
City Elementary
Grades and ages
Grades K-8
Student-teacher ratio
4:1
Tuition
Contact School for Tuition Rates and Need-Based Financial Assistance
School photos
About City Elementary
City Elementary is an innovative, independent, neurodiversity-affirming day school located in Chicago's historic Hyde Park neighborhood. Serving neurodiverse students in grades kindergarten through 8th grade, City Elementary specializes in educating bright, creative learners with Autism Spectrum differences, sensory processing sensitivities, ADHD, and social communication needs. The school operates with an intimate 4:1 student-to-teacher ratio in multi-age classrooms designed to foster deep relationships, collaborative problem-solving, and social-emotional security. Rooted in the DIR/Floortime developmental model, City Elementary seamlessly integrates movement, sensory diet accommodations, occupational therapy, and speech therapy into an inquiry-rich, experiential academic curriculum.
Student fit
Who this school serves
Grades and ages
- Kindergarten
- Grades 1-5
- Grades 6-8
- Elementary (K-5)
- Middle School (6-8)
Learning needs supported
- ADHD
- Autism (ASD)
- learning disabilities
- sensory processing disorders
Specialties
- Autism Spectrum Differences
- Sensory Processing Sensitivities
- ADHD & Executive Functioning
- Social Communication & Peer Interaction
- Anxiety & School-Based Stress
Learning and support
Curriculum and therapeutic services
Services and supports
- Integrated Occupational Therapy
- Speech and Language Support
- Sensory Diet & Regulation Spaces
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
- Executive Functioning Support
Programs
Programs at City Elementary
Other programs and supports
- Integrated Occupational Therapy
- Speech and Language Support
- Sensory Diet & Regulation Spaces
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
- Executive Functioning Support
School facts
Practical details for families
Accreditation and licensing
- ISBE Recognized Independent School
Tuition and funding
Tuition: Contact School for Tuition Rates and Need-Based Financial Assistance
- Private Pay
- Need-Based Financial Aid
- Potential District Placement Agreement
Visit us
Location and directions
Map
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about City Elementary
What is the educational approach at City Elementary?
City Elementary utilizes a child-centered, neurodiversity-affirming philosophy grounded in the DIR/Floortime framework. Learning is experiential, project-based, and tailored to each student's sensory profile and cognitive strengths in small, multi-age classrooms.
How does City Elementary accommodate sensory processing and regulation needs?
Classrooms feature flexible seating, quiet break areas, and dedicated sensory spaces. Educators work alongside occupational therapy professionals to incorporate movement breaks, sensory diets, and self-regulation tools into the daily academic flow.
How can families apply for admission to City Elementary?
The admissions process includes an initial parent informational tour, review of prior educational or neuropsychological evaluations, and a multi-day student classroom visit to ensure mutual fit and a supportive peer dynamic.
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