Did you note that “The OPRF Connection,” delivered last week provided evidence that OPRF suffered some seriously bad performance scores on its 2025 State Report Card?
However, reading between the lines, the problem may not lie with the high school. The latest report card is depressing for those of us who have children in District 97. Relative to “11 high schools with exemplary status” OPRF was graded 12th, and last, on the measure of “9th Graders on Track.” Even worse, relative to “8 other Large, Diverse High Schools with Similar Per Pupil Spending” we are seventh: next to last!
Why is this? It would seem to be related to an exceptionally poor performance by OPRF’s predecessors in D97. It seems that our elementary and middle schools are doing a poor job of preparing students for further education.
I think that Oak Park taxpayers will only be satisfied by an immediate, impartial investigation into the failure of D97 to deliver students who are ready to advance their education.
Where is D97 failing? Is it that the remnant of the “Five plus Five” initiative is still paying retirees to do nothing for years, while their students struggle on without the help that they so desperately need? Sinecures seem to be endemic here. Are we excusing underperforming kids from homework, which helps to obscure poor grades and along with it to obscure D97’s failure to support the entire student body?
I really don’t know. But as an Oak Park taxpayer I propose that an independent investigation should be made without any further delay. Let’s identify the problems within D97 and fix them before we pour ever more of the taxpayer’s money down a deepening hole in the ground.
Neil Taylor
Oak Park
