The Best Private Schools in Naperville, Illinois
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Naperville. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Benet Academy
Diocese of Joliet
Benet Academy is a top-tier Catholic college-preparatory high school renowned for its rigorous academic curriculum, exceptional faculty, and strong sense of community. Located just minutes from Naperville, it offers a wide range of Advanced Placement courses, robust STEM programs, and competitive athletics. The school emphasizes character development and service, with state-of-the-art facilities including science labs, a performing arts center, and athletic fields. Parent and student reviews consistently highlight its high college acceptance rates and supportive environment.
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St. Francis High School
Diocese of Joliet
St. Francis High School provides a comprehensive faith-based education with a focus on academic excellence, spiritual growth, and extracurricular engagement. Serving the Naperville area, it features a challenging curriculum with honors and AP courses, vibrant fine arts programs, and successful athletic teams. The campus includes modern classrooms, a chapel, and athletic facilities. Parents praise the school for its dedicated teachers, strong community values, and high student achievement, making it a preferred choice for families seeking a well-rounded private education.
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Montini Catholic High School
Diocese of Joliet
Montini Catholic High School offers a dynamic, faith-centered education with a strong emphasis on academic rigor and personal development. Its programs include advanced STEM courses, visual and performing arts, and a variety of sports and clubs. The school serves Naperville and surrounding communities with a commitment to fostering leadership and service. Facilities feature updated labs, a gymnasium, and technology-integrated classrooms. Reviews often highlight the supportive staff, inclusive atmosphere, and successful post-graduate outcomes, solidifying its reputation as a leading private school in the region.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Naperville, Illinois
What are the primary types of private high school options available to families in Naperville, Illinois, and how do they differ?
Naperville offers several distinct types of private high schools, primarily Catholic college-preparatory institutions. The top schools include Benet Academy (a Benedictine, co-ed school in Lisle serving Naperville heavily), St. Francis High School (a Wheaton-based, co-ed Franciscan school), and Montini Catholic High School (a Lasallian, co-ed school in Lombard). These differ in their specific religious charisms, athletic conference affiliations (East Suburban Catholic Conference vs. Chicago Catholic League), and campus cultures. Additionally, Naperville has private elementary/middle schools and some non-religious independent options, but the landscape for high school is dominated by these highly-regarded Catholic institutions drawing from the wider region.
How does the tuition for private high schools in the Naperville, IL area compare, and what financial aid options are typically available?
Tuition for the leading Naperville-area private high schools like Benet, St. Francis, and Montini typically ranges from approximately $15,000 to $18,000 per year. This is competitive for the Chicago suburban market. All these schools offer robust financial aid programs based on demonstrated need, often using third-party services like FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment. Additionally, the Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship Program, enacted in 2018, is a critical consideration. This allows donors to fund scholarships for lower-income families in return for a state tax credit, significantly increasing accessible financial aid. Families are encouraged to apply for aid early in the admissions cycle.
What is the typical enrollment process and timeline for competitive private high schools like Benet Academy serving Naperville students?
The process for schools like Benet, St. Francis, and Montini begins in the fall of a student's 8th grade year. Key steps include: attending open houses (often September-October), taking a mandatory entrance exam (typically the HSPT in January), submitting an application by a stated deadline (often early February), and sometimes participating in an interview or submitting teacher recommendations. Admissions decisions are usually released in February. Given the competitive nature and limited seats, especially for non-feeder school students, it is crucial to attend open houses, take the entrance exam on the first available date, and ensure all application materials are submitted promptly.
Beyond strong academics, what unique programs or opportunities do Naperville-area private high schools offer that leverage their location in the Chicago suburbs?
Naperville's proximity to Chicago and a major tech corridor allows its private schools to offer unique experiential programs. Many have robust STEM partnerships with companies like Fermilab, Argonne National Laboratory, and local tech firms for internships and research. Theology and social justice programs often include urban immersion experiences in Chicago. Furthermore, schools like Benet and St. Francis have nationally recognized extracurriculars, such as state-championship athletics and acclaimed performing arts programs, that compete at a regional and national level, benefiting from the large, talented student pool drawn from Naperville and surrounding affluent, education-focused suburbs.
For families moving to Naperville, how do the top-rated public schools (District 203 and 204) compare with the private school options, and what factors might sway the decision?
Naperville is renowned for its excellent public schools (Naperville North and Central High Schools), which are consistently ranked among the best in Illinois. The choice between public and private often hinges on specific family values. The private schools offer a smaller, faith-based environment with a defined moral curriculum, a consistent peer group focused on college prep, and often more mandatory participation in activities. The public schools offer immense diversity in course offerings, larger-scale facilities, and no tuition. Many families choose private for the structured, values-centered education from 9-12, while others appreciate the public schools' breadth, resources, and reflection of the broader community. It's a choice between two exceptionally high-quality, but philosophically different, educational models.
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