Lake Forest offers the best of all worlds. Located about 45 minutes north of Chicago, the beautiful little city on the banks of Lake Michigan has a peaceful, small-town feel that its residents treasure. A perpetual Tree City USA award-winner, Lake Forest lives up to its name with its lushly landscaped and tree-lined streets further enhanced by resident recreational access to nearly a thousand acres of Open Lands nature preserves, a gorgeous community beach, myriad parks and playfields. A wonderful public golf course, several country clubs, and two bath-and-tennis clubs add to the recreational options.

With over 20,000 residents per the last census, Lake Forest offers a wide and rich diversity of cultural, education and recreational offerings for the community’s enjoyment. In addition, the beauty and character of the local architecture is regularly chronicled in media and books. Founded in 1861, the town’s early residents included legendary Chicago movers-and-shakers, like the Armours, Swifts and McCormicks. Today, Lake Forest’s diverse real estate offerings include many dozens of stunning historic homes credited to major legendary architects, such as David Adler and Howard Van Doren Shaw (the latter having also designed the town’s charming and much-lauded Market Square downtown shopping district). It’s not surprising that such a rich historic pedigree gave way to modern-day building efforts focused on tree preservation and newer construction designs of beauty and architectural sensitivity, with typical lots between a half acre to 1 acre, or more. The net result is a family-friendly town that is widely regarded in media and books as one of the most beautiful towns in America – as well as the one of the most pleasant places to live in the entire Chicago metropolitan area.

Community Links

City of Lake Forest 
220 E.Deerpath, Lake Forest, IL 60045 | (847) 234-2600

Gorton Community Center 
400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045 | (847) 234-6060

Chamber of Commerce 
695 Western Ave, Lake Forest, IL 60045 | (847) 234-4282

Lake Forest Public Library 
360 E. Deerpath, Lake Forest, IL 60045 | (847) 234-0636

Rec Center & Park District 
400 Hasting Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045 | (847) 234-6700

The family-focused town also offers several private and parochial schools at both elementary and secondary levels, including (please link to websites found below) Lake Forest Country Day School, Woodlands Academy, Lake Forest Academy and St. Mary’s, among others. Lake Forest College, within walking distance from town, stands as one of the premier small liberal arts colleges in the country. The nearby Lake Forest Graduate School of Management offers a top MBA program as well.

Public Schools

Lake Forest High School – District 115
1285 N. McKinley Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045 | (847) 234-3600

Rondout Elementary (K-8) – District 72
28593 N. Bradley Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045 | (847) 362-2021

Cherokee Elementary (K-4) – District 67
475 Cherokee Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045 | (847) 234-3805

Everett Elementary (K-4) - District 67
1111 Everett School Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045 | (847) 234-5713

Sheridan Elementary (K-4) - District 67
1360 N. Sheridan Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045 | (847) 234-1160

Deer Path Middle School (5-8) – District 67
155 W. Deerpath, Lake Forest, 60045 | (847) 604-7400

Private Schools

East Lake Academy (Age 3 – Grade 8)
13911 W. Laurel Drive, Lake Forest, IL 60045 | (847) 247-0035

Forest Bluff Montessori School (18 mo – 14 yrs)
8 W. Scranton Avenue, Lake Bluff, IL 60044 | (847) 295-8338

Lake Forest Academy (9-12)
1500 W. Kennedy Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045 | (847) 234-3210

Lake Forest Country Day School (Age 2 – Grade 8)
145 S. Green Bay Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045 | (847) 234-2350

School of St. Mary (Age 3 – Grade 8)
185 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045 | (847) 234-0371

Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart (9-12)
760 Westleigh Rd, Lake Forest, 60045 | (847) 234-4300