Oak Park and River Forest High School narrowed the racial gap in student suspensions over the past three years, but overall discipline numbers climbed during the 2025-26 school year, according to a report delivered to the District 200 board.

Black students made up 55% of those receiving out-of-school suspensions in 2025-26, down from 86% in 2022-23, the Wednesday Journal first reported. Total out-of-school suspensions dropped from 66 three years ago to 29 last year. The 29 suspensions, however, were up from 19 the prior year. Black students account for 17% of the roughly 3,300-student population.

"We made it our mission to reduce the number of incidents that would lead to suspension in the hopes that that would improve our disparity rate," Assistant Principal for Operations David Narain told the board at its Sept. 24 meeting.

The suspension progress came alongside a broader rise in discipline incidents. A total of 382 students were involved in disciplinary incidents in 2025-26, up 7.5% from 342 the prior year. Black students accounted for 38% of those incidents. White students, at 52% of the student body, were involved in 29%. Hispanic students, at 16% of enrollment, accounted for 20%.

The school is required to submit a discipline improvement plan to the state under Illinois' Exclusionary Discipline Plan because of the racial disproportionality in its suspensions. Sixteen of the 29 suspended students were Black, while three were white and six were Hispanic.

OPRF's suspension rate still compared favorably to peer schools. Less than 1% of students received an out-of-school suspension, compared with 4.72% at Evanston Township High School, according to the report.

Sophomore student delegate Jackson Carroll asked Narain whether the low suspension numbers reflected fewer serious incidents or a shift toward in-school alternatives such as "school reflection." Narain said the school does not suspend students for vaping and instead refers them to education programs as part of a restorative justice approach.

"Putting a student out of school is damaging to them academically and not beneficial to them in terms of learning," Narain said.

Vaping and substance referrals rose to 93 students from 81 the year before. Students caught using THC vapes, nicotine or alcohol are referred to the Way Back Inn treatment center for two group sessions.

Physical violence held roughly steady at 72 incidents, compared with 71 in 2024-25. There were 25 one-on-one fights, six multi-student fights (down from 10) and no incidents involving guns or look-alike weapons. Six incidents led to expulsion review for 10 students. Two were recommended for expulsion, two were moved to settings matching their Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and six returned to school with supports.

Principal Lynda Parker told the board the school has begun focusing on transfer students, who administrators found are more likely to be involved in discipline incidents. Three events were held before the school year, including a separate book pickup, schedule distribution and parent night, Parker said.

Board member Josh Gertz said the data suggested the school is "heading in the right direction."

Narain said 89% of students had no discipline incidents at all. That figure rises to 95% when one-time minor infractions are excluded.