The average private high school in Illinois was founded around 1960 (2025).
The oldest private high school in Illinois is Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts High School, founded in 1846.
Year Founded Range: 1846
1900
Avg. Year Founded: 1876
Oldest Private High Schools in Illinois (2025)
School
Founding Date
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
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: #2 - 32. - 3.
Founding Date: 1853
Grades: K-12
205 S 24th St
Quincy, IL 62301
(217) 592-0323
Quincy, IL 62301
(217) 592-0323
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
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: #44.
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: #5 - 65. - 6.
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: #5 - 65. - 6.
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: #77.
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: #88.
Founding Date: 1861
Grades: 9-12
5900 W Belmont Avenue
Chicago, IL 60634
(773) 282-8844
Chicago, IL 60634
(773) 282-8844
Rank: #99.
Founding Date: 1862
Grades: PK-9
1720 College Avenue
Quincy, IL 62301
(217) 222-4077
Quincy, IL 62301
(217) 222-4077
Rank: #1010.
St. Scholastica Academy
All-girls (Catholic)
Founding Date: 1865
Grades: 9-12
7416 N Ridge Blvd
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 764-5715
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 764-5715
Rank: #11 - 1311. - 13.
Kiefer School
Special Education School
Founding Date: 1866
Grades: 1-12
404 NE Madison
Peoria, IL 61603
(309) 687-7236
Peoria, IL 61603
(309) 687-7236
Rank: #11 - 1311. - 13.
St. Teresa High School
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1866
Grades: 9-12
2710 N Water St
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 875-2431
Decatur, IL 62526
(217) 875-2431
Rank: #11 - 1311. - 13.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago![School of the Art Institute of Chicago Photo School of the Art Institute of Chicago Photo]()

Vocational/Technical School
Founding Date: 1866
Grades: NS-12
36 S. Wabash Ave.
Chicago, IL 60603
(800) 232-7242
Chicago, IL 60603
(800) 232-7242
Rank: #1414.
Quincy Notre Dame High School
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1867
Grades: 9-12
1400 S 11th St
Quincy, IL 62301
(217) 653-3964
Quincy, IL 62301
(217) 653-3964
Rank: #1515.
Ucan Academy
Special Education School
Founding Date: 1869
Grades: 3-12
3110 W Grand Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 722-3097
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 722-3097
Rank: #1616.
St. Ignatius College Prep
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1870
Grades: 9-12
1076 West Roosevelt Road
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 421-5900
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 421-5900
Rank: #1717.
Founding Date: 1873
Grades: PK-12
2153 W 111th St
Chicago, IL 60643
(773) 881-6700
Chicago, IL 60643
(773) 881-6700
Rank: #1818.
St. Anthony High School
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1874
Grades: 9-12
304 E Roadway Ave
Effingham, IL 62401
(217) 342-6969
Effingham, IL 62401
(217) 342-6969
Rank: #1919.
Center For Children To Heal And Achieve (ccha)
Special Education School
Founding Date: 1879
Grades: 2-12
1400 State St
Alton, IL 62002
(618) 465-3594
Alton, IL 62002
(618) 465-3594
Rank: #2020.
Founding Date: 1882
Grades: NS-9
0s259 Church St
Winfield, IL 60190
(630) 668-2625
Winfield, IL 60190
(630) 668-2625
Rank: #2121.
Central Catholic High School
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1886
Grades: 9-12
1201 Airport Rd
Bloomington, IL 61704
(309) 661-7000
Bloomington, IL 61704
(309) 661-7000
Rank: #2222.
Benet Academy
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1887
Grades: 9-12
2200 Maple Ave
Lisle, IL 60532
(630) 719-2782
Lisle, IL 60532
(630) 719-2782
Rank: #2323.
Founding Date: 1888
Grades: PK-12
59 W North Blvd
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 582-6014
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 582-6014
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
De La Salle Institute - Institute Campus![De La Salle Institute - Institute Campus Photo - De La Salle Institute De La Salle Institute - Institute Campus Photo - De La Salle Institute]()

(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1889
Grades: 9-12
3434 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 842-7355
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 842-7355
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
De La Salle Institute - Lourdes Hall Campus
All-girls (Catholic)
Founding Date: 1889
Grades: 9-12
1040 W 32nd Pl
Chicago, IL 60608
(773) 650-6800
Chicago, IL 60608
(773) 650-6800
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Josephinum Academy Of The Sacred Heart![Josephinum Academy Of The Sacred Heart Photo - Library Josephinum Academy Of The Sacred Heart Photo - Library]()

All-girls (Catholic)
Founding Date: 1890
Grades: 9-12
1501 North Oakley Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 276-1261
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 276-1261
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
St. Bede Academy![St. Bede Academy Photo St. Bede Academy Photo]()

(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1890
Grades: 9-12
24 W Us Highway 6
Peru, IL 61354
(815) 223-3140
Peru, IL 61354
(815) 223-3140
Rank: #28 - 2928. - 29.
St. Columba School
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1893
Grades: K-9
122 West Washington Street
Ottawa, IL 61350
(815) 433-0700
Ottawa, IL 61350
(815) 433-0700
Rank: #28 - 2928. - 29.
St. Francis De Sales High School
(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1893
Grades: 9-12
10155 S Ewing Ave
Chicago, IL 60617
(773) 731-6347
Chicago, IL 60617
(773) 731-6347
Rank: #3030.
Sacred Heart Griffin High School![Sacred Heart Griffin High School Photo Sacred Heart Griffin High School Photo]()

(Catholic)
Founding Date: 1895
Grades: 9-12
1200 W Washington Street
Springfield, IL 62702
(217) 787-1595
Springfield, IL 62702
(217) 787-1595
Rank: #3131.
Founding Date: 1896
Grades: PK-12
1362 E 59th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-9450
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-9450
Rank: #32 - 3432. - 34.
Allendale School
Special Education School
Founding Date: 1897
Grades: 1-12
600 W Grand Ave
Lake Villa, IL 60046
(847) 245-6400
Lake Villa, IL 60046
(847) 245-6400
Rank: #32 - 3432. - 34.
Allendale-linc
Special Education School
Founding Date: 1897
Grades: 6-12
1055 Lake Ave
Woodstock, IL 60098
(815) 206-5725
Woodstock, IL 60098
(815) 206-5725
Rank: #32 - 3432. - 34.
American School![American School Photo American School Photo]()

Alternative School
Founding Date: 1897
Grades: 6-12
2200 E 170th St
Lansing, IL 60438
(708) 418-2800
Lansing, IL 60438
(708) 418-2800
Rank: #35 - 3635. - 36.
Founding Date: 1900
Grades: 9-12
6410 S. Dante Ave
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 324-1020
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 324-1020
Show 100 more private schools in IL (out of 274 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Illinois average private high schools founding year?
The Illinois average private high schools founding year is 1960 for 2025.
What are the private high schools with oldest founding year in Illinois?
The top ranked private high schools in Illinois include Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts High School, Chaddock and Wheaton Academy.
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