Best Private Schools in Chicago 鈥 2025

February 23, 2025

chicago private schools

The Chicago Area is fortunate enough to have some of the best public high schools in the United States. However, if you are unable to access those particular institutions or feel that a private school would be more beneficial to your son or daughter, then you are also in luck. This is due to the fact that Chicago also has a number of fantastic private high school options. Of course, your decision-making process will need to balance your teen鈥檚 academic, emotional, and social needs with financial and logistical considerations. 国产第一福利影院草草鈥 list of the Best Private Schools in Chicago will focus primarily on our area of expertise鈥college admissions. As such, we will highlight the job that each of the schools fare at sending their graduates on to the region/nation鈥檚 premier 4-year schools.

Best Private Schools in Chicago – 2025

Here鈥檚 a quick preview of the schools that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.

1) Francis W. Parker School

2) Latin School of Chicago

3) University of Chicago Laboratory Schools

4) Loyola Academy

5) Lake Forest Academy

6) Morgan Park Academy

7) North Shore Country Day

8) St. Ignatius College Prep

9) Rochelle Zell Jewish High School

10) Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart

Please note that inclusion on our Best Private Schools in Chicago list is a selective and criteria-based process. However, the order in which the schools appear is not representative of any further ranking; the numbering is solely intended to enhance the ease of navigating this resource.  All of the schools profiled below have a history of sending graduates to the top colleges in the country. For each of the best private high schools in Chicago, 国产第一福利影院草草 will provide you with the:

  • Location
  • Tuition (9-12)
  • Enrollment (9-12)
  • Average Score
  • Average Score
  • Senior Class Size
  • College Admissions Highlights
  • Academic Highlights

Without further delay, let鈥檚 look at the best private schools in Chicago.

#1 Best Private Schools in Chicago
Francis W. Parker School – Chicago

Francis W. Parker School – Chicago

  • 330 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

College Admissions Highlights:  From 2020-2023, multiple students enrolled at the following schools: UMichigan (22), Northwestern (16), UChicago (10), Tufts (9), Vanderbilt (9), WashU (7), George Washington (6), NYU (6), Stanford (6), Wake Forest (6), Georgetown (5), Harvard (5), USC (5), Yale (5), Northeastern (4), BC (4), and UCLA (3). 

Academic Highlights: 88% of staff members possess advanced degrees.  46% self-identify as students of color.  50 鈥渘o-cut鈥 inter-scholastic teams with 75% of students participating. The 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio.  Over 40 clubs for students to join.  Upper School has robust arts and Model UN programs.

    • Tuition (9-12): $42,320
    • Enrollment (Seniors): 55
    • Average SAT Score: Not Reported
    • Average ACT Score: Not Reported


#2 Best Private Schools in Chicago
Latin School of Chicago – Chicago

Latin School of Chicago – Chicago

  • 59 W North Blvd, Chicago, IL 60610

College Admissions Highlights:  Over a recent 5 year span, students have enrolled in prominent universities such as: American, BC, Brown, Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Howard, John Hopkins, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Pomona, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, Tufts, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UChicago, U Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Wesleyan, William & Mary, and Yale.

Academic Highlights:  Students come from 45 Chicago neighborhoods and 15 suburbs. 84% of faculty members hold advanced degrees and 35% have taught at Latin for more than 10 years.  38% consider themselves students of color.  9:1 student-to-teacher ratio. 20 competitive sports teams are available with 79% students playing. 50 clubs for students to join and 40 performing arts productions and concerts in the middle and upper school

    • Tuition (9-12): $46,395
    • Enrollment (9-12): 509
    • Average SAT Score: Not Reported
    • Average ACT Score: Not Reported


#3 Best Private Schools in Chicago
University of Chicago Laboratory Schools – Chicago

University of Chicago Laboratory Schools – Chicago

  • 1362 E 59th St, Chicago, IL 60637

College Admissions Highlights:  In the past three years, students from Laboratory Schools have chosen the following colleges and universities:  American, BU, Brandeis, Brown, Bryn Mawr, Carleton, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Cornell, DePaul, Emory, Georgetown, Grinnell, Harvard, Indiana, Loyola, Macalester, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Northwestern, Pitzer, Princeton, Purdue, Rice, Stanford, Swarthmore, Tufts, UC Berkeley, U Chicago, Michigan, Penn, USC, U Washington, Vanderbilt, Washington U, Wellesley, and Yale.

