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.

Best Illinois Alternative Private Elementary Schools (2025)

For the 2025 school year, there are 23 alternative private elementary schools serving 7,407 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 85%.
26% of alternative private elementary schools in Illinois are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Islamic).

Top Ranked Illinois Alternative Private Elementary Schools (2025)

School
Location
Quick Facts
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.
Alternative School
847 Chicago Avenue, Suite 200
Evanston, IL 60202
(877) 673-8893
Gr: 6-12 Avg. class size: 1 student Tuition listed
Fusion Academy Lake Forest
Fusion Academy Lake Forest Photo
Alternative School
(5)
840 S. Waukegan Road, Suite 224
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(877) 673-8893
Gr: 6-12 | 67 students Avg. class size: 1 student Tuition listed
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.
Alternative School
3041 Butterfield Road, Suite 200
Oak Brook, IL 60523
(877) 673-8893
Gr: 6-12 | 29 students Avg. class size: 1 student Tuition listed
American School
American School Photo
Alternative School
2200 E 170th St
Lansing, IL 60438
(708) 418-2800
Gr: 6-12 | 6,319 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Chicago Lighthouse
Alternative School
1850 W Roosevelt Rd
Chicago, IL 60608
(131) 299-7367
Gr: PK-12 | 30 students
St. Paul Lutheran School
Alternative School (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
(1)
9035 Grant Ave
Brookfield, IL 60513
(708) 485-6987
Gr: K-8 | 17 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 1 Tuition listed
Al-azhar Islamic Foundation
Alternative School (Islamic)
160 Hawthorne Rd
Barrington, IL 60010
(847) 387-3380
Gr: K-11 | 63 students
Alternative Academic Achievement Academy
Alternative School
14418 S Mckinley Ave
Posen, IL 60469
(708) 206-0000
Gr: 1-8 | 46 students
The Barbereux School
Alternative School
3333 Culver St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-3215
Gr: PK-1 | 54 students Tuition listed
Beautiful Beginnings
Alternative School
309 Mulberry
Rockford, IL 61101
(815) 708-7722
Gr: PK-12 | 30 students
Bloom Community School
Alternative School
1100 N Beech Street, Bldg #11
Normal, IL 61761
(309) 808-1192
Gr: K-10 | 35 students
The Children's School of Oak Park
The Children's School of Oak Park 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
Gr: K-8 | 144 students Avg. class size: 15 students Extracurrculars: 7 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Circle Academy
Alternative School
1204 N Division Ave
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 337-9070
Gr: 1-12 | 64 students Tuition listed
Full Gospel Christian Academy
Alternative School (Christian)
3451 W. 175th St.
Hazel Crest, IL 60429
(708) 922-1229
Gr: NS-5 | 81 students
Grace Holistic Center For Education
Alternative School
210 Beaver St
Yorkville, IL 60560
(331) 207-8932
Gr: PK-12 | 56 students
Innovations Academy Therapeutic Day School
Alternative School
1360 E Irving Pk.
Streamwood, IL 60107
(630) 540-3900
Gr: 3-12 | 64 students
Liberty Temple Full Gospel Academy
Alternative School (Christian)
2255 W 79th St
Chicago, IL 60620
(773) 737-8061
Gr: K-4 | 43 students
Menta Academy Cornerstone-taylorville
Alternative School
100 W Franklin St
Taylorville, IL 62568
(217) 775-0532
Gr: K-12 | 81 students
Midwest Christian Academy
Alternative School (Christian)
2905 Gill St # A
Bloomington, IL 61704
(309) 663-4477
Gr: K-12 | 35 students Tuition listed
New Vision Christian Academy
Alternative School (Pentecostal)
512 Spring St
Alton, IL 62002
(618) 979-9357
Gr: PK-8 | 11 students
Tallgrass Sudbury School
Tallgrass Sudbury School Photo - Chicagoland's answer to self-directed Education and Democratic learning!
Alternative School
(7)
100 6th Ave
La Grange, IL 60525
(708) 328-8546
Gr: K-12 | 28 students Avg. class size: 30 students Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition listed
Tlc Learning Center
Alternative School
2844 Burr Oak Ave
Blue Island, IL 60406
(708) 388-4220
Gr: PK-5 | 94 students Avg. class size: 20 students Acceptance rate listed
Trinity Services -trinity School
Trinity Services -trinity School Photo - Graduation 2012
Alternative School
13318 W. Lincoln Hwy
New Lenox, IL 60451
(815) 463-0726
Gr: 5-12 | 16 students Tuition listed

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%.
What percentage of alternative private elementary schools are religiously affiliated in Illinois?
26% of alternative private elementary schools in Illinois are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Islamic).

Recent Articles

7 Ways Kids Can Avoid Summer Brain Drain
7 Ways Kids Can Avoid Summer Brain Drain
The summer "Brain Drain," also known as the "Summer Slide" is a term commonly used by educators and parents alike to describe the learning loss that takes place for many students during summer months. We polled the experts and found the 7 best ways parents and kids can combat the problem head on.
What's Being Taught?
What's Being Taught?
This article examines the academic offerings in American private high schools, discussing graduation requirements, college preparation, accreditation, and advanced programs like AP and IB. It emphasizes the importance of understanding a school's curriculum when choosing the right educational environment for a child.
Waldorf Schools
Waldorf Schools
Waldorf schools offer a well thought out approach to K-12 education.