Hinsdale D-86 Enrollment Gap To Stay Through 2030s

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale Central High School's enrollment is nearly twice Hinsdale South's, a difference that is expected to remain through the 2030s.

On Thursday, the Hinsdale High School District 86 board is set to hear a report from San Diego-based demographer John Kasarda. His study is already online.

According to Kasarda's report, the district's enrollment is expected to increase to 4,015 over the next 15 years, up from 3,825 this school year, a 5 percent increase.

Both Central and South are expected to grow in that time – South by 9 percent to 1,485 and Central by 3 percent to 2,530.

Because of the enrollment gap, Central offers a greater course selection than South. To counter that, some South residents suggest a boundary change to equalize enrollments, but most board members are opposed. All but one of the seven members are from the Central zone.

One factor increasing the enrollment at Central and South is the large number of residents older than 65, Kasarda said in his report.

"This suggests that more homes will turn over to younger families with preschool and school-age children during the next 15 years, particularly given the excellent reputation of District 86 area schools," Kasarda said.

Given that District 86 is nearly entirely built out, it is unlikely much new housing will be constructed, Kasarda said. But teardowns and replacement housing is expected to draw younger, larger households to the district, he said.

As recently as the mid-1990s, the enrollments at the two schools were nearly the same.