The average private school in Illinois was founded around 1961 (2025).
The oldest private school in Illinois is Most Blessed Trinity Academy, founded in 1841.
Year Founded Range: 1841
1860
Avg. Year Founded: 1853
Oldest Private Schools in Illinois (2025)
School
Founding Date
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
Founding Date: 1841
Grades: K-7
510 W. Grand Ave.
Waukegan, IL 60085
(847) 623-4110
Waukegan, IL 60085
(847) 623-4110
Rank: #22.
St. Marys School
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1842
Grades: PK-8
1802 Madison Ave
Edwardsville, IL 62025
(618) 656-1230
Edwardsville, IL 62025
(618) 656-1230
Rank: #33.
Founding Date: 1843
Grades: PK-8
2304 Church St
Mchenry, IL 60051
(815) 385-3959
Mchenry, IL 60051
(815) 385-3959
Rank: #44.
Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts High School![Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts High School Photo]( "Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts High School Photo")
All-girls (Catholic)
Founding Date: 1846
Grades: 9-12
3737 W 99th Street
Chicago, IL 60655
(773) 881-6507
Chicago, IL 60655
(773) 881-6507
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Aaa Academy
Special Education School
Founding Date: 1847
Grades: 1-8
13801 Chatham St
Blue Island, IL 60406
(708) 206-0000
Blue Island, IL 60406
(708) 206-0000
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Founding Date: 1847
Grades: PK-8
208 E Schaumburg Rd
Schaumburg, IL 60194
(847) 885-3350
Schaumburg, IL 60194
(847) 885-3350
Rank: #77.
Founding Date: 1848
Grades: PK-8
304 South St
Collinsville, IL 62234
(618) 344-3145
Collinsville, IL 62234
(618) 344-3145
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
St. John Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1849
Grades: PK-8
302 W Holmes St
Chester, IL 62233
(618) 826-4345
Chester, IL 62233
(618) 826-4345
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
St. Johns Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1849
Grades: PK-8
4231 183rd St
Country Club Hills, IL 60478
(708) 799-7491
Country Club Hills, IL 60478
(708) 799-7491
Rank: #1010.
Founding Date: 1850
Grades: PK-K
1740 Lake Avenue
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 256-7870
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 256-7870
Rank: #1111.
Zion Lutheran School![Zion Lutheran School Photo]( "Zion Lutheran School Photo")
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1851
Grades: PK-8
203 S Vine
Mount Pulaski, IL 62548
(217) 795-5715
Mount Pulaski, IL 62548
(217) 795-5715
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Founding Date: 1852
Grades: PK-8
2329 S Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162
(708) 562-5580
Hillside, IL 60162
(708) 562-5580
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Wheatland Salem Christian Academy
Daycare / Preschool (Methodist)
Founding Date: 1852
Grades: PK-K
1852 95th St
Naperville, IL 60564
(630) 904-7035
Naperville, IL 60564
(630) 904-7035
Rank: #14 - 1714. - 17.
Founding Date: 1853
Grades: K-12
205 S 24th St
Quincy, IL 62301
(217) 592-0323
Quincy, IL 62301
(217) 592-0323
Rank: #14 - 1714. - 17.
Immaculate Conception![Immaculate Conception Photo - Mr. Kish welcomes students on the first day.]( "Immaculate Conception Photo - Mr. Kish welcomes students on the first day.")
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1853
Grades: PK-8
321 S Metter Avenue
Columbia, IL 62236
(618) 281-5353
Columbia, IL 62236
(618) 281-5353
Rank: #14 - 1714. - 17.
Founding Date: 1853
Grades: PK-8
201 E Franklin Ave
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 355-0113
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 355-0113
Rank: #14 - 1714. - 17.
Wheaton Academy![Wheaton Academy Photo]( "Wheaton Academy Photo")
(Christian)
Founding Date: 1853
Grades: 9-12
900 Prince Crossing Rd
West Chicago, IL 60185
(630) 562-7500
West Chicago, IL 60185
(630) 562-7500
Rank: #18 - 2018. - 20.
Concord Lutheran School![Concord Lutheran School Photo - Pictures with the Easter Bunny at our annual PTO Egg Hunt!]( "Concord Lutheran School Photo - Pictures with the Easter Bunny at our annual PTO Egg Hunt!")
