Welcome & FAQs

Our small class sizes enable our teachers to learn each student's strengths and weaknesses and what methods of instruction work best for the education of your child.  Our teachers are trained to differentiate instruction to meet individual needs and offer additional help and resources. Additionally, our Academic Dean, Sarah Lofsness, has a Master's Degree in elementary education with an emphasis in special education. She is excited to speak with you about how we can partner together to help your child succeed!

Yes, we are!  In 2014, we received our Exemplary Accreditation status through WELSSA.  Accreditation means that we have demonstrated that we meet and exceed the standards that parents and educators expect from a high-quality school. 

These standards range from what we teach in our classrooms to administration behind the scenes.  If you have questions about accreditation or our standards for curriculum or administration, please ask our principal or academic dean.

There are many advantages of being part of a multigrade classroom. Younger children in multiage groups strive to attain the academic levels they see the older children achieving while the older ones get the benefit of hearing and reviewing what was taught in previous grades. Children's social behaviors also mature along with an increased feeling of accomplishment and a stronger teacher-child relationship. 

We strive to offer a Christian education, creating intellectual curiosity in a safe environment, in a smaller classroom setting that gives every child the opportunity to excel.

Our 1:1 technology program provides each child in grades 3-8 the use of school-owned Chromebooks.

Our younger classrooms also have computers to allow children access to educational tools and to give the opportunity for keyboarding practice. 

In addition, we have interactive Smartboards, which are much more engaging than traditional chalkboards and whiteboards.

We enroll children at any time throughout the year when they become 3 years old and toilet trained.  

Both our three-year-old and four-year-old programs offer half-day (morning) and full-day options.  Our three-year-old program offers a five-day or three-day option.  If you have questions about what options may be available for you and your child, please ask.  Our preschool teachers would love to talk with you and meet your child!

Yes, we do!  Our full-day program begins at 8:30 and concludes at 3:30 pm.

Yes, we do!  Our Before-School Program opens at 6:30 AM.  Our After-School Program is available until 6:00 PM.  Our Before- and After-School programs are for an additional fee. You can find more information on our Extended Care page or by calling our office. 

We live in a world full of dangers.  At St. John we strive to provide safety for our children through typical 21st century ways - secure entry doors, camera systems, lock-downs drills, First Aid, CPR, AED training, etc.  Perhaps more importantly, one of the blessings of a smaller school is that parents, faculty, and staff get to know each other - we aren't just masses of strangers dropping off children and driving off or just passing by in the halls; we get to know each other and look out for each other.  In addition, we have our Safe Child Program so that adults who work and volunteer with our children undergo background checks and provide reference checks.  We want your children to be as safe as our children.

No, you do not have to be a member.  We would love to have you join both our school and our church families.  Since we want you to know what we teach, we ask our new parents to join us for a short class on what we believe and teach as a congregation and school.  

Yes!  The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) has been providing Christian education for over 150 years. Considering its early childhood, elementary, and high school system, the WELS manages the fourth largest private school system in the United States. Currently, WELS congregations operate nearly 400 early childhood centers, 300 elementary schools, and 27 high schools.  

Locally, we are a Shoreland school, belonging to the association of northern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin congregations that own and operate Shoreland Lutheran High School.  Over the years, many of our graduates have continued in their Christian education at Shoreland.

We realize that tuition and fees can be a critical issue in choosing a private Christian school. At St. John we try to find the right balance so that we can provide quality education with reasonable tuition. To meet the needs of our families we offer member, multi-child, and military grants. We also offer a tuition assistance program to families who are unable to afford the tuition. In addition, to make the payments as easy as possible, we also offer flexible payment plans. Please speak with our school office to learn what these options might be.

Yes, 5% for two children and 10% for three or more children.

Parents may pay in full or sign up with FACTS tuition payment program. FACTS can accept credit card payment (for an extra fee) or arrange monthly withdrawals from your checking account.

For payments other than tuition, check or cash are accepted.

Every student at St. John School receives tuition assistance from the congregation in the sense that the tuition charged is much less than the actual cost of the education received. The congregation subsidizes the school as its primary mission work.

We recognize that God does not provide all families with the same financial resources; some families may not be able to afford the cost of tuition.  We also recognize that as a congregation we are a family. Therefore, as a congregation family we have made a commitment that our member children (and prospective families actively seeking fellowship in our congregation life) will not be denied a Christian education at St. John because of financial need.

Families who are in need of financial assistance are asked to first apply for an Illinois school choice/tax credit scholarship for any children enrolling in Kindergarten - 8^th grade (See our dedicated webpage on these scholarships, which can cover up to 100% of tuition and fees).  

If there is additional financial need above such scholarships, families (including preschool families who do not qualify for school choice scholarships) may apply for a tuition assistance grant. Tuition assistance grant applications are screened by an independent tuition assistance program; grant amounts are determined by family need.  For more information, click on the ENROLL button or contact our school office.