Holy Family Catholic Academy

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Holy Family Catholic Academy is the only internationally and nationally recognized school in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. The Academy has been honored as an International Baccalaureate World School, the first middle school in the State of Illnois to become STEM Accredited, is a US Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and has a nationally certified outdoor classroom. HFCA prepares students in 2-year-old preschool through Grade 8 to become global thinkers and leaders grounded in their faith.
Students learn to cultivate critical thinking and problem solving skills through a commitment to innovation, inquiry learning, and applied technology.
HFCA serves as a model for meaningful change in Catholic education, the Archdiocese of Chicago, and the global community.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Top Ranked IL School
  • Grades: Nursery/Preschool-8
  • Enrollment: 518 students
  • Average class size: 20 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Holy Family Catholic Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Illinois for:

Category
Attribute

School Overview

School Membership(s)School Assoc.
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Nursery/Preschool-8
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Learning Programs Supported
Reading and literacy issues and learning behavior
Year Founded
2002
Awards
 Blue Ribbon School - Selected in 2017

Student Body

Total Students
518 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
13%
State avg.: 34%
Students by Grade
Holy Family Catholic Academy Student By Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers
64 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
8:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
78%
Average Class Size
20 students
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Uniform consists of navy pants/skirts and polo shirts

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
Tuition Notes
Please contact Deb Atkins for tuition information. Financial assistance is available.
% on Financial Aid
52%
Admissions Director
Deb Atkins

Sports

Total Sports Offered
6 sports

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
7 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Chess, Choir, Girl Scouts, Robots, Year Book

Club or Organization:
Boy Scouts, STEM Classes

School Notes

Holy Family Catholic Academy is nationally and internationally recognized for its commitment to engaging learners with relevant, real-world situations that impact local, national, and international communities. Holy Family Catholic Academy`s unique program offers a faith-based community of students, teachers, and parents working together to create a nurturing, stimulating environment for learners in 2-year-old preschool through Grade 8. Hallmarks of our program`s "thinking curriculum" include:
  • Using Teacher Assistants, HFCA maintains an average student-to-teacher ratio of less than 10:1.
  • Inquiry-based learning, an engaging, student-centered approach, expands teaching beyond the textbook and develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Differentiated instruction, a framework that promotes the use of varied instructional approaches to engage, challenge, and maximize learning for all students in the classroom.
  • The full-day Kindergarten program provides twice the classroom time as traditional half-day programs.
  • Integration of the arts into our curriculum including music, art, and Spanish language instruction.
  • An emphasis on literacy--focusing on reading and writing skills in addition to math and technology literacy.
HFCA is the only International Baccalaureate World School (IB) in the Northwest suburbs. IB Certification moves our curriculum from "best practices" to "next practices."

IB aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring global citizens who are motivated to succeed. The IB framework:
  • Encourages students to think independently and drive their own learning, and provides academic rigor to all learners.
  • Emphasizes students' personal development.
  • Engages students with people in an increasingly globalized rapidly changing world.
The IB framework provides our teachers and staff with:
  • Significantly more professional development.
  • Access to IB`s online curriculum centre with publications and teaching materials.
  • The opportunity to participate in worldwide forums with other IB World Schools who share HFCA`s commitment to a higher quality, challenging, and global education.
HFCA was the first middle school program in Illinois to become STEM certified through AdvancED. To earn STEM Certification, HFCA demonstrated adherence to the AdvancED STEM Standards as reflected by the Academy`s performance across 11 rigorous STEM Indicators. The certification process provides an initial evaluation along with a continuous improvement process, supported by research-based tools and resources. Achieving high scores across the indicators certifies that students have been equipped and trained to be innovative, creative, and systematic problem-solvers across disciplines.
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

What sports does Holy Family Catholic Academy offer?
Holy Family Catholic Academy offers 6 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Cheering, Cross Country, Golf, Track and Field and Volleyball.
What is Holy Family Catholic Academy's ranking?
Holy Family Catholic Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Illinois for: Largest student body.
When is the application deadline for Holy Family Catholic Academy?
The application deadline for Holy Family Catholic Academy is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

School Reviews

  5.00 out of 5  (5 reviews)
5  
The staff and administration at HFCA really truly care about the students. We have had our children there since 2009, and continue to be pleased with the choice. In addition to the amazing academics, the values reinforced at school are wonderful. The entire staff worked so hard this year to accomplish in-person learning from Day 1, which many schools could not or would not. It was not easy, but they refused to give up. Our children really benefited from this.
- Posted by
5  
HFCA has been our school for over 10 years and it has been a great experience. My children have felt the support and direction of the academic team that is at the top of their game. As my youngest moves into high school in the fall, I feel confident HFCA has prepared him not only academically but in all aspects of his life. I have seen this first hand with his older brother already. At HFCA, my children have had the ability to have a safe place to express their ideas and to be informed. What more could you ask from an institution, a school, a teacher, or a person to listen and be heard.
- Posted by
5  
HFCA prepared me to succeed in high school and beyond. It provided me with the tools I needed to be a thinker and a leader while living my life rooted in faith. The teachers care about the student's wellbeing and make an effort to create a home within their classroom. The curriculum is unmatched and allows you to think critically and explore rather than just sitting and reading from a textbook. I highly recommend HFCA!
- Posted by
5  
We were enrolled at HFCA from the time my twins were in first grade and until the day they graduated. To say it was a positive experience is an enormous understatement. My daughters were loved, guided, and prepared for the next level in the best possible way. We were always fortunate to have the "dream team" of classroom and special teachers. Coming off a year after COVID, it was amazing and heartwarming to see all the many ways HFCA battled to provide an environment as close to "normal" as possible. My daughters had the great fortune to be in person learners with the rest of their classmates. In short, HFCA gave us a wonderful gift. They kept my daughters` best interest at heart throughout the entirety of their time here. My daughters are ready to embark on a challenging honors curriculum as they enter high school and Holy Family is a major contributing factor to that level of readiness.
- Posted by
5  
We relocated from Germany to IL in 2018. Our 2 boys (preK/K at that time) did not speak English. We toured HFCA and immediately realized that this is a very progressive school that wants to grow the number of international students. HFCA was going above and beyond to make sure the boys are being integrated well. Teachers and staff were so patient and supportive and both felt 'at home' pretty quickly and so did we. The boys have grown so much socially, academically and spiritually in the last three years. During the pandemic the switch to eLearning happened over the weekend due to the excellent technical equipment and preparations for 'snow days' - and due to the engagement, the passion and the commitment of teachers and staff. For the new school year they were doing an outstanding job to assure a safe return to school - and the concept turned out to be successful. Our time in the US is coming to an end but our experiences at HFCA will last forever. I can absolutely recommend HFCA!
- Posted by

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • Top Ranked IL School
  • Grades: Nursery/Preschool-8
  • Enrollment: 518 students
  • Average class size: 20 students
  • Application Deadline: None / Rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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Did You Know?

The average private school tuition in Cook County, IL is $10,654 for elementary schools and $18,140 for high schools (read more about average private school tuition across the country).
The average acceptance rate in Cook County, IL is 90% (read more about average acceptance rates across the country).

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