Lake Forest Academy Photo #21 - 100% of our graduating seniors are college-bound, and they often have their choice of the best colleges in the world. Our graduating class of 120 students goes to over 70 different colleges.

Lake Forest Academy

1500 West Kennedy Road
Lake Forest, IL 60045
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Lake Forest Academy Photo #1 - Lake Forest Academy's 440 students are from over 15 states and 35 countries. Our student body includes 25% international students, 34% domestic students of color, and 33% of students receive financial aid.
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Lake Forest Academy Photo #1 - Lake Forest Academy's 440 students are from over 15 states and 35 countries. Our student body includes 25% international students, 34% domestic students of color, and 33% of students receive financial aid.
Lake Forest Academy Photo #2 - LFA offers a variety of performing arts opportunities through courses, extra-curricular groups and the Arts Concentration. Some of the musical groups include Coax (rock band), VOX (musical theater), choir, orchestra, and jazz band. Students also have several individual and small group performance opportunities throughout the year.
Lake Forest Academy Photo #3 - Our beautiful 150-acre campus is in Lake Forest, IL, 30 miles north of Chicago. Students live and learn on our safe and secluded campus, but are near Chicago and Milwaukee and only 30 minutes from O'Hare International Airport.
Lake Forest Academy Photo #4 - LFA students are competitive at the most selective colleges across the U.S. and around the world. The college counseling process supports students in finding the best fit for them. Students are assigned a college counselor who meets with them once per week and helps them at every stage of the college application process.
Lake Forest Academy Photo #5 - LFA offers over 100 courses, including 24 AP courses and post-AP and independent study options. LFA courses are discussion-based, and students are surrounded by peers who are also excited to learn, hardworking, and eager to collaborate with others.
Lake Forest Academy Photo #6 - LFA offers 27 varsity sports and 10 PE options during the three athletic seasons. All students must play on at least one team sport per year, though over 60% of students join a second team.
Lake Forest Academy Photo #7
Lake Forest Academy Photo #8 - An average class size of 12 students and a faculty to student ratio of 7:1, LFA provides a personalized and engaging learning environment.
Lake Forest Academy Photo #9 - Everyone at LFA belongs to one of four houses: Bird, Lewis, Sargent, or Welch. The four Houses compete in a series of mini competitions throughout the year, and the House that earns the most points wins!
Lake Forest Academy Photo #10
Lake Forest Academy Photo #11 - About half of the student body lives on campus in one of five dormitories. Over 80% of faculty live on campus and serve as dorm parents, building strong relationships with students inside and outside of the classroom. LFA offers an extensive weekend activity schedule so students can relax with their friends both on and off campus.
Lake Forest Academy Photo #12 - The Cowart Media Commons includes a Mac computer lab, color printer, 3-D printers, small recording studio, and a large collection of DVDs and video games for students to check-out.
Lake Forest Academy Photo #13 - Every spring, LFA's Amnesty International chapter hosts Jamnesty, an outdoor musical festival where students and faculty perform. It's a favorite annual tradition!
Lake Forest Academy Photo #14 - For graduation, students must take at least three art courses, including music, theater, and visual arts. Visual art courses include printmaking, photography, ceramics, glass, woodworking, sculpture, drawing, and more!
Lake Forest Academy Photo #15 - LFA's athletic program is designed to challenge every athlete, whether trying a sport for the first time or hoping to compete in college. We aim to promote sportsmanship and honor participation, achievement, and effort.
Lake Forest Academy Photo #16
Lake Forest Academy Photo #17 - The Lake Forest Academy school year begins with the annual All-School Handshake, whereby everyone at the school-faculty, staff, and students-shakes hands with everyone else. The community highlights this as one of their favorite school traditions!
Lake Forest Academy Photo #18
Lake Forest Academy Photo #19 - LFA has developed an innovative class schedule that rotates classes and allows for non-class time within each student's school day. This schedule adds an energizing twist to each student's school day and offers free periods to get a head start on homework, attend a club meeting, get extra help from a teacher or hang out with friends.
Lake Forest Academy Photo #20
Lake Forest Academy Photo #21
Lake Forest Academy Photo #22 - 100% of our graduating seniors are college-bound, and they often have their choice of the best colleges in the world. Our graduating class of 120 students goes to over 70 different colleges.
Lake Forest Academy is an independent, co-educational, 9-12 college-preparatory school for boarding and day students located on 150 acres in the Chicago suburb of Lake Forest.
Lake Forest Academy strives to embody in its practices and to cultivate in its students excellence of character, scholarship, citizenship, and responsibility.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Grades: 9-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 452 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $73,400
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $53,200
  • Acceptance rate: 34%
  • Average class size: 12 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Lake Forest Academy ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 280 schools) for:

