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Annual report: Which school districts in Illinois are in the worst financial shape?
Hinsdale Township High School District 86, Community High School District 99 and Bensenville School District 2 received the lowest financial ratings in Illinois by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for their 2017 finances.
ISBE started profiling the financial health of the state's school districts in 2003, using experts to evaluate five areas: fund balance to revenue ratio, expenditure to revenue ratio, days cash on hand, percentage of short-term borrowing ability remaining, and percentage of long-term borrowing ability remaining. The results are combined into a score, which corresponds with one of four designations.
Districts that score between 1 and 2.61 are on "financial watch;" between 2.62 and 3.07 "financial warning;" between 3.08 and 3.53 "financial review;" and between 3.54 and 4.00 "financial recognition."
200 unhealthiest Illinois school districts
Rank
District
County
Score
Designation
1
Crete Monee Community Unit School District 201U
Will
0.0
Watch
2
Zeigler-Royalton Community Unit School District 188
Franklin
1.7
Watch
3
Cherry School District 92
Bureau
2.0
Watch
4
Alton Community Unit School District No. 11
Madison
2.1
Watch
5
Chicago Public School District 299
Cook
2.2
Watch
6
Frankfort Community Unit School District 168
Franklin
2.2
Watch
7
Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7
Madison
2.2
Watch
8
Thornton School District 154
Cook
2.3
Watch
9
Wabash Community Unit School District 348
Wabash
2.3
Watch
10
Lebanon Community Unit School District 9
St. clair
2.35
Watch
11
Lincoln Way Community High School District 210
Will
2.35
Watch
12
La Grange School District 102
Cook
2.45
Watch
13
Country Club Hills School District 160
Cook
2.45
Watch
14
Bellwood School District 88
Cook
2.45
Watch
15
Morris School District 54
Grundy
2.45
Watch
16
Streator Elementary School District 44
Lasalle
2.45
Watch
17
Brown County Community Unit School District 1
Brown
2.55
Watch
18
Calhoun Community Unit School District 40
Calhoun
2.55
Watch
19
Millburn Community Consolidated School District 24
Lake
2.55
Watch
20
Centralia High School District 200
Marion
2.55
Watch
21
Belleville Township High School District 201
St. clair
2.55
Watch
22
Allendale Community Consolidated School District 17
Wabash
2.65
Early
23
Harrisburg Community Unit School District 3
Saline
2.7
Early
24
Dalzell Grade School District 98
Bureau
2.75
Early
25
Norridge School District 80
Cook
2.75
Early
26
New Athens Community Unit School District 60
St. clair
2.75
Early
27
Virginia Community Unit School District 64
Cass
2.8
Early
28
Mahomet-Seymour Community Unit School District 3
Champaign
2.8
Early
29
Sycamore Community Unit School District 427
Dekalb
2.8
Early
30
Kankakee School District 111
Kankakee
2.8
Early
31
Oswego Community Unit School District 308
Kendall
2.8
Early
32
Triad Community Unit School District 2
Madison
2.8
Early
33
Johnsburg Community Unit School District 12
Mchenry
2.8
Early
34
Sparta Community Unit School District 140
Randolph
2.8
Early
35
Herrin Community Unit School District 4
Williamson
2.8
Early
36
Oak Grove School District 68
Lake
2.85
Early
37
Bond County Community Unit School District No. 2
Bond
2.9
Early
38
Elverado Community Unit School District 196
Jackson
2.9
Early
39
Momence Community Unit School District 1
Kankakee
2.9
Early
40
Bethalto Community Unit School District 8
Madison
2.9
Early
41
Chester Community Unit School District 139
Randolph
2.9
Early
42
Winchester Community Unit School District 1
Scott
2.9
Early
43
Central School District 104
St. clair
2.9
Early
44
Depue Unit School District 103
Bureau
3.0
Early
45
Breese Elementary School District 12
Clinton
3.0
Early
46
Ford Heights School District 169
Cook
3.0
Early
47
Reavis Township High School District 220
Cook
3.0
Early
48
Braceville School District 75
Grundy
3.0
Early
49
Pembroke Community Consolidated School District 259
Kankakee
3.0
Early
50
Ottawa Elementary School District 141
Lasalle
3.0
Early
51
Madison Community Unit School District 12
Madison
3.0
Early
52
Sandoval Community Unit School District 501
Marion
3.0
Early
53
McLean County Unit School District 5
Mclean
3.0
Early
54
Hillsboro Community Unit School District 3
Montgomery
3.0
Early
55
Western Community Unit School District 12
Pike
3.0
Early
56
Pleasant Hill Community Unit School District 3
Pike
3.0
Early
57
Brooklyn Unit School District 188
St. clair
3.0
Early
58
Millstadt Community Consolidated School District 160
