitoring visit · January 15, 2025
Organization and Administration
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(i) through (k) · Violation substantiated
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(i) · 407.70(k)
Personnel Records
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4) through (e)(2) · Violation substantiated
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(e)(2)
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(a) through (1) · Violation substantiated
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(a) · 407.370(a)(1)
Application for License
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.50(b)(3) · Violation substantiated
Provisions Pertaining to the License
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.60(g) · Violation substantiated
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(8) · Violation substantiated
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation substantiated
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(k) · Violation substantiated
Nutrition and Meal Service
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.330(a) · Violation substantiated
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 564188 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jan 2023 Monitoring visit 3 findings
Monitoring visit · January 23, 2023
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected
Personnel Records
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(2) · Violation corrected
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(f) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 564188 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Jan 2021 Monitoring visit 7 findings
Monitoring visit · January 20, 2021
Personnel Records
5 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a) through (e)(1) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a) · 407.120(a)(2) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4) · 407.120(e)(1)
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected
Substitutes
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.170(a) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 564188 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Apr 2019 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · April 1, 2019
Provisions Pertaining to Permits
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.65(g) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 564188 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Mar 2019 Monitoring visit 4 findings
Monitoring visit · March 4, 2019
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(d) · Violation corrected
Daily Arrival and Departure of Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.260(f) · Violation corrected
Guidance and Discipline
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) · Violation corrected
Health Requirements for Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 564188 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
What it costs
City Garden Waldorf SchoolMost Chicago-area prices (middle 80%)
Monthly, full time. The band is the middle 80% of Chicago-area full-time prices for that age; 21 toddler and 18 preschool programs publish one.
- Part time
- $435 to $895 a month
- Deposit
- $1,000, not refundable
- Siblings
- 10% sibling discount for siblings at City Garden
A day here
8:15 a.m. to 6 p.m., 5 days a week
Sleep, updates for parents and schedule
- Sleep
- 2-year-old program has earlier nap times built into its shorter schedule
- Updates for parents
- Uses the Brightwheel platform
- Schedule
- 5, 3, or 2 days per week
How they teach
Play-based
“Play is the young child's greatest learning tool. Each child learns to use this tool in different ways at different times.”
Details
- Phone
- (312) 421-3050
- Address
- 920 W 19th St, Chicago, 60608
We couldn’t find some information that may matter to your decision: openings, child care subsidies, ratios and staff, sick and biting policies, and who owns it. We can ask the program for you and copy you in.
Sources and dates
Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.
How they teach
- Approach — Checked August 2026 citygardenschool.com
What it costs
- Toddler, Preschool, Second price, Deposit, Sibling discount — Checked August 2026 citygardenschool.com
State record
From Illinois DCFS’s published reports, last checked November 8, 2026.
A day here
- Sleep — Checked August 2026 citygardenschool.com
- Updates for parents, Hours — Checked August 2026 citygardenschool.com
- Schedule — Checked August 2026 citygardenschool.com
Details
- Phone, Address, License — Checked July 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "CITY GARDEN WALDORF SCHOOL" under Provider Name and 60608 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 564188).
- Website — Checked August 2026 citygardenschool.com
- Ages on the license — Checked November 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "CITY GARDEN WALDORF SCHOOL" under Provider Name and 60608 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 564188).
- Ages they serve — Checked August 2026 citygardenschool.com
Medium means the middle half of Chicago-area’s 1,948 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 49 to 118 children. Small is 8 to 48; large is 119 to 487.
The ages on the license are what the state licenses it to care for, which can be wider than the ages it takes.