Beacon Academy Chicago vs British International School of Chicago - South Loop
Beacon Academy Chicago and British International School of Chicago - South Loop are both in Chicago, about 20 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes. Beacon Academy Chicago also offers Bespoke, and British International School of Chicago - South Loop also offers EYFS, British, IPC and Cambridge IGCSE. Published annual fees are $41,413 - 43,163 at Beacon Academy Chicago and $19,415 - 47,745 at British International School of Chicago - South Loop, which puts Beacon Academy Chicago roughly 26% higher. Beacon Academy Chicago takes pupils from 14 to 18, and British International School of Chicago - South Loop from 3 to 18.
EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, IPC (International Primary Curriculum), Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)
Pupils
Pupils
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Pupils
800
Typical class size
Typical class size
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Typical class size
15
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2017
Opened
2001
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Evanston, Illinois. Address: 1574 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201. Located in the heart of Evanston, Beacon Academy is set within a city environment with direct access to cultural institutions, businesses, and community resources.
Location
161 W 9th St, Chicago, IL 60605, United States. The school is in Chicago, Illinois.
Stages
Stages
High school (Grades 9-12).
Stages
Early Years (ages 3–5); Primary (ages 5–11, Years 1–6); Middle School (ages 11–14, Years 7–9); High School (ages 14–18, Years 10–13).
School type
School type
Independent high school.
School type
Private K-12 school. It offers education for ages 3–18.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
40+ nationalities represented.
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
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Country affiliation
England (curriculum aligned with the English National Curriculum).
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
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School day structure
Admission hours: School days 8am–5pm; Non-school days 9am–4pm.
Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application fee - A non‑refundable application fee is required at submission via the Ravenna application portal; third‑party listings indicate this fee is USD 100.
Tuition fees (annual; 2026–2027 academic year) - Annual tuition (all grades offered - high school program): USD 41,413 for the 2026–2027 academic year. - Activity fee (annual, per student): USD 1,750. This activity fee covers registration fees for clubs, athletics, and after‑school activities; it does not cover certain optional items such as Outdoor Club, Model UN, I‑Term activity fees, or I‑Term travel.
Tuition by school year / year group - Beacon Academy is an independent high school serving the high‑school grades it lists on its publications; the published tuition above (USD 41,413) applies as the annual tuition figure for the 2026–2027 school year. No separate published tuition schedule by individual grade (9–12) or alternate year‑group rates was found.
Per‑term or instalment breakdown - The school publishes an annual tuition figure for 2026–2027 (USD 41,413). Families are required to complete enrollment contracts and deposits by the school's published enrollment date; the school uses third‑party systems (Ravenna and FACTS) for application, financial aid, and tuition processes. Specific per‑term billing amounts (e.g., exact installment amounts if billed by term or semester) are not listed in the public tuition summary; families set up payment plans through the school's tuition management process.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Key admissions/billing dates: the school's calendar and admissions timeline set the date for enrollment contracts and deposits to be due (example: Enrollment Contracts and Deposits Due — March 9, 2026, for that admissions cycle). Accepted students are expected to complete enrollment paperwork and deposit by the published deadline. - Application payments are processed through the Ravenna portal at the time of application submission. Tuition assistance applications are processed via FACTS. Families arrange tuition payment plans and submit payment methods through the school's designated systems.
Boarding fees - Beacon Academy is an independent day high school located in Evanston, IL; no boarding program or boarding fees are published. Boarding fees are not applicable.
Other costs and typical additional fees - I‑Term and activity‑specific fees: Certain I‑Term courses, off‑campus experiences, and travel options carry additional fees. Examples from published I‑Term materials include: a multi‑city I‑Term travel experience estimated at USD 900–1,200 with an initial non‑refundable trip deposit of USD 500; on‑campus workshop/course fees ranging from about USD 20 to USD 100+ depending on materials and vendor costs; specific activity fees such as bowling or rock‑climbing course fees (examples: USD 70, USD 100). The announced annual activity fee does not cover these I‑Term or travel costs. - Student store / spirit wear, optional program fees, suggested course materials, and spending money for off‑campus outings are additional and vary by activity. The activity fee covers basic club/athletic registration but excludes specified optional activities and travel.
