North Shore Country Day School Photo

Best Illinois Private Schools Belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) (2025-26)

For the 2025-26 school year, there are 44 private schools belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) serving 14,769 students in Illinois. You can also find more schools membership associations in Illinois.
The top ranked private schools belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in Illinois include Lake Forest Academy, The Avery Coonley School, and The Latin School Of Chicago.
The average tuition cost is $29,163, which is higher than the Illinois private school average tuition cost of $12,697.
18% of private schools belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in Illinois are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Islamic).

Top Ranked Private Schools Belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in Illinois (2025-26)

School
Location
Quick Facts
The Avery Coonley School
The Avery Coonley School Photo - 'Gathering' is a tradition at ACS where students in Groups 1-8, faculty, and staff come together as a community to participate in various activities such as watching a performance, interacting with a presentation, and more.
(7)
1400 Maple Avenue
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
Baker Demonstration School
Baker Demonstration School Photo - Curiosity captured in the preschool class with hands on learning for our youngest students in a scientific inquiry.
(6)
201 Sheridan Road
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 425-5800
Gr: NS-8 | 209 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 15 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Catherine Cook School
Catherine Cook School Photo
(13)
226 W Schiller St
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 266-3381
Gr: NS-8 | 422 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Chicago City Day School
Chicago City Day School Photo
(5)
541 W Hawthorne Pl
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 327-0900
Gr: PK-8 Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 7 Tuition listed
Morgan Park Academy
Morgan Park Academy Photo
2153 W 111th St
Chicago, IL 60643
(773) 881-6700
Gr: PK-12 | 475 students Avg. class size: 17 students Sports: 8 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Academy High
Academy High Photo
2001 Fox Drive
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 239-6000
Gr: 9-12 | 48 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 7 Tuition listed
Ancona School
Ancona School Photo - In a community of cultural and economic diversity, Ancona's progressive, social justice curriculum rooted in the Montessori tradition educations students to become creative problem solvers, confident risk takers, and life-long learners.
(6)
4770 S Dorchester Ave
Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 924-2356
Gr: PK-8 | 215 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Beacon Academy
Beacon Academy Photo
Montessori School
1574 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201
(224) 999-1177
Gr: 9-12 | 150 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 12 | Extracurrculars: 20 Tuition listed
Bennett Day School
Bennett Day School Photo
Special Program Emphasis
(1)
955 W. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 236-6388
Gr: PK-12 | 364 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
3751 N Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 281-1858
Gr: NS-8 | 368 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 8 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Chiaravalle Montessori
Chiaravalle Montessori Photo - Opening the North Wing in September 2015, Chiaravalle became the first LEED Platinum Montessori school addition in the US and the first LEED Platinum independent school addition in Illinois.
Montessori School
(12)
425 Dempster St
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.
Special Program Emphasis
1010 W Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 421-0202
Gr: 9-12 | 137 students Avg. class size: 15 students Extracurrculars: 9 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Countryside School
4301 W Kirby Avenue
Champaign, IL 61822
(217) 355-1253
Gr: K-8 | 158 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 10 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Francis W Parker School
(1)
330 W Webster Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 797-5501
Gr: PK-12 | 907 students Tuition listed
Gce Lab School
Gce Lab School Photo
(1)
9 West Washington St, Fourth Floor
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 643-0091
Gr: 9-12 | 50 students Avg. class size: 16 students Extracurrculars: 17 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Glenwood Academy
Glenwood Academy Photo
500 W 187th St
Glenwood, IL 60425
(708) 756-4663
Gr: 3-8 | 72 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 7 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Holy Family Catholic School
(Catholic)
2400 S Franklin Street Rd
Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 423-7049
Gr: PK-8 | 274 students
Lake Forest Academy
Lake Forest Academy Photo - Located on the former estate of J. Odgen Armour, various historical and modern buildings comprise Lake Forest Academy's 150-acre campus, including the Cressey Center for the Arts, the Reyes Family Science Center, and a newly expanded athletic center.
1500 W Kennedy Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 615-3257
Gr: 9-12 | 452 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 15 | Extracurrculars: 24 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
The Latin School Of Chicago
(2)
59 W North Blvd
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 582-6014
Gr: PK-12 | 1,172 student Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 17
Lycee Francais De Chicago
Lycee Francais De Chicago Photo - The Lyce Franais de Chicago is a leading international, multilingual school that helps students grow into well-rounded, active citizens of the world.
Special Program Emphasis
(3)
1929 W. Wilson Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 665-0066
Gr: PK-12 | 777 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 13 | Extracurrculars: 7 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Montini Catholic High School
Montini Catholic High School Photo
(Catholic)
19W070 16th Street
Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 627-6930
Gr: 9-12 | 516 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 19 | Extracurrculars: 53 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
Montessori School
1434 W Division Street
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
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
Gr: PK-12 | 520 students Avg. class size: 12 students Sports: 12 | Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition listed
Quest Academy
Quest Academy Photo - Home of the Knights!
Special Program Emphasis
(1)
500 N Benton St
Palatine, IL 60067
(847) 202-8035
Gr: PK-8 | 258 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 2 | Extracurrculars: 10 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Roycemore School
Roycemore School Photo
(14)
1200 Davis Street
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 866-6055
Gr: PK-12 | 230 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 6 | Extracurrculars: 25 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Sacred Heart Schools
Sacred Heart Schools Photo
(Catholic)
(1)
6250 N Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 681-8414
Gr: PK-8 | 644 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 9 | Extracurrculars: 13 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. Francis High School
(Catholic)
2130 W Roosevelt Rd
Wheaton, IL 60187
(630) 668-5800
Gr: 9-12 | 697 students Avg. class size: 23 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
1362 E 59th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-9450
Gr: PK-12 | 2,212 students Sports: 12 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Wolcott College Prep
Wolcott College Prep Photo - Wolcott College Prep (West Town) Chicago
Special Program Emphasis
(1)
524 N. Wolcott Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 610-4900
Gr: 9-12 | 134 students Avg. class size: 10 students Sports: 13 | Extracurrculars: 22 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Woodlands Academy Of The Sacred Heart
All-girls (Catholic)
760 E Westleigh Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 234-4300
Gr: 9-12 | 120 students Avg. class size: 10 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
A-karrasel Enterprises, Inc.
Daycare / Preschool
5504 W. Fullerton
Chicago, IL 60639
(773) 637-1022
Gr: NS-PK | 64 students
Austin Career Education Center
Alternative School
5352 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60651
(773) 626-6988
Gr: 10-12 | 63 students
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.
Montessori School
8622 W Catalpa Ave
Chicago, IL 60656
(773) 714-0646
Gr: NS-8 | 167 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 2 | Extracurrculars: 6 Tuition listed
Show 9 more private schools in Illinois (out of 44 total schools)
Loading...

Recent Articles

Transferring from Public to Private School Mid-Year: What to Expect
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
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
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.