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Very Good

#199 of 716 private schools in IL

Top 28% of private schools

School of St Mary Upper Grade Center

Elementary School

900 W EVERETT RD, Lake Forest, IL 60045

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on IL statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

344

Student-Teacher

9.7:1

Score

7.1

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Lake Forest

#4 of 6

public schools

Illinois elementary schools

#111 of 471

About School of St Mary Upper Grade Center

School of St. Mary Upper Grade Center is a Catholic school in Lake Forest, Illinois, serving 344 students from preschool through 8th grade. With 35 full-time equivalent teachers and a student-teacher ratio of 9.7:1, the school maintains small class sizes for faith-based learning through the upper elementary grades.

The school has not been rated by MySchoolScout and no standardized test data is available. Located in the 60045 zip code in Lake County's large suburban area, the school serves one of the North Shore's most affluent communities. The surrounding neighborhood has a median household income of $201,847, a median home value of $880,200, and an exceptional 81% of residents holding bachelor's degrees, with a poverty rate of only 4%.

Lake Forest is an upscale historic community on the North Shore of Lake Michigan, known for its gracious estates, forest preserves, and the character of old-money Chicago suburbia.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 9.7:1, School of St Mary Upper Grade Center 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, School of St Mary Upper Grade Center 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 School of St Mary Upper Grade Center compares to 6 public schools serving similar grades in Lake Forest, IL

Student-Teacher Ratio
9.7:1
This School
vs
9.8:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
344
This School
vs
301
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.1
This School
vs
7.6
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 84.9% vs 0%
Hispanic 4.4% vs 0%
Asian 4.1% vs 0%
Black 0.9% vs 0%
School of St Mary Upper Grade Center Lake Forest Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
School of St Mary Upper Grade Center (this school) 7.1
Everett Elem School 7.6
Cherokee Elem School 6.3
Deer Path Middle Sch West 5.8
Deer Path Middle Sch East 7.1
Sheridan Elem School 9.1
Rondout Elem School 9.9

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)
B+ 7.3 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 9.7:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.2 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,260
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B- 5.3 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 24%
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 344
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 84.9%
Hispanic 4.4%
Asian 4.1%
Two or More 3.2%
Native American 2.6%
Black 0.9%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

900 W EVERETT RD, Lake Forest, IL 60045

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering School of St Mary Upper Grade Center may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Wayne Thomas Elem School (rated 9.6/10, 2.6 miles away, in nearby Highland Park), which scores notably higher. Another option is Sheridan Elem School (rated 9.1/10, 3.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Bannockburn School (rated 8.8/10, 2.2 miles away, in nearby Bannockburn), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Lake Forest, see our Lake Forest schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Everett Elem School Lake Forest 0.6 mi 7.6
Deer Path Middle Sch West Lake Forest 2.0 mi 5.8
Bannockburn School Bannockburn 2.2 mi 8.8
Deer Path Middle Sch East Lake Forest 2.0 mi 7.1
Cherokee Elem School Lake Forest 1.7 mi 6.3
LAKE FOREST ACADEMY Lake Forest 2.1 mi 9.1
LAKE FOREST COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL Lake Forest 1.9 mi 7.7
SCHOOL OF ST MARY Lake Forest 2.2 mi 7.0
Deerfield High School Deerfield 2.6 mi 8.9
Daniel Wright Jr High School Lincolnshire 2.1 mi 8.1
WOODLANDS ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART Lake Forest 2.2 mi 8.6
Laura B Sprague School Lincolnshire 2.6 mi 8.0
Wayne Thomas Elem School Highland Park 2.6 mi 9.6
Northwood Middle School Highland Park 2.7 mi 8.0
Lake Forest High School Lake Forest 3.2 mi 8.2
Walden Elem School Deerfield 3.4 mi 6.1
Sheridan Elem School Lake Forest 3.3 mi 9.1
Charles J Caruso Middle School Deerfield 3.7 mi 7.2
RIVERWOODS MONTESSORI SCHOOL Riverwoods 3.5 mi
MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF LAKE FOREST Lake Forest 3.6 mi 6.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 60045 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$225,551

Median Home Value

$899,200

Median Rent

$2,321/mo

Population

20,957

College Educated

81.2%

Homeownership

89.2%

Avg Commute

33.1 min

Poverty Rate

3.9%

Median Age

46.1

Community Profile

The community surrounding School of St Mary Upper Grade Center has a median household income of $225,551. It is a well-educated community where 81% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $899,200, with a median rent of $2,321/month. The local poverty rate of 3.9% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 33 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
Aldridge Elem School Chicago, IL 7.1
Butler Elem School Springfield, IL 7.1
C Henry Bloom Elem School Rockford, IL 7.1
Central Road Elem School Rolling Meadows, IL 7.1
Clearmont Elem School Elk Grove Village, IL 7.1
Clearview Elem School Waukegan, IL 7.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about School of St Mary Upper Grade Center

What grades does School of St Mary Upper Grade Center serve?

School of St Mary Upper Grade Center serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend School of St Mary Upper Grade Center?

School of St Mary Upper Grade Center has an enrollment of approximately 344 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at School of St Mary Upper Grade Center?

The student-teacher ratio at School of St Mary Upper Grade Center is 9.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does School of St Mary Upper Grade Center rank in IL?

School of St Mary Upper Grade Center is ranked #199 out of 716 private schools in IL.

What is School of St Mary Upper Grade Center's MySchoolScout rating?

School of St Mary Upper Grade Center has a composite rating of 7.1 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 School of St Mary Upper Grade Center a private school?

Yes, School of St Mary Upper Grade Center is a private coeducational school with a Roman Catholic affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is School of St Mary Upper Grade Center a religious school?

School of St Mary Upper Grade Center has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
32 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
35 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
Average (646/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
344
Gender Split
76% M / 24% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
35
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Roman Catholic
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Large Suburb
County
LAKE
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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