Refund information (where applicable) - I‑Term travel and some I‑Term activity deposits are specified as non‑refundable (example: the USD 500 initial deposit for the sample I‑Term travel opportunity is non‑refundable). No standalone, detailed public tuition refund policy (for withdrawal from the school or term‑by‑term tuition refunds) was located on the school's publicly accessible pages.
Fee payment options - Application fee: paid at submission through the Ravenna application portal. - Tuition assistance and tuition payment administration: the school uses FACTS for tuition assistance application processing and families interact with FACTS for financial aid and tuition administration. FACTS‑managed tuition/payment plans commonly accept ACH (bank draft) and credit/debit card payments (subject to the vendor's convenience fees or processing fees). Expect families to set up payment methods and payment schedules through the school's FACTS/Ravenna tuition system.
Summary of what is published and items not publicly broken down - Published, load‑bearing figures available: annual tuition for 2026–2027 (USD 41,413) and the annual activity fee (USD 1,750); I‑Term and activity fee examples and the non‑refundable trip deposit example. - Items not publicly detailed on the school's published pages: a grade‑by‑grade tuition schedule (separate fees by year group), a clear per‑term installment schedule with published per‑term amounts, the explicit enrollment deposit amount required at contract acceptance for the 2026–2027 cycle, and a centralized published tuition refund policy for full‑year tuition withdrawals. The school's admissions calendar does state the enrollment contract and deposit due date (e.g., March 9, 2026).
(End of fees overview.)
Fee details
TUITION FEES (2026–27 academic year)
- Nursery (part-time): USD 19,170 per year. - Nursery (full-time): USD 31,950 per year. - Reception: USD 34,700 per year. - Years 1–6: USD 39,950 per year. - Years 7–10: USD 43,425 per year. - Year 11: USD 43,750 per year. - Years 12–13: USD 45,750 per year. .
Per-term amounts (three-term academic year)
- The school operates on a three-term (Autumn / Spring / Summer) academic calendar; per-term figures below are calculated as the annual tuition divided by three (equal-term division). - Nursery (part-time) per term: USD 6,390. - Nursery (full-time) per term: USD 10,650. - Reception per term: USD 11,567. - Years 1–6 per term: USD 13,317. - Years 7–10 per term: USD 14,475. - Year 11 per term: USD 14,583. - Years 12–13 per term: USD 15,250. - These per-term figures are calculations based on the annual tuition and the school's three-term calendar.
Annual and recurring additional fees
- Trip fee (all years): USD 180 billed each school year. - Yearbook: USD 65 billed each school year. - Full-time Nursery to Year 9 lunches: USD 2,000 billed each school year. - Year 11 exam costs (annual): USD 1,750. - Year 13 exam costs (annual): USD 1,750. - The items above are billed on an annual basis in addition to tuition.
Application, enrollment and new-student fees
- Application fee (non-refundable): USD 100. - New Student Fee (one-time, non-refundable): USD 2,300 (applied to capital and curriculum investments). - The New Student Fee is due with the signed enrollment agreement.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition and the listed annual fees are presented as amounts for the academic year; the school's calendar runs across three terms (Autumn, Spring, Summer). - New-student fees are due at the time the enrollment agreement is signed. - Specific invoice due dates, available installment options, and any late-payment penalties are set in the school's enrollment agreement and terms and conditions; invoices and billing align with the academic-year structure.
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not applicable for this campus; no boarding fees are listed for the South Loop location.
Other costs and periodic purchases
- Uniforms: available from Tommy Hilfiger and Lands' End (items purchased separately). - PE kit: ordered via the school's online ordering portal. - Optional charges that families commonly pay include before- or after-school care, extracurricular clubs, camps, some class trips, and certain exam or assessment fees beyond those listed above.
