Wheaton North High School (WNHS), locally referred to as "North" is a public four-year high school in Wheaton, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. It is one of two high schools that are part of Community Unit School District 200, the other being Wheaton Warrenville South High School.
| Wheaton North High School | |
|---|---|
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| Address | |
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701 West Thomas Road[1] , 60187 United States | |
| Coordinates | 41°53′02″N 88°06′58″W / 41.88389°N 88.11611°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public Secondary |
| Opened | 1964 |
| School district | Comm. Unit S.D. 200 |
| NCES District ID | 1742180 |
| Superintendent | Jeffrey Schuler[2] |
| CEEB code | 144386 |
| NCES School ID | 174218004223 |
| Principal | Dan Korntheuer[3] |
| Teaching staff | 132.85 (on an FTE basis)[4] |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Gender | Coed |
| Enrollment | 1,871[4] (2022–23) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 14.08[4] |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Blue Gold[5] |
| Fight song | "Falcon Fight Song" |
| Athletics conference | DuKane Conference[5] |
| Mascot | Falcon[1] |
| Team name | Falcons[5] |
| Publication | Falcon Weekly[6] |
| Newspaper | Falcon Flyer[6] |
| Yearbook | The Northerner[6] |
| Website | www |
History
editAs demand for a second high school increased in the 1950s and 1960s, Wheaton North High School split off from the original Wheaton Community High School in 1963. At this time, Wheaton Community changed its name to Wheaton Central, and in 1974, a third high school Wheaton Warrenville, joined the district. In 1983, Wheaton Warrenville was closed and the district only had the two high schools, Wheaton North and Wheaton Central. In 1992, Wheaton Central moved into the former Wheaton Warrenville high school and changed its name to Wheaton Warrenville South.
The building underwent significant renovations in the mid-1990s and on April 1, 2003, residents of Community Unit School District 200 approved, by a vote of 10,173 to 6,518,[7] a $72 million bond referendum to renovate and add onto both Wheaton North, and its counterpart, Wheaton Warrenville South. Construction began in the summer of 2003 with its first phase of the building of a field house. The second phase included renovations and additions to the building, which were completed in summer 2006.
On August 31, 2007, the school received a surprise visit from former U.S. President Bill Clinton. He made the visit to commend the school for its history of community service, and particularly singled out Kendall Ciesemier for her achievement in raising money and awareness for highly vulnerable children in Africa through her charity, Kids Caring 4 Kids, despite suffering her own medical problems. Kendall was rewarded with a trip to The Oprah Winfrey Show. The episode featuring Kendall aired September 4, 2007.[8]
As of 2015, most of the school has not changed its appearance inside and out physically, until a flood occurred. This flood generated momentum and a problem for the school. The library received help from the community, its own faculty and other people as it was being refinished. This newly refinished library was also the class gift from the class of 2015.[9][10]
Academics
editIn 2013, Wheaton North had an average composite ACT score of 23.6 and graduated 93.8% of its senior class.[11] Wheaton North has not made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) on the Prairie State Achievements Examination, which with the ACT comprise the assessment tools used in Illinois to fulfill the federal No Child Left Behind Act. One of the school's student subgroups failed to meet minimum expectations in reading and mathematics.
The Challenge Index, used annually by The Washington Post and Newsweek magazine to rank U.S. high schools, placed Wheaton North in the top 1300 three years in a row. This index ranks public schools according to a ratio devised by Jay Mathews: the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and/or Cambridge tests taken by all students at a school in the past year divided by the number of graduating seniors. In 2009, Wheaton North ranked #1260. In 2006, the school had ranked #1078, in 2007, it had ranked #1039, and in 2008, the school ranked #1276.[12]
Athletics
editWheaton North competes in the DuKane Conference, and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), which governs most interscholastic sports and competitive activities in the state.
In 2003, Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South became the first high schools in the DuPage Valley Conference, and among the first high schools in the nation, to convert their football fields to artificial field turf.
The school sponsors interscholastic athletic teams for boys and girls in basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, parasailing, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. Boys may compete in baseball, football, and wrestling, while girls may compete in badminton, cheerleading, and softball.[13]
The following teams have won championships in their respective IHSA sponsored state championship tournament or meet:[14]
- Cross Country (girls): 2002–03
- Football: 1979–80, 1981–82, 1986–87, 2021–22[15]
- Gymnastics (boys): 2004–05, 2011–2012, 2012–2013, 2013–2014
Activities
editWheaton North offers language clubs, service activities, and various other activities, typical of an American high school.
