Co-Ops
Many homeschoolers have recognized the need for coming together to provide greater opportunities for our children. I appreciate the Wikipedia definition of a co-operative in understanding the purpose of these organizations:
“A cooperative is an autonomous association
of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social,
and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled
enterprise.”
Homeschool co-ops help to meet a variety of needs and challenges faced by individual homeschool families. Each is unique in their schedules, classes, expectations, size, beliefs, missions, requirements, costs, and benefits.
In joining a co-op you should weigh your options carefully. Our goal here is to put this information as close to your fingertips as possible, helping you make the most informed decision.
As I cannot be personally aware of every co-op in the Chicagoland area, this list does not indicate endorsement by me or this site, it is merely a directory for information purposes. I would encourage you to email, visit, and ask questions to assure the best fit for your family.
Local co-ops by county: Click on the county you are interested in:
We currently do not have any Co-ops for Boone County. If you know of any, please let us know by using the Submit Information page.
We currently do not have any Co-ops for Chicago. If you know of any, please let us know by using the Submit Information page.
Cook (excluding Chicago proper)
South Suburban Home School & Gym Group, Inc.
Chicago Heights, IL
Phone: (708) 754-2436
Email: Michelle Ewers sshsgg7@aol.com
A co-op with a focus on physical activities while also offering academic enrichment and field trip opportunities.
Classical Conversations
Hoffman Estates, IL
Yet to be determined if interested, contact state manager:
Kim Cromer kcromer@classicalconversations.com
CHAMPs
(Christian Homeschool Arts and Music Programs)
Mount Prospect, IL
Website: http://www.homeschool-life.com/il/champshomeschool/
For over nine years our private organization of families has desired to broaden our children’s exposure to music and the arts in a Christian environment. We hold classes on Mondays from September-May at the Mount Prospect Bible Church. We join in fellowship to celebrate our childrens’ gifts and achievements several more times each year, as they demonstrate their growth in music, song, art, drama and foreign language.
Class offerings now include art, drama, concert band & orchestra enrichment, jazz band, elementary French & Spanish, high school Spanish & Latin, American Sign Language, writing, speech, and much more!
Crossroads In Education (Cook)
Worth, IL
Email: info@crossroadsineducation.com
Website: http://www.crossroadsineducation.com/
Crossroads in Education is a homeschool study and support cooperative serving high school students and their siblings.
Classical Conversations
DeKalb, IL
Email: Lauren ccjourdan@gmail.com – Robin rnrthree@mchsi.com
Meets on Mondays at Evangelical Free Church with courses available for the following levels: Foundations, Essentials, Challenge A and B, Challenge I and II.
The Learning Vine
Naperville, IL
Email: Karine Bauch learningvine@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.thelearningvine.org
The Learning Vine is a Christian supplemental homeschool program that meets on Mondays and Fridays at Community Christian Church in Naperville, IL. We offer both academic and enrichment classes for ages 4-18 covering a broad array of subjects.
Homeschool University
West Chicago, IL 60185
Email: Sarah Wagner admin@homeschooluniversity.org
Website: www.homeschooluniversity.org
Home School University exists to provide an affordable opportunity for home school parents to customize and enrich their student’s education in a Christ-centered environment.
The Greenhouse
Wheaton, IL
Phone: (630) 462-9657
Website: http://www.the-greenhouse.com
Serving the western suburbs of Chicago, The Greenhouse was founded in 2001 to provide classical, Christian education to home-schooled students.
Classical Conversations
Wheaton, IL
Email: Sheryl sheryloleniczak@comcast.net
Offering classes in Foundations, Essentials and Challenge A on Mondays at Faith Evangelical Covenant.
Hope Home School Cooperative
Hope Home School is an exciting opportunity awaiting those who struggle to learn! In the fall of 2010, Hope Home School Cooperative will open its doors to those who struggle to learn and their siblings who don’t. For more information, contact Julaine Swithers at sjswit@yahoo.com.
