Montessori School Of Lake Forest Photo - Our main West Laurel Drive campus is on over five acres of prairie adjacent to the Middlefork Savanna County Forest Preserve.

Best Lake Forest Private Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 6 private preschools serving 1,644 students in Lake Forest, IL.
The top-ranked private preschools in Lake Forest, IL include School Of St. Mary, School Of St. Mary Upper Grade Center, and Lake Forest Country Day School.
The average acceptance rate is 77%, which is lower than the Illinois private preschool average acceptance rate of 86%.
50% of private preschools in Lake Forest, IL are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic).

Top-Ranked Lake Forest Private Preschools (2026)

School
Location
Quick Facts
East Lake Academy
East Lake Academy Photo - Forming tomorrow's leaders through the best academic training, building self-confidence, practicing the Catholic faith and cultivating missionary hearts.
(Catholic)
(4)
13911 W. Laurel Drive
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 247-0035
Gr: PK-8 | 128 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 14 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
145 S. Green Bay Road
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 234-2350
Gr: NS-8 | 406 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 12 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
School Of St. Mary
School Of St. Mary Photo
(Catholic)
185 E Illinois Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 283-9800
Gr: PK-8 | 425 students Avg. class size: 19 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
School Of St. Mary Upper Grade Center
(Catholic)
900 W Everett Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 234-0371
Gr: PK-8 | 470 students Tuition listed
Dearhaven Childcare & Learning Center
Daycare / Preschool
1100 N Westmoreland Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 535-6175
Gr: PK-K | 37 students Avg. class size: 15 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Montessori School Of Lake Forest
Montessori School Of Lake Forest Photo - Our main West Laurel Drive campus is on over five acres of prairie adjacent to the Middlefork Savanna County Forest Preserve.
Montessori School
13700 W Laurel Dr
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 918-1000
Gr: PK-8 | 178 students Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition listed

Overview

This Town (Lake Forest)
This State (IL)
# Schools
6 Schools

Student Body:

# Students
1,644 Students
181,912 Students
% Average Students of Color
10%
32%

Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
170 Teachers
12,931 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
10:1
14:1
% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
42%
48%
Average Class Size
15 students
17 students

Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$18,786
$11,275
Average % on Financial Aid
13%
32%
Average Acceptance Rate
77%
86%
Average Endowment Size
$261 million
$53.56 million

Students by Ethnicity:

0.44
0.66
# American Indian Students
9 Students
436 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
n/a
# Asian Students
35 Students
6,845 Students
% Asian Students
2%
4%
# Hispanic Students
41 Students
15,756 Students
% Hispanic Students
3%
9%
# Black Students
14 Students
12,004 Students
% Black Students
1%
7%
# White Students
1,116 Students
87,486 Students
% White Students
71%
48%
# Hawaiian Students
n/a
203 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
349 Students
57,717 Students
% of Others Students
22%
32%
All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
6 extracurriculars
7 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
7 sports
5 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Recent Articles

Learning Support vs. Tutoring: What's Included in Private School Tuition?
Learning Support vs. Tutoring: What's Included in Private School Tuition?
Learn the difference between learning support and tutoring, what's typically included in private school tuition, and what parents should ask before enrolling.
How to Evaluate Reading and Writing Instruction in the Early Grades
How to Evaluate Reading and Writing Instruction in the Early Grades
Learn how to evaluate reading and writing instruction in the early grades, including phonics, writing, assessments, and literacy support in private schools.
The Social Fit Interview: Questions to Ask Students, Not Admissions
The Social Fit Interview: Questions to Ask Students, Not Admissions
Discover how talking with current students can reveal a private school's true culture and help families assess social fit before enrolling.