District 181 Revenue and Competitors

District 181 is located about 20 miles west of Chicago, 19 miles south of O'Hare International Airport, and adjacent to a high-tech research corridor that includes FermiLab and Argonne National Laboratory. The school district serves the communities of Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills, as well as parts of Burr Ridge, Oak Brook and Willowbrook. These villages are among the highest income areas in the Chicago suburbs. The median value of homes in the district is $459,200. The median house value in Hinsdale is $520,100 and $307,500 in Clarendon Hills. This information is from the 2000 census. This family-oriented community of 25,655 people is comprised largely of highly educated professional and business executives who value education and hold high expectations for their schools. The national reputation that District 181 has earned through its tradition of excellence attracts to the area homebuyers who are looking for the best education for their children. Support for the school district is demonstrated in many ways such as active participation in parent organizations, response to requests for volunteers, and the passage of six referendums within the last seven years. In 2004, voters approved a $31 million bond issue to renovate and expand Madison, Oak and Elm Schools, rebuild Walker School and upgrade technology at all nine district schools. In 2002 voters approved an education rate increase of .31 and a $24 million bond sale to rebuild Prospect School and renovate and expand Monroe School. In 2000, voters approved a $6.3 million referendum for an addition and renovations at The Lane School. In November 1997, voters approved a $12.8 million bond issue to build a second middle school, which was opened in August 2000 and a $600,000 bond sale for a new gym at Madison School. Test results, both state and nationally standardized, indicate that District 181 students are competitive with the best in the nation. District average scores range in the 90th percentile and above in the major academic areas.