Daystar Academy

Chicago is full of places to learn. Museums. Parks. Neighborhoods. Cultural institutions. Businesses. Communities. The lakefront. The world beyond.

At Daystar, students don't just learn about these places. They learn through them.

As a Christ-centered IB World School and one of just 43 IB Continuum Schools in the United States, Daystar believes students learn best when learning is connected to real people, real places, and real experiences. Through a globally-minded education, students develop curiosity, critical thinking, empathy, and a sense of responsibility toward the wider world.

Come see why the city and the world are our classroom. Now enrolling Preschool–High School for 2026–27.

Learn more: https://daystaracademy.org/admissions/

From last weekend: a few candid snapshots from Daystar High School Graduation. A meaningful day for our community. We're going to miss these students!

Photos: Frank S

This morning we celebrate 8th Grade Commencement. These students are preparing to take their next steps, and we could not be more proud. Some will continue their IB journey as future Diploma Programme candidates at Daystar High School. Others will attend some of Chicago’s most competitive schools, including Whitney Young, Walter Payton, and Jones College Prep. Still others will pursue opportunities at outstanding private and independent schools across the city.

Different destinations, but one shared foundation.

Over the years, these students have grown into thoughtful communicators, principled leaders, caring neighbors, courageous risk-takers, and reflective learners. They have asked big questions, explored the city and the world, served their communities, and discovered more about who God created them to be.

Today we celebrate all they have accomplished and all that lies ahead.

Congratulations, Class of 2026!

One last adventure before graduation. This afternoon, our 8th grade students gathered at Ping Tom Park for a year-end barbecue, games, and time together as a class. Incredibly proud of this group of students and grateful for the ways they have grown as learners, leaders, friends, and members of the Daystar community.

Class of 2026, we can’t wait to celebrate you tomorrow 🎓

Last week, our 5th grade students spent the day exploring animal habitats, ecosystems, adaptation, and the interconnectedness of the natural world at Brookfield Zoo. The city and the world are our classroom at Daystar, and sometimes that means taking advantage of a perfect Chicago spring day to learn through observation, conversation, and shared experience together.

Our 4th grade students are practicing their IB Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills as they inquire into architecture and culture from around the world. Along the way, they're taking on different roles, solving problems together, communicating thoughtfully, and learning how collaboration strengthens the work we do together.

Golden hour on the water, the Chicago skyline behind us, and a boat full of Daystar students celebrating the end of another incredible year together. High School Prom was filled with laughter, dancing, friendship, and the kind of memories students will carry long after graduation. Grateful for this community and for a beautiful night celebrating the Class of 2026 and the students following behind them.