Category
Attribute
Student Test Scores
Student Test Scores

School Overview

Definition of Terms | 2024 School Data
Lake Forest Academy
Boarding School Avg.
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered
9-12, PG
8-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Religious Affiliation
Non-denominational
Year Founded
1857
1906
Campus Size
150 acres
125 acres

Student Body

Enrollment
452 students
315 students
% Students of Color
39%
26%
% International Students
24%
20%
% Students Boarding
48%
70%
Average SAT Score
1430
(Out of 1600)
* National Avg. »View
Average ACT score
31
(Out of 36)
*National Avg. »View
Offers Post-Grad Year
Yes
No

Academics and Faculty

Saturday Classes
No
No
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Average Class Size
12 students
12
* National Avg. »18
Student : Teacher Ratio
7:1
7:1
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
24
18
ESL Courses Offered
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
78%
71%
Summer Program Offered
No
Yes

Tuition Cost

Endowment Size
$68.5 million
$28 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
$73,400
$66,250
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
$53,200
$35,600
Tuition international students
$2,250
$57,650
% Students on Financial Aid
33%
40%
Merit Scholarships Offered
No

Acceptance Rate

Application Deadline
Jan. 15 / rolling
Jan. 15
SSAT Required
Yes
Yes
Acceptance Rate
34%
60%
Director of Admissions
Carolyn Gorowski
Associate Director of Admissions
Caroline Cosbey

AP / Advanced Courses

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
24
18
Courses
AP Art History, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP Chinese Language and Culture, AP Computer Science, AP Economics, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature, AP Environmental Science, AP French Language, AP Music Theory, AP Physics C, AP Psychology, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature, AP Statistics, AP U.S. History, AP World History, Formal Logic, Multivariable Calculus

Sports

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations
18
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Amnesty International, Archive Club, Black Student Union, Math Team, Model United Nations, Newspaper, Photography Club, Politics & Debate Club, UNIDOS, Yearbook

Arts and Music Programs:
Choir, Fall Play, Orchestra, Student/Faculty Rock Band, Theatre Production, Traditional Photography, Winter Musical

Recreational Athletic Programs:
Yoga

College Matriculation

Year: 2018 - 2021
10 Most Popular College Choices  (# Enrolled)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
19
Northwestern University
12
Boston University
10
Duke University
10
New York University
10
University of Michigan
9
Elon University
8
Tufts University
8
University of California (Berkeley)
8
Wake Forest University
7