Refund information
- The Application Fee and the New Student Fee are non-refundable. - The school's standard terms and conditions provide that refunds (where applicable) are processed by bank transfer and that a school will not refund any portion of a tuition term once that term has commenced. - Parents' contractual obligations for invoiced tuition, notice periods for withdrawal, and the precise refund calculation method (if any) are governed by the school's enrollment agreement and the school's terms and conditions.
Fee adjustments and discounts
- Northwestern University employee discount: 20% tuition discount for benefits-eligible Northwestern University employees. - Sibling discounts: second child receives a 3.5% tuition discount; any additional children receive a 7% tuition discount.
Fee payment options and transaction fees
- Online payment portal is available for electronic payments (school payment portal). - Accepted electronic payment methods and their processing fees: - Credit card payments: assessed a service fee of 2.99%. - Debit card payments: assessed a service fee of 0.99%. - ACH (eCheck / bank transfer): no service fee. - Payments made through the school's online portal are the primary electronic option; the school issues invoices and records payments via its billing system.
Contact for fee queries and payments
- Admissions: admissions@bischicagosl.org; telephone +1 (773) 998 2472. - General inquiries: +1 (773) 599 2472. - The school provides an online payment portal (for electronic payment methods and merchant fees).
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
Beacon Academy is governed by a Board of Trustees. The Board is comprised of parents, alumni parents, and community members, and always includes at least one Montessori educator. It is governed by bylaws, sets long-range strategic plans, and oversees the fiscal health of the school. The Board's key responsibilities include the selection, support, and evaluation of the Head of School, as well as Head of School succession planning. The Board collaborates with the administration, faculty, and community of students and families to advance Beacon Academy's values as a Montessori high school that is at the forefront of reimagining a 21st century high school education.
Governance and ownership
Part of the Nord Anglia Education family.
Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Core Curriculum (9-12); International Baccalaureate (IB) for 11-12; and XP (11-12) based on the IB model, designed with business school educators to provide professional experiences and skills.
Curriculum details
The school teaches the National Curriculum for England and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) in the Primary years; Middle and High School offer IGCSE and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
IB diploma candidate pass rate: 100%. 11% of Class of '25 were National Merit scholarship recipients or Semifinalists.
Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
100% of students matriculate to one of their top three colleges.
Higher education progression
The school paves the way for students to enter prestigious universities worldwide.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
Beacon Academy emphasizes social-emotional learning as a core element of student development. The environment is described as safe and inclusive, with strong student/faculty connections that support belonging, respect, and open dialogue. The advisory program provides one-on-one guidance to support personal growth, and community meeting practices foster leadership, collaboration, and reflection.
Social & emotional learning
Metacognition helps students understand how they learn best. Teachers guide reflection on thinking processes, helping students identify strengths and develop personalized approaches to learning. A focus on student reflection and collaboration ensures every student thrives. The school teaches creativity, collaboration, resilience, critical thinking, and compassion, so students work well with others and respond empathetically to peers.
Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
Beacon Academy fosters inclusion and diversity as core values, creating a safe, accepting environment for all learners. The Equity & Inclusion work includes the Student Inclusion Council and affinity groups to address diverse needs and experiences, and a culture that challenges oppression and demeaning behaviors.
Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
The language of instruction is English; all content areas are taught in English, with English as a Second Language support available as needed. Students must complete two years of a world language (or reach third-level proficiency) to graduate; Arabic, French, and Spanish are offered, with Hebrew, Italian, and Mandarin studied via online platforms where available.
English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported through a safe climate and strong adult–student relationships. The advisory program and student life practices foster belonging and personal growth, while equity and inclusion work promotes brave space for discussing experiences and identities.
Mental wellbeing
Students develop resilience through growth mindset and self-regulation skills. Metacognition helps students reflect on challenges and use strategies to recover from setbacks. This supports mental wellbeing by fostering confidence, independence, and a proactive approach to learning.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding
Beacon Academy maintains a Bullying Prevention Policy (updated September 15, 2025) and an inclusive climate that protects students from harassment, with DEI initiatives and a safe-space culture supporting safeguarding across the school community.
Safeguarding
The school has safeguarding measures that are first class.
Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
Beacon Academy's Evanston campus places the city at the center of learning. The campus is designed as a flexible, collaborative space that supports interdisciplinary programs. The space is encased in glass walls with an open floor plan to encourage interaction between students and teachers. Ergonomic furniture is largely on wheels to allow flexible configurations for different activities. The campus offers direct access to cultural institutions, businesses, and community resources in Evanston, integrating the city with daily learning.
Facilities overview
The British International School of Chicago, South Loop uses a future-focused learning environment built around six key educational pillars and metacognition. The Primary curriculum blends the English National Curriculum with the International Primary Curriculum to support Year 1–6 progression and skill development. The school features a 9,000-square-foot gymnasium for fitness, teamwork, and school spirit. Learning spaces and technology enable a teacher-led, technology-enabled approach, including a Virtual School Experience for seamless transitions between classroom and remote learning.
Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
The school includes a 9,000-square-foot gymnasium used for fitness activities and team-based learning. The gym is highlighted as a key facility for student wellbeing and school spirit.
Academic facilities
Academic facilities
Academic spaces support Beacon's reimagined learning model. The campus uses a glass-walled, open-floor-plan environment with modular, mobile furniture to configure spaces for inquiry and collaboration. Core Curriculum for grades 9-12, International Baccalaureate (IB) for grades 11-12, and XP for 11-12 provide interdisciplinary pathways. Instruction emphasizes inquiry, collaboration, and real-world experiences, connecting classroom work with the wider community.
Academic facilities
Primary School integrates the English National Curriculum with the International Primary Curriculum to support Year 1–6 progression. The Early Years Foundation Stage is used in Early Years. The school offers the International Early Years Curriculum, IGCSEs, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma. Nord Anglia students consistently achieve strong results in international examinations. Expeditions and global collaborations extend learning beyond the classroom, and technology-enabled environments supported by Virtual School Experience enhance instruction.
Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
Beacon offers student-led clubs and activities beyond visual and performing arts and athletics. At the start of each academic year a Club Fair introduces options and students may propose new clubs to the Dean of Students. Current offerings include Model UN, American Sign Language, Chess, Science Olympiad, Dungeons & Dragons, Newspaper, Literary Magazine, Yearbook, Outdoor Club, and Pride Party. Clubs are student-directed with faculty support to balance academics and co-curricular life.
Extra curricular facilities
Expeditions broaden students' perspectives, including learning experiences with Nord Anglia's global programs. Trips to Arusha, Tanzania, and activities at the Les Martinets center in Switzerland provide practical challenges and outdoor learning. The UNICEF partnership and involvement with the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals promote global citizenship. The Share A Dream program offers local fundraising and volunteering opportunities. Global Campus connects Nord Anglia students for collaboration across schools.
Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
Beacon Academy is located in downtown Evanston, providing proximity to cultural and educational institutions, public resources, restaurants, and public transportation. The Evanston & Our Space page notes the school's campus is designed with glass walls and an open floor plan to support interdisciplinary learning, with spaces where students and teachers regularly collaborate in the same environment and a communal 'Kitchen Table' for independent study or planning time. The school describes itself as a community school in the strongest sense, with local organizations, Evanston, and greater Chicago serving as its extended campus. It emphasizes service learning, fieldwork, and apprenticeships with experts as part of ongoing projects and real-world problem solving.
Community
The school community consists of local and international students who benefit from a globally minded education and graduate with academic results, confidence, and life-skills to pursue their goals. Joining Nord Anglia connects students, parents, teachers, and alumni into a global family and provides opportunities to learn with people from diverse cultures. Global Campus enables collaboration with Nord Anglia schools worldwide and access to regional events, broadening students' perspectives. The school values parental involvement and keeps parents closely in touch with their child's learning and development.
Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
Beacon Academy offers three academic pathways: Core Curriculum (9–12), International Baccalaureate (IB) (11–12), and the Experiential Program (XP) (11–12). In 9th–10th grade, Core Curriculum uses an integrated American Studies curriculum (History and Literature) with a mathematics sequence that blends Algebra, Functions, Geometry, Statistics, and Calculus; in 11th–12th grade, students study global perspectives in Literature and History, including Crime Literature, Modern Latin America, and Imperial China, and complete major research and advocacy projects. IB provides an established, interdisciplinary program recognized by colleges worldwide, while XP is Beacon's IB-based pathway designed with business-school educators to deliver forward-looking professional experiences and skills. 100% of IB diploma candidates pass.
Academic & intellectual
The school provides expeditions that broaden students' perspectives and expose them to diverse cultures, people, and ideas. The school takes students to Arusha, Tanzania, to work on practical tasks of building and maintaining school and village accommodations. The school also takes students to Les Martinets, Switzerland, for a week of mountaineering and outdoor activity in self-led teams to develop cooking and navigation skills.
Arts & creative
Arts & creative
Arts at Beacon includes Arts, Film Studies, Visual Art, Music, and Theatre. Students engage in advanced, self-directed work in Digital Art and Modern Photography in the 11th–12th grades, and the program emphasizes critique, collaboration, and connection to culture. The arts program fosters expression within an inclusive community and encourages students to craft meaningful work with an entrepreneurial mindset. Come explore our Arts Annex at 1026 Davis.
Arts & creative
The school benefits from Juilliard–Nord Anglia collaborations that support the performing arts program through teacher professional development and student opportunities. The school's teachers participate in annual development programs and take courses offered through collaborations with MIT and The Juilliard School. The Juilliard collaboration helps unlock students' potential in the performing arts and fosters creativity across the school.
Cultural & language
Cultural & language
Model UN is offered as a student club, and American Sign Language is also available as a club. I-Term & Travel provides cross-cultural experiences through week-long, multi-disciplinary study and travel opportunities. Beacon's campus in Evanston and Chicago offers direct access to cultural institutions, businesses, and community resources, linking classroom learning with the wider world.
Cultural & language
The school connects Nord Anglia students around the world via Global Campus, enabling cross-cultural collaboration online. The school exposes students to cultures, people, and ideas through expeditions and global programs. The school's global network provides regional and local opportunities that broaden cultural understanding and international awareness.
Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
Life at Beacon includes daily lunch, weekly Community Meetings, school dances, big games, seasonal performances, and graduation. Every student joins a student-led club or activity guided by faculty and reflecting personal interests; offerings include Model UN, American Sign Language, Chess, Science Olympiad, Dungeons & Dragons, Newspaper, Literary Magazine, Yearbook, Outdoor Club, and Pride Party. 75% of students participate in at least one sport, reflecting strong athletic engagement.
Social & hobbies
The school emphasizes social and recreational learning through experiences that build confidence, teamwork, and resilience. The school's students support hundreds of local causes every year through UNICEF partnerships and engagement with the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The school fosters volunteering and fundraising through the Share A Dream program, enabling students to act on issues they care about.
Community & service
Community & service
Service Learning engages Beacon students with more than 30 partner organizations; partners include Evanston School Children's Clothing Association (ESCCA), Family Focus, and Connections for the Homeless/Hilda's Place. The annual Service Learning Fair introduces students to many non-profit partners, after which they connect with an organization based on interest and logistics. Students engage in school-wide project-based service, such as food or book drives and community clean-ups, often led by Beacon's Interact and SERVE clubs, with reflection encouraged and portfolios maintained.
Community & service
The school's social purpose includes UNICEF partnerships that open students' eyes to the world around them and encourage a sense of global responsibility. Students participate in programs that support hundreds of local causes through UNICEF and the UN SDGs. The school encourages students to deliver meaningful change through local outreach activities.
Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
College Counseling provides a comprehensive, student-centered, fit-based approach to postsecondary discernment and selection. Every student engages in a unique journey of self-discovery, with families and the college counselor supplying support, counsel, and direction, while students lead the process and develop research and advocacy skills. Programs and services cover standardized testing, financial aid and scholarships, college lists and research, essays, the application process, and college placement, all grounded in Beacon's mission and social-emotional learning programs.
