Beacon Academy Chicago vs British International School of Chicago - South Loop
Beacon Academy Chicago and British International School of Chicago - South Loop are both in Chicago, about 20 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes. Beacon Academy Chicago also offers Bespoke, and British International School of Chicago - South Loop also offers EYFS, British, IPC and Cambridge IGCSE. Published annual fees are $41,413 - 43,163 at Beacon Academy Chicago and $19,415 - 47,745 at British International School of Chicago - South Loop, which puts Beacon Academy Chicago roughly 26% higher. Beacon Academy Chicago takes pupils from 14 to 18, and British International School of Chicago - South Loop from 3 to 18.
EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, IPC (International Primary Curriculum), Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)
Pupils
Pupils
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Pupils
800
Typical class size
Typical class size
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Typical class size
15
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2017
Opened
2001
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Evanston, Illinois. Address: 1574 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201. Located in the heart of Evanston, Beacon Academy is set within a city environment with direct access to cultural institutions, businesses, and community resources.
Location
161 W 9th St, Chicago, IL 60605, United States. The school is in Chicago, Illinois.
Stages
Stages
High school (Grades 9-12).
Stages
Early Years (ages 3–5); Primary (ages 5–11, Years 1–6); Middle School (ages 11–14, Years 7–9); High School (ages 14–18, Years 10–13).
School type
School type
Independent high school.
School type
Private K-12 school. It offers education for ages 3–18.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
40+ nationalities represented.
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
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Country affiliation
England (curriculum aligned with the English National Curriculum).
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
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School day structure
Admission hours: School days 8am–5pm; Non-school days 9am–4pm.
Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application fee - A non‑refundable application fee is required at submission via the Ravenna application portal; third‑party listings indicate this fee is USD 100.
Tuition fees (annual; 2026–2027 academic year) - Annual tuition (all grades offered - high school program): USD 41,413 for the 2026–2027 academic year. - Activity fee (annual, per student): USD 1,750. This activity fee covers registration fees for clubs, athletics, and after‑school activities; it does not cover certain optional items such as Outdoor Club, Model UN, I‑Term activity fees, or I‑Term travel.
Tuition by school year / year group - Beacon Academy is an independent high school serving the high‑school grades it lists on its publications; the published tuition above (USD 41,413) applies as the annual tuition figure for the 2026–2027 school year. No separate published tuition schedule by individual grade (9–12) or alternate year‑group rates was found.
Per‑term or instalment breakdown - The school publishes an annual tuition figure for 2026–2027 (USD 41,413). Families are required to complete enrollment contracts and deposits by the school's published enrollment date; the school uses third‑party systems (Ravenna and FACTS) for application, financial aid, and tuition processes. Specific per‑term billing amounts (e.g., exact installment amounts if billed by term or semester) are not listed in the public tuition summary; families set up payment plans through the school's tuition management process.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Key admissions/billing dates: the school's calendar and admissions timeline set the date for enrollment contracts and deposits to be due (example: Enrollment Contracts and Deposits Due — March 9, 2026, for that admissions cycle). Accepted students are expected to complete enrollment paperwork and deposit by the published deadline. - Application payments are processed through the Ravenna portal at the time of application submission. Tuition assistance applications are processed via FACTS. Families arrange tuition payment plans and submit payment methods through the school's designated systems.
Boarding fees - Beacon Academy is an independent day high school located in Evanston, IL; no boarding program or boarding fees are published. Boarding fees are not applicable.
Other costs and typical additional fees - I‑Term and activity‑specific fees: Certain I‑Term courses, off‑campus experiences, and travel options carry additional fees. Examples from published I‑Term materials include: a multi‑city I‑Term travel experience estimated at USD 900–1,200 with an initial non‑refundable trip deposit of USD 500; on‑campus workshop/course fees ranging from about USD 20 to USD 100+ depending on materials and vendor costs; specific activity fees such as bowling or rock‑climbing course fees (examples: USD 70, USD 100). The announced annual activity fee does not cover these I‑Term or travel costs. - Student store / spirit wear, optional program fees, suggested course materials, and spending money for off‑campus outings are additional and vary by activity. The activity fee covers basic club/athletic registration but excludes specified optional activities and travel.
