2023 Most Diverse Private High Schools in Illinois

• 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+

• grade A+

• Students 244

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Hoffman Estates, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.63 out of 5  24 reviews

Alum: I attended Valeo for 11 years. Valeo has taught me to get out of my comfort zone and do things I never would have imagined doing. I'm so grateful for a school where the teachers genuinely love and care for their students. When I was struggling, I was able to have one-on-ones with my teacher to help work through the problems. Valeo also gave me friendships built around the word of God. Valeo has prepared me for whatever I may face in the future with a strong Biblical foundation which will guide me during my life. Thank you Valeo!... Read 24 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 104

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Hinsdale, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  21 reviews

Senior: Hinsdale Adventist Academy is a Seventh-day Adventist pre-k to 12 school. Committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values. Where students are strengthened for the lives of purpose, service, and leadership. At this school, teachers provide the best academic learning for all students in a God loving atmosphere. Everyone will get in touch with each other and grow a connection with God. Hinsdale Adventist Academy is such a warm welcoming place, and will start to feel like a little family that you will never forget. There are many fun learning opportunities as well as any help that you may need. No one will ever feel out of place when you are constantly being surrounded by people who care and have a love for Jesus.... Read 21 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 218

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• 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+

• grade A+

• Students 436

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Schaumburg, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.29 out of 5  78 reviews

Parent: I cannot say enough things about Schaumburg Christian School! My son is in Kindergarten and with the pandemic we decided to give this school a try because we did not want to do remote. WHAT A BLESSING THIS HAS BEEN! Everybody from the administration is amazing and very helpful. The teachers are GREAT! They are kind, patient and all around amazing. Our son loves school and I know it's all thanks to the teachers he is blossoming ! The kids are always busy and challenged. I recommend this school to everybody that asks. Thank you SCS for giving such a great introduction into Education to our son!... Read 78 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 858

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.81 out of 5  37 reviews

Niche User: My name is Temika, The inspiration in upliftment structured for the future of these genius are absolutely amazing. I would highly appreciate the opportunity to be honored in the presence of such greatness. I will be in touch with your administration office to make arrangements for a visit, again very proud of the organization as a WHOLE!... Read 37 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 67

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• 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+

• grade A+

• Students 150

• Student-teacher ratio 4:1

• Melrose Park, IL•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  98 reviews

Parent: Excellent high school that supports the whole child - academically, physically, and spiritually. Teachers and staff care deeply about the success of their students and are willing to be an active partner in each student's academic growth. Athletics are inclusive and allow for any student to participate and truly enjoy their experience. Coaches support this effort as well. This is a school where all are truly welcome!... Read 98 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Students 256

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Tinley Park, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• grade unavailable

• grade A+

• Students 26

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  173 reviews

Parent: We came from a top rated Chicago suburb as our daughter wanted something different. We could not be more pleased. This year at Christmas our daughter said she wanted to get her teachers gifts as she said, "at this school I really like my teachers." Our daughter is excelling - she enjoys learning and the teachers give her the tools and teaching needed to be successful. She is motivated and happy. The coaches are great and work with students who are strong players and also those who are new to the sport. There are plenty of activities to address all interests. Everyone seems to care about making all feel welcomed and also about teaching the students to be good Christian people. It is amazing as those of different races and also different socioeconomic levels all get along so nicely! Solid education, diverse, balanced and welcoming!... Read 173 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 929

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Des Plaines, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• grade unavailable

• grade A+

• Students 77

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.67 out of 5  57 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 57 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 651

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.47 out of 5  128 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 128 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 490

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.59 out of 5  92 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 92 reviews

• grade A+

• 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+

• grade A+

• Students 89

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.71 out of 5  52 reviews

Parent: Our family loves the focus on learning by doing at Bennett. Students and teachers are always working together in project-based learning, and they are being prepared for the real world from a young age through their natural curiosity. Bennett has a great 'best of' approach with a Singapore-based math program focused on depth and mastery to complement the Reggio Emilia approach, which inspires the collaborative learning environment. There is a grading and assessment system in middle and upper school in particular that focuses on developing competencies with deep feedback about student mastery that converts to letter grades for college, but is much more comprehensive with detailed feedback vs traditional letter grades. The upper school students score well above national averages on standardized tests, and on national benchmarked surveys, where students nationally say school makes them feel tired, bored, and stressed, tstudents at Bennett say they are excited, engaged, and love school!... Read 52 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 321

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  9 reviews

Senior: As the first ever class in Daystar, I have had to deal with a lot of rules and stipulations that I feel were unfair or unneeded. This was however was known to me when I joined the class of 11 after graduating from the Daystar middle school. I chose Daystar for the IB program which offers college level courses with an astonishing amount of work on the students. It has been extremely difficult and is not over yet but I am glad that Daystar has such small classes since the teachers can help me learn with my learning style. Since I was the first class, I have had many teachers several years in a row so they have been able to help me manage my ADHD and use it to grow more. Daystar has taught me a lot about what I think is true and I am thankful for it even though I have some issues with the school culture as a whole.... Read 9 reviews

• grade unavailable

• grade A+

• Students 336

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  117 reviews

Senior: I'm having a totally good experience at De LaSalle Institiute. The only reason that I didn't give it 5 stars is because as a non-Catholic, I feel that the emphasis on Catholicism makes me feel not quite 100% student. However, I realize that this is the high school of my choice as well as my parents' choice because of its high standards and reputation.... Read 117 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Students 450

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Waukegan, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  20 reviews

Alum: Over all it’s a good school. The teachers are very hands on and willing to help if the students need it, which is great. On the downside though since it’s a very small school there’s no room for more diverse sports, more clubs, more activities, AP classes, driver’s ED, etc etc. This school is best suited for grades preschool-7th grade, not high schoolers.... Read 20 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Students 156

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Naperville, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.56 out of 5  18 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 18 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Students 128

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Harvey, IL•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• grade unavailable

• grade A

• Students 32

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• 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+

• grade A

• Students 421

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Elmhurst, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.38 out of 5  81 reviews

Senior: IC Catholic Prep is an amazing school. At IC, we offer honors and AP classes, allowing students to test their knowledge. These classes may be rigorous, but it only pushes us to work harder. The teachers at IC are extremely friendly, always having open doors, they are ready to assist any student. Additionally, at IC we are not only active in the classroom, but we are also active outside of the classroom. Whether you are on the field or the stage, there are many ways to get involved. There are many sports where you can develop friendships with your teammates. Furthermore, we have a musical where everyone is involved. Lastly, IC offers many clubs ranging from leadership to service. Many of these clubs are fun ways for students to be involved in the school. In all, IC is a fantastic school which not only fosters students’ education but also helps students be involved in everything the school has to offer.... Read 81 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Students 350

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• 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+

• grade A

• Students 227

• Student-teacher ratio 5:1

• Chicago, IL•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  111 reviews

Senior: The school has a strong curriculum that is designed to challenge students and prepare them for success in college and beyond. Students have access to a variety of extracurricular activities, such as sports teams, music programs, and clubs, which help them develop a well-rounded education and foster important life skills such as leadership, teamwork, and creativity. Another reason Holy Trinity is considered a good school is its commitment to Catholic values. The school emphasizes the importance of faith, service, and community involvement. Students are encouraged to volunteer and give back to their communities, which helps them develop a sense of social responsibility and empathy for others.... Read 111 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A

• Students 350

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1