Gower District Sees High School Inequality

BURR RIDGE, IL – Some students at Gower Middle School end up going to Hinsdale South High School and others to Hinsdale Central.

At the larger and wealthier Hinsdale Central, students enjoy a greater course selection.

Gower Middle School eighth-grader Matthew Galinski knows that firsthand. He spoke to the Hinsdale High School District 86 board last week.

Galinksi, who is headed to South, said he met with his high school counselor for course selection and requested to take World History Honors, but was informed this was only available at Central.

"Hinsdale South students are not allowed to take this course," Galinski told the board. "Some of my friends at Gower will attend Hinsdale Central, and some of my friends will attend Hinsdale South. I have taken many courses with my friends.

"Why are we forced to take different courses in high school social studies, in the same district? Why doesn’t our district offer the same educational opportunities to all students?" he asked.

As a policy, school board members do not respond to public comments.

According to Gower School District 62, three-fourths of its expected 2024 graduating class of 97 are going to South and 18 percent to Central. The rest are headed elsewhere, likely private schools.

Inequality in courses has long been an issue for South students and parents, including members of Galinski's family.

Later in the same meeting, all seven board members agreed to continue working to equalize opportunities. In school jargon, the process is known as "alignment," which started in 2019.

Late last year, the school board voted to reject social studies teachers' proposal to align the curriculum at the two schools. That fed doubts that the Central-dominated board was abandoning alignment.