Competitive activities
editThe following competitive activities have earned championships in their respective State Championship Tournaments, sponsored by the IHSA:[14]
- Debate: 1977–78 & 2005–06
- Scholastic Bowl: 2001–02, 2002–03 & 2003–04
Notable alumni
edit- Scot Armstrong, screenwriter, director, producer[16]
- Danny Gonzalez, YouTuber[17]
- Kent Graham (1987), former NFL quarterback, National High School Quarterback of the Year (1986)[18][19][20]
- Adam Harris (2005), Olympic sprinter representing Guyana, ran the 200 metres at the 2008 Summer Olympics[20][21]
- Pete Ittersagen (2004), former CFL and NFL cornerback
- Rick Johnson, actor, director, and former CFL quarterback (1984–89)[20]
- Jim Juriga (1982), former NFL guard[22]
- Chuck Long (1981), former NFL quarterback and college football coach, member of the College Football Hall of Fame[20][23][24][25]
- Robert James Miller (2002), U.S. Army staff sergeant who served in the War in Afghanistan, posthumously received the Medal of Honor (2010);[26][27] namesake of the school's commons
- Bonnie Nadzam (1995), writer[28]
- Gail O'Grady (1981), Emmy Award-nominated actress (NYPD Blue, American Dreams, and Boston Legal)[20][29][30]
- Randy Pfund (1970), former NBA head coach and general manager[20][31]
- Matt Rahn (2000), Arena Football League player[32]
- Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jr. (2005), speed skater, competed in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games[33][34]
- Steve Thonn (1979), Arena Football League player and coach[35]
- Clayton Thorson (2014), NFL quarterback[36]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "School Profile". Wheaton North High School. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
- ^ "Organizational Chart" (PDF). Community Unit School District 200. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ "Admin". Staff Directory. Community Unit School District 200. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Wheaton North High School". School Directory Information. National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Wheaton North H.S." School Directory. IHSA. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- ^ a b c Activities Directory for WNHS; accessed June 23, 2009
- ^ High School Expansion
- ^ Fuller, James; Clinton, Oprah, Cash; September 1, 2007; Daily Herald; accessed June 23, 2009
- ^ Cilella, Jessica. "Booster club hosting fundraiser for Wheaton North library" – via Daily Herald.
- ^ "Wheaton North Booster Club". wnhsboosters.org. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- ^ "Wheaton North H.S." (PDF). Illinois School Report Card. 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
- ^ The Top of the Class – The complete list of the 1,500 top U.S. high schools; June 8, 2009; Newsweek.com; accessed June 23, 2009
- ^ Athletic Department at WNHS; accessed June 23, 2009
- ^ a b Season Summaries for WNHS; ihsa.org; accessed June 23, 2009
- ^ Bartelson, Jacob. "Class 7A state championship: Wheaton North dominates St. Rita for first state title since 1986". Shaw Local. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
- ^ "Hollywood screenwriter Scot Armstrong: "I wanted to be friends with the funniest people"". WGN Radio - 720 AM. April 13, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
- ^ Gonzalez, Daniel (March 5, 2022). STOP MAKING STUFF UP ABOUT ME (video). Danny Gonzalez. Event occurs at 10:19. Retrieved August 10, 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ List of National High School Quarterbacks of the Year; The National Quarterback Club; accessed June 23, 2009
- ^ Kent Graham stats & bio; databasefootball.com; accessed June 23, 2009
- ^ a b c d e f Akouris, Tina (September 22, 2009). "Wheaton North Falcons: Rex assured, a tradition of winners". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
- ^ Bush, Scott; Adam Harris is an Olympian; July 28, 2008; ILRunners.com; accessed June 23, 2009
- ^ Juriga, Jim. "Juriga, Mark Butkus Join Illini Renaissance Celebration". Illinois Athletics. University of Illinois. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
- ^ Chuck Long profile; University of San Diego Football; accessed June 23, 2009
- ^ Chuck Long player profile; University of iowa Athletic Department; accessed June 23, 2009
- ^ Chuck Long stats & bio; databasefootbal.com; accessed June 23, 2009
- ^ Garcia, John (January 28, 2008). "Local soldier killed in Afghanistan". recap of television news story. WLS-TV (ABC-7 Chicago). Retrieved September 13, 2010.
Army Staff Sergeant Robert Miller was shot during a firefight in a town near the Pakistan border Friday. He graduated from Wheaton North High School in 2002. The teachers remember him as a strong student and also a good athlete. He was a member of the gymnastics team who qualified for state his senior year. And those who knew him say it was a terrible loss.
- ^ Biasco, Paul (September 9, 2010), "Fallen Wheaton soldier to be awarded Medal of Honor", Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL, USA), retrieved September 13, 2010,
A Wheaton North graduate is being posthumously awarded the nation's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions in Afghanistan in 2008. The White House announced Thursday that Army Staff Sgt. Robert Miller, who died while in a close-range fire fight on Jan. 25, 2008, would receive the rare award.
- ^ "Bonnie Nadzam". Granta.
- ^ Lipton, Michael A; She's Prima and Donna; April 17, 1995; People Magazine vol 43, No. 15; accessed June 23, 2009
- ^ Gail O'Grady biography; New York Times.com; accessed June 23, 2009
- ^ Randy Pfund profile; nba.com; accessed June 23, 2009
- ^ Goodfellow, Lily (August 21, 2023). "Coach of the Week: Matthew Rahn". The Courier. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ "Nancy Swider-Peltz (1992) - Hall of Honor". Wheaton College Athletics. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ McGraw, Patricia Babcock (January 9, 2009). "Olympic hopeful a chip off the ol' block". Daily Herald. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ "Steve Thonn". Archived from the original on December 18, 2015.
- ^ "Wheaton North's Clayton Thorson has trip to remember". Chicago Tribune. January 14, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2024.