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LTHS District approves tentative 2025 tax levy after presentation on enrollment and student performance
Summary
The Lockport Township High School District 205 Board approved a tentative 2025 tax levy and heard an ECRA Group analysis showing above‑state math performance and mixed proficiency results, while staff outlined enrollment projections and a five‑year financial forecast.
The Lockport Township High School District 205 Board on Nov. 17 approved a tentative tax levy for calendar year 2025 and received a detailed presentation comparing district performance to peer schools and the state.
Superintendent Dr. McBride and district finance staff said the tentative levy was calculated to fund the already‑approved budget, to maintain cash flow and to continue a policy of debt‑service abatement. The business manager noted the district’s fall tax collections put cash on hand at approximately a 12‑month level and presented a cohort enrollment projection that shows a near‑term dip in student counts followed by modest recovery over the next five years.
The ECRA Group, engaged by the district to provide context for the Illinois School Report Card, presented percentiles and comparative graphs. The consultant’s slides showed Lockport above the state median in ELA and notably strong in math — the district performed better than roughly 77% of districts in math percentile comparisons — while proficiency measures varied across subjects.
Dr. McBride said the district will continue to focus on discipline literacy and targeted interventions to lift students who are below proficiency thresholds. "I believe all the data here is pointing to real success, real growth," Dr. McBride said during his update, noting work by instructional coaches and teams to translate the data into classroom practice.
Board members discussed how new property estimates affect levy calculations and emphasized the county clerk ultimately adjusts assessed values. Staff advised the board that the tentative levy increase was below the statutory 5% threshold (presented as about 4.14%), avoiding a separate public‑hearing requirement tied to higher increases. The board voted to adopt the tentative levy as presented.
What’s next: The county will finalize new‑property figures and compute the district’s final rate; the levy adopted tonight funds parts of two fiscal years under Illinois cycles, and staff will continue to update the five‑year forecast as facility plans and capital decisions crystallize.
