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Excellent

#10 of 716 private schools in IL

Top 1% of private schools

Chicago Waldorf School

School

5200 N ASHLAND AVE, Chicago, IL 60640

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 623 schools in Chicago. Learn more

Enrollment

238

Student-Teacher

5.5:1

Score

8.8

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Chicago

#5 of 162

public schools

Illinois schools

#6 of 137

About Chicago Waldorf School

Chicago Waldorf School is a vibrant educational community located on the north side of Chicago at 5200 N Ashland Ave. Serving students from preschool through twelfth grade, the school offers a comprehensive curriculum tailored to each developmental stage. With an enrollment of 238 students and a student-teacher ratio of 5.5:1, Chicago Waldorf School provides a personalized learning environment where teachers can give individual attention to each child's needs.

The school boasts 44 full-time equivalent teachers dedicated to fostering a holistic approach to education that integrates academic rigor with creative expression. While the MySchoolScout Rating and state ranking place the school in the lower half of Illinois schools, Chicago Waldorf School focuses on nurturing student development beyond standardized test scores, emphasizing creativity, social skills, and emotional well-being. Chicago Waldorf School is situated within a bustling urban setting, offering students numerous opportunities to engage with their community.

The city environment provides a rich backdrop for real-world learning experiences, complementing the school's educational philosophy.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 5.5:1, Chicago Waldorf School 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, Chicago Waldorf School 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.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$39,370
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$37,402
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
0.95x — Tight
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
95%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$13.5M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 238 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Chicago Waldorf School compares to 632 public schools serving similar grades in Chicago, IL

Student-Teacher Ratio
5.5:1
This School
vs
15.9:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
238
This School
vs
517
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
8.8
This School
vs
6.4
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 63% vs 0%
Hispanic 7.6% vs 0%
Black 6.7% vs 0%
Asian 2.5% vs 0%
Chicago Waldorf School Chicago Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Chicago Waldorf School (this school) 8.8
Asian Human Srvcs-Passage Chrtr 4.9
Peirce Elem Intl Studies School 7.1
Amundsen High School 7.6
Goudy Technology Academy 5.5
Devry Advantage Academy High Schl 6.4
McPherson Elem School 6.1
Chappell Elem School 5.4
Senn High School 7.5
McCutcheon Elem School 5.3
YCCS-Truman Middle College HS 7.7
Courtenay Elem Language Arts Ctr 6.7
Swift Elem Specialty School 6.3
Ravenswood Elem School 6.7
Uplift Community High School 7.1
Hayt Elem School 5.0
Budlong Elem School 6.2
Waters Elem School 7.4
Lake View High School 7.2
Stone Elem Scholastic Academy 6.3
Brennemann Elem School 4.7

Showing 20 of 632 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

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+ 9.6 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 5.5:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A 8.8 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.2 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,274.4
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A- 8.4 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 55%
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 238
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 63.0%
Two or More 19.7%
Hispanic 7.6%
Black 6.7%
Asian 2.5%
Native American 0.4%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

5200 N ASHLAND AVE, Chicago, IL 60640

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Chicago Waldorf School may also want to explore other schools in the area. RAVENSWOOD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (rated 8.1/10, 1.1 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, LYCEE FRANCAIS DE CHICAGO (rated 7.8/10, 0.9 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Chicago, see our Chicago schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.3 mi
School Distance Rating
ROGERS PARK MONTESSORI SCHOOL Chicago 0.4 mi 7.7
Asian Human Srvcs-Passage Chrtr Chicago 0.5 mi 4.9
Peirce Elem Intl Studies School Chicago 0.5 mi 7.1
Amundsen High School Chicago 0.5 mi 7.6
Devry Advantage Academy High Schl Chicago 0.6 mi 6.4
McPherson Elem School Chicago 0.7 mi 6.1
Goudy Technology Academy Chicago 0.6 mi 5.5
Senn High School Chicago 0.9 mi 7.5
Chappell Elem School Chicago 0.7 mi 5.4
LYCEE FRANCAIS DE CHICAGO Chicago 0.9 mi 7.8
GUIDEPOST AT EDGEWATER Chicago 1.0 mi
METROPOLITAN SCHOOLHOUSE Chicago 1.1 mi
Courtenay Elem Language Arts Ctr Chicago 1.0 mi 6.7
Ravenswood Elem School Chicago 1.1 mi 6.7
CHICAGO FRIENDS SCHOOL Chicago 1.0 mi 6.4
YCCS-Truman Middle College HS Chicago 1.0 mi 7.7
McCutcheon Elem School Chicago 0.9 mi 5.3
Swift Elem Specialty School Chicago 1.1 mi 6.3
RAVENSWOOD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Chicago 1.1 mi 8.1
Hayt Elem School Chicago 1.3 mi 5.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 60640 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$71,030

Median Home Value

$363,300

Median Rent

$1,374/mo

Population

66,884

College Educated

62.6%

Homeownership

31.3%

Avg Commute

35.5 min

Poverty Rate

18.7%

Median Age

37.4

Community Profile

The community surrounding Chicago Waldorf School has a median household income of $71,030. It is a well-educated community where 63% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $363,300, with a median rent of $1,374/month. The area has a poverty rate of 18.7%. The average commute in the area is 36 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
BENNETT DAY SCHOOL Chicago, IL 8.8
GEMS WORLD ACADEMY CHICAGO Chicago, IL 9.1
DAARUL ULOOM ISLAMIC SCHOOL Peoria, IL 8.5
KEITH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Rockford, IL 8.5
PARKLAND PREPARATORY ACADEMY Bartlett, IL 8.3
PARKLAND PREPARATORY ACADEMY Bartlett, IL 8.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Chicago Waldorf School

What grades does Chicago Waldorf School serve?

Chicago Waldorf School serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Chicago Waldorf School?

Chicago Waldorf School has an enrollment of approximately 238 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Chicago Waldorf School is 5.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Chicago Waldorf School rank in IL?

Chicago Waldorf School is ranked #10 out of 716 private schools in IL.

What is Chicago Waldorf School's MySchoolScout rating?

Chicago Waldorf School has a composite rating of 8.8 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 Chicago Waldorf School a private school?

Yes, Chicago Waldorf School 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 Chicago Waldorf School a religious school?

No, Chicago Waldorf School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
95 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
74 Excellent Transit
Bike Score
88 Very Bikeable
City Safety
High (4,030/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
238
Gender Split
45% M / 55% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
5.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
44
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7.2 hours
Days Per Year
177 days
Setting
Large 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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