Lyons Township High School

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Lyons Township High School
Motto	Vita Plena "the quest for the fulfilling life"
Established	1888
Type	Public secondary
Principal	David Franson
Faculty	216
Students	3,710
Grades	9–12
Location	100 S. Brainard Ave. LaGrange, Illinois, USA
Campus	Suburban
Colors	Blue and Gold
Mascot	Lion
Yearbook	Tabulae Yearbook
Newspaper	Lion Newspaper
Website	[1]
The main academic building of Lyons Township High School's North Campus

Lyons Township High School, or LTHS, is a public high school located in La Grange, Illinois. Freshmen and sophomores attend class at South campus, located at 4900 S. Willow Springs Rd. in Western Springs, while juniors and seniors attend class at North campus, located at 100 S. Brainard Ave. in La Grange. LTHS is co-educational and serves grades 9-12 for Lyons Township High School District 204, which includes the communities of La Grange, Western Springs, Burr Ridge, La Grange Park, Countryside, Indian Head Park, Hodgkins, and parts of Brookfield and Willow Springs. LTHS is listed at 869 among Newsweeks 1,300 Best High Schools for 2005.¹

1 History
2 Athletics
3 Newspaper
4 LTTV
5 Radio
6 Demographics
7 School Song
8 Awards
9 Notable alumni

[edit] History

Lyons Township High School was opened on September 3, 1888. The enrollment included 39 students. An athletic field was constructed in 1914, and a 1926-1929 expansion included a clock tower, auditorium, offices, library, and a gym. In 1956, a second campus was opened about a mile south-west in nearby Western Springs to accommodate the community's growing population. In 2005, a performing arts center, a fieldhouse, and a pool were added to the South campus to complement the facilities at the North campus.

Currently, about 3,800 students attend the school. LTHS South campus also includes an alternative learning program.

[edit] Athletics

The school participates in many interscholastic sports in the West Suburban Silver Division:

Men's: Baseball, Basketball, Lacrosse, Gymnastics, Football, Swimming, Diving, Track, Cross Country, Soccer, Water Polo, Tennis, Volleyball, and Wrestling.
Women's: Softball, Track, Basketball, Gymnastics, Swimming, Diving, Cross Country, Soccer, Tennis, Badminton, Volleyball, Lacrosse, and Water Polo

[edit] Newspaper

The school newspaper is the Lion, which is a member of the High School National Ad Network. Currently in its 98th year of publication, the Lion is a completely student run publication. In 2006 the newspaper was the subject of controversy when it printed opinions critical of the school's administration. The newspaper has earned numerous awards, most recently the Pacemaker award, Pulitzer Prize of High School Journalism, for Outstanding Journalism for their cumulative work in the 2006-2007 year. This is the second year in a row the Lion has won the award. http://www.lths.net/News/Lion_xStudent_Newspaperx/Current_Issue.html

[edit] LTTV

Lyons Township Television (LT-TV) is LT's TV station.

[edit] Radio

WLTL is a non profit high school educational radio station located in LaGrange, Illinois. WLTL has won several national and local awards including the Service to America award. All of WLTL is student run. Each year new student managers are chosen to run the station.

WLTL is currently one of the largest academic clubs at LTHS. WLTL is the recipient of more than 25 awards of excellence, including the John Drury award for Best High School Radio Station in the Nation. WLTL has also been recognized nationally for the quality broadcasting that it provides by the National Association of Broadcasters.

WLTL is online at http://www.wltl.net

[edit] Demographics

As Lyons Township High School is located in one of the more affluent areas in Cook County, Illinois, most of the teachers employed there are well-paid, with the average salary being $78,087, according to The Champion - Listing of Teacher Salaries in Illinois

Ethnicities:

Caucasian: 85.6%
Hispanic: 9.1%
African-American: 3.3%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.8%
Native American: 0.2%

[edit] School Song

'LTHS, LTHS Dear old school of Gold and Blue LTHS, LTHS Your sons and daughters Sing your praises true! We know you're fair We know you're square In all the games you play to win We will back you to the end And our cheers on high will send Gold and Blue LTHS'

After the singing of the school song, the LT crowd traditionally chants "LTHS! LTHS! We are LTHS! LTHS! WOO WOO!"

[edit] Awards

In 2005 and 2006, the Math Team was awarded one of the top ranks in state.

LT received a 2005 Bright A+ award based on academic performance. It is one of 64 schools in Illinois to receive the award, representing the top 5% of all Illinois school districts.

LT received the 2005 What Parents Want Award for meeting the needs of families choosing schools.

Lyons Township has won many state championships in sports and academics. IHSA Team Titles

Boys Sports

Basketball 1953/1970
Baseball 1967/2003
IHSBCA Summer Baseball 2002/2004/2006
Cross Country 1955/1956
Golf 1939
Track and Field 1914/1915/1948/1949/1952/1953/1954/1961/1973
Gymnastics 2005

Girls Sports

Tennis 1990/1991/1992
Volleyball 1976/1989

Academic

Debate 1949/1952/1953/1957
Speech Sweepstates 1953

[edit] Notable alumni

David Hasselhoff (actor on Knight Rider, singer, actor and producer of Baywatch)
Jeff Hornacek (professional basketball player - Utah Jazz)
Ben R. Mottelson (Shared 1975 Nobel Prize in Physics with two other scientists)
Paul Hume (Washington Post music critic famous for feud with President Truman)
John McWethy (Former National Security Correspondent for ABC News)
Joel Cummins (founding member/keyboardist for progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee)
Mike Murphy (WSCR midday radio personality)
Matt Abbatacola (WSCR producer/radio personality)
Mackenzie Hartnett (Professional football player - Bolingbrook Buccaneers
Phil LeBeau (anchor, CNBC)
Amy Loftus (Country singer and songwriter)
Jennifer "Zen" Gray (Trainer featured on the Bravo reality series Work Out)
Gabe Oppenheim Reference LaGrange Park Public Library