Grace Lutheran School

What Grace Lutheran School does

Grace Lutheran School is a private Christian school founded in 1896 and operated by Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, Illinois. It serves students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade across roughly 9 grade levels, with one class per grade level and student-teacher ratios ranging from 8:1 in early childhood to up to 24:1 in upper grades. The school holds Cognia accreditation and offers a whole-child curriculum integrating faith formation, academic rigor, character development, and service learning, with differentiated math tracks, a dedicated student support team (reading specialist, math interventionist, social worker, counselor), and enrichment programs including art, music, band (via Walther Christian Academy), orchestra, Spanish (via Gartner Spanish School), and physical education. Athletics include cross country, volleyball, basketball, and track, with recent state-level competitive results including a 4th-place girls team finish and individual state championships.

The school's core technology stack consists of standard third-party educational and administrative platforms — RenWeb for admissions management and student information, IXL for adaptive student learning, MAP testing for assessment, SchoolAdmin for inquiries, and Calendly for tour scheduling. There is no proprietary technology platform or in-house AI/ML capability. The business model is tuition-based and subscription-recurring, with Senior Kindergarten through 8th grade priced at $9,625 annually and a Junior Kindergarten morning program at $5,660; over half of families receive variable/sliding-scale tuition assistance. Revenue is diversified across tuition, an Annual Fund campaign, a Walk with Grace walkathon, the Graceful Evening dinner-auction, Spirit Store merchandise sales, Legacy Paver brick sales, and a Forward in Faith endowment campaign. The go-to-market motion is sales-led, centered on in-person school tours as the primary discovery channel, followed by an application process with a May 15 application deadline. Distribution is direct and domestic, focused on the River Forest, Oak Park, and greater Chicago suburban area, with partnerships including Right At School for before/after care, Chicago Chess Foundation, Feed My Starving Children, and Beyond Hunger for service learning.

Name

Grace Lutheran School

Legal name

Grace Lutheran Church and School

Website

https://graceschoolrf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1896

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Grace Lutheran School is a private Christian school in River Forest, Illinois, founded in 1896, serving pre-kindergarten through 8th grade students with a faith-based curriculum, small class sizes, and tuition-based enrollment within the Chicago western suburbs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-8 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Preschool Programs within Private K–12 Schools (EDACABAM)

Keywords

• Private christian education
• Primary school programs
• Kindergarten education
• Elementary school
• Junior high school

Headquarters

HQ city

River Forest

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Primary revenue stream from tuition payments for Pre-K through 8th grade programs. The school uses a variable/sliding scale tuition model to make education accessible to families across different income levels.
2. Annual Fund Donations: Annual fundraising campaign where donations support student tuition, classroom resources, facilities, technology, activities, and field trips.
3. Walk with Grace Walkathon: Annual walk-a-thon fundraiser where students raise pledges to support the school and include a service element collecting food for Beyond Hunger charity.
4. Graceful Evening Auction: Annual in-person dinner-auction fundraiser including silent auction items, wine and whisky pulls, and raffles supporting the school's operating budget and special improvement projects.
5. Spirit Store Sales: Sale of spirit wear merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, pants, and accessories through periodic web store openings and in-school pop-up sales.
6. Legacy Paver Sales: Sale of engraved brick pavers for installation in the walk from school's back door to the playground, commemorating students and school milestones.
7. Forward in Faith Endowment: Endowment campaign to generate income for managing enrollment fluctuations, offering financial assistance, attracting/retaining teachers, and funding resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Grace Lutheran School delivers private Christian K-8 education from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade in River Forest, Illinois, organized into Early Childhood, Senior Kindergarten, Elementary (Grades 1-5), and Junior High (Grades 6-8) programs. Instruction integrates faith formation with rigorous academics, small class sizes, and individualized attention, and is supplemented by enrichment (Specials), interscholastic athletics, Scouting programs, and GLS+ before/after-school care delivered in partnership with Right At School.

Product overview

Grace Lutheran School offers a unified private Christian education serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The core academic program is organized into Early Childhood (Pre-K and Junior Kindergarten), Senior Kindergarten, Elementary (Grades 1-5), and Junior High (Grades 6-8). Supplementary enrichment includes Specials (art, music, orchestra, band, Spanish, library, PE), athletics (cross country, volleyball, basketball, track), and after-school programs through Curious Vikings enrichment and GLS+ childcare partnered with Right At School. Scouting programs (Pack and Troop 4066) provide additional extracurricular opportunities. The school uses RenWeb for admissions administration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Childhood Program Play-based curriculum for pre-kindergarten (age 3) and junior kindergarten (age 4) that develops independence, social skills, motor control, and spiritual foundation through interactive activities, targeting families seeking a private Christian early-childhood education.
• Senior Kindergarten Full-day kindergarten program offering hands-on learning, free-choice play, and structured academics with individualized reading instruction to prepare children for first grade, for families seeking a Christian kindergarten experience.
• Elementary School (Grades 1-5) Elementary program for Grades 1-5 with differentiated math instruction, language arts (phonics and creative writing), science with lab activities, social studies, and enrichment through art, music, and physical education, for families seeking Christian elementary education.
• Junior High School (Grades 6-8) Comprehensive junior high program with rigorous academics including pre-algebra, American history, science with dissection and roller coaster projects, German language instruction, and high-school-level research papers, preparing students for prestigious high schools.
• Specials (Enrichment Classes) Weekly enrichment classes including art studio with kiln, music and choir, string orchestra (violin, viola, cello), band through Walther Christian Academy partnership, physical education, Spanish language (Grades 1-8), and library media center, for enrolled Grace students.
• Athletics Program Interscholastic sports including coed cross country (Grade 3+), coed volleyball (Grade 5-6) and separate varsity/JV teams (Grade 7-8), basketball (Grade 5+), and track and field (Grade 3+), for Grace students.
• Curious Vikings After-School Enrichment After-school enrichment programs including Knitting Club, BrAIn Club (VR learning via ExoClass), Chess Club with Chicago Chess Foundation, Amateur Radio Club, and Robotics Club, for Grace students.
• GLS+ Before and After-School Care Before and after-school care program operated in partnership with Right At School, providing structured activities and extended learning for Grace students from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with pricing based on frequency of attendance.
• Scouting Programs Pack 4066 (Cub Scouts, Grades SK-5) and Troop 4066 (Scouts BSA, ages 11-17) chartered by Grace Lutheran Church through Scouting America, offering outdoor adventures, merit badges, and community service.
• Admissions Application System Online admissions application system using the RenWeb platform, with student visits, assessments, parent interviews, and a May 15 application deadline for the following school year, for prospective Grace families.

