OUR LEGACY
Wheaton Academy has provided a Christ-centered education to students for nearly 170 years. It continues to be one of the oldest and most respected private Christian high schools in America.
Our story begins with a group of abolitionist parents who knelt on the grassy knoll and founded the Illinois Institute. These parents gathered in hopeful anticipation that God would allow them to build a school to anchor their children in their faith and to use them to shape the culture around them. That school held its first classes on December 14, 1853.
Today, our mission is unchanged: to nurture growth in our students through relationships, excellence, and service to the glory of God. With a commitment to biblical truths, Wheaton Academy strives toward a vision to expand excellence in education and to equip students for a lifetime – academically, spiritually, emotionally, and socially. Wheaton Academy has made a promise to our community and our students, both past and present, to provide an outstanding and innovative college preparatory experience rooted in biblical truth.
Just as it has for nearly 170 years, Wheaton Academy stands as a school whose desire remains Soli Deo Gloria: To God alone be the glory.

CHALLENGES
Throughout campus, our building and room configurations restrained us from future growth and innovation advancement for the long term.
- Facilities in disrepair posed safety threats.
- Programs driving high levels of student engagement did not have adequate space.
- Lack of specific equipment and space limitations hindered opportunities to grow as more and more families are seeking to enroll their students.
SOLUTIONS
To address our needs and continue our legacy of excellence, Wheaton Academy has carefully developed a 15-year master plan for the campus. This plan will shape the physical environment enjoyed by our students and will serve to unlock the transformative power of education, community, and Kingdom purpose.
Phase One of the master plan focuses on an expansion of the main Academic Building. Completed in 2025, the expansion provides students with increased academic offerings and enrichment activities in a fresh and vibrant learning environment.

Flexible Classrooms

Enhanced Security

Video Studio

Student Union

Collaborative Spaces

Cross Plaza
LEADERSHIP

From left to right: Julie Litfin, Justin Peacock, Steve Bult, Dave Ochs ’85, Gene Frost ’71, Joy Crowe, Joe Selvaggio ’05
Campaign Leadership Team
Dave Ochs ’85, Chairman
Steve Bult
Joy Crowe
Gene Frost ’71
Julie Litfin
Justin Peacock
Joe Selvaggio ’05
Fulfill Your Pledge
After years of prayer, planning, generosity, and God’s faithful provision, Wheaton Academy is celebrating a significant milestone in the For Generations to Come campaign. The completion of Phase One marks the transformation of physical campus facilities and a significant step forward in extending our mission to nurture growth in students through relationships, excellence, and service to the glory of God.
To every donor, advocate, and supporter who helped make this possible: thank you. Your investment is shaping students for excellence, Kingdom purpose, and eternal impact. And yet, we know this is only the beginning. Just as the Psalmist wrote for a generation yet to come, we too are laying foundations that will bless future students—students who will worship, lead, and serve in Christ’s name.
For more information regarding partnership opportunities, please contact our Director of Development, Doug Hardy, at dhardy@wheatonacademy.org.