For the 2025 school year, there are 23 alternative private elementary schools serving 7,398 students in Illinois.
The top ranked alternative private elementary schools in Illinois include American School, Chicago Lighthouse, and St. Paul Lutheran School.
The average acceptance rate is 98%, which is higher than the Illinois private elementary school average acceptance rate of 84%.
Top Ranked Illinois Alternative Private Elementary Schools (2025)
School
Location
Grades
Students
Fusion Academy Evanston![Fusion Academy Evanston Photo - Each Fusion campus has a state-of-the-art music studio with professional-grade tools. Students can explore instruments, vocals, songwriting, DJ performing arts, and more. Fusion Academy Evanston Photo - Each Fusion campus has a state-of-the-art music studio with professional-grade tools. Students can explore instruments, vocals, songwriting, DJ performing arts, and more.]()

Alternative School
847 Chicago Avenue, Suite 200
Evanston, IL 60202
(877) 673-8893
Evanston, IL 60202
(877) 673-8893
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
840 S. Waukegan Road, Suite 224
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(877) 673-8893
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(877) 673-8893
Grades: 6-12
| 67 students
Fusion Academy Oak Brook![Fusion Academy Oak Brook Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher per classroom. Students have different teachers for different subjects, and teachers act as mentors in the one-to-one setting. Fusion Academy Oak Brook Photo - Classes at Fusion are one-to-one: one student and one teacher per classroom. Students have different teachers for different subjects, and teachers act as mentors in the one-to-one setting.]()

Alternative School
3041 Butterfield Road, Suite 200
Oak Brook, IL 60523
(877) 673-8893
Oak Brook, IL 60523
(877) 673-8893
Grades: 6-12
| 29 students
American School![American School Photo American School Photo]()

Alternative School
2200 E 170th St
Lansing, IL 60438
(708) 418-2800
Lansing, IL 60438
(708) 418-2800
Grades: 6-12
| 6,319 students
Chicago Lighthouse
Alternative School
1850 W Roosevelt Rd
Chicago, IL 60608
(131) 299-7367
Chicago, IL 60608
(131) 299-7367
Grades: PK-12
| 30 students
9035 Grant Ave
Brookfield, IL 60513
(708) 485-6987
Brookfield, IL 60513
(708) 485-6987
Grades: K-8
| 17 students
Al-azhar Islamic Foundation
Alternative School (Islamic)
160 Hawthorne Rd
Barrington, IL 60010
(847) 387-3380
Barrington, IL 60010
(847) 387-3380
Grades: K-11
| 63 students
Alternative Academic Achievement Academy
Alternative School
14418 S Mckinley Ave
Posen, IL 60469
(708) 206-0000
Posen, IL 60469
(708) 206-0000
Grades: 1-8
| 46 students
The Barbereux School
Alternative School
3333 Culver St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-3215
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-3215
Grades: PK-1
| 54 students
Beautiful Beginnings
Alternative School
309 Mulberry
Rockford, IL 61101
(815) 708-7722
Rockford, IL 61101
(815) 708-7722
Grades: PK-12
| 30 students
Bloom Community School
Alternative School
1100 N Beech Street, Bldg #11
Normal, IL 61761
(309) 808-1192
Normal, IL 61761
(309) 808-1192
Grades: K-10
| 35 students
The Children's School![The Children's School Photo - KINDERGARTEN: Our play-based environment, with its carefully-planned daily routines and wide variety of learning experiences, allows Kindergarten children the space and time to work on social-emotional developmental tasks. Academic learning takes place in a non-pressured way within the context of this caring, nurturing community of learners. The Children's School Photo - KINDERGARTEN: Our play-based environment, with its carefully-planned daily routines and wide variety of learning experiences, allows Kindergarten children the space and time to work on social-emotional developmental tasks. Academic learning takes place in a non-pressured way within the context of this caring, nurturing community of learners.]()

Alternative School
820 Ontario
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 484-8033
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 484-8033
Grades: K-8
| 135 students
Circle Academy
Alternative School
1204 N Division Ave
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 337-9070
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 337-9070
Grades: 1-12
| 64 students
Full Gospel Christian Academy
Alternative School (Christian)
3451 W. 175th St.
Hazel Crest, IL 60429
(708) 922-1229
Hazel Crest, IL 60429
(708) 922-1229
Grades: NS-5
| 81 students
Grace Holistic Center For Education
Alternative School
210 Beaver St
Yorkville, IL 60560
(331) 207-8932
Yorkville, IL 60560
(331) 207-8932
Grades: PK-12
| 56 students
Innovations Academy Therapeutic Day School
Alternative School
1360 E Irving Pk.
Streamwood, IL 60107
(630) 540-3900
Streamwood, IL 60107
(630) 540-3900
Grades: 3-12
| 64 students
Liberty Temple Full Gospel Academy
Alternative School (Christian)
2255 W 79th St
Chicago, IL 60620
(773) 737-8061
Chicago, IL 60620
(773) 737-8061
Grades: K-4
| 43 students
Menta Academy Cornerstone-taylorville
Alternative School
100 W Franklin St
Taylorville, IL 62568
(217) 775-0532
Taylorville, IL 62568
(217) 775-0532
Grades: K-12
| 81 students
Midwest Christian Academy
Alternative School (Christian)
2905 Gill St # A
Bloomington, IL 61704
(309) 663-4477
Bloomington, IL 61704
(309) 663-4477
Grades: K-12
| 35 students
New Vision Christian Academy
Alternative School (Pentecostal)
512 Spring St
Alton, IL 62002
(618) 979-9357
Alton, IL 62002
(618) 979-9357
Grades: PK-8
| 11 students
100 6th Ave
La Grange, IL 60525
(708) 328-8546
La Grange, IL 60525
(708) 328-8546
Grades: K-12
| 28 students
Tlc Learning Center
Alternative School
2844 Burr Oak Ave
Blue Island, IL 60406
(708) 388-4220
Blue Island, IL 60406
(708) 388-4220
Grades: PK-5
| 94 students
Trinity Services -trinity School![Trinity Services -trinity School Photo - Graduation 2012 Trinity Services -trinity School Photo - Graduation 2012]()

Alternative School
13318 W. Lincoln Hwy
New Lenox, IL 60451
(815) 463-0726
New Lenox, IL 60451
(815) 463-0726
Grades: 5-12
| 16 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked alternative private elementary schools in Illinois?
The top ranked alternative private elementary schools in Illinois include American School, Chicago Lighthouse, and St. Paul Lutheran School.
How many alternative private elementary schools are located in Illinois?
23 alternative private elementary schools are located in Illinois.
How diverse are alternative private elementary schools in Illinois?
Illinois alternative private elementary schools are approximately 43% minority students, which is higher than the Illinois private school average of 32%.
Recent Articles

3 Tips for an Effective Private School Job Search
Get hired at a top private school! Learn how to boost your marketability, explore teaching overseas, and match your qualifications to the job. Stand out from the crowd and land your dream teaching job with these expert tips.

Being an Expat and Educating Your Children Abroad
If you have the chance to move overseas, don't worry about educating your children. You have several options.

Podcasts That Will Change the Way You Think About Education
This article highlights a curated selection of podcasts that offer thought-provoking discussions, expert insights, and innovative ideas on various aspects of education. From exploring new teaching methods and technologies to discussing policy changes and social issues, these podcasts provide a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for anyone interested in education. Each podcast is briefly described, highlighting its unique focus and tone.