La Grange D102 Not In Top Financial Tier: State

LA GRANGE, IL – The overwhelming number of Illinois school districts are in the state's highest-performing financial category, known as "recognition."

For the second year, though, La Grange School District 102 received the second-highest rating, called "review." Over the years, the district has often received lower ratings than its neighbors.

According to the state, 88 percent of the state's 851 districts fall under the top rating of "recognition," while 10 percent are designated as "review."

The remainder are rated as "early warning" or "watch," which is the worst.

The state released the ratings this week.

In response to a Patch inquiry Wednesday, Superintendent Chris Covino said his district was under review because of a "lower-than-ideal" fund balance reserve.

"The fund balance reserve has been a topic of conversation at the district and Board level for several years, predating my tenure in the district," Covino, who started in 2023, said in an email.

The district's long-term plan, developed during the 2023-24 school year, calls for increasing the reserve over five years, Covino said.

"We are still on track to achieve this goal," he said.

Over the last 22 years, the district has been under review for 14 years. It has received the top rating for six years and was given an early warning in 2016.

By contrast, neighboring La Grange District 105 has gotten the top rating for all but two years. It was under review in 2003 and 2016.

Meanwhile, La Grange Highlands District 106 has been in the top tier every year since 2005. It was under review in 2003 and 2004.

In Burr Ridge, Gower District 62 and Pleasantdale District 106 have received the top rating for all 22 years.

Western Springs District 101 is under review, as it has been most years over the last decade.