WhereNext Value Score · Chicago

Best value international schools in Chicago

Updated 2026-04-26 · 10 schools scored · 12 schools indexed

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Quick answer

The WhereNext Value Score (0-100) measures what families get for what they pay — smaller class sizes, more nationality diversity, more accreditations, stronger learning support, and richer activities relative to cost. 10 international schools in Chicago are scored. Median Value Score: 65/100. Highest-scoring: Lycée Français de Chicago at 79/100 (tuition $27,950 USD). This is NOT a quality ranking — it's cost-versus-features.

Key facts

10 schools scored WhereNext Value Score (0–100) — class size + nationality diversity + accreditations + learning support + activities, normalised by cost.
Median value: 65/100 the 50th-percentile school in Chicago.
Top: Lycée Français de Chicago 79/100 value score · $27,950/yr tuition.
Median tuition: $23.3k/yr published tuition midpoint across 10 schools.
Methodology value = features ÷ cost · NOT a quality ranking · CC BY 4.0 underlying data.

Schools scored

Median value

65/100

Top score

79/100

Median tuition

$23.3k

Curriculum mix

IB (9)French (2)British (2)American (1)German (1)

Schools ranked by Value Score (highest first)

International schools in Chicago ranked by WhereNext Value Score, highest first
#	School	Curriculum	Tuition USD	Est. all-in	Value
1	Lycée Français de Chicago	IB, French	$27,950-$27,950	$29,270	79/100
2	Daystar Academy	IB	$17,700-$21,600	$20,530	75/100
3	German International School Chicago	IB, German	$20,900-$21,740	$22,200	72/100
4	British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park	British	$28,725-$38,400	$34,993	67/100
5	British International School of Chicago, South Loop	IB, British	$30,700-$43,900	$39,250	67/100
6	St. Matthias School	IB	$9,895-$10,835	$11,865	63/100
7	The French American School of Chicago	American, French	$4,879-$6,444	$7,162	60/100
8	DePaul College Prep	IB	$19,825-$19,825	$21,475	58/100
9	Beacon Academy Chicago	IB	$38,886-$38,886	$39,926	51/100
10	Intercultural Montessori Language School	—	$22,900-$27,500	$26,520	50/100

“Est. all-in” is a WhereNext-modeled estimate — published tuition plus typical fees for the city (registration, transport, uniform, activities). It is not the school's itemised fee schedule — verify final fees with the school.

How the Value Score works

The WhereNext Value Score starts at 50 (neutral) and adjusts across six dimensions: class size (−10 to +15), diversity (+0 to +10), accreditations (+0 to +10), learning support (+0 to +8), activities richness (+0 to +5), and a cost-tier adjustment that boosts cheaper schools and discounts premium-tier schools that don't justify their pricing through other dimensions.

Important: the Value Score is NOT a quality ranking. A school with strong educational outcomes can have a moderate Value Score if it sits in the premium tier; a smaller, cheaper school with good fundamentals can score higher on Value while still being a different fit for your family.

Read the full Value Score methodology

True annual cost in Chicago

Schools ranked by total annual cost (tuition + hidden fees) →

All schools in Chicago

12 schools — full directory and search →