Our History

Barbara Marlas founded Kensington School more than fifty years ago. As an educator, Mrs. Marlas recognized in 1969 that the children who attended quality early childhood programs were a step ahead of their peers. They were confident, enthusiastic, and ready to learn. Mrs. Marlas immersed herself in researching child development and decided the best early childhood programs would not be entrenched in one single philosophy. Each type of curriculum had components that were intriguing:

• Play-based programs encouraged children’s independence and social confidence.
• Traditional curriculum helped children regulate behavior and provided exposure to concepts that prepared them for academic success.
• Curiosity-based programs encouraged a higher level of thinking and language development, as well as allowed for social engagement through small group problem solving and exploration.

Mrs. Marlas wanted her own children to enjoy the benefits of a program incorporating the best of what she gleaned during her research. She exhaustively explored prospective early childhood programs but could not find a school with the right balance. With a mother’s passion for giving her children the best possible educational foundation, and a deep respect for early childhood educators, Mrs. Marlas opened her first school in 1969. Decades later, this small school grew to shape the lives of tens of thousands of children.

Kensington School is named after the address of its very first location on Kensington Avenue in LaGrange, Illinois. Built in 1894, the building served as the town’s first schoolhouse and its unique interior architecture has served as an inspiration for the construction of all subsequent Kensington School buildings.

With an innovative spirit rooted in a deep history, Kensington School has raised the bar on early childhood education for over 50 years, creating a ripple effect that reaches far beyond our schools.