Hinsdale Township High School District 86 is among 81 school districts in Illinois to be named a Bright Red Apple Award winner in 2009 by the educational research firm School Search.

Superintendent Nicholas Wahl made the announcement at the regular meeting of the District 86 Board of Education on Monday.

District 86 is comprised of two high schools, including Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale and Hinsdale South High School in Darien.

The award is given annually to public school districts throughout the state based on five criteria: academic performance, pupil-to-teacher ratio, expenditure per pupil, educational level of teachers and average teacher salary.

District 86 was one of just 18 school districts serving high school students to be recognized, and one of two from DuPage County. The other high school district in DuPage County to earn a Bright Red Apple award was Lisle Community School District 202.

Among the area school districts serving K-8 students to earn the award were: Cass School District 63, Maercker School District 60, Gower School District 62 and  Community Consolidated School District 181.