Lake Forest Academy (Top Ranked Private School for 2025)

1500 W Kennedy Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045

Lake Forest Academy Photo #1 - 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.

Lake Forest Academy Photo #2 - A LFA education extends well beyond campus. The Stuart Center for Global Leadership (located in the JC Cowart Student Center) offers enriching travel opportunities for all students. Students have traveled to various countries, including to Italy, China, Peru and Ghana in recent years.

Lake Forest Academy Photo #3 - Lake Forest Academy's rigorous academic program challenges students to be independent thinkers and prepares them for collegiate studies. A student's curriculum is composed of a core set of academic subjects and a broad range of freely elected courses. Students must satisfy a minimum of 18 course credits over four years to earn an LFA diploma.

Lake Forest Academy Photo #4 - The arts are integral to an LFA education. Through a robust arts curriculum and various extracurricular opportunities, students develop as creative and curious thinkers. In addition, the Arts Concentration program invites eager students to engage in more concentrated study of the visual arts, music, and theater.

Lake Forest Academy Photo #5 - LFA's academic calendar follows a block schedule which rotates on a seven school day cycle. Each schedule is tailored to the individual student and provides non-class time to get a head start on homework, attend a club meeting, get extra help from a teacher or catch up with friends.

Lake Forest Academy Photo #6 - LFA thrives on a culture of participation in all aspects of campus life and especially in school athletics. Over their tenure at the Academy, students join several of our 27 interscholastic sports teams and proudly represent LFA in our orange and white team uniforms. The LFA athletic program uplifts sportsmanship and the individual success of each student-athlete.

Lake Forest Academy Photo #7 - 100% of our graduates are college-bound and pursue studies at schools across the nation and around the world. LFA hosts numerous alumni events throughout the year and many of our alumni keep in lifelong contact with their teachers and coaches.

Founded in 1857, Lake Forest Academy is an independent coeducational college preparatory school for boarding and day students in grades nine through twelve.

Lake Forest Academy strives to embody in its practices and to cultivate in its students excellence of character, scholarship, citizenship, and responsibility.

Quick Stats (2025)

Top Ranked IL School
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 452 students
Yearly Tuition: $53,200
Acceptance rate: 31%
Average class size: 12 students
Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling
Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Lake Forest Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Illinois for:

School Overview

School Membership(s)School Assoc.

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
State or regional independent school association
The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)

Religious Affiliation

Nonsectarian

Grades Offered

Grades 9-12

Year Founded

1857

Colors

Orange & black

Summer School Offered

Yes

Summer Program Details

View Summer Program Details

School Calendar

View School Calendar

First Day of School

Thu. Aug 28, 2025

Last Day of School

Fri. Jun 5, 2026

Campus Size

150

Student Body

Total Students

452 students

Student Body Type

Co-ed

% Students of Color

39%

State avg.: 34%

Students by Grade

Academics and Faculty

Total Classroom Teachers

65 teachers

Student : Teacher Ratio

7:1

National avg.: 13:1

% Faculty w/Advanced Degree

78%

Average Class Size

12 students

Number of AP Courses

24 courses

List of Courses Offered

Link to List of Courses

Advanced Courses

AP Art History, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP Chinese Language & Culture, AP Computer Science, AP Economics, AP English Language & Composition, AP English Literature & Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP French Language & Culture, AP Latin Language & Culture, AP Music Theory, AP Physics C, AP Psychology, AP Spanish Language & Culture, AP Spanish Literature & Culture, AP Statistics, AP United States History, AP World History

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Average SAT score

1430

(Out of 1600)

Average ACT score

(Out of 36)

Matriculation DataMatric. Data

View Matriculation Data

Classroom Dress Code

Formal

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

Admission Deadline

Jan. 15 / rolling

Yearly Tuition Cost

$53,200

View national tuition avg.

Tuition Notes

The 2024 - 2025 school year tuition for day students is $53,200 and the tuition for boarding students is $73,400.

% on Financial Aid

33%

Acceptance Rate

31%

National avg.: 81%

Admissions Director

Carolyn Gorowski

Application URL

Online Application

Endowment Size

$68.5 million

Sports

Total Sports Offered

15 sports

Sports

Baseball, Basketball, Cheering, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.

24 extracurriculars

ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.

Club or Organization:

Amnesty International, Archive Club, Black Student Union, Caxy Comedy, Caxy Key, Debate, Future Business Leaders of America, Gay-Straight-Alliance (GSA), Harlow Society, Investment Club, Jewish Student Union (JSU), Literary Magazine, Math Team, Model UN, Photography, Scholastic Bowl, Science Olympiad, Students Demand Action, Sustainability Club, Symphony for Service, The Spectator, UNIDOS

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Arts and Music Programs:

Co-Ax, VOX

School Notes

School Motto: Midwestern Heart. Global Mind.
School Mascot: Caxy

Lake Forest Academy, founded in 1857, is an independent coeducational college preparatory school for boarding and day students in grades nine through twelve.
Lake Forest Academy strives to embody in its practices and to cultivate in its students excellence of character, scholarship, citizenship, and responsibility.

Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Jean Harlow - Actress
- Bix Biederbecke - Jazz cornet player
- Bradley Russell Weinberger - Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice
- David Bradley - Film director
- Judy Baar Topinka - Former Illinois State Treasurer
- Frances Perkins - First female Secretary of Labor

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Lake Forest Academy cost?

Lake Forest Academy's tuition is approximately $53,200 for private students.

What is the acceptance rate of Lake Forest Academy?

The acceptance rate of Lake Forest Academy is 31%, which is lower than the national average of 84%. Lake Forest Academy's acceptance rate is ranked among the top private schools in Illinois with low acceptance rates.

Who are famous alumni from Lake Forest Academy?

Lake Forest Academy famous alumni include: Jean Harlow, Bix Biederbecke, Bradley Russell Weinberger, David Bradley, Judy Baar Topinka and Frances Perkins.

Does Lake Forest Academy offer a summer program?

Yes, Lake Forest Academy offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.

What sports does Lake Forest Academy offer?

Lake Forest Academy offers 15 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cheering, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field and Volleyball. Lake Forest Academy is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in Illinois for most sports offered.

What is Lake Forest Academy's ranking?

Lake Forest Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Illinois for: Highest average SAT score, Highest average ACT score, Lowest average acceptance rates, Largest student body, Most AP courses offered, Most sports offered, Most extracurriculars offered, Oldest founding date and Largest endowments.

When is the application deadline for Lake Forest Academy?

The application deadline for Lake Forest Academy is Jan. 15 / rolling (applications are due on Jan. 15 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).

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