The Best Private Schools in Stanford, Illinois
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Stanford. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Epiphany Catholic School
Diocese of Peoria Catholic Schools
Epiphany Catholic School serves students from Stanford and surrounding communities with a comprehensive Pre-K through 8th grade education. The school emphasizes academic excellence within a faith-based environment, featuring small class sizes, dedicated teachers, and strong community involvement. Programs include advanced mathematics, science labs, music, art, and athletics. The school maintains high parent satisfaction with its balanced approach to spiritual formation and academic rigor.
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Central Catholic High School
Diocese of Peoria Catholic Schools
Central Catholic High School is the premier Catholic secondary education institution serving Stanford and the greater Bloomington-Normal area. The school offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with numerous Advanced Placement courses, comprehensive athletic programs, and extensive extracurricular activities. With a strong tradition of academic excellence and character formation, the school prepares students for success in higher education and beyond through personalized attention and community engagement.
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Cornerstone Christian Academy
Independent Christian School
Cornerstone Christian Academy provides a classical Christian education for students from Stanford and surrounding communities. The school integrates faith and learning across all subjects while maintaining high academic standards. The classical approach emphasizes critical thinking, rhetoric, and traditional liberal arts. The school features small class sizes, dedicated faculty, and a strong sense of community, with programs spanning from elementary through high school levels.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Stanford, Illinois
What are the main private school options available for families in Stanford, Illinois, and what grade levels do they serve?
In Stanford, Illinois, families have a few core private school options, each with distinct affiliations and grade ranges. Epiphany Catholic School is a Pre-K through 8th-grade institution offering a faith-based education. Central Catholic High School, located in nearby Bloomington, serves students in grades 9-12 and is a common destination for Stanford-area families seeking a Catholic secondary education. Cornerstone Christian Academy provides a Protestant Christian education, typically for grades K-12. Given Stanford's smaller size, some families also consider private schools in neighboring Bloomington-Normal, which offer a wider variety of independent, Lutheran, and Montessori programs, necessitating a commute.
How does tuition for private schools in the Stanford, IL, area compare, and are there Illinois-specific financial aid options?
Tuition in the Stanford area varies by school and grade level. For the 2024-2025 academic year, Epiphany Catholic School's tuition is approximately $4,000-$5,500 per year for parishioners, with higher rates for non-parishioners. Central Catholic High School's tuition is roughly $9,000-$10,000 annually. Cornerstone Christian Academy's tuition is generally in the range of $6,000-$8,000. Illinois-specific aid includes the "Invest in Kids" Tax Credit Scholarship Program, which provides need-based scholarships for private schools, though funding is currently limited. Additionally, all three schools offer their own need-based financial aid, parish subsidies (for Catholic schools), and multi-child discounts. It's crucial to inquire directly with each school about their specific aid applications and deadlines.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs are offered by private schools serving Stanford, IL, students?
Private schools serving Stanford emphasize strong core academics with unique value-added programs. Epiphany Catholic School integrates Catholic teachings across its curriculum and may offer specialized religion classes and sacramental preparation. Central Catholic High School provides a college-prep curriculum with notable athletics (competing in the Illini Prairie Conference) and opportunities for dual-credit courses through local colleges. Cornerstone Christian Academy focuses on a biblically-integrated curriculum and may offer programs like chapel services and mission-oriented activities. A key consideration for Stanford families is that extracurricular breadth, especially at the high school level, may be more extensive at schools in Bloomington-Normal, which can include robotics, theatre, and a wider array of sports.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private schools in the Stanford, Illinois, area?
The enrollment process for Stanford-area private schools often begins in the winter for the following fall. For Epiphany Catholic School, priority is typically given to registered parishioners and current families, with open enrollment starting in January or February. Central Catholic High School holds shadow visits and entrance exams for 8th graders in the fall, with application deadlines in early winter. Cornerstone Christian Academy generally has a rolling admissions process but encourages early application. A critical step for all schools is a scheduled tour and meeting with the principal. Given the limited seats, especially in the local elementary school, Stanford parents are advised to initiate contact by November or December to secure placement and complete any necessary faith-based requirements (e.g., baptismal certificates for Catholic schools).
For a family in Stanford, what are the primary considerations when choosing between the local public school (Stanford Elementary, part of Olympia CUSD 16) and a private school?
The decision between Stanford's public school (Stanford Elementary, a K-8 school within the Olympia district) and a private option hinges on several local factors. Stanford Elementary offers a tuition-free education with a strong community feel, and students will eventually attend Olympia High School. Private schools offer a specific religious foundation (Catholic or Christian) and often smaller class sizes. A major practical consideration is transportation; while the public school provides busing, private schools typically require parent-provided transportation, which can be a significant factor for commutes to Bloomington. Academically, parents must weigh the standardized curriculum of the public district against the faith-based integration and potential college-prep focus of the private schools. The choice often centers on whether the family's priority is a localized, secular education or a religiously-oriented one, despite the associated tuition and commute.