Independent and private schools continue to prosper

There are several exceptionally strong schools in the western suburbs. Many schools have a rich history and are recognized throughout their communities for academic excellence, various extracurricular programs, and inspiration for learning. Families and students have many great options for selecting a private or independent school. Visits to each school are crucial to making an informed decision, but understanding each school’s unique character – from the perspective of the school – is key to illustrating what each school offers. In this exclusive feature for Hinsdale Magazine Group, we highlight our partners to provide our readers with relevant information and help them discover each school’s unique characteristics.

For the last 53 years, Downers Grove Christian School has been academically training students from two-year-old pre-school to 8th grade in a faith-based setting. A quality, Christ-centered education is modeled in a loving environment. This academic community holds high-quality scholastic preparedness, character development, and student-teacher engagement as its hallmarks. All aspects of education are presented in a Bible-based framework.
Students are taught to love and encourage one another through the example of their teachers.

All 200 students are acknowledged as individuals with different needs and ways of learning. The caring and capable staff work to assist each child at every academic level. Small class sizes, averaging from 18-21 students, allow for plenty of small-group instruction. A full-time resource teacher for individual instruction ensures that no student is ever left behind.

Soccer, basketball, and volleyball teams encourage athletic development. A band, tech club, and a variety of extracurricular clubs and activities offer students social interaction as well as a chance to pursue outside interests, from chess to the culinary arts. Speech Meets, Science Fair, Reading Fair, and Math Olympics offer additional opportunities to expand oratory skills. A dedicated, weekly chapel time brings the school community together in prayer, with an invitation for all families to attend.

Bright, airy classrooms with much natural light provide the ideal learning environment. Recent updates to the building include the addition of state-of-the-art classroom furniture and carpeting throughout the school for noise control. The academic results speak for themselves. This is one of the few schools nationwide that stayed open at full schedule during the pandemic- the result of careful planning and teamwork in the interest of the students.

DGCS students graduate ready to further their academic path with the mindset of hard work, doing one’s best, and keeping a positive attitude. They are academically, socially, emotionally, mentally, and physically prepared for the next step of their educational paths.