Hinsdale Township High School District 86

Hinsdale Township High School District 86 is a school district with over 4000 students from grades 9th through 12th. The student to teacher is currently at 14:1. The national average student to teacher ratio is 17:1.[2] It is an educational environment that strives for excellence, respect, and responsibility. Some things that District 86 has strong belief in is that all students are capable, and diversity. The first class to graduate Hinsdale High School was in 1883. However, in 1913 District 86 was formed when the elementary school and high school was split into separate districts. Originally, there was only Hinsdale Central High school (located in Hinsdale, Illinois) but later in 1962 a referendum had passed that allowed for another school to be built which is known as Hinsdale South High School (located in Darien, Illinois).[3]

District 86 has a graduation rate of 91%. The number of students who miss more than 10% school days is at only 14%. As of 2018, the average SAT testing scores for math are 590.3 and for English Language Arts are 584.1. In 2017, the average spending per student for operational purposes was $20,397 and for instructional purposes was $12,849. 91% of teachers return and continue to work for the school district each year.[4]

Hinsdale High School District 86 was prepared to have to cut activities such as football, wrestling, swimming, cheerleading, and even marching band in order to save money. However, voters have approved of a $140 million bond referendum which now means these choices to cut certain activities would now be reversed. The referendum does come with a cost for the community as well. It does call for an increase in property tax and someone with a house worth $500,000 should expect to pay roughly $283 more in property taxes per year.[5]

Hinsdale Central High School:

Jim Aylesworth '61- Well known children's book author, and teacher

Brian Torff '72- Well known American Bassist, teacher, and composer

Hinsdale South High School:

Barbara Woods '80- Part of the cast in the sitcom known as "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids."[6]

There have been some criticisms of educational equity in the district. The 2021 school district report card showed that Hinsdale Central has nearly twice the enrollment of students of Hinsdale South.[7] This has caused a disparity of course offerings at the two district schools, which some have proposed revising the attendance boundaries to remedy the issue, but is not a palatable solution for some district residents.[8]

• Official website