2023 Best Private High Schools in the Chicago Area

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  136 reviews

Sophomore: I was a student at lab since preschool, and I can say I thoroughly enjoyed it. The lower grades especially had something special about them. Elementary classes were based on projects and exploration, rather than rigid academics, which allowed me as a student to grow at my own pace. Middle school and high school were less special, but it remained a positive experience. Classes were challenging enough and there were a variety of more difficult options if we were advanced in a certain topic. One great thing about the upper grades are their clubs. Clubs and teams are open to anyone, no matter their skill. This allowed me to explore things I was interested in, without having the worry of tryouts or not being good enough. In my years at the school, I never experienced bullying, and rarely came across it with other students. That said my circle was a small and close-knit group, and that might not have been the experience of all.... Read 136 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,051

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Lake Forest, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.68 out of 5  72 reviews

Parent: During this pandemic, we are very grateful that Lake Forest Academy has provided a safe learning environment for our son and other boarders. The impact is minimized with the best efforts.... Read 72 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 436

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  113 reviews

Middle School Student: At Latin there is an excellent academic program. The staff tries their best to make sure we succeed no matter what we are trying to do. You can choose almost any sport and the teachers will train you and help you grow. There is almost any club you can choose and if you don’t see one you like you can make your own. They are super organized and have been so prepared for any issues that come their way. In general Latin has given me an amazing experience and I definitely recommend!... Read 113 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,155

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Winnetka, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.36 out of 5  70 reviews

Senior: North Shore is by no doubt an amazing school. While it is small and a bit sheltered, the school culture promotes independence and hard work in their students through rigorous courses and workloads. The school also requires its students to participate in the performing arts and athletics, which allows many students to be forced to develop their leadership skills and personality. MANY of the teachers are of high quality, compassionate, and care about developing relationships with their students. The humanities department is significantly more developed and better than that of STEM. STEM classes only prove to be worth it if it is an AP or required course. I wish North Shore would do better at is encouraging their students to take higher-level courses. The administration will usually discourage their students from taking AP classes based on their previous courses, and make it seem like the students aren't capable of taking all AP classes if they want to, nor do they even allow them to.... Read 70 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 547

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.66 out of 5  56 reviews

Parent: Our two children have attended BISC since nursery and they are now in 7th and 5th. Our children have developed a true love of learning and they love going to school. The teachers are so impressive—they work hard to understand their students keep them engaged. The curriculum is so well thought out and prepares students for higher learning and beyond, from an academic and life perspective. They emphasize values from a young age and encourage leadership. All of this and they worked unbelievably hard to ensure they continued delivering high quality learning during the pandemic. So so impressive!... Read 56 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 651

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Evanston, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.58 out of 5  155 reviews

Parent: Our family came to Roycemore in 8th grade from another independent school in the Chicagoland area. We chose Roycemore because of the small, individual attention each student receives. When my daughter started Roycemore she was quiet and lacked confidence and it made it difficult for her to connect with both her peers and teachers. Once she started at Roycemore she was making friends and building relationships with teachers. My daughter is now an upper school student at Roycemore. She is involved in the yearbook, student government, plays a sport and is involved in numerous other clubs and activities. She has blossomed into a confident, intelligent young person with a bright future and I credit this confidence and growth to the nurturing environment Roycemore offers. She has found her voice and a love for learning. We are so grateful to be a part of the Roycemore community!... Read 155 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 244

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.11 out of 5  64 reviews

Parent: As a former black student at Parker, I’ll try an give as unbiased a review as possible. My experience was from 7th grade until sophomore year between the years of 2002-2006. I was fortunate enough to have had the experience of going to a public, private, military, and reform school, so I believe I can say with some accuracy, which school gave me the best education, best connections, and best overall experience, and that was Parker. The access, the small class sizes, the teachers, and the curriculum are all stellar. You essentially get what you pay for as most students who graduate are well rounded, well adjusted, and are given the tools to think critically and contextualize most, if not all situations. With that being said, Parker has always had, and will probably always have an issue garnering more POC and black students into its community. This has mainly to do with the cost of tuition. Ultimately, even with this being the case, Parker is worth it and will give your child a leg up.... Read 64 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 935

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Lake Forest, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.38 out of 5  71 reviews

Parent: I am not going to sugar coat this. I was skeptical of Woodlands at first. It is small, tucked away in Lake Forest, and single gender. Maybe this was an environment that was too protected, sheltered, and "hand holding" for a young woman in high school? And while it is small, the experience has been anything but "too reserved or safe". The school is diverse and composed of students from the City, the burbs, and international locations that span the socio-economic spectrum. The academics are great and exceed expectation. If a student seeks challenge, the answer is always yes! If a student tries to back away from their potential, a teacher is on it. Students appreciate that WA will not let potential go unfulfilled. Girls learn to advocate & take pride in their accomplishments. Upon graduation they leave WA self-sufficient & confident women. They are ready to define their unique place in society. Despite school size, college placement is amazing! Deserves all the accolades!... Read 71 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 127

