Private Catholic School in Lake Forest, Lake County IL

East Lake Academy, Lake Forest:
Founded in 2001 as a Roman Catholic school of academic excellence, East Lake Academy focuses on the academic and spiritual wellbeing of each student. We are situated in Lake Forest (located in Lake County in Illinois and part of Chicagoland and the North Shore). We educate children from pre-kindergarten through to eighth grade. We are dedicated to forming the whole child by providing the highest level of academics.

Educational Model:
East Lake Academy is one of more than twenty-five schools in the United States following the educational model developed by National Consultants for Education (NCE), a Roman Catholic group that has successfully developed schools of academic excellence throughout the World.

For each child enrolled, these schools create an environment more conducive to learning, spiritual growth and development as leaders. A rigorous academic curriculum is supported by individualized character and values formation. As a result, families are attracted by the unique opportunities provided by the Academy. The success of NCE and its schools is well recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. East Lake Academy offers personalized attention, challenge, and seeks nothing less than the total development of each student.

Integral Formation:
The Academy recognizes four essential areas in the formation of the human person. By thoroughly cultivating each of these areas, East Lake moves its students toward the realization of their greatest individual potential.

Academic Formation:
The curriculum challenges the students daily. They are encouraged to think critically, develop a healthy curiosity about the world around them and to express themselves clearly. Core subjects are complemented by an array of programs in the areas of academics, fine arts and athletics.

Faith Formation:
Students are taught the Catholic faith both as an academic subject and a guide for life. Key to Christian living is the awareness of Christ’s unconditional love for each person and his commission to make this love known to all people. True faith formation leads to harmony between knowledge and life.

Character Formation:
Character is shown in fidelity to one’s principles and convictions. It implies self control, perseverance, trustworthiness, a sense of duty and responsibility, and generosity. Every aspect of school life is an opportunity to develop character. Character is developed through respect for teachers and others, punctuality, fulfillment of assignments, teamwork, order, cleanliness and helpfulness.

Curriculum:
The accelerated curriculum of East Lake Academy is coordinated by the National Consultants for Education (NCE), a nationally renowned consulting agency based in Atlanta, Georgia. Aside from curriculum, NCE advises East Lake Academy in such areas as educational philosophy, operational procedures, teacher formation, and development. Our school uses Stanford standardized testing twice yearly to benchmark and measure student performance and progress against the broader population. East Lake Academy students have consistently tested a full grade level above their age groups in core subjects.

- Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Programs:
During these early years, the Academy’s primary goal is to foster a life-long love of learning. Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs feature a developmentally appropriate curriculum in a nurturing environment. Committed teachers give personal, loving attention to each child helping to cultivate imagination and to teach basic skills and good habits. Creativity weaves its way through learning activities such as a phonics-based pre-reading program that leads children to begin reading as they enter kindergarten. Areas of study contribute to a cheerful and enlightening atmosphere for these young children.

- Grade One and Grade Two Programs:
An accelerated program rooted in the fundamentals is complemented by an emphasis on communication skills. Students keep journals to enrich writing skills, practice recitation and public speaking, and begin to prepare multi-media presentations. With an understanding of their students’ individual talents and motivations, teachers lead them on an exciting path of discovery. They not only impart specific information, but help children apply this knowledge to their lives using critical thinking skills. Teachers are careful to build a skill-set of study habits that will serve their students well not only at this level, but beyond.

- Grade Three through to Grade Eight Programs:
East Lake Academy teachers provide a challenging and stimulating environment for completing Lower School classes and entering Middle School. The academic program continues to focus on core subjects with major emphasis on writing, math, and science. Teachers further challenge and stimulate their students with contests in oratory, poetry, math and spelling.