The Best Private Schools in Ingleside, Illinois
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Ingleside. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Lake Forest Country Day School
Independent
Lake Forest Country Day School is a highly-regarded independent school serving the North Shore suburbs including Ingleside. The school offers a comprehensive educational program from early childhood through eighth grade with a strong emphasis on academic excellence, character development, and community engagement. LFCDS features state-of-the-art facilities including science labs, performing arts spaces, and extensive athletic facilities. The school's curriculum integrates technology, project-based learning, and global perspectives, preparing students for competitive secondary schools.
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The Catherine Cook School
Independent
The Catherine Cook School in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood serves families from throughout the metropolitan area, including Lake County communities like Ingleside. This independent school offers a progressive education from preschool through eighth grade with a focus on project-based learning, global citizenship, and innovative teaching methods. The school features specialized learning spaces including science labs, art studios, and a dedicated innovation lab. Catherine Cook emphasizes social-emotional learning alongside academic rigor, with strong arts and athletics programs complementing the core curriculum.
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St. Joseph Catholic School
Archdiocese of Chicago
St. Joseph Catholic School in nearby Libertyville serves families throughout Lake County, including Ingleside residents. This parochial school provides a strong academic foundation within a faith-based environment, serving students from preschool through eighth grade. The school features modern classrooms, technology integration, and comprehensive extracurricular programs including sports, music, and community service. St. Joseph's is known for its dedicated faculty, strong parent community, and commitment to developing well-rounded students with solid moral character.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Ingleside, Illinois
What are the primary private school options available for families residing in Ingleside, Illinois?
While Ingleside itself is a smaller village, families have access to several well-regarded private schools in the surrounding Lake County area. The most prominent include Lake Forest Country Day School (in Lake Forest, IL), which offers a rigorous Pre-K through 8th-grade program, and St. Joseph Catholic School (in Libertyville, IL), providing a faith-based K-8 education. The Catherine Cook School in Chicago's Old Town is also a consideration for its progressive, urban education, though it involves a significant commute. Many Ingleside families also explore schools in nearby Libertyville, Mundelein, and Lake Forest. It's important to note that there are no major private school campuses physically located within Ingleside's village limits, so transportation planning is a key local consideration.
How does Illinois' tax credit scholarship program, Invest in Kids, affect private school tuition for Ingleside families?
The Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship Program, Invest in Kids, is a significant financial consideration for Ingleside families. This program allows donors to receive a state income tax credit for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations, which then provide need-based scholarships for students to attend private schools. Many of the schools attended by Ingleside students, including St. Joseph Catholic School, participate in this program. Eligibility is based on household income (typically up to 300% of the federal poverty level), and scholarships can substantially reduce tuition costs. However, the program's future has been subject to legislative debate, so families should check its current status when planning.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs are offered by private schools serving the Ingleside, IL community?
Private schools in the Ingleside area distinguish themselves with specialized programs leveraging local resources. Lake Forest Country Day School emphasizes environmental science and outdoor education, utilizing its campus and proximity to forest preserves. St. Joseph Catholic School integrates STEM with its faith-based curriculum and often participates in regional academic competitions through the Diocese of Rockford. For families willing to commute, The Catherine Cook School offers a unique urban learning model with city-based fieldwork. A common thread among these schools is a focus on small class sizes, which is a notable contrast to the larger class sizes in some of the local public elementary districts that serve Ingleside, such as Gavin School District 37.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools near Ingleside, Illinois?
The enrollment process for competitive private schools in the North Shore/Lake County area typically begins very early. For schools like Lake Forest Country Day School, the application process for the following academic year often opens in August or September, with key deadlines for financial aid and applications falling between January and February. Many schools require assessments, parent interviews, and student visits. For parish-based schools like St. Joseph, priority is often given to active parishioners and siblings of current students. Given Ingleside's location, it's crucial to inquire about transportation options or bus routes early, as not all schools provide service to this specific village. Starting your research 12-18 months before desired enrollment is a common recommendation for Ingleside parents.
How do the class sizes and student-to-teacher ratios in Ingleside-area private schools compare to the local public school options?
This is a key differentiator for Ingleside families. The local public schools, primarily Gavin School District 37 (Gavin South Jr. High) and Elementary Districts 50 and 76 for younger grades, are generally well-regarded but have larger average class sizes, often in the mid-20s. In contrast, the private schools popular with Ingleside residents boast significantly lower ratios. For example, Lake Forest Country Day School maintains an average student-to-teacher ratio of 7:1, and St. Joseph Catholic School averages around 20:1 with additional instructional aides. This allows for more individualized attention. The trade-off, of course, is tuition versus property taxes funding public schools. Many Ingleside families weigh this personalized environment against the cost and the quality of the already well-performing public districts.
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