State of the School

November 2023 Closing Announcement

It is with a heavy heart that we announce that the current school year, our 185th, will be the final year of Elgin Academy. Despite the tremendous efforts of the Board, school leadership and other dedicated community members to find a path forward, we have recently determined that our model of an independent Preschool through 12th grade school is no longer sustainable in Elgin. The Board of Trustees has voted that the school will close at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.  

We understand that with this sad news there will be many questions. We have created a Frequently Asked Questions document in anticipation of some of those questions. In the FAQ you can learn more about the challenging landscape independent schools are facing, the strategic discussions the Board of Trustees has engaged in, and efforts they have made over the last decade to try to develop a financially sustainable path for our beloved school. In addition, the FAQ shares more specific details for current families and Alumni. 

For now, we resolve to remain focused on giving our students the Elgin Academy experience that they love and that you expect. We will continue to work diligently in service of our mission to inspire students to become our creative, courageous and compassionate future. We will do so by preserving our close-knit community built on a culture of trust, respect and compassion, by observing cherished EA events and traditions right through graduation, and by staying in the moment and allowing your children to keep on learning, doing, and being who they are—Elgin Academy Hilltoppers. We owe nothing less to our students, to our faculty and staff, to the over 5000 EA graduates, and to the thousands of parents who have given their time, resources, and love to honor this great institution and its remarkable history.