Launch529

Private school, catholic

School of St. Mary Upper Grade Center

Lake Forest, IL · Grades PK to 8 · 344 students

Can a 529 pay for School of St. Mary Upper Grade Center?

Yes. Federal law lets a 529 plan pay tuition at a private, public or religious elementary or secondary school, up to $20,000 a year per student. School of St. Mary Upper Grade Center is a private school serving grades pk to 8, so its tuition is the kind of cost this covers.

What a 529 can pay

  • Tuition, up to $20,000 a year per student
  • Curriculum, books and instructional materials
  • Tutoring and classes outside the home
  • Fees for SAT, ACT, AP and other exams
  • Online educational materials
  • Educational therapies for a student with a disability

What it can’t

  • Registration, application and building fees
  • Activity, field trip and technology fees
  • Uniforms, sports and extracurriculars
  • School meals and transportation
  • Aftercare and summer camps

Ask School of St. Mary Upper Grade Center which of its charges are billed as tuition. Fees added to a tuition bill are not always covered.

What Illinois does with it

The tax rule is your state of residence’s, so this applies if you live in Illinois.

Illinois does not follow the federal K-12 rule

Illinois does not treat K-12 withdrawals from a 529 as qualified. The earnings part is generally taxed as Illinois income, and a Illinois deduction you took for contributing may be taken back. Federally the withdrawal can still be tax-free, so the question is whether the benefit is worth the state tax.

General information, not tax advice. Source: Saving for College, which states conform to federal 529 law (Jan. 2026). How it works

Plan and track School of St. Mary Upper Grade Center costs

Add this school to a free plan, see how it fits with college savings, and log each tuition bill, book and test fee so it is checked against the rules and ready for tax time.

More private schools in Lake Forest

School details: Lake Forest, IL · Private (Catholic) · Grades PK to 8. Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (2021-22). General information, not tax advice.