Academic Highlights:  Affiliated with the University of Chicago.  10 AP courses & 15 Advanced Topic courses are offered (student may take AP exam for AT courses). 62% of students identify as non-white. Over 60 languages are spoken in students鈥 homes.  UChicago professors routinely visit U-High classes. 40 hours of service learning is a graduation requirement.

    • Tuition (9-12): $44,592
    • Enrollment (9-12): 627
    • Average SAT Score: 1428
    • Average ACT Score: 30.9


#4 Best Private Schools in Chicago
Loyola Academy – Chicago

Loyola Academy – Chicago

  • 1100 Laramie Ave, Wilmette, IL 60091

College Admissions Highlights:  The last two years saw students matriculate to the following institutions: American, Baylor, BC, BU, CalTech, Case Western, Colby, Colgate, Cornell, Davidson, DePaul, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northeastern, Northwestern, Stanford, TCU, Tennessee, UChicago, UMichigan, Notre Dame, USC, UVA, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Wake Forest, and Washington U.

Academic Highlights:  Enrollment from 90+ zip codes. 83% of faculty hold advanced degrees. 24 AP courses are available and 52 honors courses. 93% of AP students earned a 3 or better on the exam.  10% of students participate in one of these honors programs: Dubach Scholars, Clavius Scholars, or the STEAM Scholars.

    • Tuition (9-12): $21,450
    • Enrollment (seniors): 495
    • Average SAT Score: Not Reported
    • Average ACT Score: 28.0


#5 Best Private Schools in Chicago
Lake Forest Academy – Chicago

Lake Forest Academy – Chicago

  • 1500 Kennedy Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045

College Admissions Highlights:  The most popular destinations for LFA graduates over the last four years include: BC, Brown, Bucknell, CalTech, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Dartmouth, Davidson, Drexel, Emory, George Washington, Georgetown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Marquette, NYU, Northeastern, Northwestern, Pepperdine, Purdue, RPI, Rice, UC Berkeley, UCLA, U Chicago, U Miami, U Michigan, UNC Chapel Hill, Penn, USC, Vanderbilt, VaTech, Villanova, Wake Forest, Washington U, Wellesley, William & Mary, Williams, and Yale.

Academic Highlights:  71% of faculty have advanced degrees.  7:1 student-to-faculty ratio.  The average class size is 12 students.  24 AP courses are offered.  39% of domestic students identify as students of color. 50% of the students are boarding.  27 Varsity Sports, 60+ Clubs, and over 12 offerings in art with an AP Music Theory Class.

    • Tuition (9-12): $53,200 (Day); $73,400 (Boarding)
    • Enrollment (seniors): 123
    • Median SAT Score: 1430
    • Median ACT Score: 31


#6 Best Private Schools in Chicago
Morgan Park Academy – Chicago

Morgan Park Academy – Chicago

  • 2153 W 111th St, Chicago, IL 60643

College Admissions Highlights:  In the past 15 years, students have gone on to enter some of the nation鈥檚 top colleges including Brown, CalTech, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, George Washington, Howard, John Hopkins, Loyola, Marquette, Michigan State, Morehouse, MIT, Northwestern, Penn State, Pepperdine, Purdue, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, UCLA, UChicago, Notre Dame, Penn, U Michigan, Vanderbilt, Washington U, and Yale.

Academic Highlights:  Fewer than 15 students is the average class size.  76% of teachers hold advanced degrees.  The average unweighted GPA earned is 3.48.  8:1 student-to-teacher ratio.  15 AP courses are offered.

    • Tuition (9-12): $25,755
    • Enrollment (seniors): ~30
    • Average SAT Score: Not Reported
    • Average ACT Score: Not Reported


#7 Best Private Schools in Chicago
North Shore Country Day – Chicago

North Shore Country Day – Chicago

  • 310 Green Bay Rd, Winnetka, IL 60093

College Admissions Highlights:  Two or more students the most recent five classes went on to matriculate into American, Barnard, BC, BU, Colgate, Davidson, Denison, Emory, George Washington, Hamilton, Harvard, Howard, Kenyon, Loyola, Middlebury, NYU, Northeastern, Northwestern, Purdue, Rice, SMU, Trinity, U Chicago, U Miami, U Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn, UVA, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Washington U, and Yale.

