Private School Review - Established 2003
Fusion Academy Lake Forest
Montessori School Of Lake Forest
East Lake Academy Top 21 ยท Lowest Acceptance Rate (IL)

Lake Forest Private Elementary Schools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 6 private elementary schools serving 1,674 students in Lake Forest, IL.
The average acceptance rate is 73%, which is lower than the Illinois private elementary school average acceptance rate of 89%.
50% of private elementary schools in Lake Forest, IL are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic).

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Top Ranked Lake Forest Private Elementary Schools (2026-27)

Fusion Academy Lake Forest Photo
Fusion Academy Lake Forest
Gr: 6-12 | 67 students
Avg. class size: 1 student
Alternative School
840 S. Waukegan Road, Suite 224
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(877) 673-8893
(5)
View Profile
East Lake Academy Photo
East Lake Academy
Gr: PK-8 | 128 students
Avg. class size: 12 students
Sports: 3 | Extracurriculars: 14
Catholic
13911 W. Laurel Drive
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 247-0035
(4)
View Profile
Lake Forest Country Day School Photo
Lake Forest Country Day School
Gr: NS-8 | 406 students
Sports: 12 | Extracurriculars: 3
145 S. Green Bay Road
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 234-2350
View Profile
School Of St. Mary Photo
School Of St. Mary
Gr: PK-8 | 425 students
Avg. class size: 19 students
Sports: 7 | Extracurriculars: 3
Catholic
185 E Illinois Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 283-9800
View Profile
Map of School Of St. Mary Upper Grade Center
School Of St. Mary Upper Grade Center
Gr: PK-8 | 470 students
Catholic
900 W Everett Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 234-0371
View Profile
Montessori School Of Lake Forest Photo
Montessori School Of Lake Forest
Gr: PK-8 | 178 students
Extracurriculars: 5
Montessori School
13700 W Laurel Dr
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 918-1000
View Profile

Lake Forest, IL Private School Trends (10-Year)

6
Private Schools
+50.0% (+2 schools) 10-yr
1,674
Students
+31.5% (+401 students) 10-yr
$14,848
Avg. Tuition
+93.0% (+$7,153) 10-yr
11
Avg. Class Size
-8.3% (-1 student) 10-yr
10%
Students of Color
-33.3% (-5.0 pp) 10-yr
8:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
-11.1% (-1.0) 10-yr
Download town snapshot: CSV | XML | JSON Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission.
Enrollment & Diversity
Category
This Town (Lake Forest)
This State (IL)
# Schools
6 Schools
957 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Elementary Schools

YearLake Forest, IL Total Schools
20256
20246
20236
20226
20216
20206
20195
20185
20175
20165
20154
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# Students
1,674 Students
184,093 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private Elementary School

YearLake Forest, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
2025279195199
2024279191192
2023274199193
2022266208205
2021266202201
2020270195188
2019273205193
2018296198190
2017330204199
2016337202196
2015318197183
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% Students of Color
10%
32%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearLake Forest, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
202510%32%33%
202410%32%32%
202310%32%32%
202210%32%32%
202110%32%31%
202010%33%31%
201914%31%31%
201815%31%30%
201718%32%31%
201617%32%31%
201515%33%31%
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0.43
0.64

