Public Schools in Roscoe Village/Lincoln Square

I'm a CPS teacher and mom. Of the schools you listed, Bell is the best, followed by Blaine. The principal of the school where I work, sends his 2 kids to Blaine's pre-k and is happy with it. My neighbor sends his daughter to Blaine and loves it. A teacher friend of mine sent her daughter to Bell and loved it. But, Bell has several different programs, so you should consider each program separately when evaluating the school. Just so you know, here in Chicago lots of people drive their kids to schools outside their own neighborhood. But, since you're renting, you can always move after you find a school you love for kindergarten. Even though you missed the prek deadline, you should call and see if any schools have space for next year. Sometimes there is room. You might be able to join the waiting lists.
Hope this helps! Good luck with your move!

We're in the Blaine neighborhood in Lakeview. I have heard nothing but great things about it!

I have always been told that Blaine and Bell are the two best grade schools in the city. You will pay more for real estate in those districts because of it, but a child can also test into it if there scores are high enough. My friend sent her daughter to Blaine and loved it! Sorry I can't add more. Good luck.

I have two children at the tuition-based preschool at Hamilton. The teacher at Hamilton preschool is excellent. Her name is Ms. Doe. (Her phone number is ###-###-####, in case you want to call her. She would be happy to talk to you about the preschool. If you haven't visited the preschool, you can arrange a visit with Ms. Doe. Also, there are spaces in the preschool for next year, which starts September 2008.) At the preschool, the students do a variety of activities. They have circle time, they have free play, they have music and art class, they play outside or in the gym, they learn their numbers and letters. They also have been taking dance classes with the dance teacher who teaches the older children in the school. I saw the preschoolers dance the merengue, and they were very cute! Ms. Doe, the preschool teacher, has such a nice manner with the children. I think she used to be a music teacher, so she sings a lot of songs with the children, and she has a very nice voice. She has been teaching preschool for several years now, so she is very experienced. My son had some social interaction issues in preschool, and Ms. Doe knew exactly how to deal with him. Ms. Doe loves children and it definitely shows in the way she deals with the preschoolers. I really think that, if you choose Hamilton preschool, you will love it.