Quantifiable outcome

• 82% of students scored above national average for math, reading, and language on MAP tests in 2022-23
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Scouting America (Troop 4066/Pack 4066)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1934Scouting America charters Troop 4066 at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest. Pack 4066 serves grades SK-5, and Troop 4066 serves ages 11-17 (first troop in area open to girls). Over 90-year legacy of scouting at Grace.
• Right At SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing GLS+ before and after school care program. Right At School delivers intentional, structured activities that are fun for students while continuing their learning. Pricing based on frequency of attendance.
• Walther Christian AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBand program partnership with Walther Christian Academy. Students in grades 4-8 participate in the band program alongside students from other area Lutheran schools, receiving instrumental lessons during the school day.
• Gartner Spanish SchoolcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for Spanish instruction from grades 1-8. Students build a strong foundation in vocabulary, conversation, and cultural understanding through this partnership.
• Chicago Chess FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization providing chess instruction through Curious Vikings Chess Club. Focuses on giving children, especially from low-income communities, opportunity to learn, play, and compete in chess. School provides donation to support CCF's mission.
• Feed My Starving ChildrenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService partnership where 5th graders volunteer at Feed My Starving Children. Students packed 197 boxes providing 42,552 meals to people in need.
• Beyond HungerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal charity partner for Walk with Grace walkathon. Food donations collected during the annual walk event support Beyond Hunger's mission to address local food insecurity.
• The Little Bits WorkshopminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides knitting club for students in grades SK-2nd grade. Pilot program offering exploratory introduction to knitting with finger knitting and basic loom projects.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Christian Heritage Academy: Independent Christian K-12 school in the Chicago suburbs (Lake Zurich area) offering college-preparatory faith-based education. Comparable mission and academic positioning as a faith-based alternative to public schooling.
• Concordia Lutheran Schools: Lutheran K-8 school affiliated with the LCMS operating in suburban Chicago contexts. Directly comparable faith-based private K-8 model with similar academic, faith integration, and community identity components.
• Timothy Christian Schools: Faith-based K-12 school in Elmhurst, IL serving Chicago western suburbs with a similar mission, sliding-scale tuition approach, and emphasis on whole-child Christian education. Directly comparable to Grace Lutheran in scope, geography, and target families.
• Walther Christian Academy: Lutheran K-12 school in Melrose Park, IL affiliated with the ELCA, providing the band program partnership for Grace Lutheran students. Same Lutheran denominational network and feeder-pipeline relationship for Chicago-area Lutheran families.
• Immanuel Lutheran School: Lutheran K-8 school in the Chicago metropolitan area (Palatine, IL) sharing the same denominational heritage, sacramental curriculum integration, and target demographic of Lutheran and Lutheran-friendly families.
• St. Paul Lutheran School: Lutheran K-8 school in the Chicago suburbs (Skokie or similar) offering faith-based education with sliding-scale tuition and academic preparation comparable to Grace Lutheran's mission and operational model.
• St. Giles School: Catholic K-8 school in Oak Park, IL, in the same River Forest/Oak Park catchment area as Grace Lutheran. Competes for the same pool of suburban Chicago families seeking a faith-based, small-class-size, private K-8 education.
• Trinity Lutheran School: Lutheran K-8 school in the Chicago western suburbs providing a similar combination of academic rigor, faith integration, and small-class-size instruction. Same congregational-school operating structure and tuition model.

Others

• Fenwick High School: Catholic college-prep high school in Oak Park, IL that Grace Lutheran alumni feed into. Not a direct competitor (high school only) but serves as a downstream destination that signals the academic preparation Grace provides and is referenced in parent testimonials.
• Cognia (formerly AdvancED): Nonprofit accreditation body that has accredited Grace Lutheran. Industry-relevant peer as the credentialing organization establishing the quality framework and competitive standards for accredited K-12 institutions nationwide.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GraceRiverForestAlumni
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grace-lutheran-school-river-forest

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Grace Lutheran School