Leadership & professional
The school's expeditions and collaborative work help students develop leadership capabilities, self-reliance, and teamwork. The school's global experiences foster leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Through these experiences, students are prepared to make a positive impact in the world.
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Beacon supports social-emotional health through I-Term, a week-long experiential learning and travel period built around inclusion, innovation, interdependence, and independence. The school adopts a later start and end to the day with a block schedule and advisory and study time to support well-being. Learning happens everywhere—from classrooms to Community Meetings to travel—fostering balance, connection, and overall well-being.
Lifestyle & wellbeing
The school promotes wellbeing through outdoor activities, including mountaineering and self-led teams, which build fitness and resilience. Expeditions and outdoor programs encourage personal growth, self-reliance, and social-emotional learning. The school's approach integrates physical activity with character development to support students' overall wellbeing.
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
The language of instruction at Beacon Academy is English. All content areas, with the exception of Group 2 world languages, are taught in English. World Languages offered to the entire student body are Arabic, French, and Spanish; Hebrew, Italian, and Mandarin can be studied via online platforms such as Pamoja Education and LanguageBird Academy. ESL support is available as needed, and students must complete two years of a world language or reach third-level proficiency to graduate.
Language provision
Languages taught vary by level. In Primary (Year 1 to Year 6, Kindergarten to Grade 5) and Early Years, Spanish and French are taught. In Middle School and High School, Spanish, French, German and Mandarin are taught.
Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Application & Shadow Day. The admissions process uses Ravenna; create or log in to Ravenna, select Beacon Academy, and pay the application fee. Shadow Days allow applicants to attend Beacon classes after submitting the application; Shadow Days are scheduled on designated days from November 2025 through January 2026 via Ravenna.
2. Parent Interview. The Parent/Guardian Interview is required and may be held in person or via Zoom; it is scheduled after the application is submitted in Ravenna to help the school learn about the family and for parents to learn more about Beacon.
3. Letters of Recommendation. Letters of recommendation are required from the student's current English and math teachers and from an advisor or school administrator; provide names and emails for each recommender in Ravenna; the deadline is January 5 for sibling applicants and January 31 for new applicants.
4. School Records. Provide the report card or progress report from the prior academic year and the official transcript (if available); upload documents into Ravenna or have the current school email them to Admissions; deadlines are January 5 for sibling applicants and January 31 for new applicants.
5. Standardized Test Scores. Provide a copy of recent standardized test results; ISEE is not required; MAP or other standardized tests are accepted; if a student has not taken a test, contact the Admissions Office.
6. IEP/504/Learning Support Plan. If the student receives learning support services or accommodations, provide a copy of the 504/IEP/Learning Plan and neuropsychological evaluation; upload documents as PDF in Ravenna.
7. Gift Acceptance Policy. The school has a Gift Acceptance Policy preventing gifts that could influence admissions decisions; no gift will be accepted from any affiliated or non-affiliated person or donor if given with the intention of influencing an admission outcome; while an application is pending, gifts are not accepted from non-affiliated applicant family members or their representatives.
8. Nondiscrimination. Beacon Academy does not discriminate against prospective students or their families in its admissions or financial aid policies on the basis of listed characteristics such as race, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, political and social values, culture, gender identity, religion, physical ability, family structure, and learning style.
Admissions
Admissions are personalized to families. The process includes contacting us to start your child's journey, joining a school tour or virtual discovery meeting, submitting an application, and financial aid is available.
Scholarships
Scholarships
Beacon Academy partners with the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund and HFS Chicago Scholars to provide academic and financial support to high achieving, under-resourced students in the Chicagoland area. Informational flyers are available in English and Spanish. Tuition for 2026-2027 is $41,413; Activity Fee: $1,750, which covers registration for clubs, athletics, and after-school activities (Outdoor Club, Model UN, I-Term Activity Fees or I-Term Travel are not included). The Tuition Assistance application for 2026-27 is now open; Returning families and sibling applicants should apply by December 15, 2025; Tuition Assistance applications for new family applicants are due January 31, 2026. Download the FACTS tuition assistance flyer in English or Spanish.