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  20 reviews

Senior: It's a small school. Everyone knows each other. It's very much a community of foreigners in Chicago. However, there are Americans. Students always come out of my school as bilingual in French and English. I myself am and have also learned German. It's a great opportunity for all children. They have two programs once you reach high school: the IB program and the Bac program. Both are wonderful. My sister has graduated from the IB program and I will graduate from the Bac program later this year. However, this is a very small school. Don't come here if you're searching for the stereotypical high school experience with football and homecoming. I, however, have loved my school as I have gone here since I was three years old. The teachers are all very accommodating and will know you by name even years after teaching you. It's a very nice environment to grow up in. It can feel stifling at times with the small size. I recommend this school for the bilingual experience!... Read 20 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 746

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Deerfield, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  51 reviews

Niche User: Amazing school! Both of my siblings attended this high school and received great well rounded educations. There is a strong sense of community! Leadership is encouraged throughout many school aspects, which helps students build their resumes early and be prepared for college!... Read 51 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 185

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  383 reviews

Senior: Diversity has definitely improved since my freshmen year. The school has become more inclusive towards minorities and the LGBTQ+ community. Academics are tough. How hard your class is doesn’t depend on the level of class you take (Honors, AP) but the teacher you have. Some teachers give loads of homework and tests, and some don’t give any homework. Be prepared for a lot of homework. Ignatius prepares you well for college. Teachers are a hit or miss. There are amazing teachers but also some horrible ones. I have never had a good math teacher. Food is way too expensive and unhealthy but it tastes great most of the time. Ignatius needs to build more bathrooms and expand the cafeteria because they accepted way too many students. Overall, Ignatius has many ways it can improve on, but It has given me so many resources and opportunities to become a better student and person. I wouldn’t have chosen any other school!... Read 383 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,512

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Evanston, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.42 out of 5  24 reviews

Parent: I wasn't sure what to expect when I heard there was a Montessori inspired high school. The more I learn, I realize that Montessori goes hand-in-hand with International Baccalaureate and Real-life Experiential Learning. The students have a lot of choice in their course selection, and within courses the students who have a burning desire to dive deeper are given that runway. My teen happens to be fairly aggressive in her academic pursuits, and she's thriving at Beacon. What I love, though, is that every student is invited to express the best version of themselves. Honestly the students are thriving because their teachers are amazing - they bring creativity, joy, authenticity AND rigor to the classroom. Thank you Beacon for recruiting, hiring, and retaining excellent teachers. I haven't seen anything like Beacon and wholeheartedly I support this model of educating students.... Read 24 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 213

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Niles, IL•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.42 out of 5  69 reviews

Alum: Northridge was a once in a lifetime experience for me. I walked in the halls as a young boy not knowing what to expect and came out as a man. That includes knowing my goals in life, learning my faith, as well as having opportunities set up for a well rounded future. The basketball program was something that will always have a spot in my heart. The brotherhood between past, former, and future players isn’t even describable. Coach Rey helped me in so many ways on and off the court. I’m now a basketball manager at the University of Louisville, a Division 1 school! I often find myself reminiscing about walking the halls, catching up with my classmates, and talking as well as getting mentored my the excellent faculty and staff. Northridge is something that is truly special, I would go back in a heartbeat. -Jack Figliuolo... Read 69 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 336

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Elgin, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.28 out of 5  43 reviews

Parent: Our rising junior will be entering their 14th year at Elgin Academy, having attended since pre-K. That alone speaks volumes - we've offered our child the opportunity to change schools at lower school, middle school, and high school entrance points. There was no question he wanted to stay. Our child is happy, challenged, and displays growing confidence each year. EA sets the kids up for success by the ready accessibility of the teachers, the challenging curriculum, and approaching each student in a holistic manner. I was especially impressed with how my child's teachers were able to successfully pivot their curriculum to live-streaming during our first go-round with Covid-19 remote learning. They didn't miss a beat; classes were live, with instructors and students fully participating. The commitment of the Elgin Academy teachers and staff are evident across the board. If you're looking for a school that truly cares about your child and their success, check out EA!... Read 43 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 227

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.45 out of 5  123 reviews

Parent: I have 2 children at Morgan Park Academy in the Early Childhood program and we love it! My kids are engaged and challenged academically and are taught about kindness in a world that seems to have forgotten about it. I love that my children could sing and count in French, Spanish, and Mandarin from the age of 3. The teachers truly care about the students and work hard to make it a great learning environment. Morgan Park Academy is a small school but an awesome community.... Read 123 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 490

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Northfield, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.65 out of 5  104 reviews

Parent: CHA’s Christ-centered culture, and its heart for Christ and for His Kingdom uniquely permeate all aspects of the community! The staff, faculty, administrators are earnestly seeking God and serving Him faithfully – they regard their work at CHA as a ministry that God have called them into, rather than just a daily job. They intentionally model Christ for the students in everything and in various ways. It’s so incredible and a tremendous blessing to have such kind of life-to-life discipleship taking place every day inside and outside of classrooms. Their Christ-like love, kindness, and care have touched and impacted many students and families, ourselves included.... Read 104 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 421

