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Lake Forest administrators say Mandarin sequence will be phased out if enrollment stays low
Summary
District officials told the board they intend to "sunset" the Mandarin sequence at Lake Forest High School if enrollments remain below levels that support staffing, and promised direct communications to affected District 67 families and incoming students.
Lake Forest Community High School District 115 officials told the board on April 16 that the district intends to phase out ("sunset") parts of the Mandarin language sequence at Lake Forest High School if current low enrollment continues.
A high-school administrator explained the rationale and timeline, saying the district has had "declining enrollment" in Mandarin, that a long-standing Mandarin teacher resigned recently and that the plan would offer rising ninth graders Mandarin 2 next year but not offer Mandarin 2 the following year as cohorts progress. "This is an opportunity for us to look at in declining enrollment, actually sunsetting the Mandarin program," the administrator said. The superintendent added that communications would be sent to District 67 families and that conversations with current eighth graders and affected families would follow to explain options.
Parents in the meeting asked for clarity about immediate effects on District 67. Parent Michael Malzinski said District 67 families had been calling for information; Montgomery replied that an update would be sent the next morning and that the district intends to honor current students moving into freshman year so they can continue toward AP Chinese where feasible. Student public commenter Ethan Malzinski, identified himself and said: "In high school, I would like to do the Mandarin program because it is fun seeing my friends, learning with them, and I like learning a new, unique language than Spanish." The board and administration said they will work with families on course options, including online and hybrid alternatives, if the district begins the phase-out.
Why it matters: The change would alter language-course offerings at Lake Forest High School and could affect feeder patterns and family decisions in neighboring District 67. Administration framed the action as contingent on enrollment trends and staffing; no formal vote to end the program was taken at the meeting.
