What's the value of an international education in Chicago

When her oldest child reached school age, Sabrina Pierrard started to shop for options. She liked her local public school in Ravenswood, but she and her husband were also curious about two nearby international schools.

Pierrard - who has often traveled internationally for work - recalled that she "always felt a little behind" when she met people abroad who could speak multiple languages. A bilingual education stood out as an appealing option for her children, especially since her husband was bilingual, too, having grown up speaking Greek.

Now, Pierrard sends all three of her children to the German International School of Chicago, where she's become a member of the board. The school has grown dramatically in the last 15 years, fueled in part by families by Pierrard's: Since 2008, enrollment has increased from 13 students, all preschool-aged, to 180 students in grades K-8. School leadership now plans to launch a high school and graduate its first class in 2030.

While Chicago doesn't have as many international schools as coastal cities like New York and San Francisco, the Windy City is an emerging hub for K-12 international education. Though tuition costs - which can range from about $20,000 to $40,000 - are prohibitive for many families, strong enrollment across several schools suggests that Chicagoans do see value in international schooling.