Southwest Chicago Christian Schools

What Southwest Chicago Christian Schools does

Southwest Chicago Christian Schools (now branded Chicago Christian Schools) is a private, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) Christ-centered K-12 school system operating three campuses across the Chicago Southland: a 9th-12th grade college-preparatory high school in Palos Heights, and Preschool-8th grade campuses in Oak Lawn and Tinley Park. The school serves approximately 863 students with a 12:1 student-teacher ratio, offering Early Childhood, Elementary/Middle, and High School programs supplemented by athletics, fine arts, international student services, before/after care, and bus transportation across a 200+ square-mile catchment. Curriculum is anchored on the Teaching for Transformation (TfT) faith-integration framework and the nationally recognized Project Lead the Way (PLTW) STEM program spanning K-12 engineering, biomedical science, and computer science, with dual-enrollment pathways through Trinity Christian College and Colorado Christian University.

The institution earns revenue primarily through annual subscription-style tuition (full-day K-5 at $12,250, 6-8 at $13,250, 9-12 at $15,950 for 2026-27) plus auxiliary fee-based services such as monthly bus transportation ($125-$325/month), before/after care, and the Pass It On Thrift Center's $1M annual tuition reduction pledge. A diversified donation stack supplements tuition: a permanent Foundation endowment with over $10M in assets gifting $400K in 2023-24, a $500K Knights Fund annual target, the TRIP gift-card rebate program with 150+ merchants, and a $1M needs-based tuition assistance pool reaching 33%+ of families. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via online applications, campus visits, family interviews, and church referrals from 175+ supporting congregations across 20+ denominations. Dual accreditation from Cognia and Christian Schools International, plus Illinois State Board of Education recognition, underpin operational legitimacy. The school is currently mid-execution on its Preparing for the Next Century Capital Campaign, with a new high school commons completed in October 2025 and Oak Lawn/Tinley Park construction slated for fall 2026.

Name

Southwest Chicago Christian Schools

Legal name

Southwest Chicago Christian Schools Association

Website

https://chicagochristian.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Chicago Christian Schools (formerly Southwest Chicago Christian Schools) is a private, nonprofit Christ-centered K-12 system operating three campuses across the Chicago Southland, serving approximately 863 preschool-through-12th-grade students with tuition, donations, and PLTW STEM-integrated curriculum.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Palos Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Primary revenue from tuition payments for preschool through 12th grade students. Tuition rates vary by grade level and include options for half-day and full-day programs.
2. Pass It On Thrift Center: Volunteer-run thrift store providing annual tuition reduction contributions. For 2024-25, pledged $1,000,000 for tuition reduction.
3. Tuition Assistance Program: Needs-based tuition assistance awarded to over 33% of families for 2024-25 school year, totaling $1M in assistance.
4. Foundation: Permanent endowment fund with assets over $10 million. In 2023-24, gifted $400,000 to the school. Receives planned gifts, cash donations, and manages investments.
5. TRIP Program: Tuition Rebate Incentive Program allowing families to earn credit through gift card purchases at over 150 merchants.
6. Capital Campaign: Preparing for the Next Century Capital Campaign for campus modernization and expansion.
7. Knights Fund (Annual Fund): Annual fundraising goal of $500,000 supporting student programming, faculty development, athletics, and fine arts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Southwest Chicago Christian Schools (dba Chicago Christian Schools) is a private, nonprofit Christian school system that delivers preschool through 12th-grade education across three campuses in Palos Heights, Oak Lawn, and Tinley Park, Illinois. The institution combines a Christ-centered, biblically integrated curriculum with Project Lead the Way STEM programs, AP courses, dual-enrollment college classes, fine arts, athletics, and support services such as transportation, before/after care, and an international student homestay program. Tuition, donations, and a permanent endowment fund the operation, which currently serves approximately 863 students.

