Lyons Township HS Enrollment Lowest In 2 Decades

LA GRANGE, IL – Lyons Township High School's enrollment is the lowest it's been in two decades, which now means cutting its historically large teaching staff.

As of the 2024-25 year, enrollment was 3,645, according to state statistics. The number is projected to drop to 3,612 next school year.

In 2019, the school peaked at 4,050 students, but the number has dropped annually since then, the state's data shows. If next year's projection comes to pass, the school's enrollment will have dropped 11 percent since 2019.

Such decreases are not unusual for wealthy schools in the area. Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South and York High are seeing a similar trend.

Despite the falling enrollment, Lyons Township has employed the highest number of teachers over the last 20 years. The teaching staff reached a high of 268 two years ago, according to state data.

At Monday's school board meeting, the administration proposed decreasing the number of teachers to 259 next school year.

That's still a large number of teachers historically. In 2012, the school employed 241 teachers when enrollment was just shy of 4,000.

In 2006, the school had 233 teachers for 3,826 students.

At Monday's meeting, Ed Piotrowski, the school's top finance official, said enrollment was running close to what a demographic consultant predicted in a 2022 report.

In the early 1960s, the high school was expecting a long-term increase in enrollment. That was during the baby boom, when many families were moving to the suburbs across the country.

At the time, the school board bought land in Willow Springs in two phases in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The property was expected to be used for a third campus. But enrollment dropped in the late 1970s and then stabilized.

Now, the board is looking to sell the school's more than 70 acres in Willow Springs.

Enrollment at Lyons Township High School

2025: 3,645
2024: 3,713
2023: 3,787
2022: 3,919
2021: 3,975
2020: 3,990
2019: 4,050
2018: 4,000
2017: 3,980
2016: 4,046
2015: 4,032
2014: 4,008
2013: 4,039
2012: 3,981
2011: 3,885
2010: 3,812
2009: 3,753
2008: 3,840
2007: 3,815
2006: 3,826

Source: Illinois Report Card

Number of teachers at Lyons Township High School

2027: 259 (planned)
2026: 267
2025: 268
2024: Unavailable
2023: Unavailable
2022: Unavailable
2021: Unavailable
2020: 261
2019: 263
2018: 257
2017: 254
2016: 254
2015: 252
2014: 246
2013: Unavailable
2012: 241
2011: 239
2010: 239
2009: 243
2008: 243
2007: 238
2006: 233

Source: Illinois Report Card