For the 2025-26 school year, there are 20 private high schools belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) serving 9,345 students in Illinois. You can also find more schools membership associations in Illinois.
The top ranked private high schools belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in Illinois include Lake Forest Academy, The Latin School Of Chicago, and Morgan Park Academy.
The average tuition cost is $32,181, which is higher than the Illinois private high school average tuition cost of $15,828.
15% of private high schools belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in Illinois are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic).
Top Ranked Private High Schools Belonging to National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in Illinois (2025-26)
School
Location
Quick Facts
2153 W 111th St
Chicago, IL 60643
(773) 881-6700
Chicago, IL 60643
(773) 881-6700
Gr: PK-12 | 475 students Avg. class size: 17 students Sports: 8 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
2001 Fox Drive
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 239-6000
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 239-6000
Gr: 9-12 | 48 students Sports: 8 | Extracurrculars: 7 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
955 W. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 236-6388
Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 236-6388
Gr: PK-12 | 364 students Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 4 | Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition & acceptance rate 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
330 W Webster Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 797-5501
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 797-5501
Gr: PK-12 | 907 students Tuition listed
9 West Washington St, Fourth Floor
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 643-0091
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 643-0091
Gr: 9-12 | 50 students Avg. class size: 16 students Extracurrculars: 17 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
1500 W Kennedy Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 615-3257
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
59 W North Blvd
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 582-6014
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 582-6014
Gr: PK-12 | 1,172 student Avg. class size: 15 students Sports: 17
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
Montini Catholic High School![Montini Catholic High School Photo Montini Catholic High School Photo]()

(Catholic)
19W070 16th Street
Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 627-6930
Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 627-6930
Gr: 9-12 | 516 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 19 | Extracurrculars: 53 Tuition & acceptance rate 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
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
St. Francis High School
(Catholic)
2130 W Roosevelt Rd
Wheaton, IL 60187
(630) 668-5800
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
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
Woodlands Academy Of The Sacred Heart
All-girls (Catholic)
760 E Westleigh Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 234-4300
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 234-4300
Gr: 9-12 | 120 students Avg. class size: 10 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Austin Career Education Center
Alternative School
5352 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60651
(773) 626-6988
Chicago, IL 60651
(773) 626-6988
Gr: 10-12 | 63 students
1 Jacoby Pl
Rockford, IL 61107
(815) 399-8823
Rockford, IL 61107
(815) 399-8823
Gr: PK-12 | 236 students Sports: 5 Tuition listed
315 N 6th St
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 787-4144
Dekalb, IL 60115
(815) 787-4144
Gr: PK-12 | 85 students
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