Last Updated on August 4, 2023 by Sidharth PS
Hi readers! In this post, I’ve compiled a list of best alternative schools in Illinois. The list consists of both public and private schools. Here, readers will find the following details – top alternative schools, their address, grades, student teacher ratio and more.
Best Public Alternative Schools in Illinois for 2022
Rank | School | Low Grade | High Grade | Address | City | Student Teacher Ratio |
1 | KEC Central EFE 170 | 07 | 12 | PO Box 263 | Malta | 1.4000000 |
2 | Premier Academy Morris | 08 | 12 | 7700 Ashley Rd | Morris | 2.1000000 |
3 | Il Youth Center – Pere Marquette | 08 | 12 | 17808 State Highway 100 W | Grafton | 2.9000000 |
4 | Regional Center for Change | 06 | 12 | 500 E 5Th St | Rock Falls | 3.0000000 |
5 | Harbor Academy Reg Safe Sch Prg | 09 | 12 | 4413 Roosevelt Rd | Hillside | 3.2000000 |
6 | Cope Alternative School | 06 | 12 | 1725B Shomaker Dr | Murphysboro | 3.5000000 |
7 | School District 428 IYC-HRB | 07 | 12 | 1201 W Poplar St | Harrisburg | 3.5000000 |
8 | West 40 Reg Safe Sch Middle Prg | 06 | 08 | 4413 Roosevelt Rd | Hillside | 3.5000000 |
9 | ROYALS Academy Carthage | 09 | 12 | 553 Main St | Carthage | 3.6000000 |
10 | Paris Bridges | 06 | 12 | 210 E Court St | Paris | 3.7000000 |
11 | ROE Safe Sch Greene | 06 | 12 | 225 E. Nicholas Street | Carlinville | 3.7000000 |
12 | Lincoln School ALOP | 06 | 12 | 960 Royce Ave | Joliet | 4.0000000 |
13 | Starquest Acad RSSP North | 06 | 08 | PO Box 303 | Johnston City | 4.0000000 |
14 | Saint Clair Co ROE Safe School | 05 | 12 | 1722 W Main St | Belleville | 4.8000000 |
15 | ROYALS RSSP Canton | 06 | 12 | 749 E Locust St | Canton | 5.0000000 |
16 | Centralia Alternative School | 07 | 12 | 501 N Elm St | Centralia | 5.2000000 |
17 | North Cook Young Adult Academy | 06 | 12 | 1001 E Touhy Ave Ste 200 | Des Plaines | 5.2000000 |
18 | Illinois Youth Center-Warrenville | 08 | 11 | 30W200 Ferry Rd | Naperville | 5.8000000 |
19 | IYC Chicago | 06 | 12 | 136 N Western Ave | Chicago | 6.4000000 |
20 | I Kan Regional Alternatve Att Ctr | 06 | 12 | 50 W Industrial Dr | Kankakee | 6.5000000 |
21 | Illinois Youth Ctr – St Charles | 08 | 12 | 3825 Campton Hills Dr | Saint Charles | 6.8000000 |
22 | ASSIST RSSP 12 | 06 | 12 | PO Box 77 | Willow Hill | 7.0000000 |
23 | RAP Freeport | 06 | 12 | 27 S State Ave | Freeport | 7.0000000 |
24 | Reg’l Learning Center Star Boone | 09 | 12 | 1320 East Ave | Belvidere | 7.0000000 |
25 | Tristar Acad Safe Sch Program | 06 | 09 | 900 W Edgar Ave | Effingham | 7.3000000 |
26 | Shelbyville Bridges | 06 | 12 | 201 E North 12th St | Shelbyville | 7.4000000 |
27 | ROE 53 Safe School | 06 | 12 | 102 Fandel Ln | Metamora | 7.5000000 |
28 | LMP ROE | 06 | 12 | 2233 6th St | Peru | 7.8000000 |
29 | ASSIST TAOEP 12 | 06 | 12 | PO Box 77 | Willow Hill | 8.0000000 |
30 | Starquest Acad RSSP South | 06 | 12 | 1102 W 10th St | Metropolis | 8.0000000 |
