British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park vs British International School of Chicago - South Loop

	B British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park Chicago, United States	B British International School of Chicago - South Loop Chicago, United States
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year $100 - 39,950	Fees / year $19,415 - 47,745
Age range	Age range 1 - 11 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, IPC (International Primary Curriculum)	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, IPC (International Primary Curriculum), Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 675	Pupils 800
Typical class size	Typical class size 20	Typical class size 15
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2001	Opened 2001
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Address: 814 and 821 W Eastman Street, Chicago, IL 60642, United States.	Location 161 W 9th St, Chicago, IL 60605, United States. The school is in Chicago, Illinois.
Stages	Stages Pre-Nursery; Early Years; Primary School	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 British international day school	School type Private K-12 school. It offers education for ages 3–18.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix 40+ nationalities represented.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation British	Country affiliation England (curriculum aligned with the English National Curriculum).
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure Admission hours: School days 8am–5pm; Non-school days 9am–4pm.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and new-student fees - Application fee (non‑refundable): USD 100. - New Student Fee (one‑time, non‑refundable; used for capital and curriculum improvements): USD 2,200. 2026/2027 Tuition fees — amounts and installment equivalents - Pre‑Nursery (Toddlers, Twos & Threes) — 5‑Day: USD 28,950 per year. - Two equal instalments (July 1 and December 1): USD 14,475 per instalment. - Ten monthly instalments (July–April): USD 2,895 per month. - Pre‑Nursery (Toddlers, Twos & Threes) — 3‑Day: USD 17,370 per year. - Two instalments: USD 8,685 each. - Ten instalments: USD 1,737 per month. - Pre‑Nursery (Toddlers, Twos & Threes) — 2‑Day: USD 11,580 per year. - Two instalments: USD 5,790 each. - Ten instalments: USD 1,158 per month. - Nursery (Part‑time): USD 19,170 per year. - Two instalments: USD 9,585 each. - Ten instalments: USD 1,917 per month. - Nursery (3‑Day Full Day): USD 21,090 per year. - Two instalments: USD 10,545 each. - Ten instalments: USD 2,109 per month. - Nursery (Full Time): USD 31,950 per year. - Two instalments: USD 15,975 each. - Ten instalments: USD 3,195 per month. - Reception: USD 34,700 per year. - Two instalments: USD 17,350 each. - Ten instalments: USD 3,470 per month. - Year 1 – Year 6: USD 39,950 per year. - Two instalments: USD 19,975 each. - Ten instalments: USD 3,995 per month. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition may be paid in one annual payment due by July 1; in two instalments due July 1 and December 1; or in ten monthly instalments billed July through April. - Annual/billed items (trip, yearbook, lunches, optional services) are invoiced each school year and some optional services are billed at different cadences as noted below. Annual and other school fees - Trip fee (all years): USD 175 per year. - Yearbook (all years): USD 65 per year. - Lunch program (optional; billed annually): - Pre‑Nursery 5‑Day lunch: USD 1,550 per year. - Pre‑Nursery 3‑Day lunch: USD 930 per year. - Pre‑Nursery 2‑Day lunch: USD 620 per year. - Nursery 3‑Day lunch: USD 1,140 per year. - Nursery through Year 6 lunch: USD 1,900 per year. - Uniforms: branded uniform items are supplied via Lands' End; families purchase required logoed items through the Lands' End store and a grade‑specific style guide applies. Gently used uniform sales occur on campus seasonally. - Before‑/after‑school care and extracurricular clubs: optional and charged in addition to tuition; for Nursery–Year 6 usage is billed at the end of the month based on actual use. Pre‑Nursery morning and aftercare are included in tuition. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable. The school serves early years and primary students (approximately ages 15 months to 11 years) as a day school only. Refund information - The Application Fee (USD 100) and the New Student Fee (USD 2,200) are specified as non‑refundable. These new‑student fees are due with the signed enrolment agreement. Other refund terms for tuition or prepaid services are set by the signed enrolment agreement and billing schedule. Fee adjustments, discounts and financial aid - Tuition discounts available: a 20% tuition discount for benefits‑eligible Northwestern University employees and sibling discounts (second child 3.5% off tuition; additional children 7% off tuition). Need‑based financial aid is available and applications are processed through the school's financial aid process. Fee payment options - Payments may be submitted via the school's online payment portal which accepts credit card and ACH (bank) payments. The portal can be used for tuition, club and aftercare charges, and other school‑related costs. Before/after care for Nursery–Year 6 is billed monthly based on use and payable through the school billing channels. Contact and administrative note - All new‑student administrative fees are due with the signed enrolment agreement; installment plans follow the stated due dates above. For billing or payment‑processing questions, contact the school's administration or finance office as provided by the school's admissions materials.	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 —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options There is a community café on campus.	Food options —
House system	House system BISC-LP has a house system. Every Friday, spirit day features house challenges, promoting healthy competition.	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership Part of the Nord Anglia Education family.	Governance and ownership Part of the Nord Anglia Education family.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details The school teaches a combination of the English National Curriculum and the International Primary Curriculum, with MIT STEAM collaboration through Nord Anglia.	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 —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression The school paves the way for students to enter prestigious universities worldwide.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning Personalized learning goals support students to reach their fullest potential socially and emotionally. The school emphasizes social and emotional development as an integral part of learning. It fosters a community that values inclusive, globally aware attitudes and personal growth.	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) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing Wellbeing is prioritized; the school states that your child's wellbeing is as important to us as it is to you.	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 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at BISC-LP emphasizes safeguarding identity and providing a safe, inclusive environment with equal access to opportunities for all staff, students and families.	