Legal Autonomy & Fiscal Independence

District Profile

Barrington 220 is a nationally recognized preK-12 school district, located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, USA. The first Barrington school was a one-room schoolhouse, which opened in 1835. However, it wasn’t until 1973 that the Barrington 220 School District officially formed from the merger of other districts. Since then, Barrington 220 has become known for its innovative curriculum, rich history and sense of community. As a unit district, Barrington 220 has the unique opportunity to see students’ education from the very beginning until they graduate from Barrington High School, or the Barrington Transition Center.

Barrington 220 has one high school, two middle school campuses for grades 6-8, eight elementary schools, one early childhood center, and a transition center for students who are eligible for special education services aged 18-22 years old. The District will serve approximately 8,200 students from prekindergarten through twelfth grade and transition students to age 22 in the 2022-2023 school year.

Legal Autonomy & Fiscal Independence

Barrington 220 is a fiscally independent unit of government governed by a seven member Board of Education, which is elected by the public and has the exclusive responsibility and accountability for the decisions it makes. In accordance with state law, the District has the statutory authority to adopt its own budget, levy taxes, and issue bonded debt without the approval of another government. It has the right to sue and be sued, and has the right to buy, sell, lease, or mortgage property in its own name.

The School Code of Illinois requires the district to adopt a budget by the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year and to certify the certificate of tax levy by the last Tuesday in December. Based on these criteria, the district is considered a primary government and there are no other organizations or agencies whose budgets should be combined and presented with this budget.

5th Grade, Printmaking