31 | ROE 20 Learning Alt Branch School | 06 | 12 | 307 E Cherry St | Carmi | 8.1000000 |
32 | Academic Behavior&Community Acad | 07 | 12 | 1416 Maine St | Quincy | 8.3000000 |
33 | FOCUS Safe Sch Program | 06 | 09 | 1500 W Jefferson St | Vandalia | 8.5000000 |
34 | Freeport Alternative High Sch | 06 | 12 | 1330 S Locust Ave | Freeport | 8.5000000 |
35 | R E A D Y Program | 06 | 12 | 45 E University Ave | Champaign | 8.8000000 |
36 | Reg’l Learning Academy Star Winn | 06 | 11 | 5949 Safford Rd | Rockford | 8.8000000 |
37 | Arcola Bridges/Beacons RSSP | 06 | 12 | 308 Adams St | Humboldt | 9.0000000 |
38 | Project Echo | 07 | 12 | PO Box 238 | Johnston City | 9.0000000 |
39 | ROYALS Academy Canton | 09 | 12 | 749 E Locust St | Canton | 9.1000000 |
40 | Lerna Bridges | 06 | 12 | PO Box 129 | Lerna | 9.2000000 |
41 | Sangamon Safe School Program | 07 | 12 | 2201 Toronto Rd | Springfield | 9.2000000 |
42 | Mt Vernon Alternative School | 06 | 12 | 2300 Benton Rd | Mount Vernon | 9.3000000 |
43 | Safe School Program | 06 | 12 | 2300 Benton Rd | Mount Vernon | 9.5000000 |
44 | Thomas Metcalf School | PK | 08 | ISU Campus Box 7000 | Normal | 9.8000000 |
45 | Lincoln School RSSP | 06 | 12 | 960 Royce Ave | Joliet | 10.0000000 |
46 | LMP ROE TAOEP | 06 | 12 | 2233 6Th St Ste 2 | Peru | 10.0000000 |
47 | Monroe/Randolph Red Brick Sch | 06 | 12 | 107 E Mill St | Waterloo | 10.0000000 |
48 | West 40-Sr. Plus | – | – | 4413 Roosevelt Rd | Hillside | 10.0000000 |
49 | Adams County RSSP | 07 | 12 | 1416 Maine St | Quincy | 10.4000000 |
50 | Sangamon County Learning Academy | 06 | 12 | 2201 Toronto Rd Ste C | Springfield | 10.8000000 |
51 | ROE Safe Sch Macoupin | 06 | 12 | 225 E. Nicholas Street | Carlinville | 10.9000000 |
52 | Peoria Regional High School | 09 | 12 | 3826 N Taylor Rd | Hanna City | 11.2000000 |
53 | New Approach Alternative H S | 09 | 12 | 1500 W Jefferson St | Vandalia | 11.7000000 |
54 | Aspire Alternative High School | 09 | 12 | 900 W Edgar Ave | Effingham | 12.0000000 |
55 | ROYALS RSSP Macomb | 06 | 12 | 341 S Johnson St | Macomb | 12.0000000 |
56 | Milligan Academy Rssp | 07 | 11 | 300 E Eldorado St | Decatur | 13.0000000 |
57 | ROYALS Academy Macomb | 09 | 12 | 341 S Johnson St | Macomb | 13.0000000 |
58 | Safe School Program Centralia | 07 | 12 | 501 N Elm St | Centralia | 13.3000000 |
59 | Lincoln School TAOEP | 06 | 12 | 960 Royce Ave | Joliet | 13.5000000 |
60 | University High School | 09 | 12 | Isu Campus Box 5300 | Normal | 14.3000000 |
61 | B H R A Cooperative HS | 09 | 12 | PO Box 200 | Bismarck | 15.3000000 |
62 | RAP Elizabeth | 06 | 12 | 950 US Highway 20 W | Elizabeth | 16.0000000 |
63 | Nachusa Campus School | 04 | 12 | 500 E 5Th St | Rock Falls | 16.5000000 |
64 | Paris Cooperative High School | 09 | 12 | 14040 E 1200th Rd | Paris | 16.7000000 |
65 | Pathways ROE 11 | 09 | 12 | 305 Richmond Ave E | Mattoon | 16.8000000 |
