German International School Chicago Photo - Hooray for 8th Grade Graduates

Oldest Private Schools in Illinois

The average private school in Illinois was founded around 1965 (2024-25).
The oldest private school in Illinois is Elgin Academy, founded in 1839.
Year Founded Range: 1839 1865 Avg. Year Founded: 1857

Oldest Private Schools in Illinois (2024-25)

School
Founding Date
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
Elgin Academy
Elgin Academy Photo - "Old Main" building of Elgin Academy Old Main is the academy's original building. Today, it is primarily used as the museum for the Elgin Area Historical Society. One room still serves as a regular school classroom for the school.
(9)
Founding Date: 1839
Grades: NS-12
350 Park St
Elgin, IL 60120
(847) 695-0303
Rank: #22.
Most Blessed Trinity Academy
Most Blessed Trinity Academy Photo
(Catholic)
(3)
Founding Date: 1841
Grades: K-7
510 W. Grand Ave.
Waukegan, IL 60085
(847) 623-4110
Rank: #33.
Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts High School
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
Rank: #44.
St. Peter Lutheran School
St. Peter Lutheran School Photo - St. Peter Lutheran School, Schaumburg , Pre-School through 8th grade
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
(19)
Founding Date: 1847
Grades: PK-8
208 E Schaumburg Rd
Schaumburg, IL 60194
(847) 885-3350
Rank: #55.
Holy Cross Lutheran Church & School
Holy Cross Lutheran Church & School Photo
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
(2)
Founding Date: 1848
Grades: PK-8
304 South St
Collinsville, IL 62234
(618) 344-3145
Rank: #66.
St. Joseph School
St. Joseph School Photo - Class Buddy
(Catholic)
(1)
Founding Date: 1850
Grades: PK-K
1740 Lake Avenue
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 256-7870
Rank: #77.
Zion Lutheran School
Zion Lutheran School Photo
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1851
Grades: PK-8
203 S Vine
Mount Pulaski, IL 62548
(217) 795-5715
Rank: #88.
Immanuel Christian Academy
Immanuel Christian Academy Photo
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
(5)
Founding Date: 1852
Grades: PK-8
2329 S Wolf Road
Hillside, IL 60162
(708) 562-5580
Rank: #9 - 119. - 11.
Immaculate Conception
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
Rank: #9 - 119. - 11.
Ss Peter & Paul Catholic School
Ss Peter & Paul Catholic School Photo
(Catholic)
(3)
Founding Date: 1853
Grades: PK-8
201 E Franklin Ave
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 355-0113
Rank: #9 - 119. - 11.
Wheaton Academy
Wheaton Academy Photo
(Christian)
Founding Date: 1853
Grades: 9-12
900 Prince Crossing Rd
West Chicago, IL 60185
(630) 562-7500
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Concord Lutheran School
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
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
St. Mary School
St. Mary School Photo
(Catholic)
(4)
Founding Date: 1855
Grades: PK-8
50 N Buffalo Grove Road
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
(847) 459-3880
Rank: #1414.
St. Patrick School
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1856
Grades: PK-8
412 N Jackson St
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 423-4351
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Lake Forest Academy
Lake Forest Academy Photo - Located on the former estate of J. Odgen Armour, various historical and modern buildings comprise Lake Forest Academy's 150-acre campus, including the Cressey Center for the Arts, the Reyes Family Science Center, and a newly expanded athletic center.
Founding Date: 1857
Grades: 9-12
1500 W Kennedy Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 615-3257
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
St. James Lutheran School
St. James Lutheran School Photo
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1857
Grades: PK-8
2101 N. Fremont
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 525-4990
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Corpus Christi Catholic School
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1858
Grades: PK-8
1909 E. Lincoln Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
(309) 662-3712
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Trinity Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1858
Grades: PK-8
1102 W Hamilton Rd
