For the 2025-26 school year, there are 31 private schools belonging to Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) serving 10,718 students in Illinois. You can also find more schools membership associations in Illinois.
The top ranked private schools belonging to Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) in Illinois include The Avery Coonley School, University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, and Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School.
The average tuition cost is $30,911, which is higher than the Illinois private school average tuition cost of $12,697.
Top Ranked Private Schools Belonging to Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) in Illinois (2025-26)
School
Location
Quick Facts
1400 Maple Avenue
Downers Grove, IL 60515
(630) 969-0800
Downers Grove, IL 60515
(630) 969-0800
Gr: PK-8 | 332 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 14 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
201 Sheridan Road
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 425-5800
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 425-5800
Gr: NS-8 | 209 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 15 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
226 W Schiller St
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 266-3381
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 266-3381
Gr: NS-8 | 422 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
541 W Hawthorne Pl
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 327-0900
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 327-0900
Gr: PK-8 Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 7 Tuition listed
1726 W Berteau Ave
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 857-3000
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 857-3000
Gr: PK-8 | 199 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 18 Tuition listed
Beacon Academy![Beacon Academy Photo Beacon Academy Photo]()

Montessori School
1574 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
(224) 999-1177
Evanston, IL 60201
(224) 999-1177
Gr: 9-12 | 150 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 12 | Extracurrculars: 20 Tuition listed
3751 N Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 281-1858
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 281-1858
Gr: NS-8 | 368 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
425 Dempster St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-2190
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-2190
Gr: PK-8 | 328 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 9 Tuition listed
The Chicago Academy For The Arts![The Chicago Academy For The Arts Photo - Chicagoland's independent high school for the arts. The Chicago Academy For The Arts Photo - Chicagoland's independent high school for the arts.]()

Special Program Emphasis
1010 W Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 421-0202
Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 421-0202
Gr: 9-12 | 137 students Avg. class size: 15 students Extracurrculars: 9 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Chicago Jewish Day School![Chicago Jewish Day School Photo Chicago Jewish Day School Photo]()

(Jewish)
3730 N California Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 271-2700
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 271-2700
Gr: PK-8 | 236 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 16 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
4301 W Kirby Avenue
Champaign, IL 61822
(217) 355-1253
Champaign, IL 61822
(217) 355-1253
Gr: K-8 | 158 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 10 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Frances Xavier Warde School![Frances Xavier Warde School Photo Frances Xavier Warde School Photo]()

(Catholic)
751 N State St
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 268-2543
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 268-2543
Gr: K-8 | 814 students Avg. class size: 22 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 10 Tuition listed
6254 S. Ellis
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 420-2550
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 420-2550
Gr: 1-8 | 50 students Avg. class size: 10 students Tuition listed
1980 Old Willow Rd
Winnetka, IL 60093
(847) 446-7025
Winnetka, IL 60093
(847) 446-7025
Gr: 1-8 | 58 students Avg. class size: 10 students Tuition listed
145 S. Green Bay Road
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 234-2350
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 234-2350
Gr: NS-8 | 406 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 12 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
1929 W. Wilson Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 665-0066
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 665-0066
Gr: PK-12 | 777 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 13 | Extracurrculars: 7 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Near North Montessori![Near North Montessori Photo - An engaged learner in our Primary Class for children ages 3 years to 6 years, is receiving a lesson with a Montessori material known as the brown stair. The brown stair helps children develop their awareness of size differences Near North Montessori Photo - An engaged learner in our Primary Class for children ages 3 years to 6 years, is receiving a lesson with a Montessori material known as the brown stair. The brown stair helps children develop their awareness of size differences]()

Montessori School
1434 W Division Street
Chicago, IL 60642
(773) 384-1434
Chicago, IL 60642
(773) 384-1434
Gr: NS-8 | 504 students Avg. class size: 27 students Sports: 10 | Extracurrculars: 7 Tuition listed
2017 W Montrose Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 327-3144
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 327-3144
Gr: PK-8 | 260 students Avg. class size: 24 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 7 Tuition listed
310 Green Bay Rd
Winnetka, IL 60093
(847) 446-0674
Winnetka, IL 60093
(847) 446-0674
Gr: PK-12 | 520 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 12 | Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition listed
500 N Benton St
Palatine, IL 60067
(847) 202-8035
Palatine, IL 60067
(847) 202-8035
Gr: PK-8 | 258 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 2 | Extracurrculars: 10 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Rochelle Zell Jewish High School![Rochelle Zell Jewish High School Photo - Check us out on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter Rochelle Zell Jewish High School Photo - Check us out on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter]()

(Jewish)
1095 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015
(847) 324-3708
Deerfield, IL 60015
(847) 324-3708
Gr: 9-12 | 147 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 10 | Extracurrculars: 44 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
1800 W Balmoral Ave
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 271-1700
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 271-1700
Gr: PK-8 | 339 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 15 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
1200 Davis Street
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 866-6055
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 866-6055
Gr: PK-12 | 230 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 25 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
6250 N Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 681-8414
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 681-8414
Gr: PK-8 | 644 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 9 | Extracurrculars: 13 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
1825 Miner St
Des Plaines, IL 60016
(847) 827-7880
Des Plaines, IL 60016
(847) 827-7880
Gr: PK-8 | 260 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 2 | Extracurrculars: 14 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
1362 E 59th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-9450
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-9450
Gr: PK-12 | 2,212 students Sports: 12 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
524 N. Wolcott Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 610-4900
Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 610-4900
Gr: 9-12 | 134 students Avg. class size: 10 students Sports: 13 | Extracurrculars: 22 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Alcuin Montessori School![Alcuin Montessori School Photo Alcuin Montessori School Photo]()

Montessori School
324 N Oak Park Ave
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 366-1882
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 366-1882
Gr: NS-8 | 209 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 1 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
900 S. Brehm Lane
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 457-0371
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 457-0371
Gr: 6-12 | 30 students Avg. class size: 5 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 10 Tuition listed
Brickton Montessori School![Brickton Montessori School Photo - Hands. On.When you can touch it, even complicated ideas becomes manageable. Montessori materials stimulate all our senses. With multiple ways of connecting to a single concept, every child can find a path to successful learning. Brickton Montessori School Photo - Hands. On.When you can touch it, even complicated ideas becomes manageable. Montessori materials stimulate all our senses. With multiple ways of connecting to a single concept, every child can find a path to successful learning.]()

Montessori School
8622 W Catalpa Ave
Chicago, IL 60656
(773) 714-0646
Chicago, IL 60656
(773) 714-0646
Gr: NS-8 | 167 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 2 | Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition listed
Countryside Montessori School![Countryside Montessori School Photo Countryside Montessori School Photo]()

Montessori School
1985 Pfingsten Road
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 498-1105
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 498-1105
Gr: PK-8 | 160 students Avg. class size: 30 students Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Recent Articles

Transferring from Public to Private School Mid-Year: What to Expect
Considering a mid-year transfer from public to private school? Learn what to expect with admissions, academic placement, social adjustment, and financial aid to ensure a smooth transition.

A Guide to Day vs. Boarding School: Which Is Right for Your Family
Discover the key differences between day and boarding schools to determine the best fit for your child. Explore benefits, costs, lifestyle factors, and questions to help guide your family’s decision.

The A to Z of Private Schools 2025
Explore the A to Z of private schools in 2025—from admissions to tuition—offering parents and educators clear insights into today’s options.