Elmhurst D205 Gives Half Of Story On Finance Rating

ELMHURST, IL – In its newsletter last week, Elmhurst School District 205 recently touted what appeared to be good news.

According to the district, in a preliminary review of its annual financial report, the state found the local school system ranked in the highest category, "recognition."

Here's what the district didn't say: It is now in the worst category, "watch." Only six others share that designation, among 851 districts statewide.

Also, "recognition" is not considered special. This distinction is enjoyed by 90 percent of Illinois districts.

But in its mailer to residents, the district was positive about the highest rating it said it would get. The state is likely to release the next batch of ratings in fall 2025.

The mailer stated, "The district's focus on fiscal responsibility, coupled with its substantial investments in curriculum, staffing, facilities and technology, ensures that Elmhurst District 205 is positioned for continued academic success and financial health."

It continued, "These strategic investments in the 2024-25 budget will further strengthen the district's ability to provide a high-quality education for all students."

The state's latest ratings came out in September. A year earlier, the local district was among 10 that were designated as the second lowest of four categories, "early warning."

Late last month, Patch reported on District 205's drop to the lowest financial rating. As it did for the previous year's designation, the district blamed a change in its accounting methods.

With such a low rating, the district stands out in that its population is far wealthier than those sharing the designation.

Like many public bodies, District 205 downplays or ignores bad news. In the latest mailer, though, the district included the fact that SAT scores had fallen at the high school.

In other cases, the district has noted improvements on standardized test scores in the elementary and middle schools, but not the drop at the high school.