Grades PreK-8 325 students 5.1 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed
Private schools in Lake Forest, IL
6 schools in Lake Forest itself and 9 more within 6 miles.
Lake Forest private schools at a glance
Lake Forest has 6 private schools of its own, and 9 more are within 6 miles. In Lake Forest itself: 2 Catholic and 4 nonsectarian; 3 teach elementary grades and 3 teach high school; 1 is Montessori. Counting the 9 nearby, there are 15 in all: 3 Catholic, 11 nonsectarian and 1 of other faiths; 10 teach elementary grades and 5 teach high school; 7 are Montessori. 1 is all-girls; the rest are co-ed. 8 report membership in a school association, most often the American Montessori Society (2023-24 federal survey). Of the 5 high schools that reported it, the typical one sends 95% of graduates on to a 4-year college (2023-24 federal survey). The typical school has about 68 students and 6.6 students per teacher (2023-24 federal survey).
3 Catholic
6.6 students per teacher, typical
Private schools in Lake Forest (6)
Schools that give Lake Forest as their address come first, then the 9 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 Lake Forest matches all of those.
Grades 6-12 45 students Nonsectarian Alternative Co-ed 95% to 4-year college
School of St. Mary
1 mi Grades PreK-8 336 students 11 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades 9-12 120 students 5.3 students per teacher Roman Catholic All-girls 86% to 4-year college
Lake Forest Academy
2 mi Grades 9-12 446 students 6.6 students per teacher Nonsectarian Co-ed 99% to 4-year college
Grades PreK-8 68 students 6.8 students per teacher Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Nearby, within 6 miles (9)
Schools in other towns within 6 miles of downtown Lake Forest.
No nearby school matches all of those.
Grades PreK-8 116 students 12.5 students per teacher Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Grades PreK-K Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Safe Haven School
4 mi Grades 6-12 37 students 6.2 students per teacher Nonsectarian Special education Co-ed 30% to 4-year college
Grades PreK-5 16 students 4.2 students per teacher Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Grades PreK-K Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Grades PreK-K Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Grades 9-12 152 students 7.1 students per teacher Jewish Co-ed 95% to 4-year college
Grades PreK-8 376 students 15 students per teacher Roman Catholic Co-ed
Grades PreK-K Nonsectarian Montessori Co-ed
Private schools
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Private school tuition near Lake Forest
We verified published tuition at one of these schools so far. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Forest Academy | $57,150 | 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
- Catholic schools in Lake Forest (3)
- Montessori schools in Lake Forest (7)
- Private high schools in Lake Forest (5)
- Private elementary schools in Lake Forest (10)
- Private middle schools in Lake Forest (7)
- All schools in Lake County
- All schools in Cook County
- Private schools in Riverwoods (5 mi)
- Private schools in Libertyville (7 mi)
- Private schools in Buffalo Grove (7 mi)
- Private schools in Northbrook (7 mi)
- Private schools in Wheeling (8 mi)
- Private schools in Waukegan (9 mi)
- Private schools in Glenview (10 mi)
- Private schools in Winnetka (11 mi)
- Private schools in Arlington Heights (11 mi)
- Private schools in Mount Prospect (13 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 Lake Forest) 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 Lake Forest?
6 private schools give Lake Forest as their address: Lake Forest Country Day School, Fusion Academy LF: Chicago- Lake Forest, School of St. Mary, Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart, Lake Forest Academy and Montessori School of Lake Forest. Counting nearby towns, we list 15: 6 in Lake Forest and 9 within 6 miles of downtown. Together they enrolled about 2,062 students in the last federal survey (2023-24). The largest in Lake Forest is Lake Forest Academy with 446 students.
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).