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1855
Grades: PK-8
865 S Church Road
Bensenville, IL 60106
(630) 766-0228
Bensenville, IL 60106
(630) 766-0228
Rank: #18 - 2018. - 20.
Founding Date: 1855
Grades: PK-8
50 N Buffalo Grove Road
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
(847) 459-3880
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
(847) 459-3880
Rank: #18 - 2018. - 20.
St. Peters Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1855
Grades: PK-8
7182 Renken Rd
Dorsey, IL 62021
(618) 888-2252
Dorsey, IL 62021
(618) 888-2252
Rank: #2121.
St. Patrick School
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1856
Grades: PK-8
412 N Jackson St
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 423-4351
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 423-4351
Rank: #22 - 2522. - 25.
Founding Date: 1857
Grades: 9-12
1500 W Kennedy Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 615-3257
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 615-3257
Rank: #22 - 2522. - 25.
St. James Lutheran School![St. James Lutheran School Photo]( "St. James Lutheran School Photo")
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1857
Grades: PK-8
2101 N. Fremont
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 525-4990
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 525-4990
Rank: #22 - 2522. - 25.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1857
Grades: PK-8
220 S Elliott St
Olney, IL 62450
(618) 395-3081
Olney, IL 62450
(618) 395-3081
Rank: #22 - 2522. - 25.
St. Malachy
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1857
Grades: K-6
595 E Ogden Ave
Geneseo, IL 61254
(309) 944-3230
Geneseo, IL 61254
(309) 944-3230
Rank: #26 - 2926. - 29.
Corpus Christi Catholic School
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1858
Grades: PK-8
1909 E. Lincoln Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
(309) 662-3712
Bloomington, IL 61701
(309) 662-3712
Rank: #26 - 2926. - 29.
St. Mary's School
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1858
Grades: 7-9
1015 Milton Rd
Alton, IL 62002
(618) 465-9719
Alton, IL 62002
(618) 465-9719
Rank: #26 - 2926. - 29.
Trinity Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1858
Grades: PK-8
1102 W Hamilton Rd
Bloomington, IL 61704
(309) 829-7513
Bloomington, IL 61704
(309) 829-7513
Rank: #26 - 2926. - 29.
Woodlands Academy Of The Sacred Heart
All-girls (Catholic)
Founding Date: 1858
Grades: 9-12
760 E Westleigh Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 234-4300
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 234-4300
Rank: #30 - 3230. - 32.
Marquette Academy
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1859
Grades: PK-12
1000 Paul Street
Ottawa, IL 61350
(815) 433-0125
Ottawa, IL 61350
(815) 433-0125
Rank: #30 - 3230. - 32.
St. Johns Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1859
Grades: PK-8
808 South Main Street
Red Bud, IL 62278
(618) 282-3873
Red Bud, IL 62278
(618) 282-3873
Rank: #30 - 3230. - 32.
Founding Date: 1859
Grades: PK-8
6850 W. 159th Street
Tinley Park, IL 60477
(708) 532-3529
Tinley Park, IL 60477
(708) 532-3529
Rank: #33 - 3533. - 35.
Founding Date: 1860
Grades: PK-8
111 W Olive St
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
(224) 387-3820
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
(224) 387-3820
Rank: #33 - 3533. - 35.
Trinity Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1860
Grades: PK-8
1165 S. Wesmore Meyers Road
Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 627-5601
Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 627-5601
Rank: #33 - 3533. - 35.
Founding Date: 1860
Grades: PK-8
515 S Macarthur Blvd.
Springfield, IL 62704
(217) 787-2323
Springfield, IL 62704
(217) 787-2323
Show 100 more private schools in IL (out of 1,084 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Illinois average private schools founding year?
The Illinois average private schools founding year is 1961 for 2025.
What are the private schools with oldest founding year in Illinois?
The top ranked private schools in Illinois include Most Blessed Trinity Academy, St. Marys School and St. John The Baptist Catholic School.
What is private high school and private elementary school with the oldest founding year in Illinois?
The private high school with the oldest founding year in Illinois is Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts High School, with a year of 1846. The private elementary school with the oldest founding year is Most Blessed Trinity Academy, with a year of 1841.
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