sirtravelalot // Shutterstock
1 / 25#25. Governor French Academy
- Location: Belleville, IL
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 110 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Best private high schools in Illinois
As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a '96 commencement address at Wellesley College, "Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead." If that's the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.
It's a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, education is key: 1.4 million students enrolled in private high schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. There were about 3,600 private secondary schools nationwide as of 2020.
For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these private high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to send their kids to better schools. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.
Stacker compiled a list of the best private high schools in Illinois using 2027 rankings from Niche. Online schools were not included. Niche uses 10 weighted factors for its rankings, including: college enrollment, culture and diversity, parent/student surveys, top enrolled colleges, and student-teacher ratio. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
You may also like: Best draft picks in Chicago Bulls history
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
2 / 25#24. Benet Academy
- Location: Lisle, IL
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 1,178 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
3 / 25#23. Daystar Academy
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 273 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Mircea Moira // Shutterstock
4 / 25#22. Christian Heritage Academy
- Location: Northfield, IL
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 425 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Achira22 // Shutterstock
5 / 25#21. Loyola Academy
- Location: Wilmette, IL
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 1,920 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
You may also like: Coldest Julys in Illinois since 1895
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
6 / 25#20. Regina Dominican High School
- Location: Wilmette, IL
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 213 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
7 / 25#19. Morgan Park Academy
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 451 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
8 / 25#18. The Chicago Academy for the Arts
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 101 (2:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
9 / 25#17. Bennett Day School
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 419 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
10 / 25#16. Academy High
- Location: Champaign, IL
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 58 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
You may also like: See how much it costs to attend Chicago White Sox games
LBeddoe // Shutterstock
11 / 25#15. Wolcott College Prep
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 144 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
SEALANDSKYPHOTO // Shutterstock
12 / 25#14. Rochelle Zell Jewish High School
- Location: Deerfield, IL
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 140 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
panitanphoto // Shutterstock
13 / 25#13. Fenwick High School
- Location: Oak Park, IL
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 963 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
14 / 25#12. Beacon Academy
- Location: Evanston, IL
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 140 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock
15 / 25#11. Latin School of Chicago
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 1,189 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
You may also like: How much does memory care cost in Illinois?
maroke // Shutterstock
16 / 25#10. Naperville Christian Academy
- Location: Naperville, IL
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 127 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
LStockStudio // Shutterstock
17 / 25#9. Saint Ignatius College Prep
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 1,512 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
ImageFlow // Shutterstock
18 / 25#8. Ida Crown Jewish Academy
- Location: Skokie, IL
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 248 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Daniel Hoz // Shutterstock
19 / 25#7. Lycée Français de Chicago
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 773 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
panitanphoto // Shutterstock
20 / 25#6. Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart
- Location: Lake Forest, IL
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 101 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
You may also like: The 20 most competitive housing markets in Illinois
maroke // Shutterstock
21 / 25#5. Francis W. Parker School
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 940 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Studio KIWI // Shutterstock
22 / 25#4. The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 2,205 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 25#3. North Shore Country Day
- Location: Winnetka, IL
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 505 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
24 / 25#2. British International School of Chicago, South Loop
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Grades: PK, K-12
- Enrollment: 792 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
Roman Kosolapov // Shutterstock
25 / 25#1. Lake Forest Academy
- Location: Lake Forest, IL
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 450 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: A+
You may also like: Hottest Marches in Illinois since 1895
