History
Our History
- Oscar L. Dudley and Robert Todd Lincoln, son of President Abraham Lincoln, with the mission to provide dependent children in Illinois with a training school and protective shelter, founded Glenwood Academy in 1887.
- In 1890, Milton George donated his 300-acre farm in Glenwood, Illinois, where the campus still thrives today.
- Since its founding, Glenwood Academy has evolved to become an educational placement option that pays homage to the structure it was founded upon.
- For over 130 years, Glenwood Academy has served more than tens of thousands of deserving students and their families.







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Glenwood Today
Today, Glenwood Academy is very different, but maintains a similar purpose: providing resources and tools for a prosperous future to those who need it the most.

- Our one-of-a-kind residential program removes barriers to critical support through mental and physical health services, social and emotional development, and consistent access to the basics: food, housing and safety, clearing the way for a successful educational journey.
- Our military program at Glenwood Academy helps the young men and women who attend to develop unmatched leadership skills, and practice accountability and perseverance.
- After 114 years of service to young men, Glenwood welcomed its first group of young women in 2001.
- At Glenwood, students are supported by teachers, counselors, staff, and parents. We serve as an extension of a family’s resources and help to develop the student as a whole.
- The school’s calm, picturesque 120 acres features residential cottages, classrooms, a gymnasium, library, administration building, and vast outdoor areas to run, play, garden, and grow.
- After students graduate from our on-campus middle school program, they have the opportunity to attend one of three high schools we partner with: Marian Catholic High School, Illiana Christian High School, and Bloom Township High School.
- 100% of Glenwood graduates go on to attend college, attend vocational school, or enlist in the military.
- 100% of parents feel that their children are safe at Glenwood.
- 99% of our students report feeling supported in their academics while attending Glenwood.
- 99% of our students feel that they have meaningful relationships with their peers and their teachers at Glenwood.