Hinsdale D86 Clarifies Course Conflict Numbers

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86 on Monday sought to clarify its widely different numbers on course scheduling conflicts at Central and South high schools.

It was responding to a Patch story reporting on the data that the school had previously given.

During a committee meeting in December, officials reported that Central was able to grant 89 percent of course requests the previous school year. South's rate was 68 percent.

But at a committee meeting earlier this month, officials said that for the next school year, both schools "satisfied over 98% of total requests and over 80% of students had all of their requests filled," according to the minutes.

The officials did not explain the gap in numbers in a single year, especially given that no major changes were made. The district did not respond to Patch's message for a couple of days before it published a story about the numbers Friday.

In an interview Monday, Alex Mayster, the district's spokesman, said the district incorrectly described the numbers in December. They did not apply to total requests, but rather the percentage of students who had all their course requests honored.

He said 81 percent of South's students had all their requests satisfied for next year, up from 68 percent. Central stayed the same at 89 percent, he said.

When the district presents its course conflict numbers during meetings, it does not compare them to previous data.

Patch's story on Friday described the longtime disparity between South and Central. South's enrollment is half that of Central, which has a wealthier student body.