Willows Academy
under 1 mi Grades 6-12 241 students 9.2 students per teacher Roman Catholic All-girls 85% to 4-year college
Private schools in Des Plaines, IL
5 schools in Des Plaines itself and 35 more within 6 miles.
Des Plaines private schools at a glance
Des Plaines has 5 private schools of its own, and 35 more are within 6 miles. In Des Plaines itself: 1 Catholic, 1 other Christian and 3 nonsectarian; 3 teach elementary grades and 2 teach high school. Counting the 35 nearby, there are 40 in all: 14 Catholic, 6 other Christian, 18 nonsectarian and 2 of other faiths; 35 teach elementary grades and 8 teach high school; 4 are Montessori. 2 are all-girls and 1 is all-boys; the rest are co-ed. 12 report membership in a school association, most often the National Catholic Educational Association (2023-24 federal survey). Of the 8 high schools that reported it, the typical one sends 85% of graduates on to a 4-year college (2023-24 federal survey). The typical school has about 134 students and 9.9 students per teacher (2023-24 federal survey). We verified published tuition at 3 of these schools: the lowest-priced grade runs from $7,775 to $16,450 a year, and the middle figure is $10,866.
14 Catholic
9.9 students per teacher, typical
Private schools in Des Plaines (5)
Schools that give Des Plaines as their address come first, then the 35 more within 6 miles. Closest schools first in each group. No school can pay to change its place in this list or its badge.
Affiliation, co-ed or single-sex, association membership and the share of graduates going on to a 4-year college come from the 2023-24 federal Private School Universe survey.
No school in Des Plaines matches all of those.
Plato Academy
under 1 mi Grades PreK-8 93 students 5.8 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed
Grades PreK-8 258 students 6.7 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special program emphasis Co-ed
Grades PreK-8 193 students 9.3 students per teacher Greek Orthodox Co-ed
Maryville Jen School
2 mi Grades 8-12 47 students 3.1 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special education Co-ed 0% to 4-year college
Nearby, within 6 miles (35)
Schools in other towns within 6 miles of downtown Des Plaines.
No nearby school matches all of those.
Grades PreK-8 266 students 8.9 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed
Grades 1-12 79 students 3.8 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special education Co-ed 100% to 4-year college
Grades Ungraded 70 students Nonsectarian Special education Co-ed
Grades PreK-K Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Early childhood Co-ed
Grades PreK-8 174 students 11.2 students per teacher Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) Co-ed
St. Raymond School
3 mi Grades PreK-8 388 students 15.5 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Kiddie Garden
3 mi Grades PreK-K Nonsectarian Early childhood Co-ed
Grades PreK-K Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Embers Academy
3 mi Grades PreK-5 176 students 10.4 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades 6-12 351 students 12.5 students per teacher Roman Catholic All-boys 91% to 4-year college
Grades PreK-8 127 students 10.7 students per teacher Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) Co-ed
Grades PreK-8 596 students 14.6 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades PreK-8 451 students 11.1 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades PreK-8 134 students 9.9 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades PreK-8 27 students 5 students per teacher Other religious Co-ed
Grades PreK-8 48 students 5.1 students per teacher Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
St. Juliana School
5 mi Grades PreK-8 477 students 14.9 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades PreK-K Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Grades PreK-K Nonsectarian Early childhood Co-ed
All 35 nearby schools
Private schools
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Private school tuition near Des Plaines
We verified published tuition at 3 of these schools: the lowest-priced grade runs from $7,775 to $16,450 a year, and the middle figure is $10,866. Each figure comes from the school’s own website, and we link it on the school’s page. Ask the others for their full-year price.
| School | Published tuition | Year |
|---|---|---|
| St. Paul of the Cross School | $7,775 | 2026-27 |
| St. James School | $10,866 to $11,659 | 2026-27 |
| Resurrection College Prep High School | $16,450 | 2026-27 |
Ranges run from the lowest to the highest grade band the school publishes. How private school tuition compares by state.
What private school costs across Illinois: every verified price in the state, by city and grade.
Paying for private school in Illinois
No state program pays private school tuition. What Illinois families can use instead.
Keep looking
- Christian schools in Des Plaines (6)
- Catholic schools in Des Plaines (14)
- Montessori schools in Des Plaines (4)
- Special education schools in Des Plaines (4)
- Private high schools in Des Plaines (8)
- Private elementary schools in Des Plaines (35)
- Private middle schools in Des Plaines (27)
- Private schools with kindergarten in Des Plaines (33)
- Lutheran schools in Des Plaines (3)
- All schools in Cook County
- All schools in Dupage County
- Private schools in Mount Prospect (3 mi)
- Private schools in Park Ridge (3 mi)
- Private schools in Niles (5 mi)
- Private schools in Elk Grove Village (5 mi)
- Private schools in Glenview (5 mi)
- Private schools in Arlington Heights (6 mi)
- Private schools in Wheeling (7 mi)
- Private schools in Northbrook (7 mi)
- Private schools in Skokie (8 mi)
- Private schools in Palatine (9 mi)
- School choice in Illinois: what is available
Get one email when applications open
Most programs open once a year, and several ran out of money or seats in 2026. Pick your state (you are looking at Des Plaines) and we will email you the day the next window opens, with the official link. That is the only email you get.
One email per application window. No calls, no sharing your details.
Questions parents ask
How many private schools are there in Des Plaines?
5 private schools give Des Plaines as their address: Willows Academy, Plato Academy, Science & Arts Academy, Guardian Angel Orthodox Day School and Maryville Jen School. Counting nearby towns, we list 40: 5 in Des Plaines and 35 within 6 miles of downtown. Together they enrolled about 7,396 students in the last federal survey (2023-24). The largest in Des Plaines is Science & Arts Academy with 258 students. The largest within 6 miles is St. Paul of the Cross School with 596 students.
How much does private school cost near Des Plaines?
We verified published tuition at 3 of these schools: the lowest-priced grade runs from $7,775 to $16,450 a year, and the middle figure is $10,866. Each figure was read on the school’s own website. Required fees can be extra and prices vary by grade, so check the school’s page for your child’s grade.
Does Illinois pay for private school?
No state program pays private school tuition. No Illinois program pays private school tuition. Invest in Kids, the state’s tax-credit scholarship, ended: donations made after December 31, 2023 earn no credit. Families can claim the Education Expense Credit, 25% of tuition, book rental and lab fees above the first $250, up to $750 per family a year. It is not refundable and is not allowed above $500,000 of adjusted gross income on a joint return ($250,000 for other filers).