St. clair
3.0
Early
59
Orangeville Community Unit School District 203
Stephenson
3.0
Early
60
Dongola Unit School District 66
Union
3.0
Early
61
El Paso Gridley Community Unit School District 11
Woodford
3.0
Early
62
Bureau Valley Cusd #340
Bureau
3.1
Review
63
Princeton Elementary School District 115
Bureau
3.1
Review
64
River Grove School District 85.5
Cook
3.1
Review
65
Oak Park Elementary School District 97
Cook
3.1
Review
66
Sandwich Community Unit School District 430
Dekalb
3.1
Review
67
Unity Point School District 140
Jackson
3.1
Review
68
Trico Community Unit School District 176
Jackson
3.1
Review
69
Gavin School District 37
Lake
3.1
Review
70
Tri Point Community Unit School District 6J
Livingston
3.1
Review
71
Collinsville Community Unit School District 10
Madison
3.1
Review
72
Massac County Unit School District #1
Massac
3.1
Review
73
Prairie Du Rocher Community Consolidated School District 134
Randolph
3.1
Review
74
Harlem Community School District 122
Winnebago
3.1
Review
75
Altamont Community Unit School District 10
Effingham
3.15
Review
76
Vienna Elementary School District 55
Johnson
3.15
Review
77
Lawrence County Community Unit School District 20
Lawrence
3.15
Review
78
Meridian Community Unit School District 15
Macon
3.15
Review
79
East Alton School District 13
Madison
3.15
Review
80
Peoria School District 150
Peoria
3.15
Review
81
Duquoin Community Unit School District 300
Perry
3.15
Review
82
Meridian Community Unit School District 101
Pulaski
3.15
Review
83
East Moline School District 37
Rock island
3.15
Review
84
Cahokia Unit School District 187
St. clair
3.15
Review
85
O'Fallon Community Consolidated School District 90
St. clair
3.15
Review
86
Quincy Public School District 172
Adams
3.25
Review
87
Berwyn South School District 100
Cook
3.25
Review
88
Hoover Schrum Memorial School District 157
Cook
3.25
Review
89
Calumet City School District 155
Cook
3.25
Review
90
West Harvey-Dixmoor Public School District 147
Cook
3.25
Review
91
Summit School District 104
Cook
3.25
Review
92
Matteson Elementary School District 162
Cook
3.25
Review
93
Homewood School District 153
Cook
3.25
Review
94
Christopher Unit School District 99
Franklin
3.25
Review
95
Knoxville Community Unit School District 202
Knox
3.25
Review
96
Waukegan Community Unit School District 60
Lake
3.25
Review
97
North Chicago School District 187
Lake
3.25
Review
98
Zion Elementary School District 6
Lake
3.25
Review
99
Grayslake Community Consolidated School District 46
Lake
3.25
Review
100
Peru Elementary School District 124
Lasalle
3.25
Review
101
Wallace Community Consolidated School District 195
Lasalle
3.25
Review
102
Maroa Forsyth Community Unit School District 2
Macon
3.25
Review
103
Gillespie Community Unit School District 7
Macoupin
3.25
Review
104
Tamaroa School District 5
Perry
3.25
Review
105
Shiloh Village School District 85
St. clair
3.25
Review
106
Oakwood Community Unit School District 76
Vermilion
3.25
Review
107
Georgetown Ridge Farm Community Unit School District 4
Vermilion
3.25
Review
108
Richland School District 88A
Will
3.25
Review
109
Avoca School District 37
Cook
3.3
Review
110
Hinsdale Township High School District 86
Dupage
3.3
Review
111
Community High School District 99
Dupage
3.3
Review
112
Lake Forest School District 67
Lake
3.3
Review
113
West Carroll Community Unit School District 314
Carroll
3.35
Review
114
Fisher Community Unit School District 1
Champaign
3.35
Review
115
Heritage Community Unit School District 8
Champaign
3.35
Review
116
St. Joseph Community Consolidated School District 169
Champaign
3.35
Review
117
Wesclin Community Unit School District 3
Clinton
3.35
Review
118
Willow Grove School District 46
Clinton
3.35
Review
119
Mattoon Community Unit School District 2
Coles
3.35
Review
120
Cicero School District 99
Cook
3.35
Review
121
Komarek School District 94
Cook
3.35
Review
122
Evanston-Skokie Community Consolidated School District 65
Cook
3.35
Review
123
Prairie Hills Elementary School District 144
Cook
3.35
Review
124
Bremen Community High School District 228
Cook
3.35
Review
125
Community Consolidated School District 168
Cook
3.35
Review
126
Burnham School District 154-5
Cook
3.35
Review
127
Bensenville School District 2
Dupage
3.35
Review
128
Vandalia Community Unit School District 203
Fayette
3.35
Review
129
Paxton-Buckley-Loda Community Unit School District 10
Ford
3.35
Review
130
Jasper County Community Unit School District 1
Jasper
3.35
Review
131
Vienna High School District 133
Johnson
3.35
Review
132
Oak Grove School District 68
Lake
3.35
Review
133
Warren Township High School District 121
