Why Choose HFCA
Why Choose Holy Family Catholic Academy?
At Holy Family Catholic Academy (HFCA), students learn to think critically, lead confidently, and serve others with compassion. As the only International Baccalaureate (IB) World School in Chicago’s northwest suburbs, HFCA blends academic standards, faith formation, and forward-thinking instruction to prepare every student for high school — and life ahead.
Nationally and Internationally Recognized
Serving students from preschool through grade eight, HFCA is widely celebrated for its commitment to educational excellence:
- IB World School Authorization — Our curriculum is taught using the IB framework’s globally benchmarked best practices, used by leading schools in more than 150 countries.
- Blue Ribbon Excellence — Recipient of the prestigious U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award.
- STEM Leadership — A designated member of the Museum of Science and Industry’s Leadership Initiative, introduces hands-on, STEM classes to 3- and 4-year-old preschool learners, and is the first middle school in Illinois to earn STEM certification.
- Continuous Improvement — A data-informed curriculum that consistently meets or exceeds federal and state standards.
Learning That Looks Like the Real World
HFCA is committed to hands-on, inquiry-based instruction. Guided by the IB’s Approaches to Learning (ATL) framework, students build five essential skill sets for lifelong success:
- Thinking Skills
- Communication Skills
- Social Skills
- Self-Management Skills
- Research Skills
A Global Outlook, Grounded in Faith
HFCA is a warm, faith-based community where students learn to appreciate diverse perspectives while staying rooted in shared values.
- Rooted in Catholic Identity, Open to All Faiths — Our faith is the foundation of everything we do, shaping our values, traditions, and daily life as a school community — while families of every faith background are warmly welcomed and deeply respected.
- A Truly Diverse Community — Our students reflect a global footprint, representing more than 40 countries and speaking nearly 30 languages at home.
- Globally Minded Citizens — The IB framework pairs seamlessly with our Catholic values, inspiring students to recognize their responsibility to make a positive impact on the world.
- Faith in Action — Students regularly take part in meaningful outreach and service-learning projects, learning to live the Gospel as the hands and feet of Jesus.
A Safe and Nurturing Environment
With a student-to-teacher ratio of less than 10:1, our dedicated educators know every child personally. From our youngest early learners to our graduating eighth graders, students are nurtured in a safe, supportive community that challenges them to reach their full academic, social, emotional, and spiritual potential.
Our Facilities: Safety Is Our Primary Concern
Every measure we take is designed to ensure every child is protected and every family has peace of mind:
- Visitor and Guest Screening — All visitors are screened before entering the building.
- Required Volunteer Training — All volunteers complete mandatory safety training before working with students.
- Secured Access — All exterior doors remain locked during the school day.
- Camera Surveillance — Cameras monitor key areas throughout the campus.
- Practice Drills — Regular safety drills prepare students and staff to respond confidently in any situation.
Our Modern Campus
HFCA's campus is designed to support every stage of learning. We offer eight preschool classrooms for our 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old learners, two classrooms per grade for kindergarten through grade eight, a dedicated art room, cafeteria, gymnasium, and a multi-torium that seats 450 people.
Our two fully-equipped science labs are a particular point of pride. Grounded in Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), these labs give students from preschool through grade eight the opportunity to study science hands-on, use authentic scientific equipment, and develop skills only possible in a genuine lab setting — an experience rarely found at the elementary and middle school level.
From our youngest early learners to our graduating eighth graders, students are nurtured in a safe, supportive community that challenges them to reach their full academic, social, emotional, and spiritual potential.
