How to Homeschool in Illinois

A Christian homeschool cooperative serving Lake and McHenry County families since 1989, meeting three Wednesdays a month with unit studies in history, science, and literature plus weekly music, PE, and art for 1st through 12th grade.

A welcoming, nonsectarian support group serving the Chicago Southland since 1982, gathering the first and third Wednesdays in Matteson with kid programs, guest speakers, science fairs, and friendships for pre-K through high school.

A community of Catholic homeschooling families in the Quad Cities offering a co-op, Mass opportunities, youth groups, Little Flowers and Conquest clubs, and mentoring for both new and seasoned homeschool parents.

Christian homeschooling families in the Champaign area partner together in this K-12 cooperative, meeting Thursday afternoons in Mahomet for unit studies, art, and PE, with a junior and senior high extension for older students.

ICHE has been encouraging Christian homeschooling families across Illinois since 1983, with an annual statewide conference, free beginner resources, and a directory of local support groups to help you find your people.

A parent-built homeschool community on Chicago's Northwest Side offering a Tuesday enrichment program and Thursday classes for ages 4 to 15, pooling the talents of parents and local organizations to create unique learning experiences.

Peoria's longtime Christian homeschool association helps families learn together and grow as a community, with an annual convention, curriculum guidance, and events that connect homeschoolers across central Illinois.

A Sudbury-inspired, self-directed learning co-op welcoming Rockford-area families of all backgrounds and homeschooling styles, with weekly meetups, clubs, field trips, a resource library, and a seasonal nature co-op.

A homeschool enrichment group in the Belleville area offering a weekly co-op, monthly meetings, field trips, music and drama groups, and family events for Christian homeschoolers across seven Metro East counties.

A multi-denominational community of Christian homeschool families in Coles County meeting weekly for academic and elective classes like PE, art, and music, with shared lunches, recess, field trips, and service projects.

A nature-based preschool where 3- to 5-year-olds spend about half of every class day outdoors in the Garden in all weather, learning through exploration and discovery with multiple class options and flexible schedules.

Set on a 50-acre private preserve in Mokena, Free Haven serves ages 3 to 14 with Treetop Tots, Forest Explorers, survival skills, full-time K-4 forest school, and summer camps in Chicago's southwest suburbs.

An environmentally focused school in Wheaton with a fully outdoor forest preschool and forest kindergarten plus elementary and middle school programs, all built around nature immersion, interest-led learning, and authentic play.

An outdoor education program connecting Chicago kids with wild spaces, offering nature classes from infants through teens that start by helping children feel at home outdoors, then follow their own curiosity and interests.

Founded in 1974, Chicago Waldorf offers pre-K through 12th grade education on the city's North Side, bringing rigor to life through curiosity, creativity, and meaningful challenge, with athletics, aftercare, and summer camp.

A play-based Waldorf early childhood school in Pilsen's Arts District for ages 3 to 6, where days flow through indoor and outdoor free play, snack preparation, circle time, and teacher-told stories and puppet plays.

A pre-K through 8th grade Waldorf school in Wauconda blending academically rigorous coursework with music, theater, art, cooking, and outdoor exploration, plus a parent-child program for little ones from 18 months.

Serving Chicago's western suburbs, this pre-K through 8th grade school offers hands-on Waldorf learning through movement, art, storytelling, and collaborative projects, with parent-child classes starting at 18 months.