Bloomington, IL 61704
(309) 829-7513
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
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
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Trinity Lutheran School
Trinity Lutheran School Photo
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
(7)
Founding Date: 1859
Grades: PK-8
6850 W. 159th Street
Tinley Park, IL 60477
(708) 532-3529
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Trinity Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1860
Grades: PK-8
1165 S. Wesmore Meyers Road
Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 627-5601
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Trinty
Trinty Photo
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
(1)
Founding Date: 1860
Grades: PK-8
515 S Macarthur Blvd.
Springfield, IL 62704
(217) 787-2323
Rank: #23 - 2523. - 25.
Immanuel Lutheran School
Immanuel Lutheran School Photo - Our building is over 100 years old but serves our students well with updates and state of the art technology.
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
(1)
Founding Date: 1861
Grades: PK-8
5 S Van Buren St
Dundee, IL 60118
(847) 428-1010
Rank: #23 - 2523. - 25.
St. Walter St. Benedict Elementary School
St. Walter St. Benedict Elementary School Photo
(Catholic)
(4)
Founding Date: 1861
Grades: PK-8
2324 New Street
Blue Island, IL 60406
(708) 385-2016
Rank: #23 - 2523. - 25.
Zion Lutheran School
Zion Lutheran School Photo - Growing the minds of all learners, from little to middles and impacting lives for future generations.
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1861
Grades: PK-8
1810 Mcclintock Ave
Belleville, IL 62221
(618) 234-0275
Rank: #2626.
St. Francis Solanus School
(Catholic)
(2)
Founding Date: 1862
Grades: PK-9
1720 College Avenue
Quincy, IL 62301
(217) 222-4077
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
St. Matthew Lutheran School
Alternative School (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
(1)
Founding Date: 1863
Grades: PK-K
24480 N Old Mchenry Road
Lake Zurich, IL 60047
(847) 438-6103
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
SS Peter & Paul Catholic School
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1863
Grades: PK-8
217 W 3rd St
Waterloo, IL 62298
(618) 939-7217
Rank: #29 - 3229. - 32.
St. Paul Lutheran School
St. Paul Lutheran School Photo - Our 7th and 8th grade students using our their new SMART Board
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1864
Grades: PK-8
112 N Border Street
Troy, IL 62294
(618) 667-6314
Rank: #29 - 3229. - 32.
St. Peter Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1864
Grades: K-8
310 N Broadway St
Joliet, IL 60435
(815) 722-3567
Rank: #29 - 3229. - 32.
Trinity Lutheran School
Trinity Lutheran School Photo - Enjoying BreakOut Box time with grandparent.
Montessori School (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1864
Grades: K-8
824 East Main Street
Danville, IL 61832
(217) 442-4311
Rank: #29 - 3229. - 32.
Trinity Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Founding Date: 1864
Grades: PK-8
318 E. South 1st Street
Stewardson, IL 62463
(217) 682-3881
Rank: #33 - 3533. - 35.
St. Paul Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
(3)
Founding Date: 1865
Grades: PK-8
85 S. Constitution Drive
Aurora, IL 60506
(630) 896-3350
Rank: #33 - 3533. - 35.
St. Scholastica Academy
All-girls (Catholic)
Founding Date: 1865
Grades: 9-12
7416 N Ridge Blvd
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 764-5715
Rank: #33 - 3533. - 35.
Trinity Lutheran School
Trinity Lutheran School Photo - Singing in Chapel!
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
(3)
Founding Date: 1865
Grades: PK-8
11503 German Church Rd
Willowbrook, IL 60527
(708) 839-1444
Show 100 more private schools in IL (out of 714 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 1965 for 2024-25.
What are the private schools with oldest founding year in Illinois?
The top ranked private schools in Illinois include Elgin Academy, Most Blessed Trinity Academy and Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts High 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 Elgin Academy, with a year of 1839. The private elementary school with the oldest founding year is Elgin Academy, with a year of 1839.

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