Letter from the Director - Application Year 2025-2026

Dear Prospective Families, 

Thank you for your interest in University Primary School (Uni Primary School), where "Learning is Serious Delight!" For over 50 years, University Primary has been the lab school of the College of Education here on the amazing campus of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. We are a school for the campus and non-campus community! Uni Primary does not give preference to University-affiliated families, nor a discount for University families; we welcome all families in our Champaign-Urbana and surrounding communities to apply. 

We have a masterful and experienced Head Teacher in each classroom, supported by two Co-Teachers who each hold a Teaching Liscense. Additionally, we host student teachers, social work interns, and University volunteers in-training. We are a Reggio Emilia inspired school where children Preschool-5th grade engage in creative, challenging, and meaningful curricular inquiries and projects paired with Illinois Learning standards. At Uni Primary, children of diverse talents and abilities form a democratic community of learners nurtured by teachers attuned to best practices in early childhood and elementary education, gifted, and special education. University Primary School has 4 classrooms: Preschool (ages 3-5), Kindergarten/First grades combined (ages 5-7), Second/Third grades combined (ages 7-9), and Fourth/Fifth grades combined (ages 9-11). Ages are typical for the classrooms. 

Though it is ideal for families to apply to our school during the yearly spring admission period January 10-March 1, applications across all classrooms continue to be accepted throughout the spring, summer, and current school year if spots are available. It is highly recommended that families submit an application during the yearly spring admissions timeframe, even if applying from out-of-state/country, so that your child may receive full consideration for the upcoming school year. A waiting list is maintained for students accepted to the school, but for whom there is no available space. The waiting list is not maintained year-to-year, but families are welcome to reapply.

Prospective families are required to attend the Fall or Spring Open House or make an individual site visit to University Primary as part of the admissions process. We want you to experience our classrooms with children and teachers, as we are, in our everyday. Our Spring 2025 Open House is Thursday, February 6. Tour preschool anytime between 9:00-Noon and/or Kindergarten-Fifth grade anytime between 9:00-2:30 at Open House. You need not sign up to attend Open House; all are welcome. Families unable to attend Open House and/or who wish to schedule a site visit during the spring admissions timeframe should do so via our Applications Page. In-person site visits/Open House is the preferred visit type, though virtual visits are available for families without proximity to our school. Your child(ren) are welcome to attend a site visit/Open House with you, though their attendance is not required. We do not interview children, nor require children to undergo observation/performance as part of our admissions process. For 2nd-5th grade families only, we may recommend a visit day for their child(ren), so they may offer impressions of Uni Primary pending a transfer. 

When seeking a virtual site visit or a site visit June-December, email Uni Primary's Director: Dr. Ali Lewis 

Please use the University Primary School Application Page to locate and complete admissions materials and submit the application fee. When completing forms, you may choose to bullet point answers, write in narration, or provide short answers to questions about your child and your wishes for their school experiences. We are interested in child-created, authentic work samples as part of the application materials (rather than worksheets or adult-created materials). We seek a philosophical match between University Primary School’s approach to learning and your family's expectations for schooling. 

We strongly encourage you to submit all application materials within one week of your site visit/Open House. Your application is complete when all forms and student work samples are submitted and application fee is paid. Families with incomes qualifying for free or reduced lunch under Federal guidelines may receive an application fee waiver and any family (regardless of income) may apply for a partial tuition waiver with priority awarded to low income families. 

Our school is truly a special place where "Learning is Serious Delight!" We look forward to thinking together with you about your family and Uni Primary School.

Sincerely,
Dr. Alisha (Ali) Lewis
Director, University Primary School
Adjunct Lecturer, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

alilewis@illinois.edu