Enrollment Plunges In Burr Ridge District

BURR RIDGE, IL – In the last 16 years, Burr Ridge School District 180 has seen its enrollment drop by nearly half.

In 2006, the district, which includes the southern part of Burr Ridge and unincorporated areas, reported an enrollment of 769 students, according to state reports. As of last year, the two-school district had 432, a decrease of 44 percent.

That's unlike the two other Burr Ridge districts examined by Patch.

Over the same period, Gower School District 62's enrollment fell by 7 percent, to 887 students.

Meanwhile, Pleasantdale School District 107's annual enrollment has been remarkably stable, ranging from 806 to 855. As it happens, the school saw the same number of students in 2006 and 2021 – 830.

From 2019 to 2021, District 180 saw its enrollment fall by about 200, or nearly a third of the student body.

Most area school districts are far wealthier than the state average. District 180, however, reported that nearly 90 percent of its students are considered low-income.

In 2006, 45 percent of District 180 students were African American, with 32 percent white and 10 percent Hispanic.

As of last year, the district was 67 percent African American, 12 percent white and 11 percent Hispanic.

The district is noted for its subsidized housing. Hinsdale Lake Terrace Apartments is the biggest such complex, outside of Burr Ridge's boundaries in unincorporated DuPage County.

In an interview, Superintendent Thomas Schneider, who has been at the helm for 16 years, said the district sees fluctuations in the number of students from subsidized housing.

He also said, "You have some families who have children who have grown. The family still owns the house, but they have no children."

Schneider said the district provides high-quality education for every student who walks through the door.

Many students, he said, have seen a lot of success. Some, he said, have gone on to Ivy League schools and two to play semi-pro baskeball.

"The students who come here get an excellent education," he said.

If the three Burr Ridge districts merged, their combined enrollment would still be less than that of Hinsdale School District 181 – 2,200 vs. 3,600.

Schneider said he has not heard talk of consolidating the local districts during his years as superintendent.

Enrollment at Burr Ridge School District 180:

2021 432
2020 546
2019 634
2018 618
2017 642
2016 672
2015 688
2014 671
2013 665
2012 666
2011 671
2010 697
2009 710
2008 761
2007 817
2006 769