Lake
3.35
Review
134
La Salle-Peru Township High School District 120
Lasalle
3.35
Review
135
Red Hill Community Unit School District 10
Lawrence
3.35
Review
136
Dixon Unit School District 170
Lee
3.35
Review
137
Warrensburg-Latham Community Unit School District 11
Macon
3.35
Review
138
Highland Community Unit School District 5
Madison
3.35
Review
139
LeRoy Community Unit School District 2
Mclean
3.35
Review
140
Porta Community Unit School District 202
Menard
3.35
Review
141
Pikeland Community Unit School District 10
Pike
3.35
Review
142
Steeleville Community Unit School District 138
Randolph
3.35
Review
143
Eldorado Community Unit School District 4
Saline
3.35
Review
144
Harmony Emge School District 175
St. clair
3.35
Review
145
Jasper Community Consolidated School District 17
Wayne
3.35
Review
146
Troy Community Consolidated School District 30C
Will
3.35
Review
147
Wilmington Community Unit School District 209U
Will
3.35
Review
148
Crab Orchard Community Unit School District 3
Williamson
3.35
Review
149
Marion Community Unit School District 2
Williamson
3.35
Review
150
Metamora Community Consolidated School District 1
Woodford
3.35
Review
151
Spring Valley Community Consolidated School District 99
Bureau
3.45
Review
152
Morrisonville Community Unit School District 1
Christian
3.45
Review
153
Western Springs School District 101
Cook
3.45
Review
154
Wheeling Community Consolidated School District 21
Cook
3.45
Review
155
Elementary School District 159
Cook
3.45
Review
156
Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124
Cook
3.45
Review
157
ARGO COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 217
Cook
3.45
Review
158
Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401
Cook
3.45
Review
159
Oblong Community Unit School District 4
Crawford
3.45
Review
160
Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204
Dupage
3.45
Review
161
Cass School District 63
Dupage
3.45
Review
162
School District 45 Dupage County School District
Dupage
3.45
Review
163
North Greene Community Unit School District 3
Greene
3.45
Review
164
Hamilton County Community Unit School District 10
Hamilton
3.45
Review
165
Hardin County Community Unit School District 1
Hardin
3.45
Review
166
Geneseo Community Unit School District 228
Henry
3.45
Review
167
Alwood Community Unit School District 225
Henry
3.45
Review
168
Wethersfield Community Unit School District 230
Henry
3.45
Review
169
Desoto Consolidated School District 86
Jackson
3.45
Review
170
Grand Prairie Community Consolidated School District 6
Jefferson
3.45
Review
171
Jersey Community Unit School District 100
Jersey
3.45
Review
172
Buncombe Consolidated School District 43
Johnson
3.45
Review
173
Goreville Community Unit School District 1
Johnson
3.45
Review
174
Bourbonnais Elementary School District No. 53
Kankakee
3.45
Review
175
Fox Lake Grade School District 114
Lake
3.45
Review
176
Grayslake Community High School District 127
Lake
3.45
Review
177
Mendota Community Consolidated School District 289
Lasalle
3.45
Review
178
Flanagan-Cornell District 74
Livingston
3.45
Review
179
Central City School District 133
Marion
3.45
Review
180
South Central Community Unit School District 401
Marion
3.45
Review
181
Litchfield Community Unit School District 12
Montgomery
3.45
Review
182
Panhandle Community Unit School District 2
Montgomery
3.45
Review
183
Bement Community Unified School District 5
Piatt
3.45
Review
184
Auburn Community Unit School District 10
Sangamon
3.45
Review
185
Springfield School District 186
Sangamon
3.45
Review
186
Schuyler Industry Community Unit School District 5
Schuyler
3.45
Review
187
St. Libory Consolidated School District 30
St. clair
3.45
Review
188
Wolf Branch School District 113
St. clair
3.45
Review
189
Grant Community Consolidated School District 110
St. clair
3.45
Review
190
O Fallon Township High School District 203
St. clair
3.45
Review
191
Whiteside School District 115
St. clair
3.45
Review
192
Bismarck Henning Community Unit School District 1
Vermilion
3.45
Review
193
Fairfield Public School District 112
Wayne
3.45
Review
194
Fairfield Community High School District 225
Wayne
3.45
Review
195
County of Winnebago School District 320
Winnebago
3.45
Review
196
Central Community Unit School District 3
Adams
3.55
Recognition
197
Liberty Community Unit School District 2
Adams
3.55
Recognition
198
Ladd Community Consolidated School District 94
Bureau
3.55
Recognition
199
Beardstown Community Unified School District 15
Cass
3.55
Recognition
200
A-C Central Community Unit School District 262
Cass
3.55
Recognition