School Notes

  • Lake Forest Academy is located on a beautiful 150 acre wooded campus in the northern Chicago suburb of Lake Forest. The campus features academic buildings, residence halls, a gymnasium and ice hockey rink, playing fields and faculty homes.
  • LFA's mascot is the Caxy, which is ancient Greek for the croaking sound made by a frog.
  • 82% of the Faculty live on campus and 75% of our faculty members have a Master's degree or higher
  • Lake Forest Academy offers 22 Advanced Placement courses, 27 varsity sports, and a wide range of artistic options.
  • 100% of our graduating seniors matriculate to college.
  • LFA graduates attend the best colleges in the country, including Babson, Bowdoin, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, George Washington, Northwestern, Stanford, University of Chicago, UCLA, University of Michigan, Williams, as well as many other excellent colleges and universities.
  • Many extracurricular opportunities are offered, including student-run clubs, newspaper, yearbook, student dances, and many trips off campus to places like Chicago and Milwaukee.
  • Lake Forest Academy is a diverse community - we have students from all corners of the globe. 26% of our students come from outside the United States.
  • The LFA student body represents 16 states and 33 countries.
  • We are committed to making this education affordable. 31 percent of the student body receives financial aid..
  • Important Traditions at LFA:
  • Move-Up Day
  • Move-Up Day began as a tradition at Ferry Hall in 1906, originally called Ivy Day, commemorating the annual planting of Ivy at the base of Smith Hall. Over time, this tradition evolved into its current form, usually being held the day before Graduation. Departmental awards and speeches are given, and at the end of the ceremony, each class is invited to "move up" and literally take the place that they will occupy the next year: seniors move to sit with the alumni, juniors take the former spots of the seniors, and so on.
  • All-School Handshake
  • At the beginning of each year every student, faculty member, and administrator gathers in the formal gardens and participates in the all school handshake. The entire school arranges themselves in a line around the periphery of the Formal Gardens and the Head of School begins by shaking the person's hand next to him. As he moves down the line the next person shakes his hand, and the next, and the next. The procession behind the Head Master snakes around until every member of the school shakes the hand of everyone else.
  • The House Cup
  • The House Cup Competition was established under Dean Colley Bell in 2004. The students are divided up into four houses (Lewis, Sargent, Welch, and Bird) and compete in various events throughout the year. The house with the most event points at the end of the year gets their name inscribed on a trophy that is located in Reid Hall, and the colors of their team are used in the student handbook.
  • Lake Forest Academy accreditations: The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
  • Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
    • Jean Harlow - Actress
    • Bix Biederbecke - Jazz cornet player
    • Bradley Russell Weinberger, - Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice
    • Bill Ayers - Political activist and professor at the University of Chicago
    • David Bradley - Film director
    • Bill Schulz - Panelist, writer, and producer on Fox News Channel's late night show, Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld
    • Judy Baar Topinka - Former Illinois State Treasurer
    • Frances Perkins - First female Secretary of Labor
Source: Verified school update

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Lake Forest Academy cost?
Lake Forest Academy's tuition is approximately $73,400 for boarding students and $53,200 for day students.
What is the acceptance rate of Lake Forest Academy?
The acceptance rate of Lake Forest Academy is 34%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 60%.
Who are famous alumni from Lake Forest Academy?
Lake Forest Academy famous alumni include: Jean Harlow, Bix Biederbecke, Bradley Russell Weinberger,, Bill Ayers, David Bradley, Bill Schulz, Judy Baar Topinka and Frances Perkins.
What sports does Lake Forest Academy offer?
Lake Forest Academy offers 17 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Dance, Field Hockey, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming, Tennis, Track, Track and Field and Volleyball.
What is Lake Forest Academy's ranking?
Lake Forest Academy ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for High average SAT scores and High ACT scores.
When is the application deadline for Lake Forest Academy?
The application deadline for Lake Forest Academy is Jan. 15 / rolling (applications are due on Jan. 15 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).

Alumni Reviews Review School

Review
Description

Class of 2011
5.00
University of California, Irvine
One of the most unique things about Lake Forest Academy are the state of the art facilities. Many buildings have been added and renovated since my time attending, and the campus truly is remarkable now. . .

Class of 2003
5.00
Northwestern University
Lake Forest Academy is a caring and nuturing place to learn. Each student is assigned to an advisor. Students meet in advisories. Advisors serve as mentors to students, monitor students' academic progress as well as. . .
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Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Grades: 9-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 452 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $73,400
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $53,200
  • Acceptance rate: 34%
  • Average class size: 12 students
  • Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

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