Heritage Home School Workshops
Elgin, IL
Email: Stephanie.Marquardt@heritageworkshops.com
The vision for Heritage Home School Workshops is to assist the home schooling community equipping families with resources to enhance their home educating endeavor. It is our desire to come alongside to offer assistance to all students, modeling Christian character and respecting every person for the unique creation that God has ordained. Heritage offers comprehensive courses, preK through high school, emphasizing 7th – 12th grades providing all core subjects/PE/Fine Arts; AP courses are offered too. There are extra curricular enrichment instruction/activities at Heritage too; amazing field trips, karate, student council, musicals, academic fair, Christmas production and graduation ceremony.
Heritage has a reputation for upholding policy based on the scriptures and for offering quality instruction from compassionate, Christian teachers.
God has blessed this co-op and we are now embracing more of the vision that He has placed before us. Beginning this fall, in addition to the traditional courses offered on Mondays at the Elgin Evangelical Free Church on Big Timber Road in Elgin, we will be offering a Classical Track for K-12th grades; all courses will be taught with a classical approach. We have the unique opportunity and privilege to offer a Special Needs Track on Thursday mornings at the same church. The most popular courses for younger students, ages preK-3rd, will be offered on Thursday mornings as part of the new Elementary Track.
Christian Workshops of the Fox Valley
(CWF)
Elgin, IL
Email: Susan Russell rruss6868@att.net
CWF is a co-op of families that meet weekly (Mondays) during the spring and fall semesters at Grace Evangelical Church in Elgin. The unique aspect of this co-op is that the parents volunteer to teach the classes. This keeps fees extremely reasonable and offers a wide range of classes led by fellow homeschooling moms.
Tri-Cities Enrichment Co-op (TEC)
La Fox, IL
Email: tricitiesenrichmentcoop@gmail.com
Are you looking for a homeschool group for your family, some additional enrichment classes, or academic classes to round out your curriculum at home? Consider Tri-Cities Enrichment Co-op (TEC)
TEC is a Christian homeschool group of families who will meet on Mondays for the 2009-2010 school year at Lord of Life Church – La Fox, IL – just west of Geneva in order to provide various classes. Their instructors are paid, qualified teachers who love the subject areas that they are teaching. As part of the co-op, parents are expected to serve at the co-op during the times that their children attend. Since this is a parent run co-op, the success of the group depends on the involvement of caring, committed parents.
They offer Apologia Chemistry, Apologia General Science, Apologia Physical Science, and Apologia Exploring Zoology-Land Animals of the Sixth day, High school and elementary Spanish, Literature, Language Arts/Writing, Speech, Art, Sign Language, drama, ballet, Classical Conversation’s Foundation classes and other classes. Classes for Kindergarten through High School.
For a complete schedule and class information email: tricitiesenrichmentcoop@gmail.com
Classical Conversations
Sugar Grove, IL
Email: Fanesta fanesta@sbcglobal.net
Offering classes for Foundations, Essentials, and Challenge A at the Village Bible Church. Meets on Tuesdays
Classical Conversations
Oswego, IL
Email: Leslie lcoleman0229@sbcglobal.net
Classes on Friday for the Foundations, Essentials, and Challenge A/1 levels at Harvest Bible Church.
Classical Consortium
Barrington, IL
Email: Jennifer Burns at fourthdegree@sbcglobal.net
Phone: (847) 713-2674
Website: http://www.classicalconsortiumacademy.org/index.html
The Classical Consortium provides a unique and exceptional educational experience for homeschooled students in the Northern Illinois area. The Classical Consortium is a one-day-a-week, comprehensive, academic program that follows a classical method in both the subjects taught and how those subjects are taught. Students are in C.C. classes on Mondays and are responsible to accomplish homework from those classes during the week under their parents’ supervision. C.C. serves students in third through twelfth grades.
HEART (Homeschool Enrichment Achieved Respectfully Together)
Barrington, IL
Email: Jennifer Burns fourthdegree@sbcglobal.net
H.E.A.R.T. classes and activities are held at:
The Village Church of Barrington
1600 East Main Street
Barrington, IL 60010
H.E.A.R.T. (Homeschool Enrichment Achieved Respectfully Together) is a nine-month, weekly program for homeschooled children in kindergarten through 8th grade that supplements the teaching they receive at home.
