Daystar Academy is a PreK-12th grade International Baccalaureate World School located in the South Loop neighborhood of Chicago.
Students within our community are empowered to positively impact the world through a faith-based, culturally-engaged, and globally-minded education.
They learn alongside peers from more than 50 zip codes across Chicagoland who represent more than 70 churches and places of worship.
Quick Stats (2024-25)
- Top Ranked IL School
- School Type: School with Special Program Emphasis
- Grades: Prekindergarten-12
- Enrollment: 301 students
- Yearly Tuition: $14,000
- Acceptance rate: 90%
- Average class size: 20 students
- Application Deadline: None / Rolling
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Daystar Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Illinois for:
Category
Attribute
Student Body
School Overview
School Type
School Membership(s)School Assoc.
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-12
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Learning Programs Supported
Mild Learning Differences
Year Founded
1997
Student Body
Total Students
301 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
59%
State avg.: 34%
Students by Grade
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
36 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
8:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
20%
Average Class Size
20 students
List of Courses Offered
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Dress code. No uniforms.
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
$14,000
Tuition Notes
Pre-K rates vary based upon program; PK ranges from $10,500 - $14,900. K-5 is $16,200. 6-12 is $17,200. Tuition assistance is available for grades K-12.
% on Financial Aid
60%
Acceptance Rate
90%
National avg.: 85%
Admissions Director
Kristin Zandstra
Sports
Total Sports Offered
5 sports
Sports
Extracurriculars
Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
8 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Model UN, Outdoor Club, Photography Club, Student Council, Yearbook
Arts and Music Programs:
Art, Musical Instruments
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Basketball
Model UN, Outdoor Club, Photography Club, Student Council, Yearbook
Arts and Music Programs:
Art, Musical Instruments
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Basketball
School Notes
At Daystar, we believe:
- HOW YOU LEARN MATTERS: We believe that education needs to be experienced first-hand, touched with your hands, and felt with emotion. We`ve built a program that ensures that every student embraces the world around them as their classroom, using local, national and global resources as tools for learning. Our students regularly spend time in active learning outside of the classroom, at locations across Chicagoland. Each learning excursion is tailored to a topic of study and encourages students to engage with the world around them.Make sure you have your passport! Daystar Academy students also travel abroad as part of their academic program in grades 9-12.
- WHO YOU LEARN WITH MATTERS: Daystar Academy students benefit from working with students who represent the world around them. Our student body is made up of a wide range of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Diversity allows a student to encounter difference, learn from each other and form new bonds that can transcend divisions in our world. At Daystar Academy, 60 percent of families receive financial aid (over $1.5 million dollars awarded each year).
- WHAT YOU LEARN MATTERS: Daystar Academy is a Christ-centered school, focused on God`s great love for us and for our neighbors. We do not view the Bible as a textbook, but rather teach how to see the world through the lens of God`s truth. As a faith-based school, our student body comes from a range of Christian traditions. Daystar is an International Baccalaureate World School. The IB program of learning guides us in accomplishing our mission: to empower our students to positively impact the word through a faith-based, culturally-engaged, globally-minded education.
- High academic standards
- Small class size
- Differentiated curriculum
- Engaged hands-on learning
- Ethnic and socio-economic diversity
- Extensive use of Chicago resources - using the city as a classroom
- Christian values and worldview
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Daystar Academy cost?
Daystar Academy's tuition is approximately $14,000 for private students.
What is the acceptance rate of Daystar Academy?
The acceptance rate of Daystar Academy is 90%, which is equal to the national average of 90%.
What sports does Daystar Academy offer?
Daystar Academy offers 5 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Track and Field and Volleyball.
What is Daystar Academy's ranking?
Daystar Academy ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Illinois for: Largest student body.
When is the application deadline for Daystar Academy?
The application deadline for Daystar Academy is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).
In what neighborhood is Daystar Academy located?
Daystar Academy is located in the Near South Side neighborhood of Chicago, IL. There are 4 other private schools located in Near South Side.
School Reviews
5 5/1/2012
Daystar comes very near perfection. My children's membership in this community is one of the greatest sources of joy in my life. The school provides a thoughtful Christian education. It is nurturing children's ability to live a distinctively Christian life that engages discerningly with the wider culture in which they find themselves. Daystar is academically excellent. Teachers and administrators are creative, flexible, open-minded and curious about new approaches and are always seeking to improve the quality of instruction. They are also truly committed to teaching each kid at his or her own level; no child is allowed to be consistently bored or confused. The school is racially and socio-economically very diverse, but there is also a real emphasis on building community and teaching the students how to treat one another well. If you visit, take a look at the middle-schoolers: they are nice kids! I trust the way that Daystar is educating my children, academically, emotionally and spiritually. It's a privilege and a blessing to share their upbringing with this school.
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