Universal School was officially founded in 1989, and opened on September 4, 1990, to 140 students and 11 faculty members.

[3] According to Craig N. Joseph and Barnaby Riedel, authors of "Islamic Schools, Assimilation, and the Concept of Muslim American Character," "Universal School owes its existence to" the Muslim immigration wave and to the Bridgeview Mosque.

[citation needed] The building, made up of gray concrete, uses mirror-tinted windows oriented in a lengthwise manner.

[4] It has 36 classrooms,[3] including dedicated rooms for preschool and kindergarten-aged children.

Marguerite Michaels of Time stated that "The Universal School makes clear its independence from the[...]Bridgeview mosque.

[3] In 2008 Barnaby B. Riedel, author of "Universal Particularism: Making an Ethical Islamic School in Chicago," wrote that some Islamic teachers at Universal School desired more instruction dedicated to specific Islamic schools of thought, although the majority believed in using a more general approach to teach the religion.

[citation needed] As of 2021 the school also has spelling bees, a science fair club, a mathematics league, and a student newspaper.