British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park vs British International School of Chicago - South Loop
British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park and British International School of Chicago - South Loop are both in Chicago, about 4 km apart. Both schools offer British and IPC programmes, and British International School of Chicago - South Loop also offers EYFS, Cambridge IGCSE and IB. Published annual fees are $100 - 39,950 at British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park and $19,415 - 47,745 at British International School of Chicago - South Loop, which puts British International School of Chicago - South Loop roughly 68% higher. British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park takes pupils from 1 to 11, and British International School of Chicago - South Loop from 3 to 18. The two are similar in size, at around 675 and 800 pupils. Typical class sizes are 20 at British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park and 15 at British International School of Chicago - South Loop.
British Curriculum, IPC (International Primary Curriculum)
Curriculum
EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, IPC (International Primary Curriculum), Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)
Pupils
Pupils
675
Pupils
800
Typical class size
Typical class size
20
Typical class size
15
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
2001
Opened
2001
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Address: 814 and 821 W Eastman Street, Chicago, IL 60642, United States.
Location
161 W 9th St, Chicago, IL 60605, United States. The school is in Chicago, Illinois.
Stages
Stages
Pre-Nursery; Early Years; Primary School
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
British international day 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
British
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 and new-student fees - Application fee (non‑refundable): USD 100. - New Student Fee (one‑time, non‑refundable; used for capital and curriculum improvements): USD 2,200.
2026/2027 Tuition fees — amounts and installment equivalents - Pre‑Nursery (Toddlers, Twos & Threes) — 5‑Day: USD 28,950 per year. - Two equal instalments (July 1 and December 1): USD 14,475 per instalment. - Ten monthly instalments (July–April): USD 2,895 per month. - Pre‑Nursery (Toddlers, Twos & Threes) — 3‑Day: USD 17,370 per year. - Two instalments: USD 8,685 each. - Ten instalments: USD 1,737 per month. - Pre‑Nursery (Toddlers, Twos & Threes) — 2‑Day: USD 11,580 per year. - Two instalments: USD 5,790 each. - Ten instalments: USD 1,158 per month. - Nursery (Part‑time): USD 19,170 per year. - Two instalments: USD 9,585 each. - Ten instalments: USD 1,917 per month. - Nursery (3‑Day Full Day): USD 21,090 per year. - Two instalments: USD 10,545 each. - Ten instalments: USD 2,109 per month. - Nursery (Full Time): USD 31,950 per year. - Two instalments: USD 15,975 each. - Ten instalments: USD 3,195 per month. - Reception: USD 34,700 per year. - Two instalments: USD 17,350 each. - Ten instalments: USD 3,470 per month. - Year 1 – Year 6: USD 39,950 per year. - Two instalments: USD 19,975 each. - Ten instalments: USD 3,995 per month.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition may be paid in one annual payment due by July 1; in two instalments due July 1 and December 1; or in ten monthly instalments billed July through April. - Annual/billed items (trip, yearbook, lunches, optional services) are invoiced each school year and some optional services are billed at different cadences as noted below.
Annual and other school fees - Trip fee (all years): USD 175 per year. - Yearbook (all years): USD 65 per year. - Lunch program (optional; billed annually): - Pre‑Nursery 5‑Day lunch: USD 1,550 per year. - Pre‑Nursery 3‑Day lunch: USD 930 per year. - Pre‑Nursery 2‑Day lunch: USD 620 per year. - Nursery 3‑Day lunch: USD 1,140 per year. - Nursery through Year 6 lunch: USD 1,900 per year. - Uniforms: branded uniform items are supplied via Lands' End; families purchase required logoed items through the Lands' End store and a grade‑specific style guide applies. Gently used uniform sales occur on campus seasonally. - Before‑/after‑school care and extracurricular clubs: optional and charged in addition to tuition; for Nursery–Year 6 usage is billed at the end of the month based on actual use. Pre‑Nursery morning and aftercare are included in tuition.
Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable. The school serves early years and primary students (approximately ages 15 months to 11 years) as a day school only.
Refund information - The Application Fee (USD 100) and the New Student Fee (USD 2,200) are specified as non‑refundable. These new‑student fees are due with the signed enrolment agreement. Other refund terms for tuition or prepaid services are set by the signed enrolment agreement and billing schedule.
Fee adjustments, discounts and financial aid - Tuition discounts available: a 20% tuition discount for benefits‑eligible Northwestern University employees and sibling discounts (second child 3.5% off tuition; additional children 7% off tuition). Need‑based financial aid is available and applications are processed through the school's financial aid process.
Fee payment options - Payments may be submitted via the school's online payment portal which accepts credit card and ACH (bank) payments. The portal can be used for tuition, club and aftercare charges, and other school‑related costs. Before/after care for Nursery–Year 6 is billed monthly based on use and payable through the school billing channels.
Contact and administrative note - All new‑student administrative fees are due with the signed enrolment agreement; installment plans follow the stated due dates above. For billing or payment‑processing questions, contact the school's administration or finance office as provided by the school's admissions materials.
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
The school teaches a combination of the English National Curriculum and the International Primary Curriculum, with MIT STEAM collaboration through Nord Anglia.
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
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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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
—
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
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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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
—
Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
—
Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Get in touch: Submit an online inquiry, email, or call to share information about your family and child. The Admissions Team responds with next steps and answers initial questions to determine appropriate placement and begin the admissions journey. You will receive guidance on what to prepare next. Visit our school: Attend an Open House or book a tour (tours Monday to Friday). Visiting helps you experience classrooms and campus life and learn about programs. Contact to schedule a visit. This step helps families determine fit and ask questions. Submit your online application: Submit the online application form and pay the application fee. Provide all supplemental documentation, including school records, a family photo, and the admissions questionnaire. After submission, the Admissions Team may request additional information if needed. Attend a play date or shadow day: Nursery through Year 6 students can attend a play date or shadow day to get a feel for being enrolled. The experience helps students and families assess fit with the school environment. Participation is coordinated by the Admissions Team. Participate in a parent or family meeting: Schedule a parent or family meeting either in person or online to discuss your student and family in more depth. The meeting provides space to discuss goals, needs, and questions. The Admissions Team coordinates scheduling. Key dates for the 2026-27 admissions season: Applications are due after January 16, 2026, with rolling admissions thereafter. Regular decision notifications occur by February 2, 2026 for Pre-Nursery and Nursery and by February 6, 2026 for Reception through Year 6. Enrollment contracts are due March 6, 2026 for Pre-Nursery and Nursery and March 13, 2026 for Reception through Year 6.
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.