The Best Private Schools in Sullivan, Illinois
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Sullivan. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
St. John's Lutheran School
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
St. John's Lutheran School provides a comprehensive Christian education serving the Sullivan area and surrounding communities. With small class sizes and individualized attention, the school offers strong academic foundations while emphasizing character development. The curriculum integrates faith-based learning with modern educational standards, including technology integration and hands-on science programs. Extracurricular activities include choir, sports teams, and community service projects. Parents consistently praise the nurturing environment and dedicated teaching staff.
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Judah Christian School
Independent Christian School
Judah Christian School is a highly-regarded private institution serving families across Central Illinois, including Sullivan residents. The school offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum from preschool through high school, with advanced placement courses and dual credit opportunities. Facilities include modern science labs, performing arts spaces, and athletic complexes. The school emphasizes spiritual formation alongside academic excellence, with comprehensive athletics, fine arts, and mission trip programs. Many graduates attend top-tier universities nationwide.
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Decatur Christian School
Non-denominational Christian School
Decatur Christian School has served Central Illinois families for over seven decades, providing a comprehensive Christian education with strong academic foundations. The school offers small class sizes, individualized learning plans, and a biblically-integrated curriculum. Programs include competitive athletics, vibrant fine arts, and community service initiatives. The school maintains high academic standards with college preparatory courses and technology integration. Families from Sullivan appreciate the school's commitment to character development and academic excellence within a supportive Christian environment.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Sullivan, Illinois
What are the private school options directly in Sullivan, Illinois, and what are the main differences between them?
Within the city of Sullivan itself, the primary private option is St. John's Lutheran School, which offers a Christian, Lutheran-based education from preschool through 8th grade. For families in Sullivan seeking private high school education or different religious affiliations, nearby options require commuting. Judah Christian School in Champaign (about 35 miles away) offers a non-denominational Christian education from preschool through 12th grade. Decatur Christian School in Decatur (about 30 miles away) provides a PreK-12 education with a Christian worldview. The main differences lie in religious denomination, grade spans offered, and commuting distance, with St. John's being the only local, in-town private school serving elementary and middle grades.
How does tuition for private schools serving Sullivan, IL, compare, and are there Illinois-specific financial aid programs available?
Tuition varies significantly based on the school and grade level. St. John's Lutheran School in Sullivan typically has lower tuition due to its size and church subsidization, often ranging from $3,000-$6,000 annually. The commuting options, Judah Christian and Decatur Christian, generally have higher tuition, often between $6,000-$10,000+ for elementary grades and more for high school. Illinois offers the Tax Credit Scholarship Program, which can provide significant financial aid to eligible families. This state program allows donors to receive a tax credit for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations, which then award need-based scholarships to students attending qualified private schools. All three schools mentioned are likely participants in this program, making private education more accessible for Illinois residents.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools in the Sullivan, IL, area offer that differentiate them from local public schools?
The private schools serving the Sullivan area emphasize faith-based integration across all subjects, which is the core differentiator. St. John's Lutheran School offers a strong emphasis on religious education and may have smaller class sizes than Sullivan's public schools, allowing for more individualized attention. The regional options, Judah Christian and Decatur Christian, offer broader extracurricular and academic programs due to their larger size, including competitive athletics, fine arts, and sometimes specific college-prep tracks. A key consideration for Sullivan families is that these private schools provide an alternative to the rural public school district structure, often with a distinct community feel and values-based education that may not be available in the public system.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for St. John's Lutheran School in Sullivan, and how does it differ from the larger private schools in the region?
For St. John's Lutheran School in Sullivan, enrollment is often rolling but with priority given to members of St. John's Lutheran Church and currently enrolled families. The process typically involves an application, family interview, and submission of records. Due to its smaller size, spaces can be limited, so contacting the school office in the winter or early spring for the following fall is advisable. For the regional schools like Judah Christian or Decatur Christian, the process is more formalized with earlier deadlines (often January-February), standardized application forms, testing for some grade levels, and defined re-enrollment periods for existing students. Families in Sullivan must plan for these earlier deadlines if considering a commuting option.
For a family living in Sullivan, what are the major practical considerations when choosing between the local public school district and a private school, whether in-town or a commute?
The major considerations are cost, commute, community, and educational philosophy. Sullivan's public schools (Sullivan CUSD #300) offer a tuition-free, comprehensive K-12 education with a full range of sports and activities without a daily commute. Choosing St. John's Lutheran involves tuition but no significant commute and a specific faith-based environment, though students must transition to public high school or commute for private high school. Opting for a K-12 private school like Judah or Decatur Christian involves both significant annual tuition and a daily 30-45 minute commute each way, which impacts family logistics and transportation costs. The decision often hinges on how highly the family values a religious education and whether they are prepared for the long-term commitment of a commute for a consistent private school pathway through graduation.
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