Business Office

Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 has been widely recognized for its excellent financial stewardship on behalf of the residents of Oak Park and River Forest. The District has received accolades that include:

AAA credit rating. This is the highest possible credit rating, given by Standard & Poor’s to just 22 school districts in Illinois and 67 across the country. The rating indicates strong financial management practices that focus on multi-year planning and an ability to manage through all economic cycles, as well as a manageable debt burden. Having a AAA rating means lower borrowing costs for the District.  The rating was most recently updated in 2024.

Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting. This is the highest recognition for school district financial operations given by the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO). The certificate confirms that the District’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for has met or exceeded the standards set by ASBO International.   The certificate is issued annually, and District 200 has been recognized every year since at least 2003.   This award represents a very significant achievement and reflects the District’s commitment to the highest standards of school system financial reporting.

ISBE Financial Recognition.  The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) utilizes a metric called a Financial Profile Score to assess the overall financial health of school districts. It is a composite score that is based on a weighted accumulation of several key financial indicators such as fund balances, revenue to expenditure ratios, and borrowing ability. District 200 has received the highest score category (Recognition) from ISBE in every year since at least 2003.

For information on District 200 budget basics, click here.