Refund information (where applicable) - I‑Term travel and some I‑Term activity deposits are specified as non‑refundable (example: the USD 500 initial deposit for the sample I‑Term travel opportunity is non‑refundable). No standalone, detailed public tuition refund policy (for withdrawal from the school or term‑by‑term tuition refunds) was located on the school's publicly accessible pages.
Fee payment options - Application fee: paid at submission through the Ravenna application portal. - Tuition assistance and tuition payment administration: the school uses FACTS for tuition assistance application processing and families interact with FACTS for financial aid and tuition administration. FACTS‑managed tuition/payment plans commonly accept ACH (bank draft) and credit/debit card payments (subject to the vendor's convenience fees or processing fees). Expect families to set up payment methods and payment schedules through the school's FACTS/Ravenna tuition system.
Summary of what is published and items not publicly broken down - Published, load‑bearing figures available: annual tuition for 2026–2027 (USD 41,413) and the annual activity fee (USD 1,750); I‑Term and activity fee examples and the non‑refundable trip deposit example. - Items not publicly detailed on the school's published pages: a grade‑by‑grade tuition schedule (separate fees by year group), a clear per‑term installment schedule with published per‑term amounts, the explicit enrollment deposit amount required at contract acceptance for the 2026–2027 cycle, and a centralized published tuition refund policy for full‑year tuition withdrawals. The school's admissions calendar does state the enrollment contract and deposit due date (e.g., March 9, 2026).
(End of fees overview.)
Fee details
TUITION FEES (2026–27 academic year)
- Nursery (part-time): USD 19,170 per year. - Nursery (full-time): USD 31,950 per year. - Reception: USD 34,700 per year. - Years 1–6: USD 39,950 per year. - Years 7–10: USD 43,425 per year. - Year 11: USD 43,750 per year. - Years 12–13: USD 45,750 per year. .
Per-term amounts (three-term academic year)
- The school operates on a three-term (Autumn / Spring / Summer) academic calendar; per-term figures below are calculated as the annual tuition divided by three (equal-term division). - Nursery (part-time) per term: USD 6,390. - Nursery (full-time) per term: USD 10,650. - Reception per term: USD 11,567. - Years 1–6 per term: USD 13,317. - Years 7–10 per term: USD 14,475. - Year 11 per term: USD 14,583. - Years 12–13 per term: USD 15,250. - These per-term figures are calculations based on the annual tuition and the school's three-term calendar.
Annual and recurring additional fees
- Trip fee (all years): USD 180 billed each school year. - Yearbook: USD 65 billed each school year. - Full-time Nursery to Year 9 lunches: USD 2,000 billed each school year. - Year 11 exam costs (annual): USD 1,750. - Year 13 exam costs (annual): USD 1,750. - The items above are billed on an annual basis in addition to tuition.
Application, enrollment and new-student fees
- Application fee (non-refundable): USD 100. - New Student Fee (one-time, non-refundable): USD 2,300 (applied to capital and curriculum investments). - The New Student Fee is due with the signed enrollment agreement.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition and the listed annual fees are presented as amounts for the academic year; the school's calendar runs across three terms (Autumn, Spring, Summer). - New-student fees are due at the time the enrollment agreement is signed. - Specific invoice due dates, available installment options, and any late-payment penalties are set in the school's enrollment agreement and terms and conditions; invoices and billing align with the academic-year structure.
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not applicable for this campus; no boarding fees are listed for the South Loop location.
Other costs and periodic purchases
- Uniforms: available from Tommy Hilfiger and Lands' End (items purchased separately). - PE kit: ordered via the school's online ordering portal. - Optional charges that families commonly pay include before- or after-school care, extracurricular clubs, camps, some class trips, and certain exam or assessment fees beyond those listed above.
Refund information
- The Application Fee and the New Student Fee are non-refundable. - The school's standard terms and conditions provide that refunds (where applicable) are processed by bank transfer and that a school will not refund any portion of a tuition term once that term has commenced. - Parents' contractual obligations for invoiced tuition, notice periods for withdrawal, and the precise refund calculation method (if any) are governed by the school's enrollment agreement and the school's terms and conditions.
Fee adjustments and discounts
- Northwestern University employee discount: 20% tuition discount for benefits-eligible Northwestern University employees. - Sibling discounts: second child receives a 3.5% tuition discount; any additional children receive a 7% tuition discount.
Fee payment options and transaction fees
- Online payment portal is available for electronic payments (school payment portal). - Accepted electronic payment methods and their processing fees: - Credit card payments: assessed a service fee of 2.99%. - Debit card payments: assessed a service fee of 0.99%. - ACH (eCheck / bank transfer): no service fee. - Payments made through the school's online portal are the primary electronic option; the school issues invoices and records payments via its billing system.
Contact for fee queries and payments
- Admissions: admissions@bischicagosl.org; telephone +1 (773) 998 2472. - General inquiries: +1 (773) 599 2472. - The school provides an online payment portal (for electronic payment methods and merchant fees).
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Core Curriculum (9-12); International Baccalaureate (IB) for 11-12; and XP (11-12) based on the IB model, designed with business school educators to provide professional experiences and skills.
Curriculum details
The school teaches the National Curriculum for England and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) in the Primary years; Middle and High School offer IGCSE and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
IB diploma candidate pass rate: 100%. 11% of Class of '25 were National Merit scholarship recipients or Semifinalists.
Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
100% of students matriculate to one of their top three colleges.
Higher education progression
The school paves the way for students to enter prestigious universities worldwide.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
—
Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
—
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
—
Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Application & Shadow Day. The admissions process uses Ravenna; create or log in to Ravenna, select Beacon Academy, and pay the application fee. Shadow Days allow applicants to attend Beacon classes after submitting the application; Shadow Days are scheduled on designated days from November 2025 through January 2026 via Ravenna.
2. Parent Interview. The Parent/Guardian Interview is required and may be held in person or via Zoom; it is scheduled after the application is submitted in Ravenna to help the school learn about the family and for parents to learn more about Beacon.
3. Letters of Recommendation. Letters of recommendation are required from the student's current English and math teachers and from an advisor or school administrator; provide names and emails for each recommender in Ravenna; the deadline is January 5 for sibling applicants and January 31 for new applicants.
4. School Records. Provide the report card or progress report from the prior academic year and the official transcript (if available); upload documents into Ravenna or have the current school email them to Admissions; deadlines are January 5 for sibling applicants and January 31 for new applicants.
5. Standardized Test Scores. Provide a copy of recent standardized test results; ISEE is not required; MAP or other standardized tests are accepted; if a student has not taken a test, contact the Admissions Office.
6. IEP/504/Learning Support Plan. If the student receives learning support services or accommodations, provide a copy of the 504/IEP/Learning Plan and neuropsychological evaluation; upload documents as PDF in Ravenna.
7. Gift Acceptance Policy. The school has a Gift Acceptance Policy preventing gifts that could influence admissions decisions; no gift will be accepted from any affiliated or non-affiliated person or donor if given with the intention of influencing an admission outcome; while an application is pending, gifts are not accepted from non-affiliated applicant family members or their representatives.
8. Nondiscrimination. Beacon Academy does not discriminate against prospective students or their families in its admissions or financial aid policies on the basis of listed characteristics such as race, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, political and social values, culture, gender identity, religion, physical ability, family structure, and learning style.
Admissions
Admissions are personalized to families. The process includes contacting us to start your child's journey, joining a school tour or virtual discovery meeting, submitting an application, and financial aid is available.
Scholarships
Scholarships
Beacon Academy partners with the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund and HFS Chicago Scholars to provide academic and financial support to high achieving, under-resourced students in the Chicagoland area. Informational flyers are available in English and Spanish. Tuition for 2026-2027 is $41,413; Activity Fee: $1,750, which covers registration for clubs, athletics, and after-school activities (Outdoor Club, Model UN, I-Term Activity Fees or I-Term Travel are not included). The Tuition Assistance application for 2026-27 is now open; Returning families and sibling applicants should apply by December 15, 2025; Tuition Assistance applications for new family applicants are due January 31, 2026. Download the FACTS tuition assistance flyer in English or Spanish.
