FIRST SCHOOL
License issued (IL)25610 S GOUGAR RD, MANHATTAN, IL 60442
DCC in Will County, Illinois
- Hours
- 6:30 AM–6 PM
- Licensed for
- 133 children
The public record
- License number
- 491997
- License status
- License issued (IL)
- License type
- DCC
- Licensed capacity
- 133 children
- Address
- 25610 S GOUGAR RD, MANHATTAN, IL 60442
- County
- Will County
- Phone
- +18154786001
- Website
- Not listed
Hours
Listed on Google
- Mon
- 6:30 AM–6 PM
- Tue
- 6:30 AM–6 PM
- Wed
- 6:30 AM–6 PM
- Thu
- 6:30 AM–6 PM
- Fri
- 6:30 AM–6 PM
- Sat
- Closed
- Sun
- Closed
Hours change without the licence record changing. Call before you plan a drop-off around these times.
What Illinois licensed
Illinois licenses day care and overnight care separately, so FIRST SCHOOL is listed against each one it holds. Every figure is a ceiling the state set, not a count of places free.
- Day care, ages
- 6 weeks to 12 years
- Day care, licensed for
- 133 children
- Languages reported
- English
Amenities and accessibility
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Reported on the provider's Google business listing, not verified by the state.
How the reviews split
The 4.8 average comes from 30 Google reviews. An average hides whether opinion is consistent or divided, so the spread is shown too.
- 5 star28
- 4 star0
- 3 star0
- 2 star1
- 1 star1
From Google
Recent parent reviews
We can’t speak highly enough of First School. The staff are warm and welcoming, while having clear expectations for students. The environment is filled with developmental appropriate play based educational activities and toys. The facilities are always clean and well organized. They provide a routine and structure all students can thrive in! Highly recommend!
Megan MundtJun 11, 2026I cannot say enough wonderful things about First School. My children attended from the time they were just 3 months old through my oldest being 10 years old, and it truly became a second home for our family. The teachers are caring, compassionate, and genuinely invested in each child’s growth and well-being. They create a nurturing environment where children feel safe, supported, and encouraged to learn. Throughout the years, I watched my children grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally. The staff helped foster a love of learning and provided a strong foundation that allowed them to thrive both in and out of the classroom. The dedication, professionalism, and kindness of the teachers and staff make First School an exceptional place for children. I am incredibly grateful for the care and education my children received, and I highly recommend First School to any family looking for a high-quality daycare and learning environment.
Lori VittJun 11, 2026My family has been with First School since 2014. Sadly, this year is the end of our time with staff that have become like family as we send our youngest to Kindergarten! Over the last 12 years, we have sent our 3 kids and have been so blessed with care and education. First School has more than prepared my kids for their next adventure and we could not have been more pleased! Megan Murphy!
MeganMar 19, 2026First School has been great for my family! My kids have attended since they were 12 weeks old. We love the whole staff and the kids learn so much! I would recommend First School to anyone looking for day care or preschool!
Katherine WilmothFeb 26, 2026I am pleased to offer my strong recommendation for First School. In my role as a speech-language pathologist providing services within their program, I have had the opportunity to see firsthand the level of care, dedication, and professionalism that the director (Sarah) and staff bring to the children and families they serve. What stands out most about this daycare is how deeply invested the team is in each child’s growth and well-being. The staff consistently create a nurturing, engaging environment where children feel safe, supported, and encouraged to learn. They take the time to truly know each child as an individual, responding thoughtfully to developmental, social, and emotional needs. From a professional standpoint, their openness and cooperation are exceptional. Sarah and her staff communicate clearly, welcome collaboration, and actively support therapy goals so children can make meaningful progress. They are proactive, flexible, and consistently follow through on strategies and recommendations, which greatly benefits the children receiving services. In fact, this is the only daycare in the area where I currently provide therapy services, specifically because of the positive, team-based approach and the strong partnership I have with them. Their willingness to work collaboratively and their genuine commitment to doing what is best for children set them apart. Additionally, as a SLP that specializes in feeding therapy, their healthy menu and approach of exposure to a variety of foods is a welcome change to daycare environments. I confidently recommend First School to families seeking a caring, professional, clean, healthy, and child-centered early learning environment. Sincerely, Renee Peavler, MS, CCC-SLP/L Speech-Language Pathologist Talk The Talk, Inc
Alice Renee PeavlerFeb 5, 2026We started our little one with first school at 7 months and I wish we would of started sooner! As I write this post, she is 16 months and the development we have seen since attending First School is insane! They are very loving, caring, detailed oriented and kind. They truly care about your child and their personal growth. There has been many times I have came to the staff for advice or help and I have never felt judged or unseen. Sarah and her faculty are TOP NOTCH!
Carlee VandalOct 1, 2025
Reviews shown verbatim as published on Google Maps.
Questions parents ask about FIRST SCHOOL
Is FIRST SCHOOL a licensed child care provider in Illinois?
- Yes. FIRST SCHOOL holds Illinois licence 491997, listed as "License issued (IL)" by the Department of Children and Family Services, licensed as a day care center in Will County. Confirm current standing at sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov before enrolling.
What ages does FIRST SCHOOL accept?
- Illinois licenses FIRST SCHOOL for children 6 weeks to 12 years during the day, with a licensed day capacity of 133. The span is what the licence permits, not a statement of which ages have places free.
What languages are spoken at FIRST SCHOOL?
- The licence record lists English. That is what the provider reported to the state, not a guarantee that a speaker is on site at every hour.
Does this page show inspection results for FIRST SCHOOL?
- No. Illinois publishes monitoring and licensing reports going back to 2010 through Sunshine at sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov. Those reports are not included here, so nothing on this page reflects FIRST SCHOOL's inspection history either way. Look the provider up there and read the monitoring record.
Nearby providers
Related Centers in Illinois
About this record
This page republishes the public license record maintained by the Department of Children and Family Services. Fields marked "Not listed" are absent from the state's published data, not hidden. Verify current license status with the agency before enrolling.
Where this comes from
- Primary. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services provider record, published through DCFS Sunshine, licence 491997. Monitoring reports back to 2010 are published there and are not included on this page.
- Context. Our explainer on how Illinois daycare licensing and inspections work, and on Illinois child care assistance.
Licensing facts on this page were last checked against the state record on . We republish the public licensing record and label absent fields plainly rather than leaving them blank. Where our data comes from · Report an error