Product overview

Southwest Chicago Christian Schools operates a three-campus private Christian education system serving students from preschool through 12th grade in the Chicago Southland. The core offerings include Early Childhood Education (Preschool/Kindergarten) at Oak Lawn and Tinley Park campuses, Elementary and Middle School (grades 1-8) at the same two campuses, and Chicago Christian High School (grades 9-12) at Palos Heights. The institution supplements its academic programs with integrated STEM curriculum through Project Lead the Way, financial support mechanisms including the TRIP gift card program and Pass It On Thrift Center, extensive athletics (middle school and high school sports), fine arts (theater, band, choir, visual arts), international student program with homestay options, before/after care services, bus transportation, academic support center, Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy, over 18 student clubs, and summer camps. The school is currently undergoing a capital campaign to modernize facilities including new commons spaces and gymnasiums.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Childhood Education Program Preschool and Kindergarten programs serving students at Oak Lawn and Tinley Park campuses, featuring Bible, literacy, mathematics, science, music, and physical education with half-day and full-day options.
• Elementary and Middle School Education Grades 1-8 at Oak Lawn and Tinley Park campuses with core academics, STEM curriculum via PLTW, fine arts, athletics, and student life programs.
• Chicago Christian High School (CCHS) 9th-12th grade college-preparatory high school at the Palos Heights campus with AP courses, dual enrollment, STEM programs, fine arts, athletics, and approximately 314 students.
• International Student Program Homestay-based program accepting international students for grades 9-11 with ELL support, TOEFL preparation, and cultural enrichment activities.
• Transportation Services Bus transportation with flat-rate pricing serving three campuses, including designated group stops and mileage-based rates.
• Before and After Care Extended care services from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM for preschool through 8th grade students, with rates based on days per week.
• Athletics Programs Competitive sports including basketball, soccer, volleyball, football, baseball, track, tennis, bowling, golf, and cheerleading across middle school and high school levels.
• Fine Arts Program Theater productions, band, choir, visual arts including drawing, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, and painting.
• Academic Support Center Support services for students with documented learning needs, providing accommodation plans, study skills instruction, and guided study hall.
• Summer Camps Athletic and activity camps including basketball, soccer, volleyball, football, baseball, cheer, robotics, track, and more for grades 1-12.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% graduation rate with 91% college-bound graduates
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Project Lead the Way (PLTW)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Nationally recognized STEM curriculum partner providing engineering and biomedical science courses from middle school through high school. PLTW-certified teachers deliver the program.
• Trinity Christian CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025College partnership for dual enrollment, offering Computer Programming and Applications courses for college credit through Chicago Christian's STEM program.
• Colorado Christian UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Online course provider partner offering additional college courses including Business Fundamentals, Introduction to Philosophy, Statistics, and Introduction to Coding.
• Cornerstone EducationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Cultural education partner assisting with engineering class programs like Chinese New Year curriculum, helping international students share their heritage with the school community.
• Schaaf FieldsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Athletic facility partnership providing state-of-the-art facilities for baseball, softball, and soccer located on Route 83 near the high school campus.
• Pass It On Thrift CentercoreOthers · 1 January 1999Volunteer-run thrift store in Crestwood, IL supporting tuition accessibility. Donates proceeds directly to CCS for tuition reduction. For 2024-25, pledged $1,000,000 gift. Open to community shopping, donations, and volunteer participation.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Providence Catholic High School: Catholic college-prep high school in New Lenox, IL serving the same Chicago Southland corridor. Broader program offerings and athletic footprint position it as a faith-based alternative for families priced out of CCS.
• Brother Rice High School: Catholic college-prep high school on Chicago's south side; another faith-based incumbent in the same metropolitan market with a more extensive athletic and extracurricular offering.
• Marian Catholic High School: Catholic college-prep high school in Chicago Heights, IL, immediately adjacent to CCS's Palos Heights campus. Larger enrollment, lower tuition, and broad athletic programs make it a major substitute for Catholic-leaning families in CCS's market.
• Joliet Catholic Academy: Catholic co-ed college-prep high school in Joliet, IL on the southwestern edge of CCS's draw area. Competes on athletics, faith-based identity, and college placement at a lower price point.
• De La Salle Institute: Larger Catholic college-prep high school in Chicago with a long-standing, broad curriculum. Operates as a regional incumbent faith-based option that families may consider instead of CCS.

Emerging players

• Trinity Christian College: Reformed Christian college in Palos Heights offering dual-enrollment courses to CCS high schoolers. Not a competitor for K-12 enrollment but a closely linked educational partner in the same tradition and geography.

Direct peers

• Chicago Hope Academy: Private Christian high school on Chicago's south side serving a similar faith-based, college-prep mission. Comparable in scale to CCS high school and competes for values-oriented Chicago families.
• Timothy Christian Schools: Reformed/Christian Reformed K-12 system in Elmhurst, IL serving a similar Chicago-area Christian-family segment with comparable tuition levels, small class sizes, and a faith-integrated college-prep curriculum. Closest direct peer in tradition, scale, and market.
• Calvin Christian School: Christian Reformed K-8 in South Holland, IL; explicitly listed as a transportation group-stop partner of CCS. Competes for the same Reformed-tradition families in the southern Chicago suburbs.

Others

• Blackbaud (K–12 / Independent School segment): Provider of donor-management, tuition billing, and capital-campaign software used by CCS (per integration data). Not a competitor but a representative enabling/ecosystem vendor for private K-12 schools of similar profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/principaldrury
• Facebookfacebook.com/sccs.tinleypark
• Instagraminstagram.com/ChicagoChristianKnights

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southwest Chicago Christian Schools