Morgan Park Academy cuts tuition and ranks among best private schools

Morgan Park Academy, a private school in Chicago that serves students from pre-kindergarten through high school, has announced it will lower its tuition for all grade levels. The change will take effect during the 2027–28 school year. School leaders said the goal is to make a private school education available to more families in the community.

The school reviewed its tuition rates, financial help programs, and enrollment plans before making this decision. Leaders said they want to support families who are watching their budgets, especially given the current state of the economy. Head of school Phyllis Cavallone-Jurek said the school wants a Morgan Park Academy education to feel reachable for everyone. 'We're so mindful of people and their budgets,' she said.

Under the new pricing, tuition for 3- and 4-year-old pre-kindergarten students will be $11,500 per year. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade will pay $14,500. High school students will pay $18,200. These new prices are much lower than the current rates, which range from about $15,600 for the youngest students to over $25,700 for high schoolers.

Scott Sowinski, the school's director of strategic enrollment, said the school found ways to lower its costs while still keeping things running smoothly. Merit scholarships and other forms of financial help will still be available for students who qualify. Available scholarships include awards for academic excellence, first responders, global leaders, and alumni families, among others.

Sowinski said the school especially wants to reach families with middle incomes, since private school is often seen as something only wealthier families can afford. 'We very much understand that our target market is middle income, but that privatized education is often seen as a higher income initiative or opportunity,' he said. The school hopes that lowering its tuition will help change that idea.

Morgan Park Academy was founded in 1873 and currently enrolls more than 400 students. It has been ranked the top private school in the Southland area and a top 10 private school in the state of Illinois by the website Niche.com. The school has also been recognized as one of the most diverse private schools in the state.

Inside the classroom, the school takes what it calls a global approach to learning. This means students explore ideas and cultures from around the world through language classes, travel opportunities, and service projects. Cavallone-Jurek said that 75 teachers and staff members work hard to give every student individual support.

Students at Morgan Park Academy also have a say in what happens at their school. For example, students in the business club helped plan and build a coffee house on campus that Cavallone-Jurek said rivals Starbucks. She described the school as 'very student-centered.'

Staff members also work to build lasting relationships with students long after they graduate. Sowinski shared that some former students attended his wedding on campus and that he later officiated a former student's own wedding. 'I still know their birthdays and their lives long after they're gone because we are part of their journey, not just a blip in it,' he said.

Cavallone-Jurek said she hopes every part of the school will keep growing and improving. She wants Morgan Park Academy to become well known for everything it offers its students. 'Maybe we'll start a trend,' she said.