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.59 out of 5  93 reviews

Parent: The Chicago Academy For The Arts provided our daughter with the artistic training and development in a pre-professional structure and an academic foundation that prepared her for college. The community of this amazing school is one with support and understanding entrenched in diversity and openness to all that engage with this institution. I would highly, and wholeheartedly recommend this incredible performing arts school to all that desire to study and perfect their art while receiving a college prep education!... Read 93 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 119

• Student-teacher ratio 2:1

• Elgin, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.47 out of 5  15 reviews

Alum: I thoroughly enjoyed my time at The Einstein Academy. It was a great experience, and the community was always very welcoming and fun. I highly recommend this school to any family looking for a safe environment where their children will have all their needs met, whether social or academic. The teachers are very friendly and seem more like family. Whenever I or my peers had difficulty with a subject, the staff would always take time after school and give extra in-depth explanations. Also, classes are more than just taking notes, they are hands-on activities filled with laughter and excitement.... Read 15 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 89

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Wilmette, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  309 reviews

Senior: Loyola Academy is a great school as long as you can foot the bill and desire Jesuit values in education. Loyola’s strengths are its athletics and college readiness. Athletics are a huge part of the culture at Loyola. Most students participate in at least one sport during their time here. There is a wide variety of sports to choose from and most a “no cut” freshman year which allows all to participate. Students also get a helping hand through their college process during all the steps. No matter the student, Loyola will find a college for them. Loyola does have some drawbacks. While it is getting better, because of the steep tuition and location, diversity is low. The music and arts are also neglected in favor in sports. They are underfunded and not many kids participate. A new theater is being built, so in the future, the program might have more life in it. Overall though, Loyola is a great school as long as you can pay the steep tuition. Go Ramblers!... Read 309 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,000

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Oak Park, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  193 reviews

Senior: Fenwick is an amazing place! I am so grateful to have attended my high school years at Fenwick and my experience has been life-changing. As a highly motivated and achieving academic student, the faculty were consistently supportive and demanding and I always felt that I was learning. Sports are excellent and a large part of student life and the clubs and activities are unparalleled. Go Friars!... Read 193 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,197

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  30 reviews

Parent: Our daughter has been at GEMs for 5 years now. I am so impressed by this institution. The faculty, teachers, students, peers, mentors, and just the campus itself exceeds any expectation I could have had. We started our daughter in the 3s program, and I can truly say it has built a solid foundation for her during her early development years. GEMs has this amazing ability to look at the student as an individual, and really help build on the skills they are skillful at in order to help motivate and build confidence to exceed in other areas. We are so proud to see every day how much our daughter has learned, developed new life skills, excelled in different subjects, and has built her confidence! This community is like a little village, where you feel like your child is looked after and is becoming the best version of themself. It is truly special. We will be sending our younger daughter to GEMs starting this fall, and can’t wait to see what this education system will offer her!... Read 30 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 440

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Lisle, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  279 reviews

Senior: I love Benet! It is a place that is focused on academics and athletics, but it is also a place full of awesome people and teachers who genuinely care about the students. While the work load can be overwhelming and sometimes very stressful, it is honestly a place that follows the rule "work hard play hard". For every hard or challenging part that Benet has to offer, there is 5 more extracurricular activities or clubs to enjoy yourself in. I honestly have really loved having such a tight knit community of hard working and fun-loving people. Go Redwings baby :D... Read 279 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,357

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Wheaton, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  129 reviews

Parent: As a new Freshman parent I've been continually impressed with each interaction with St. Francis. The onboarding process is organized and informative, not only for the Freshman students, but the parents as well. All of the junior high events they offer students and parents to learn about what St. Francis offers are exceptional. The parent information session was a game changer. Hearing from staff AND students was great. Hearing about all of the great elective classes that neighboring Catholic High Schools do NOT offer, was also an eye opener. The feeling you get when you arrive at St. Francis is awesome. The community feeling is contagious. Everyone is happy. Father John is such an incredible asset to the school! The academics are challenging which is what we want! The athletics and coaching are top notch and we can't wait to switch back to the Chicago Catholic League next year as St. Francis continually outperforms its current competition. A+ for Faith, Academics, Athletics & Family!... Read 129 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 698

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.84 out of 5  25 reviews

Parent: Wolcott College Prep was an excellent school for our family. Our daughter was totally engaged in what she was learning -- with that came a better academic experience, a greater interest in extra-curriculars, increased self-confidence, and a happier child!... Read 25 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 150

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Naperville, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.53 out of 5  17 reviews

Parent: NCA has been utterly transformative in the lives of our children. Three of our children are NCA graduates and two more are on their ways. This is a place where our children have been loved, nurtured, guided, and also challenged. They have been immersed in great literature and have engaged in hundreds of hours of thoughtful discussion, wrestling with ideas that have shaped and influenced them in profound ways. In a culture that is increasingly at odds with our Judeo-Christian beliefs, our children have learned how to discern Truth from error and then winsomely and humbly defend it. These are skills that will last them a lifetime and for which we are most grateful. The good, the true, and the beautiful is truly a part of the DNA of this school!... Read 17 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 128

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1