Oak Park and River Forest High School has made progress in its diversity of staff, according to data reviewed by board members during the first regular meeting of the year on Aug. 22. Tom Cofsky, president of the board, described the process of implementing more staff of color, specifically in teaching positions, as “slow, but it’s steady.” 

According to data presented at the meeting, in the 2019-2020 school year 76% of faculty were white, compared to 57% of students. In the 2024-2025 school year, 71% of faculty are white, compared to 54% of students.

Over that same five-year period, the percentage of Black teachers went from 11% to 12%. The number of Black students went from 18% to 16%. 

The percentage of Hispanic teachers increased from 8% to 11%, while the percentage of Hispanic students increased from 13% to 16%.

The percentage of Asian or Pacific Islander students and teachers has stayed steady between 3% and 4%.

When the district looked at the racial makeup of all its employees, including teachers and other staff, the proportions matched the students more closely. In the 2024-2025 school year for example, 56% of all staff are white, compared to 54% of students. The percentage of Black employees is 24%, compared to 16% of Black students.

The Board of Education aims to employ more teachers of color so the faculty ratio from students to staff can match more closely. 

A significant obstacle in achieving this agenda is the fact OPRF teachers are mostly stable, and not leaving the district, which means vacancies are not readily available. For the 2025 school year, there are only two predicted vacancies due to retirement, according to Roxana Sanders, assistant superintendent for human resources. 

The report also looked at how many teachers stay in their jobs. Between 2019 and 2024, between 94% and 95% of white teachers stayed. That rate was less steady for teachers and staff of color. For them, the retention rate ranged from 85% to 94%.