Families sending students back to Lake Forest High School on Aug. 26 will find a district where the average administrator earns $48,550 more per year than the average teacher, according to 2024-25 data from the Illinois State Board of Education, compiled by the Lake County Gazette.

The gap is wider at the two K-8 districts. At Lake Bluff School District 65, administrators averaged $158,665 compared with $91,993 for teachers, a difference of about 72%. At Lake Forest School District 67, administrators averaged $156,304 versus $93,515 for teachers, a gap of about 67%.

At Lake Forest Community High School District 115, the average administrator salary was $183,395 and the average teacher salary was $134,845, a 36% difference. That placed District 115 tenth among the state's 50 largest districts by enrollment, according to data reported to State Superintendent Tony Sanders' office. New Trier Township High School District 203 topped the list at $200,839.

Why the percentage gaps differ

The wider percentage gaps at Districts 65 and 67 reflect their lower teacher salary bases. District 115's average teacher pay of $134,845 is among the highest in the state, narrowing the percentage spread even though its administrators also earn more in raw dollars.

Nearby high school districts show a similar pattern. Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 in Lincolnshire paid administrators an average of $188,167 and teachers $119,923. Libertyville Community High School District 128 paid $187,879 and $131,920, respectively.

Across Illinois, teacher salaries grew faster than administrator salaries over the past five years. Average teacher pay rose 15.3% through the 2024-25 school year, while average administrator pay increased 11.1% over the same period, according to ISBE.

Teacher retention statewide stood at 89.5% in 2024-25, according to the Illinois Report Card. The number of unfilled teaching positions fell 24% to 2,943 as of Oct. 1, 2025, and the statewide vacancy rate dropped to 2.1%.

What's next

The three districts enrolled a combined 3,866 students in 2024-25: 1,644 in District 67, 1,348 in District 115 and 874 in District 65. District 115's Board of Education meets Wednesday, Aug. 12 for a Finance Committee and regular meeting, though no salary-related agenda item has been confirmed for that session.