66 | ROE 53 Academy | 09 | 12 | 110 Fandel Ln | Metamora | 17.0000000 |
67 | Regl Learning Academy Star Boone | 06 | 12 | 1320 East Ave | Belvidere | 17.8000000 |
68 | Futures Unlimited | 09 | 12 | 300 E Eldorado St | Decatur | 18.7000000 |
69 | The Lafayette Academy | 09 | 12 | 747 W Lafayette Ave | Jacksonville | 19.0000000 |
70 | RAES West | 06 | 12 | 105 N E St Ste 1 | Monmouth | 22.0000000 |
71 | Salt School | 09 | 12 | 50 W Industrial Dr | Kankakee | 23.9000000 |
72 | RAES RSSP | 06 | 12 | 121 S Prairie St | Galesburg | 52.0000000 |
73 | Premier Academy Morris TAOEP | 06 | 12 | 7700 Ashley Rd | Morris | 58.0000000 |
74 | RAES West Alt Ed | 06 | 12 | 105 N E St Ste 1 | Monmouth | 136.0000000 |
75 | University of Illinois High Sch | 08 | 12 | 1212 W Springfield Ave | Urbana | 309.0000000 |
76 | ALOP Academic Learning Program | 09 | 12 | 4413 Roosevelt Rd | Hillside | – |
77 | ARC | 06 | 12 | 747 W Lafayette Ave | Jacksonville | – |
78 | CCSI Alternative School | 09 | 12 | 6137 Beck Rd | Red Bud | – |
79 | Center for Educ Opp | 06 | 12 | 201 Staunton Rd | Troy | – |
80 | Clnton/Mrn/Wshngtn Pre-Kind Prog | PK | PK | 1710 Broadway St | Mount Vernon | – |
81 | Coolidge RSSP | 07 | 08 | 3428 Avenue of The Cities | Moline | – |
82 | DREAM Academy | 07 | 12 | 46 S Gifford St | Elgin | – |
83 | DuPage Alop | 06 | 12 | 848 N Mill Rd | Addison | – |
84 | East Aurora HS RSSP | 06 | 12 | 1685 N Farnsworth Ave | Aurora | – |
85 | ECHO Juvenile Detention Ctr | 04 | 12 | 409 E Washington St | Benton | – |
86 | Evergreen Academy | 06 | 12 | 6506 National St | Union | – |
87 | Five County Regional Alternative | 06 | 12 | 1001 Walnut Street | Murphysboro | – |
88 | FLEX Program | 09 | 12 | 704 W Abe St | Plano | – |
89 | Greeley Alternative School | 06 | 12 | 1800 NE Perry Ave | Peoria | – |
90 | IL Center for Rehab & Educ-R | 04 | 12 | 1950 W Roosevelt Rd | Chicago | – |
91 | Jackson/Perry MS TAOEP | 06 | 08 | 120 E Spring St | Du Quoin | – |
92 | Juvenile Detention Center | 06 | 11 | 400 Art Bartell Rd | Urbana | – |
93 | Lake Co Collaborative Alop | 07 | 12 | 18160 W Gages Lake Rd | Grayslake | – |
94 | Mades-Johnstone RSSP | 06 | 12 | 1304 Ronzheimer Ave | St Charles | – |
95 | Middlefork School RSSP | 06 | 12 | 15009 Catlin Tilton Rd | Danville | – |
96 | MLK A R T Program | 06 | 08 | 9607 14th St W | Rock Island | – |
97 | Morrison Alt Learning Program | 09 | 12 | 300 Academic Dr | Morrison | – |
98 | Morton Alternative Schools | 09 | 12 | 4413 Roosevelt Rd | Hillside | – |
99 | New Beginnings Regnl Safe Sch Pgm | 06 | 12 | 46 S Gifford St | Elgin | – |
100 | New Directions – Geneva | 09 | 12 | 416 McKinley Ave | Geneva | – |
101 | New Directions Program | 04 | 12 | 1304 Ronzheimer Ave | St Charles | – |
102 | Northeast Academy East | 09 | 12 | 201 S 7th St | St Charles | – |
103 | Northeast Academy North | 09 | 12 | 201 S 7th St | St Charles | – |
104 | Oak Ridge RSSP | 06 | 12 | 300 Cleveland Ave | Carpentersville | – |
105 | Oswego GOAL | 06 | 12 | 4209 State Route 71 | Oswego | – |
106 | PACE Alternative School | 06 | 12 | 201 E Higbee St | Pittsfield | – |
107 | Partners for Success-Old Mill Sch | 06 | 12 | 848 N Mill Rd | Addison | – |
108 | PAWS | 09 | 12 | 1201 Main St | Batavia | – |
109 | PAWS Academy | 06 | 08 | 1501 S Raddant Rd | Batavia | – |
110 | Phoenix Safe Schools Program | 06 | 12 | 113 N School St | Raymond | – |
111 | PROJECT IMPACT | – | – | 2201 S Dirksen Pkwy | Springfield | – |
112 | Project Indian | 09 | 12 | 101 W Wapella St | Minooka | – |
113 | Project SOAR | 09 | 12 | 120 E Spring St | Du Quoin | – |
114 | Proviso THSD 209 Dream School | 09 | 12 | 4413 Roosevelt Rd | Hillside | – |
115 | RAES East Alt Ed | 06 | 12 | 121 S Prairie St | Galesburg | – |
116 | RAES Night School | 06 | 12 | 121 S Prairie St. | Galesburg | – |
117 | RE-Start Program | 09 | 12 | 45 E University Ave | Champaign | – |
118 | Reg’l Learning Center Star Winn | 09 | 12 | 5949 Safford Rd | Rockford | – |
119 | Reg’l Safe School Program ROE #28 | 06 | 12 | 107 S State St | Atkinson | – |
120 | Regional Alop School | 07 | 12 | 200 W Front St Ste 500D | Bloomington | – |
121 | Regional Alternative School | 09 | 12 | 5949 Safford Rd | Rockford | – |
122 | Revive Alternative High School | 09 | 12 | 113 N School St | Raymond | – |
123 | Rock River Challenge | 06 | 12 | PO Box 91 | Chana | – |
124 | ROE #40 Safe School Jersey | 06 | 12 | 225 E Nicholas St | Carlinville | – |
125 | ROE Adult Learning Ctr Jersey | 10 | 12 | 225 E. Nicholas Street | Carlinville | – |
126 | ROE Adult Learning Ctr Macoupin | 10 | 12 | 225 E. Nicholas Street | Carlinville | – |
127 | ROE Alternative Prog of Lake Co | 06 | 12 | 1415 27th St | Zion | – |
128 | ROE20 Learning Alternative Branch | 06 | 12 | 307 E Cherry St | Carmi | – |
129 | ROYALS RSSP Carthage | 06 | 12 | 553 Main St | Carthage | – |
130 | Safe School Program | 07 | 12 | 200 W Front St Ste 500D | Bloomington | – |
131 | St Marys Adolescent Ed Program | 01 | 11 | 1800 E Lake Shore Dr | Decatur | – |
132 | STEM Partnership School | 03 | 08 | 405 S Gladstone Ave | Aurora | – |
133 | Success Academy | 06 | 12 | 100 Cleveland Ave | Carpentersville | – |
134 | SUCCESS Academy | 06 | 12 | 1870 W Galena Blvd | Aurora | – |
135 | Success Academy 4-5 | 04 | 05 | 2550 Harnish Dr | Algonquin | – |
136 | Success Academy HS | 09 | 12 | 1500 Kings Rd | Carpentersville | – |
137 | TAPESTRY ALOP | 09 | 12 | 4413 Roosevelt Rd | Hillside | – |
138 | Wauconda CUSD 118 ALOP | 09 | 10 | 555 N Main St | Wauconda | – |
139 | West 40 ALOP Achievers | 09 | 12 | 4413 Roosevelt Rd | Hillside | – |
140 | West Aurora HS RSSP | 06 | 12 | 1870 W Galena Blvd | Aurora | – |
141 | YEA Program | 06 | 12 | 709 Game Farm Rd | Yorkville | – |
Best Private Alternative Schools in Illinois for 2022
Rank | School | Low Grade | High Grade | Address | City | Student Teacher Ratio |
1 | TLC LEARNING CENTER | 2 | 3 | 2844 BURR OAK AVE | BLUE ISLAND | 0.37 |
2 | CHANCE AFTER CHANCE COLLEGE PREPARATORY | 2 | 3 | 305 N CICERO AVE # 9 | CHICAGO | 0.5 |
3 | FIRST SCHOOL | 2 | 3 | 1403 E OAK ST | MAHOMET | 0.51 |
4 | NOAHS ARK CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL | 2 | 3 | 98 ALGONQUIN RD | BARRINGTON | 0.83 |
5 | CREME DE LA CREME GLENVIEW | 2 | 3 | 2401 PATRIOT BLVD | GLENVIEW | 1.25 |
6 | LES FINCH’S LEARNING TREE DAY | 2 | 3 | 4217 W 16TH ST | CHICAGO | 1.45 |
7 | GERTRUGE B NIELSEN CHILD CARE & LEARNING CENTER | 3 | 3 | 3835 WILLOW RD | NORTHBROOK | 1.51 |
8 | ROSELAND DAYCARE CENTER | 2 | 3 | 10520 S HALSTED ST | CHICAGO | 1.51 |
9 | ACADEMIC MASTERY ACADEMY | 6 | 6 | 16341 S PARK AVE | SOUTH HOLLAND | 2 |
10 | LOS PEQUENOS ANGELITOS | 2 | 3 | 3711 W 55TH ST | CHICAGO | 2.38 |
11 | MAYWOOD MARGERY DAW DAY CARE | 2 | 4 | PO BOX 758 | MAYWOOD | 2.4 |
12 | KINGDOM ACADEMY LEARNING CENTER | 2 | 3 | 2053 W HOWARD ST | CHICAGO | 2.41 |
13 | FUSION ACADEMY LAKE FOREST | 12 | 17 | 840 S WAUKEGANRD STE 224 | LAKE FOREST | 2.42 |
14 | CDW AT PLAY CHILD CARE CENTER | 2 | 3 | 165 LAKEVIEW PKWY | VERNON HILLS | 2.5 |
15 | BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER | 2 | 3 | 340 GRAND BLVD | ELGIN | 3 |
16 | CHRISTIAN LIFE ACADEMY | 2 | 17 | 133 S HIGHLAND ST | CREVE COEUR | 3 |
17 | HINES CHILD CARE CENTER | 2 | 3 | 5000 S 5TH AVE | HINES | 3.15 |
18 | MONTICELLO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 2 | 7 | 225 E LIVINGSTON ST | MONTICELLO | 3.22 |
19 | FARM AND NATURE DISCOVERY SCHOOL | 2 | 6 | 12700 SW HWY | PALOS PARK | 3.6 |
20 | ALTERNATIVE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMY | 6 | 13 | 13801 CHATHAM ST | BLUE ISLAND | 3.66 |
21 | YOUTHBUILD MCLEAN COUNTY ACADEMY | 16 | 17 | 360 WYLIE DR, STE 305 | NORMAL | 3.66 |
22 | ST MATTHEW LUTHERAN SCHOOL | 2 | 3 | 24480 N OLD MCHENRY RD | HAWTHORN WOODS | 4 |
23 | NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | 6 | 17 | 3510 W MALONE ST | PEORIA | 4.28 |
24 | MONTESSORI & MUSIC CENTER | 2 | 3 | 1200 S LAKE ST | MUNDELEIN | 4.5 |
25 | SAFE HARBOR SCHOOL | 12 | 17 | 101 N BRAMBLE ST | MANTENO | 4.88 |
26 | FOUNDATIONS 4 ADVANCEMENT | 2 | 6 | 32 E 34TH ST | STEGER | 5 |
27 | THE BARBEREUX SCHOOL | 2 | 4 | 3333 CULVER ST | EVANSTON | 6 |
28 | CHILDREN’S SCHOOL OF OAK PARK | 3 | 13 | 1428 WESLEY AVE | BERWYN | 6.31 |
29 | ICN FULL-TIME SCHOOL | 2 | 3 | 2844 W OGDEN AVE | NAPERVILLE | 6.66 |
30 | PIXIE & DIXIE DAY CARE CENTER INC | 2 | 3 | 199 S ADDISON RD UNIT 100 | WOOD DALE | 7 |
31 | SANDBOX LEARNING CENTER | 2 | 3 | 12832 S RIDGELAND AVE | PALOS HEIGHTS | 7 |
32 | KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER-LINDENHURST | 2 | 5 | 6480 GURNEE MILLS CIR | GURNEE | 7.2 |
33 | ST JOSEPH ACADEMY | 2 | 17 | 310 N OTTAWA ST | JOLIET | 7.35 |
34 | THE GODDARD SCHOOL IN ROUND LAKE | 2 | 3 | 1155 S AMARIAS DR | ROUND LAKE | 7.5 |
35 | PLATO ACADEMY | 2 | 13 | 733 LEE ST STE 200 | DES PLAINES | 7.81 |
36 | CHICAGO FREE SCHOOL | 2 | 13 | 1100 E HYDE PARK BLVD | CHICAGO | 8 |
37 | BAKER DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL | 2 | 13 | 201 SHERIDAN RD | WILMETTE | 8.23 |
38 | THE GODDARD SCHOOL | 2 | 3 | 1928 SPRINGBROOK SQ DR | NAPERVILLE | 8.75 |
39 | ATONEMENT CHRISTIAN DAY SCHOOL | 2 | 4 | 909 E MAIN ST | BARRINGTON | 9 |
40 | BOBBIE NOONANS CHILD CARE CENTER | 2 | 3 | 947 E DIVISION ST | LOCKPORT | 9 |
41 | KID’Z COLONY | 2 | 3 | 6287 S ARCHER AVE | CHICAGO | 9 |
42 | OPEN ARMS CHRISTIAN CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER | 3 | 5 | 1850 CHESTNUT AVE | GLENVIEW | 10 |
43 | POKO LOKO EARLY LEARNING CENTER | 2 | 3 | 1601 NORTHWIND BLVD | LIBERTYVILLE | 10 |
44 | ZION LUTHERAN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER | 2 | 3 | 17100 69TH AVE | TINLEY PARK | 10 |
45 | JOSEPH ACADEMY | 9 | 17 | 9003 S KOSTNER AVE | HOMETOWN | 11.33 |
46 | HOUSE OF CHILDREN | 2 | 3 | 2521 HARDING LN | WOODSTOCK | 16.42 |
47 | PROVIDENCE CATHOLIC CHILDRENS ACADEMY | 2 | 3 | 1800 W LINCOLN HWY | NEW LENOX | 25 |
48 | AUSTIN CAREER EDUCATION CENTER | 15 | 17 | 5352 W CHICAGO AVE | CHICAGO | 29.79 |
49 | CHESTERBROOK ACADEMY | 2 | 4 | 2001 S OAK ST STE A | CHAMPAIGN | 31 |
50 | BOBBIE NOONANS CHILD CARE | 2 | 3 | 10155 S ROBERTS RD | PALOS HILLS | 54 |
51 | HERITAGE PREPARATORY ACADEMY | 10 | 17 | 202 W GREEN BOX 96 | ROBERTS | 57.5 |
52 | KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER | 2 | 3 | 2S726 IL ROUTE 53 | GLEN ELLYN | 63 |
For ranking the schools, I’ve relied upon the ‘Student Teacher Ratio’ factor. What is student teacher ratio, some of you may ask. It is the number used to indicate the number of students for every teacher in a school.
For example, a student teacher ratio of 16 indicates that a teacher is available for 16 students in that school. When it comes to quality of education, student teacher ratio plays an important role. If the student teacher ratio is 100, it means that few teachers are available to attend to the needs of students in a school. This may lead to inadequate attention, inadequate engagement, and may even have a negative impact on student success!
Student teacher ratio is like a two way street. Fewer students per teacher setup is an ideal classroom where students may enjoy adequate individual-attention from teachers. Under this setup, a teacher may take care of individuals’ needs and weaknesses. Similarly, under this setup, teachers may modify/adapt their teaching techniques according to learning styles/needs of the students.
I am Vishnu Nambiar a career and educational blogger from India. I am also a full time educational consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the educational sector.
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