Students kindergarten through fourth grades receive qualified instruction in the areas of art, science, Spanish, and physical education. Students are also able to take a class in music or drama. In addition, students are exposed to a wide variety of other subjects during month-long unit studies taught by parent volunteers.
Fifth through eighth grade students receive teaching in the areas of physical education; Spanish; speech; music, drama or biblical study; fine art or woodworking; and home economics or strategic games.
Fun Club Too
Lake County, IL
Email: Linda Strauss the_mominator_4@hotmail.com
Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fct_inquiries/
Fun Club Too is a inclusive homeschool group located in northeastern IL and southeastern WI. We meet two to three times a month on Thursdays for field trips.
Home Run Kids
Gurnee, IL
Email: See their welcome letter on their website for various email contacts
Website: Home Run Kids
Home Run Kids is a cooperative ministry of Village Church in Gurnee designed to provide a healthy, safe and nurturing environment for home school families to experience community, fellowship, support and academic enrichment. The Home Run Kids organization and its leaders are committed to God’s word and His principles. We seek the participation of families who share this commitment to God’s word and to home schooling. This group is primarily intended for Village Church homeschoolers, but is open to others in agreement with their statement of faith as room allows.
Lakeland Home Educators
Gurnee, IL
Email: info@lakeland.org
Website: Lakeland Home Educators
Lakeland Home Educators seeks to provide support and encouragement to home educating families, foster Christian friendships, and grow individual relationships with Jesus Christ, becoming like Him while relating to their children, one another and the world. They meet together monthly for fellowship with discussion of various home education issues and concerns, offer encouragement and support to one another as mothers, email updates related to home education and events; parent initiated field trips; group activities and events for parents and children; and educational opportunities.
Apple Tree
Lake Villa, IL
Email: Faller5@aol.com
Website: Apple Tree
Apple Tree is a Biblically based cooperative learning enrichment program for homeschoolers pre-K through 12th grade. They provide hands-on supplements to your home curriculum including PE, drama, art, sports, music, accountability, fellowship and fun. They meet every Wednesday from September to April in Lake Villa, IL.
FUNSCHOOL CO-OP
Crystal Lake, IL
Website: www.funschoolcoop.com
Funschool Co-op is a family owned business offering field-trips and classes to homeschool families in Illinois. Funschool Co-op is open to everyone regardless of their homeschooling style or religious beliefs. Funschool Co-op uses the negotiating power of gathering large groups of homeschoolers together for discounts and learning opportunities.
Classical Conversations
Bolingbrook, IL
Email: Lillian Docks paradot@sbcglobal.net
Offering Foundations and Essentials level classes on Mondays in Living Water Community Church.
E.A.G.L.E. Homeschool Co-op
(Encouraging Academics and Godly Learning Experiences)
Family of Faith Church
6645 W Steger Road
Monee, IL 60449
Phone: (708) 235-1901
Email: Doreen Gordon doreengordon@gmail.com
H.E.I.G.H.T.S. Co-op
(Honesty, Excellence, Integrity, Goodness, Humility, Teamwork, and
Self-control)
Family of Faith Church
6645 West Steger Road
Monee IL, 60449
Phone: (708) 235-1901
Email: Doreen Gordon doreengordon@gmail.com
The H.E.I.G.H.T.S (Honesty, Excellence, Integrity, Goodness, Humility, Teamwork, and Self-control) co-op offers classes to supplement your home-school curriculum. Our emphasis is middle school and high school academics, but includes classes for younger children. Classes taught have included Apologia sciences, U.S. Constitution, church history, creative writing, etc. The co-op also produces a play each session. We meet Tuesday afternoons for two sessions, September-November and January-April.
Classical Conversations
Rockford, IL (north)
Email: Kirsten Kirekberg@msn.com
Offering the Foundations and Essentials levels on Fridays at the Central Christian Church.
Classical Conversations
Rockford, IL (South)
Email: Margaret Margaret.metras@gmail.com
Meets on Fridays at Morningstar Baptist with classes at three levels: Foundations, Essentials, and Challenge A.
