Lake Forest Academy was founded in 1857 by a group of Presbyterian businessmen from Chicago as an independent, all-boys, college-preparatory school. In 1869, the Young Ladies' Seminary at Ferry Hall was established as an independent girls school in Lake Forest. Lake Forest Academy has been coeducational since 1974, when the school merged with Ferry Hall. The school is housed on 160 acres of the former J. Ogden Armour Estate, approximately 30 miles north of Chicago.

Today Lake Forest Academy is home to 400 boarding and day students in grades 9-12. They represent 17 states and 31 countries around the globe. 75% of our faculty live on campus, ensuring that all students have access to around-the-clock learning. Our teachers also serve as mentors, coaches, dorm parents, and friends to all of our students.

Our Mission:

Lake Forest Academy strives to embody in its practices and to cultivate in its students excellence of character, scholarship, citizenship, and responsibility.

Character encompasses respect for others and their beliefs, dedication to honesty in every sphere of life, realization of moral clarity and conviction, and pursuit of virtue and value in life.

Scholarship encompasses acquisition of knowledge, development of critical thinking, enthusiasm for discovery and learning, and exercise of a powerful imagination.

Citizenship encompasses appreciation of diversity and multiculturalism, involvement in the LFA community, participation in service to others, and commitment to global awareness and understanding.

Responsibility encompasses development of self-reliance, ability to seek guidance, dedication to cooperation and teamwork, and action based upon informed decisions.

Are you interested in learning more about Lake Forest Academy?

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