Private school, catholic
St. Cletus School
La Grange, IL · Grades PK to 8 · 264 students
Can a 529 pay for St. Cletus School?
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. St. Cletus School 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 St. Cletus School 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 St. Cletus School 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 La Grange
- Creative World Montessori SchoolGrades PK to K
- Kensington School of LagrangeGrades PK to K
- St. Francis Xavier SchoolGrades PK to 8
School details: La Grange, 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.