The Best Private Schools in Hillside, Illinois
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Hillside. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
The Catherine Cook School
Independent
The Catherine Cook School is an independent school in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood, offering a progressive, Montessori-inspired education from early childhood through middle school. It emphasizes critical thinking, community engagement, and individualized learning, with modern facilities including science labs, art studios, and athletic spaces. The school is highly regarded for its strong academic outcomes, diverse extracurricular offerings, and high levels of parent satisfaction.
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The Chicago Academy for the Arts
Independent
The Chicago Academy for the Arts is a premier independent high school specializing in arts education combined with a rigorous academic curriculum. It features expert faculty, modern studios and performance spaces, and a supportive environment that fosters creativity and academic excellence. The school boasts high college acceptance rates, numerous alumni successes in the arts, and strong parent and student reviews for its personalized approach and extracurricular opportunities.
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The British School of Chicago
Nord Anglia Education
The British School of Chicago is a highly-rated international school part of the Nord Anglia Education network, offering a comprehensive IB curriculum. It is known for its academic rigor, diverse and inclusive community, state-of-the-art facilities, and strong emphasis on global citizenship. The school provides extensive extracurricular activities, including arts, sports, and technology programs, and has a track record of high parent satisfaction and college placements.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Hillside, Illinois
What are the primary private school options available to families residing in Hillside, Illinois, and are they located within the village itself?
While Hillside, IL, is a residential suburb, most of the top-tier private schools are located in nearby Chicago neighborhoods, accessible via a commute. Families in Hillside commonly consider schools like The British School of Chicago (Lincoln Park), offering an International Baccalaureate curriculum; The Chicago Academy for the Arts (River North), a premier arts-focused high school; and The Catherine Cook School (Old Town), a pre-K through 8th grade independent school. There are also local Catholic and parochial schools within closer proximity. The commute to these Chicago schools is a significant factor for Hillside residents, typically involving Metra train lines or driving via I-290.
How does Illinois' tax credit scholarship program, Invest in Kids, affect tuition affordability for Hillside families considering private schools?
The Illinois Invest in Kids Act provides a significant opportunity for Hillside families. This program offers tax credit scholarships to income-eligible students, which can be applied to tuition at participating private schools. Many of the schools popular with Hillside residents, including the Catholic schools in the area, participate. Eligibility is based on household income (up to 300% of the federal poverty level), with priority given to students from low-performing public schools. For a Hillside family, this state-specific program can make private education substantially more accessible, and it's crucial to check each school's financial aid office for participation details and application deadlines.
For a family in Hillside interested in a specialized arts education, what unique program does The Chicago Academy for the Arts offer, and what is the logistical commitment?
The Chicago Academy for the Arts, located in Chicago's River North, is a nationally recognized independent high school offering intensive conservatory-style training alongside a college-prep academic curriculum. For a student from Hillside, this means a daily commute but access to majors in Dance, Media Arts, Music, Musical Theatre, Theatre, and Visual Arts. The unique model involves academic classes in the morning and dedicated arts training in the afternoon with working professional artists. Logistically, families must plan for the commute (often 45+ minutes each way via car or Metra/CTA) and understand that the audition-based admissions process is highly competitive, typically beginning a full year before enrollment.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools like The Catherine Cook School that attract Hillside families, and how far in advance should we apply?
The enrollment timeline for top Chicago-area private schools like The Catherine Cook School (pre-K-8) is rigorous and requires early planning. For Hillside families, the process usually begins 12-18 months before the desired start date. Key steps include: attending open houses in the fall (September-November), submitting applications by early January, completing student assessments and family interviews in January/February, and receiving decisions in mid-March. Due to the competitive nature and limited seats, especially for entry grades like pre-K and kindergarten, initiating the process in the fall prior to enrollment is critical. Many schools also have sibling and legacy priority, which can affect availability for new families from the suburbs.
How do the transportation and community aspects differ for a Hillside student attending a private school in Chicago versus the local Hillside public school district?
This is a fundamental logistical difference. Attending a Hillside public school (District 93) involves local busing or a short walk, embedding the student in the immediate neighborhood community. In contrast, commuting to a Chicago private school creates a distinct dynamic. The student becomes part of a geographically dispersed community drawn from across the city and suburbs, which can limit spontaneous local peer interactions but broaden social and cultural exposure. Transportation is the family's responsibility, involving significant time and cost for Metra passes, car pools, or private transportation. The trade-off is access to specialized programs, facilities, and educational philosophies not available in the local public system, requiring families to weigh community integration against program specificity.
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