In 1915, under Dean William Rice, the academy began to achieve its own identity, by acquiring its own separate faculty and building on the campus of Wheaton College.

In 1945, the school moved off of the Wheaton College campus to a location in West Chicago, Illinois.

The Aurora and Elgin train line also ran north of the schools location, making it accessible to student commuters.

[3] WA is a member of the Association of Christian Schools International, recognized by the state of Illinois and the DuPage County Education Service Region.

Academy Hall was used for history classes taught in its historic building and was used as storage space, until its demolition in 2023.

Students can access a maker space called the “Idea Lab” with woodworking equipment, laser cutter machines, and 3D printers.