WhereNext Value Score · Chicago
Best value international schools in Chicago
Updated 2026-04-26 · 10 schools scored · 12 schools indexed
Schools scored
10
Median value
62/100
Top score
73/100
Median tuition
$23.3k
Curriculum mix
Schools ranked by Value Score (highest first)
| # | School | Tuition USD | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lycée Français de Chicago | $27,950-$27,950 | 73/100 |
| 2 | Daystar Academy | $17,700-$21,600 | 72/100 |
| 3 | German International School Chicago | $20,900-$21,740 | 69/100 |
| 4 | British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park | $28,725-$38,400 | 64/100 |
| 5 | British International School of Chicago, South Loop | $30,700-$43,900 | 64/100 |
| 6 | The French American School of Chicago | $4,879-$6,444 | 60/100 |
| 7 | St. Matthias School | $9,895-$10,835 | 60/100 |
| 8 | DePaul College Prep | $19,825-$19,825 | 55/100 |
| 9 | Beacon Academy Chicago | $38,886-$38,886 | 53/100 |
| 10 | Intercultural Montessori Language School | $22,900-$27,500 | 50/100 |
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 methodologyTrue annual cost in Chicago
Schools ranked by total annual cost (tuition + hidden fees) →
All schools in Chicago
12 schools — full directory and search →
Want a personalised value-fit ranking for your family?
The School Fit Brief weights the Value Score against your family's specific needs — budget, learning support requirements, curriculum preference, age band — and produces a ranked shortlist with hidden-fee analysis and admissions timing. $49 one-time.
Get my School Fit Brief — $49