Average

#348 of 716 private schools in IL

Top 49% of private schools

Chicago Friends School

Elementary School

1246 W THORNDALE AVE, Chicago, IL 60660

Last updated: July 2026

Private

Enrollment

Student-Teacher

8:1

Score

6.4

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Enrollment

Student-Teacher

8:1

Score

6.4

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Data vintage
2021-22

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

Illinois private schools

#348 of 716

In Chicago

#94 of 162

public schools

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About Chicago Friends School

Chicago Friends School is a private elementary school in Chicago, IL. Chicago Friends School serves approximately 48 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-8th, and has a 8:1 student-teacher ratio. Chicago Friends School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10 and ranks #348 of 716 private schools in IL.

How it comparesOn par with IL schools

6.4

This school 6.4 · Average
IL avg 6.2

What Parents Should Know

At 48 students, Chicago Friends School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

At 8:1 students to teachers, Chicago Friends School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Chicago Friends School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Chicago Friends School compares to 500 public schools serving similar grades in Chicago, IL

Student-Teacher Ratio

8:1

This School

15.6:1

Public Avg

Avg School Size

This School

492

Public Avg

Avg School Scout Rating

6.4

This School

5.9

Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 79.2% vs 0%

Black 12.5% vs 0%

Hispanic 6.2% vs 0%

Chicago Friends School Chicago Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School	Distance	Enrollment	STR	Rating
Chicago Friends School (this school)	—	48	8:1	6.4
Swift Elem Specialty School	0.2 mi	595	13.8:1	5.4
Hayt Elem School	0.5 mi	861	14.8:1	5.8
Peirce Elem Intl Studies School	0.5 mi	1,103	14.3:1	6.9
Asian Human Srvcs-Passage Chrtr	0.7 mi	355	14.2:1	5.0
Goudy Technology Academy	1.0 mi	549	13.1:1	6.7
Kilmer Elem School	1.0 mi	786	11.4:1	6.5
Stone Elem Scholastic Academy	1.2 mi	550	13.4:1	8.3
New Field Elem School	1.3 mi	576	15.2:1	7.0
McCutcheon Elem School	1.4 mi	346	9.4:1	6.4
Field Elem School	1.4 mi	156	10.4:1	5.9
Chicago Math & Sci Elem Charter	1.4 mi	620	13.5:1	7.0
Chappell Elem School	1.5 mi	564	14.5:1	7.3
McPherson Elem School	1.7 mi	735	12.2:1	5.6
Armstrong G Elem IntL Studies	1.8 mi	1,261	14.8:1	7.5
Clinton Elem School	1.9 mi	1,039	15.5:1	5.5
Courtenay Elem Language Arts Ctr	1.9 mi	303	10.1:1	3.8
Jamieson Elem School	2.0 mi	824	15:1	7.2
Jordan Elem Community School	2.0 mi	510	12.4:1	6.0
Mosaic School of Fine Arts	2.1 mi	720	13.6:1	6.4
Budlong Elem School	2.1 mi	743	13:1	7.5

Showing 20 of 500 schools. View all schools in Chicago

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

Score Breakdown

Preliminary

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

A- 8.3 / 10

View breakdown

Student-Teacher Ratio 8:1

Instructional Commitment

B 5.9 / 10

View breakdown

School Day Length 6.8 hours

Annual Instructional Hours 1,196.8

Diversity & Inclusion

B+ 6.6 / 10

View breakdown

Diversity Index 35%

Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile

C 3.0 / 10

View breakdown

Enrollment 48

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 79.2%

Black 12.5%

Hispanic 6.2%

Two or More 2.1%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1246 W THORNDALE AVE, Chicago, IL 60660

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Chicago Friends School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Stone Elem Scholastic Academy (rated 8.3/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is ROGERS PARK MONTESSORI SCHOOL (rated 7.7/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, New Field Elem School (rated 7.0/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Chicago, see our Chicago schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.2 mi

School	Distance	Enrollment	Rating
Swift Elem Specialty School Chicago	0.2 mi	595	5.4
Senn High School Chicago	0.3 mi	1,516	7.7
GUIDEPOST AT EDGEWATER Chicago	0.4 mi	1	—
Hayt Elem School Chicago	0.5 mi	861	5.8
SACRED HEART SCHOOLS Chicago	0.5 mi	611	6.4
Peirce Elem Intl Studies School Chicago	0.5 mi	1,103	6.9
Asian Human Srvcs-Passage Chrtr Chicago	0.7 mi	355	5.0
Sullivan High School Chicago	0.9 mi	766	4.0
NORTHSHORE ACADEMY FOR CHILDREN Chicago	0.8 mi	4	—
Goudy Technology Academy Chicago	1.0 mi	549	6.7
Kilmer Elem School Chicago	1.0 mi	786	6.5
CHICAGO WALDORF SCHOOL Chicago	1.0 mi	238	8.8
ROGERS PARK MONTESSORI SCHOOL Chicago	1.0 mi	300	7.7
New Field Elem School Chicago	1.3 mi	576	7.0
MISERICORDIA SCHOOL Chicago	1.1 mi	4	—
McCutcheon Elem School Chicago	1.4 mi	346	6.4
Field Elem School Chicago	1.4 mi	156	5.9
Chicago Math & Sci Elem Charter Chicago	1.4 mi	620	7.0
PACTT LEARNING CENTER Chicago	1.5 mi	28	—
Stone Elem Scholastic Academy Chicago	1.2 mi	550	8.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 60660 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$66,206

Median Home Value

$287,500

Median Rent

$1,286/mo

Population

42,750

College Educated

57.1%

Homeownership

37.4%

Avg Commute

35.9 min

Poverty Rate

15.2%

Median Age

37.5

Similar Schools

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

School	Enrollment	Rating
Brussels Grade School Brussels, IL	37	6.3
CORAM DEO CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Mount Vernon, IL	46	6.3
CREME DE LA CREME Romeoville, IL	31	6.3
OUR SAVIORS LUTHERAN SCHOOL Zion, IL	38	6.3
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL Johnsburg, IL	61	6.3
ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL MONTESSORI SCHOOL Wheeling, IL	63	6.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Chicago Friends School

What grades does Chicago Friends School serve?

Chicago Friends School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Chicago Friends School?

Chicago Friends School has an enrollment of approximately 48 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Chicago Friends School?

The student-teacher ratio at Chicago Friends School is 8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Chicago Friends School rank in IL?

Chicago Friends School ranks #348 of 716 private schools in IL.

What is Chicago Friends School's MySchoolScout rating?

Chicago Friends School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Chicago Friends School a private school?

Yes, Chicago Friends School is a private coeducational school with a Friends (Quaker) affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Chicago Friends School a religious school?

Chicago Friends School has a Friends (Quaker) religious affiliation.

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Neighborhood Context

Walk Score: 94 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score: 74 Excellent Transit
Bike Score: 86 Very Bikeable

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades: Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment: 48
Gender Split: 60% M / 40% F
Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
Teachers (FTE): 6
Type: private
Coed Status: coed
Affiliation: Friends (Quaker)
School Day: 6.8 hours
Days Per Year: 176 days
Setting: Large City
County: Cook County
Phone: (773) 442-2371

Resources & Links

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Data sources

NCES PSSSY 2021-22 Census ACS2019-2023 MySchoolScout Rankings2024 Full details →

Chicago Friends School

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