We are River Forest - teachers, administrators, parents, alumni and community members who make our schools what they are. Our schools are woven into the life of this community. On November 3, our community will decide whether to continue our operating referendum for no more than eight years at a lower maximum rate than the referendum approved in 2019.
90%% GRADUATION RATE
The Class of 2025 reached a 90% graduation rate.
93.3% IREAD PASS RATE
River Forest students continue to demonstrate strong early-literacy achievement.
STRONG ARTS & ACTIVITIES
River Forest students participate in band, choir, robotics, athletics and academic competition, with programs earning state-level recognition.
EXPANDING CAREER PATHWAYS
CTE participation has grown from approximately 10 students to 30, with opportunities in areas including building trades, aeronautics, athletic training and criminal justice.
OUR STUDENTS ARE
ACHIEVING
COLLEGE & ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES
Students have access to dual-credit and AP coursework, higher-level math and science classes, academic teams and Lilly Scholarship opportunities.
River Forest is proud of what our students are accomplishing and committed to continuing that progress.
SMALL SCHOOL.
BIG OPPORTUNITIES.
At River Forest, our small-school atmosphere means students are known, supported and connected—while still having access to strong academics, career preparation, STEM, fine arts, athletics, leadership and service.
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Students can take dual-credit and AP courses, advanced math and science, Gary Area Career Center programs, and in-house athletic training and criminal-justice pathways. Opportunities also include robotics, Science Olympiad, Spell Bowl, Academic Super Bowl, ecology and high-ability programming.
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Band and choir programs have earned state-level recognition, and students can participate in athletics, clubs and leadership opportunities from elementary through high school.
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River Forest also supports families through free preschool, summer school, social-emotional learning and community partnerships.
WHEN OUR COMMUNITY
NEEDED HELP,
RIVER FOREST RESPONDED.
Just before the start of school, an extended power outage disrupted neighborhoods across the River Forest community and left some school buildings without power.
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WE FED
FAMILIES
WE DISTRIBUTED ESSENTIALS
WE OPENED OUR SCHOOL SPACES
WE TOOK HELP INTO THE COMMUNITY
WE CONTINUED SERVING
River Forest food-service employees and school staff organized meals, elementary-school barbecues and mobile-market pickups in partnership with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana.
Staff provided toiletries, food and other basic necessities to families affected by the outage.
As power became available, River Forest facilities provided access to showers, cooling areas and places for residents to charge their devices.
River Forest buses were used to carry food and toiletries into neighborhoods, allowing staff to bring supplies directly to residents.
The response continued for multiple days, including while school was closed and some River Forest buildings remained without power.
WHY IS THE REFERENDUM
BACK ON THE BALLOT?
2019 — REFERENDUM APPROVED
In 2019, River Forest voters approved an eight-year operating referendum to support teaching and staff positions, transportation and educational programming.
2025 — INDIANA'S PROPERTY-TAX SYSTEM CHANGED
Indiana's 2025 property-tax changes affect deductions, credits, business personal property and the taxable assessed value available to support local school revenue.
River Forest's financial analysis projects that these changes will place additional pressure on the local revenue available to the schools as they phase in.
RECENT YEARS — EXPANDING STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
River Forest has continued expanding opportunities for students.
Career and Technical Education participation has grown from approximately 10 students to 30, alongside opportunities in academics, STEM, fine arts, athletics and student activities.
Referendum
Funding
The proposed referendum would support manageable class sizes, quality teachers and staff, student health and safety, and academic and career opportunities.
01
SUSTAIN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
River Forest's size does not limit the educational experiences available to students.
Operating referendum funding helps sustain educational programs, student services and opportunities across academics, college and career preparation, STEM, fine arts, athletics, leadership and service.
02
RETAIN QUALITY TEACHERS & STAFF
Referendum funding helps support and retain the teachers and staff who work directly with River Forest students.
This funding supports classroom staffing and the individual attention and services available to students throughout the school day.
03
KEEP STUDENTS SAFE & SUPPORTED
Referendum funding supports essential student health and safety initiatives, including the retention of School Resource Officers.
04
MAINTAIN STUDENT TRANSPORTATION
Student transportation connects River Forest students with their classrooms, programs, activities and opportunities each day.
Referendum funding helps maintain the transportation services used by River Forest students and families.
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THE MAXIMUM RATE
IS GOING DOWN.
VOTERS AUTHORIZED A MAXIMUM REFERENDUM RATE OF
$1.1900
PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE
2019
2026 RENEWAL
WOULD REDUCE THE MAXIMUM TO
$0.9912
PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE
