Elgin High School (Illinois)
| Elgin High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
1200 Maroon Dr. , Elgin | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public secondary |
| Motto | Education for all. |
| Established | 1869 |
| Principal | David Smiley |
| Faculty | 211 |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 2,344 |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Maroon and cream |
| Mascot | Maroons |
| Newspaper | The Mirror |
| Yearbook | The Maroon |
| Website | www.u-46.org/ehs |
Elgin High School, or EHS, is a public four-year high school located in Elgin, Illinois, an American city 40 mi. (63.5 km) northwest of Chicago. It is part of Elgin Area School District U46, which also includes Bartlett High School, Larkin High School, South Elgin High School, and Streamwood High School.
History
Elgin High School is one of the oldest public high schools in the state. Its first graduation ceremony was held in 1872 and its accreditation dates back to 1904.
Academics
In 2005, Elgin had an average composite ACT score of 8.3, and graduated 81.1% of its senior class. The average class size is 23.7. Elgin has not made Adequate Yearly Progress on the Prairie State Achievements Examination, a state test part of the No Child Left Behind Act.[1]
Elgin High is the home of the Gifted and Talented Academy, an advanced curriculum to which students must apply. The Academy requires high standardized test scores, superior academic performance, and advanced writing skills for admission. The Academy comprises about 5% of the total student body. Its curriculum is based on a liberal arts education, and students must take advanced Honors/AP courses in English, History, Math, and the Sciences.
Demographics
As of 2005, the EHS student body was 36.1% White, 9.9% Black, 501287983% Hispanic, 0.1% Native American, and 5.6% Asian. 42% of students were listed as low income. The average salary for teachers was $57,945 and the average length of teaching experience was 13.5 years.[2]
Athletics
Elgin competes in the Upstate Eight Conference. In 2003 Chief Maroon was removed as Elgin's mascot due to the symbol's lack of political correctness. A new mascot has yet to be determined. Hiep Du won the IHSA State Tennis championship in 2008 with Coach Larry Dehaan's "chip and charge" method.
Stabbing
On January 18, 2008, at 11:15 PM CST, a 16 year-old sophomore ran into the class of Carolyn Gilbert, a consumer science teacher, threw a coat over her, and stabbed her with a knife in the head, neck and chest. The sophomore stabbed one of her eyes and she lost vision in it. Should the teacher die, the sophomore will be charged with first-degree murder. Everyone else was evacuated and many schools in the state of Illinois have practiced lockdown drills since then.
Notable alumni
- A complete list of notable alumni can be found: here.
- Max Adler, 1883, vice-president of Sears & Roebuck, benefactor of Adler Planetarium
- Nina Burleigh, 1978, journalist and best-selling author
- Reb Braddock, 1983, film director (IMDB page)
- Jane Peterson,1901, painter and artist
- John Qualen, 1920, actor (IMDB page)
- James Roche, 1923, president of General Motors
- Paul Flory, 1927, winner of the 1974 Nobel Prize in chemistry
- William E. Rauschenberger, 1935, mayor of Elgin (1971-75)
- George Van De Voorde, 1943, mayor of Elgin (1987-95)
- Charles Swanson, 1946, president of Encyclopædia Britannica
- Tom Shales, 1962, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist in 1988
- Brian Oldfield, 1963, Olympic shot putter
- Edward A. Schock, 1964, mayor of Elgin (1999-present)
- Richard Hoover, 1965, Tony Award-winning production designer
- James Kirkland, 1966, Illinois State Representative (1983-1992)
- Laurence Kaptain, 1970, noted international performer and recording artist, Dean, Shenandoah Conservatory
- Kristine Iverson, 1971, assistant secretary of labor, George W. Bush's cabinet
- Steve Rauschenberger, 1974, Illinois State Senator
- John Walker, 1974, movie producer (IMDB page)