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Excellent

#62 of 716 private schools in IL

Top 9% of private schools

Beacon Academy

High School

1574 SHERMAN AVE, Evanston, IL 60201

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 15 schools in Evanston. Learn more

Enrollment

200

Student-Teacher

7:1

Score

8.0

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Evanston

#3 of 6

public schools

Illinois high schools

#9 of 91

Academic performance

8.6 / 10

Exceptional

About Beacon Academy

Beacon Academy in Evanston, Illinois, serves 200 high school students in grades 9 through 12 in Cook County. With 28 full-time teachers and a student-teacher ratio of 7:1, the school provides an intimate high school education in a small city setting. Evanston's 60201 zip code has a population of 43,000, a median household income of $89,032, and home values averaging $557,200.

About 73% of adults hold college degrees, and the poverty rate is 14.2%—reflecting Evanston's socioeconomic diversity. Evanston is a progressive, culturally vibrant city directly north of Chicago, home to Northwestern University and a strong tradition of civic engagement. Beacon Academy offers high school students in this dynamic community a rigorous and personalized education in one of the Chicago area's most intellectually engaged cities.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 7:1, Beacon Academy offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Beacon Academy operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Beacon Academy compares to the 16 public schools in Evanston, IL

Student-Teacher Ratio
7:1
This School
vs
10.4:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
200
This School
vs
600
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
8.0
This School
vs
7.9
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 68.5% vs 0%
Black 8.5% vs 0%
Hispanic 8.5% vs 0%
Asian 4.5% vs 0%
Beacon Academy Evanston Public Avg

All Schools in Evanston

School Rating
Beacon Academy (this school) 8.0
Dewey Elem School 9.0
Nichols Middle School 9.2
Lincoln Elem School 8.0
Evanston Twp High School 9.1
Washington Elem School 6.6
Kingsley Elementary School 5.8
Haven Middle School 6.2
Dr ML King Jr Literary&Fine Arts 9.2
Orrington Elem School 9.1
Joseph E Hill Education Center 8.1
Oakton Elem School 5.9
Chute Middle School 9.0
Dawes Elementary School 7.7
Lincolnwood Elem School 8.7
Walker Elem School 9.0
Willard Elem School 5.7

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in IL.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 9.0 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 7:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B 5.9 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.8 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,196.8
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A- 8.0 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 50%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.0 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 200
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in IL

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 68.5%
Two or More 10.0%
Black 8.5%
Hispanic 8.5%
Asian 4.5%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1574 SHERMAN AVE, Evanston, IL 60201

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Beacon Academy may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Evanston Twp High School (rated 9.1/10, 0.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, FUSION ACADEMY EV: EVANSTON (rated 6.7/10, 0.9 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Evanston, see our Evanston schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.4 mi
School Distance Rating
CHIARAVALLE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Evanston 0.4 mi 7.7
ROYCEMORE SCHOOL Evanston 0.4 mi 8.3
Dewey Elem School Evanston 0.4 mi 9.0
Nichols Middle School Evanston 0.6 mi 9.2
MIDWEST MONTESSORI DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL Evanston 0.8 mi
FUSION ACADEMY EV: EVANSTON Evanston 0.9 mi 6.7
Lincoln Elem School Evanston 0.9 mi 8.0
POPE JOHN XXIII SCHOOL Evanston 1.0 mi 8.0
KINGSWAY PREPARATORY SCHOOL Evanston 0.9 mi
Washington Elem School Evanston 1.0 mi 6.6
Evanston Twp High School Evanston 0.9 mi 9.1
Kingsley Elementary School Evanston 1.2 mi 5.8
Orrington Elem School Evanston 1.3 mi 9.1
Oakton Elem School Evanston 1.4 mi 5.9
ST ATHANASIUS SCHOOL Evanston 1.3 mi 6.9
Haven Middle School Evanston 1.3 mi 6.2
Chute Middle School Evanston 1.5 mi 9.0
BAKER DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL Wilmette 1.7 mi 8.4
Dr ML King Jr Literary&Fine Arts Evanston 1.3 mi 9.2
Joseph E Hill Education Center Evanston 1.4 mi 8.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 60201 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$92,101

Median Home Value

$577,800

Median Rent

$1,792/mo

Population

43,555

College Educated

73.9%

Homeownership

54.9%

Avg Commute

26.9 min

Poverty Rate

14.2%

Median Age

34.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding Beacon Academy has a median household income of $92,101. It is a well-educated community where 74% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $577,800, with a median rent of $1,792/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.2%. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Chadwick-Milledgeville Jr HS Milledgeville, IL 8.0
Cowden-Herrick Jr/Sr High School Cowden, IL 8.1
Mt Olive High School Mount Olive, IL 8.1
ROSARY HIGH SCHOOL Aurora, IL 7.9
Heritage High School Broadlands, IL 7.8
Indian Creek High School Shabbona, IL 7.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Beacon Academy

What grades does Beacon Academy serve?

Beacon Academy serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Beacon Academy?

Beacon Academy has an enrollment of approximately 200 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Beacon Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Beacon Academy is 7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Beacon Academy rank in IL?

Beacon Academy is ranked #62 out of 716 private schools in IL.

What is Beacon Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Beacon Academy has a composite rating of 8.0 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Beacon Academy a private school?

Yes, Beacon Academy is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Beacon Academy a religious school?

No, Beacon Academy is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
98 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
62 Good Transit
Bike Score
89 Very Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,892/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Evanston). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
200
Gender Split
47% M / 53% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
7:1
Teachers (FTE)
29
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6.8 hours
Days Per Year
176 days
Setting
Small City
County
COOK
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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