The Best Private Schools in Stone Park, Illinois
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Stone Park. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. Giles School
Archdiocese of Chicago
St. Giles School is a highly-regarded Catholic elementary school serving the western suburbs including Stone Park. The school offers a comprehensive Pre-K through 8th grade education with strong emphasis on faith formation, academic excellence, and character development. Features include modern STEM labs, robust fine arts programs, competitive athletics, and small class sizes. The school maintains strong community partnerships and has consistently high academic achievement scores. Parents praise the dedicated faculty, safe environment, and well-rounded educational experience.
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Fenwick High School
Dominican Order
Fenwick High School is a prestigious Catholic college preparatory school serving students from Stone Park and surrounding communities. As a Dominican institution, it emphasizes academic rigor, moral development, and service learning. The school offers extensive Advanced Placement courses, competitive athletics programs, and outstanding fine arts opportunities. Fenwick boasts a 100% college acceptance rate and strong alumni network. Facilities include state-of-the-art science labs, performing arts center, and extensive athletic complexes. The school is known for producing well-rounded graduates prepared for top universities.
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Lyons Township High School
Lyons Township High School District 204
Lyons Township High School is a top-ranked public high school that serves multiple communities including Stone Park through its district boundaries. While technically a public school, it functions at a level comparable to elite private institutions with exceptional academic programs, extensive extracurricular offerings, and outstanding facilities. The school features comprehensive Advanced Placement curriculum, competitive athletics, award-winning arts programs, and extensive college counseling services. LTHS consistently ranks among Illinois' best high schools with high graduation rates and strong college matriculation. The school maintains small learning communities within a larger comprehensive high school model.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Stone Park, Illinois
What are the primary private school options available to families residing in Stone Park, Illinois?
While Stone Park itself is a small village, families have access to several highly-regarded private schools in the immediate western suburbs of Chicago. Notably, St. Giles School (PreK-8) in Oak Park is a popular parish school for many local Catholic families. For high school, Fenwick High School, a Dominican college-preparatory school in Oak Park, is a major destination. It's important to note that Lyons Township High School is a public school, not private. Other nearby options include Trinity High School (girls) in River Forest and Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park. Most families in Stone Park look to surrounding communities for private education.
How does the tuition for private schools near Stone Park, IL, compare, and are there Illinois-specific financial aid programs?
Tuition in this area varies significantly by school and grade level. For the 2024-2025 academic year, Fenwick High School's tuition is approximately $18,500, while elementary schools like St. Giles are typically in the $6,000-$8,000 range for parishioners. Illinois offers two key financial aid programs: the Invest in Kids Act Tax Credit Scholarship Program, which provides need-based scholarships funded by private donations, and the Illinois State Tax Credit for educational expenses. Additionally, all major private schools in the area offer their own substantial need-based financial aid and merit scholarships. Early consultation with a school's admissions and financial aid office is crucial.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs are offered by private schools in the Stone Park area that leverage their Chicago-suburb location?
Private schools in this region often utilize their proximity to Chicago as an extended classroom. Fenwick High School, for instance, offers robust programs in STEM and Humanities with partnerships at nearby universities like Dominican University and opportunities for internships in the city. Many schools emphasize college-prep curricula with extensive AP or International Baccalaureate (IB) options, which are less commonly found in the local public elementary districts. Furthermore, schools like St. Giles integrate faith-based education with strong academic fundamentals, a characteristic sought by many families in the surrounding Catholic communities of Stone Park and beyond.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private elementary and high schools serving Stone Park, IL families?
The process is highly structured and begins early. For schools like St. Giles (PreK-8), applications often open in the fall for the following academic year, with placement tests and family interviews occurring in winter. For competitive high schools like Fenwick, the process is even more advanced; prospective students take the High School Placement Test (HSPT) in the fall of their 8th-grade year, with applications due shortly thereafter. Most schools host open houses in September and October. Given the limited seats and competitive nature, especially for high school, families in Stone Park are advised to start researching and visiting schools at least 12-18 months in advance.
For a family in Stone Park, what are the key considerations when choosing between the local public school district (Proviso Township High Schools District 209 for HS) and a private school?
The decision often hinges on academic offerings, environment, and investment. Proviso District 209, which serves Stone Park for high school, has faced documented academic and financial challenges. Many families seek private alternatives for a perceived more consistent, rigorous, and structured college-preparatory environment with smaller class sizes. The trade-off is significant financial cost. For elementary, Stone Park's public elementary district (SD 124) is an option, but families may choose private schools for religious education, a specific pedagogical approach (like Montessori, available in nearby towns), or to secure a feeder pathway into a desired private high school. Transportation is also a factor, as private schools do not provide district busing.
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