Diversity Score Trends

YearLake Forest, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
20250.430.640.64
20240.430.650.64
20230.430.650.63
20220.290.640.62
20210.290.640.62
20200.290.650.62
20190.210.640.61
20180.330.630.60
20170.440.600.59
20160.440.610.59
20150.390.610.58
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Show more data/charts: racial breakdown
# American Indian Students
9 Students
497 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
n/a
# Asian Students
35 Students
8,645 Students
% Asian Students
2%
5%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearLake Forest, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
20252%5%5%
20242%5%5%
20232%5%5%
20223%5%5%
20213%5%5%
20203%5%5%
20193%4%4%
20183%5%4%
20173%3%4%
20163%3%4%
20153%3%4%
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# Hispanic Students
41 Students
17,366 Students
% Hispanic Students
3%
9%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearLake Forest, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
20253%9%9%
20243%10%9%
20232%10%9%
20223%9%8%
20213%10%9%
20203%10%9%
20193%9%8%
20183%9%8%
20172%8%8%
20162%8%8%
20153%8%8%
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# Black Students
14 Students
14,638 Students
% Black Students
1%
8%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearLake Forest, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
20251%8%8%
20241%8%8%
20231%8%8%
20221%8%7%
20211%8%8%
20201%9%8%
20191%9%8%
20181%9%8%
20171%8%7%
20161%9%8%
20151%9%8%
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# White Students
1,114 Students
99,692 Students
% White Students
73%
54%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearLake Forest, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
202573%54%55%
202473%54%55%
202373%53%55%
202284%55%57%
202184%54%57%
202084%54%58%
201989%55%59%
201881%55%59%
201772%59%61%
201672%58%61%
201576%58%61%
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# Hawaiian Students
n/a
290 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
314 Students
44,153 Students
% of Others Students
20%
24%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearLake Forest, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
202520%24%22%
202420%23%22%
202320%24%22%
20227%23%22%
20217%23%20%
20207%22%19%
20194%23%20%
201812%22%20%
201722%20%19%
201622%20%18%
201517%21%18%
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All Ethnic Groups
Academics
# Teachers
197 Teachers
14,063 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
8:1
13:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearLake Forest, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
20258:113:111:1
20248:113:111:1
20239:113:111:1
20228:113:111:1
20218:113:111:1
20208:113:111:1
20198:113:111:1
20189:113:111:1
20179:113:111:1
20169:114:112:1
20159:114:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
46%
50%

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

YearLake Forest, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
202546%50%54%
202446%49%54%
202360%48%53%
202260%49%53%
202160%48%53%
202060%47%53%
201960%47%52%
201860%46%52%
201760%46%51%
201660%46%51%
201560%46%50%
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Average Class Size
11 students
16 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearLake Forest, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
2025121616
2024111615
202391715
202291615
202191615
202091615
201991615
201891615
201771615
201671615
2015121615
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Tuition & Aid
Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$14,848
$9,515

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

YearLake Forest, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
2025$14,848$11,088$14,043
2024$10,939$8,946$12,357
2023$6,925$8,284$11,693
2022$6,925$7,867$11,199
2021$6,925$7,585$10,824
2017$7,929$7,146$9,712
2016$7,929$6,568$9,307
2015$7,695$6,285$8,903
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Average % on Financial Aid
13%
31%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

YearLake Forest, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
202513%31%34%
202413%30%33%
202316%29%33%
202216%28%32%
202116%27%32%
202016%27%31%
201916%27%30%
201816%25%29%
201721%25%29%
201618%24%28%
201518%23%27%
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Average Endowment Size
$22 million
$10.88 million
Admissions & Athletics
Average Acceptance Rate
73%
89%

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)

YearLake Forest, IL AvgIllinois (IL)National
202573%85%81%
202473%90%85%
202365%91%85%
202265%90%85%
202165%90%86%
202065%90%86%
201965%90%85%
201865%90%85%
201765%90%86%
201665%92%85%
201565%92%86%
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Average Number of Extracurriculars
6 extracurriculars
8 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
7 sports
5 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private elementary schools in Lake Forest, IL?
The top ranked private elementary schools in Lake Forest, IL include East Lake Academy, School Of St. Mary Upper Grade Center, and School Of St. Mary.
How many private elementary schools are located in Lake Forest?
6 private elementary schools are located in Lake Forest.
How diverse are private elementary schools in Lake Forest?
Lake Forest private elementary schools are approximately 10% minority students, which is lower than the Illinois private school average of 32%.
What percentage of private elementary schools are religiously affiliated in Lake Forest?
50% of private elementary schools in Lake Forest are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic).
Which private elementary schools in Lake Forest are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of private elementary schools in Lake Forest include: School Of St. Mary Upper Grade Center vs. School Of St. Mary

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