Safeguarding The school has safeguarding measures that are first class.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview The campus comprises two buildings in the heart of Chicago. The Pre-Nursery Building serves 15 months to young three-year-olds and opened in 2020; it provides light-filled classrooms, a library, and a large indoor playground. The Primary Building, renovated in 2015, houses early years and primary classrooms and specialist facilities. Students have access to music rooms, a dance and drama studio, a library, French and Spanish classrooms, science labs, an art studio, and a design lab. The school has a full-size indoor gymnasium, an indoor/outdoor playground on the first floor, and a roof-top playground with a garden managed by the students and a soccer turf.	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 There is a full-size indoor gymnasium for physical education. An indoor/outdoor playground on the first floor provides daily play space. A roof-top playground with a garden managed by students adds outdoor space. A soccer turf supports outdoor sports.	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 Music rooms, a dance and drama studio, and a library are available for the curriculum and performing arts. French and Spanish classrooms support language learning. Science labs, an art studio, and a design lab provide spaces for hands-on science, creativity and design work. The Pre-Nursery Building opened in 2020 to house younger learners in a dedicated space and the Primary Building was renovated in 2015 to support age-appropriate spaces.	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 Music rooms, a dance and drama studio, and a library support performing arts and clubs outside class time. French and Spanish classrooms support language clubs and cultural activities. Science labs, an art studio, and a design lab provide access to hands-on projects in after-school programs. The roof-top garden, soccer turf and indoor/outdoor playground provide outdoor space for extracurriculars.	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 BISC Lincoln Park is a proud member of the Nord Anglia Education global family. The school is located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. Nord Anglia Education is the owning network and provides global support to the school. The school benefits from collaborations with Juilliard and MIT to enhance performing arts and STEAM education.	History —
Community	Community The school community consists of local and international students who benefit from a globally minded education and graduate with the necessary academic results, confidence, and life skills to succeed at whatever they choose to pursue. BISC-LP uses a house system that creates a sense of community from the youngest to oldest students, with Friday spirit day and house challenges. The school engages in local charity events and drives to support Cradles to Crayons, Lakeview Pantry, Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, Lurie's Children's Hospital, Make a Wish Illinois, and Urban Rivers. They also participate in UNICEF initiatives and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.	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 Parents are involved in many aspects of school life; it's common to see parents and guardians around the school. Regular forums are held for parents to share feedback on how the school is run. Previous sessions have included presentations by athletics and performing arts departments, book clubs on social skills, and panels on parenting topics run by the learning resources department.	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual The school is a proud member of the Nord Anglia Education global family. At BISC Lincoln Park, Pre-Nursery, Early Years and Primary students learn through a blended English National Curriculum and International Primary Curriculum, with a cross-curricular approach that weaves languages, performing arts, athletics and STEAM into learning.	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 & 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 There are four modern foreign language classrooms for French and Spanish, reflecting dedicated language learning on campus.	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 —	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 —	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 —	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 Pre-Nursery has its own bespoke building, while students aged 3 to 11 learn in the main building; the campus provides facilities such as a large indoor gym, two indoor playgrounds, an art studio, a design lab, two science classrooms, a library, a community café and a rooftop playground.	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 school teaches through the English National Curriculum and the International Primary Curriculum. Pre-Nursery, Early Years and Primary students learn through these curricula. Mandarin language lessons are offered as an additional language.	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 —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards null	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations null	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Get in touch: Submit an online inquiry, email, or call to share information about your family and child. The Admissions Team responds with next steps and answers initial questions to determine appropriate placement and begin the admissions journey. You will receive guidance on what to prepare next. Visit our school: Attend an Open House or book a tour (tours Monday to Friday). Visiting helps you experience classrooms and campus life and learn about programs. Contact to schedule a visit. This step helps families determine fit and ask questions. Submit your online application: Submit the online application form and pay the application fee. Provide all supplemental documentation, including school records, a family photo, and the admissions questionnaire. After submission, the Admissions Team may request additional information if needed. Attend a play date or shadow day: Nursery through Year 6 students can attend a play date or shadow day to get a feel for being enrolled. The experience helps students and families assess fit with the school environment. Participation is coordinated by the Admissions Team. Participate in a parent or family meeting: Schedule a parent or family meeting either in person or online to discuss your student and family in more depth. The meeting provides space to discuss goals, needs, and questions. The Admissions Team coordinates scheduling. Key dates for the 2026-27 admissions season: Applications are due after January 16, 2026, with rolling admissions thereafter. Regular decision notifications occur by February 2, 2026 for Pre-Nursery and Nursery and by February 6, 2026 for Reception through Year 6. Enrollment contracts are due March 6, 2026 for Pre-Nursery and Nursery and March 13, 2026 for Reception through Year 6.	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 —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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