About Us

Our History

From the dream of an Italian School to the reality of an International Community

We were six Italian friends in Chicago and we were all well aware of the same struggle: how to pass the Italian cultural identity and language on to our children, and keep them connected to their roots, far from Italy. Most of us had already lived through it, but we longed for a community where the new generation of children could experience that identity naturally, and where speaking Italian would just happen, without effort or reminding. Some of us started organizing Saturday Italian classes, and from that small, informal project, the dream of a real school began to surface.

Envisioning an International School

Soon, we realized we weren't just dreaming of a place to preserve a language and a culture. We were imagining something broader: a community where different perspectives could meet naturally, where being bilingual wasn't simply about maintaining an identity or sharpening the mind, but about building bridges between cultures and developing a lifelong capacity to move between worlds.

We were envisioning a school where the richness of the Italian educational tradition, shaped over centuries of history, could meet the dynamism and experimentalism of the American school environment: a place of academic excellence, where children would be free to explore, ask questions, and follow their curiosity. A school open to all.

Our Mission and Roots

Scuola Italiana Enrico Fermi is Chicago’s first Italian-American bilingual preschool and kindergarten program. Rooted in Italian language, culture, and educational tradition, we blend the Reggio Emilia approach with the openness, diversity, and innovation of the American school environment.

In our warm, dual-language community, children hear and speak Italian every day. Through inquiry, creativity, collaboration, and play, they are encouraged to ask questions, develop their own ideas, and become confident, independent thinkers.

Bilingualism at Scuola Fermi is about more than learning another language. It is a way for children to understand different perspectives, build meaningful connections across cultures, and develop the lifelong ability to move comfortably between worlds.

Although Scuola Fermi was founded by and for Chicago’s Italian community, our school has always been open to everyone. Today, we welcome children and families from all backgrounds into a close-knit international community where every child is known, valued, and encouraged to thrive.

Through full immersion in Italian language and culture, we nurture independent thinkers who are confident navigating a global, multicultural world.

Our Community and Culture

Decorated green wall with white tree silhouette, photos of houses, and leaves. Artworks hanging on a clothesline and labels in Italian.

A Reggio Emilia-inspired classroom at Scuola Fermi, displaying children’s artwork and Italian words as part of a bilingual project.

At Scuola Fermi, children learn in a warm, dual-language (Italian and English) environment where they hear and speak Italian every day. Our full-immersion program is the only one of its kind in Chicago, creating an authentic Italian atmosphere that reflects the school’s cultural roots. From the language in our classrooms to the Italian traditions we celebrate, every aspect of our school is genuine and heartfelt. Founded by and for the Italian community, Scuola Fermi has become a welcoming hub for Italian-American and expat families. Yet our doors are open to children from all backgrounds, and we cherish the diverse, close-knit community that has grown around our mission.

Parents seeking a bilingual or Italian immersion early childhood program in Chicago will find a sincere community where each child is valued, loved, and encouraged to thrive.

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