Academic Highlights:  7:1 student-to-teacher ratio with an average class size of 12.  43% students of color. 20 AP courses are offered.  80% of the faculty possess advanced degrees. About 85% of upper school students participate in at least one of the 17 sports offered. Over 28 student led clubs and affinity groups. All students are encouraged to ‘take the stage’ with their performing arts program.

    • Tuition (9-12): $41,425
    • Enrollment (Upper School): 195
    • Average SAT Score: Not Reported
    • Average ACT Score: Not Reported


#8 Best Private Schools in Chicago
St. Ignatius College Prep – Chicago

St. Ignatius College Prep – Chicago

  • 1076 Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL 60608

College Admissions Highlights:  In the last five years, students have enrolled in the following colleges and universities: American, Baylor, BC, Brown, Bryn Mawr, CalPoly, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, GaTech, Harvard, Howard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Northwestern, Ohio State, Pepperdine, Princeton, Rice, Stanford, Tufts, US Military Acad, UC Berkeley, U Chicago, UMass, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn, USC, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Wake Forest, Wellesley, and Yale.

Academic Highlights:  The student-to-faculty ratio is 15:1.  80% of faculty have advanced degrees. 38% student identify as people of color. In the last six years, the school has produced an average of 5 National Merit Finalists.  78% of students have achieved a 3 or higher on an AP test.  The school offers 27 AP courses & 72 honors courses.  Over 60 clubs, 14 of which are service oriented. 70% students participate in 34 athletic programs.

    • Tuition (9-12): $22,600
    • Enrollment (seniors): 358
    • Average SAT Score: 1285
    • Average ACT Score: 28.4


#9 Best Private Schools in Chicago
Rochelle Zell Jewish High School – Chicago

Rochelle Zell Jewish High School – Chicago

  • 1095 Lake Cook Rd, Deerfield, IL 60015

College Admissions Highlights:  Recent college acceptances for the last five years for Rochelle Zell include Brandeis, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western, Colgate, Cornell, Dartmouth, DePaul, Duke, Embry-Riddle, Emory, Grinnell, Harvard, Indiana U, Lake Forest, Marquette, MIT, Michigan State, NYU, Northeastern, Northwestern, Ohio State, Princeton, Purdue, Stanford, Tel Aviv U, Tennessee, UT Austin, Tufts, UChicago, U Miami, U Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, Vanderbilt, Vassar, Wake Forest, and Washington U.

Academic Highlights:  1:15 teacher-to-student ratio. 10 AP courses.  91% of students who tested AP scored a 3 or higher.  90% of the faculty hold advanced degrees.  All students study Tanach/Bible, Jewish History, Jewish Thought, and Talmud. 80% students participate in at least one sport.

    • Tuition (9-12): $35,900
    • Enrollment (9-12): 152
    • Average SAT Score: Not Reported
    • Average ACT Score: 29.2


#10 Best Private Schools in Chicago
Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart – Chicago

Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart – Chicago

  • 760 E Westleigh Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045

College Admissions Highlights:  Over the last five years, Woodlands Academy graduates have been accepted to these prestigious schools: American, Belmont, BC, BC, Brandeis, Bryn Mawr, Case Western, Cornell, Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Ga Tech, Lake Forest, Loyola, Middlebury, NYU, Northwestern, Pratt, Princeton, Purdue, RIT, Skidmore, Ohio State, UChicago, UMass, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, Villanova, Wake Forest, Washington U, Wellesley, and Wesleyan.

Academic Highlights:  Woodlands Academy is an all-girls institution.  The average class size is just 10 students.  4:1 student-to-teacher ratio.  20% of students live on campus. 90% of faculty possess advanced degrees.  20+ AP subjects are offered. 70% of students participate in at least one sport.  18+ clubs and 120 different leadership positions available to students.

    • Tuition (9-12): $32,985 (Day); $65,865 (7-Day Boarding)
    • Enrollment (seniors): ~145
    • Average SAT Score: Not Reported
    • Average ACT Score: Not Reported


Private Schools in Chicago

We hope you found our blog on private schools in Chicago to be helpful. All high school students and families may wish to explore further information regarding the college search and admissions process at our Dataverse, Blog, and .