Naperville North High School

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Naperville North High School
Established 1970
Type Public secondary
Principal Ross Truemper
Faculty 352
Students 3,306
Grades 9–12
Location 899 N. Mill Street
Naperville, Illinois, USA
Campus Suburban
Colors Orange and Blue
Mascot Huskies
Website www.ncusd203.org/north

Naperville North High School, or NNHS, is a four-year high school located at the corner of Ogden Avenue and Mill Street in the northern-central part of Naperville, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is the counterpart to Naperville Central High School of Naperville Community Unit School District 203.

Contents

[edit] History

The building was constructed in 1970 comprising 152,347 square feet (14,000 m²). Additions to the building were made in 1974, 1986 and 1992, increasing the size to the current (as of 2005) 449,665 square feet (42,000 m²). From the time of its construction until the 1992-1993 academic year, Naperville North was the only high school in its district to have a swimming pool. Thus Naperville Central High School students who took Physical Education courses in swimming or desired to compete in swimming and/or diving would be bussed from Naperville Central to Naperville North. Unfortunately competitive swimming events can no longer be held in the pool as it is not deep enough at the shallow end to meet state standards.

[edit] Academics

The faculty is comprised of 219 certified staff, 73% of whom hold Masters Degrees.

In 2005, Newsweek ranked Naperville North 1,025 out of 1,200 high schools, placing it in the top 5 percent nationally. The rankings are determined by a Challenge Index, which includes the total number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge tests given at a school, divided by the number of seniors graduating that year.[1]

The school day consists of eight periods, fifty minutes in length and six minute passing periods. Classes meet five days a week, over two semesters, covering a total of 36 weeks. NNHS is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and the Illinois State Department of Education.

[edit] Math and Science

The Math Team at Naperville North has been the DuPage Valley Conference champions for 28 consecutive years and were Illinois state champions the last 10 years and 13 of the last 14 years. Class of 2001 Valedictorian Jeff Huang set Illinois state history in becoming the first ever to win the individual state championship all four years, leading the Huskies to four consecutive Math Team state championships (1998-2001) as well. Naperville North also participates in the North Suburban Math League. On Saturday, February 24, 2008, the math team competed at the ICTM Regional competition at the College of DuPage and placed 1st overall and sweeping every event except for the Oral Event. During the ICTM State competition at the University of Illinois on April 25, 2008, Naperville North lost to Illinois Math and Science Academy. IMSA prevented Naperville North from having there 11th consecutive win. They received 2nd place overall. Having been the first time to lose in 10 years, an article was even printed in the Chicago Tribune to notify people of Naperville North's defeat. The WYSE (Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering) team won the state championship from 1999 to 2005, 2007, and 2008. The Varsity JETS (Junior Engineering Technical Society) Team in 2005 placed first in the nation, while the Junior Varsity placed second in the nation. The 2005 JETS Varsity team is also distinguished for having won first in the nation back to back (in 2004 as JV and in 2005 as Varsity). In 2004, 2006, and 2007 the Naperville North Science Bowl team won first at the Illinois Science Bowl Tournament and went on to compete at the National Science Bowl Tournament. They also won the State Championship in 2005 but did not advance to nationals due to a scheduling conflict with Math Team.

In the recent years, several Naperville North students have attended the US Olympiad camps and the Research Science Institute. In 2003, Benjamin Kaduk represented the US at the 35th International Chemistry Olympiad, winning a bronze medal. In 2005, David Yang attended the USA Biology Olympiad camp. Naperville North students who have attended the Research Science Institute include: Sanjay Basu, Jeffrey Huang, Florence Twu, and David Yang. Sanjay Basu has since become a Rhodes Scholar. Several students have also been semi-finalists in the Intel Science Talent Search and Siemens-Westinghouse competitions.

[edit] Business and Marketing Program

Naperville North offers many Business Opportunities to the students through clubs and classes. Introductory courses in Business and Marketing aspects are offered, which make students aware of the business opportunities out in the world. Naperville North offers Further interest in Business and Marketing Programs with the clubs DECA and BPA (Business Professionals of America). DECA was started again after 10 years.

[edit] Athletics

Naperville North has 21 athletic teams which compete in the DuPage Valley Conference. Naperville North's mascot is the huskie.

[edit] State Championships

Naperville North has won a number of Illinois High School Association (IHSA) state championships, including the following (records, where available, are listed within parentheses):

  • 1988 IHSA Girls Soccer - Naperville (North) (20-2-1)
  • 1989 IHSA Class AA Boys Golf - Naperville (North)
  • 1992 IHSA Class 6A Football - Naperville (North) (12-2)
  • 1993 IHSA Class AA Girls Cross Country - Naperville (North)
  • 1994 IHSA Class AA Boys Golf - Naperville (North)
  • 1994 IHSA Boys Tennis - Naperville (North)
  • 1996 IHSA Boys Swimming & Diving - Naperville (North)
  • 1997 IHSA Boys Volleyball - Naperville (North) (35-4)
  • 1998 IHSA Class AA Boys Soccer - Naperville (North) (21-4-3)
  • 2001 IHSA Boys Gymnastics - Naperville (North)
  • 2001 IHSA Class AA Girls Cross Country - Naperville (North)
  • 2004 IHSA Class AA Girls Cross Country - Naperville (North)
  • 2004 IHSA Chess - Naperville (North)
  • 2005 IHSA Class AA Girls Cross Country - Naperville (North)
  • 2007 IHSA Class 8A Football - Naperville (North) (13-1)

[edit] Activities

The school is also host to a Certamen; a quizbowl-like team, placing first in the 2004 state Latin convention; the Northern Lights, a nationally competitive winter guard; the Marching Huskies marching band, who tied for second in the state championship in 2005 and took third at the Lincoln Way Marching Band Invitational in 2006; and a drama department that contributes regularly to the Illinois High School Theatre Fest. Notable recent IHSTF productions with North students in the cast or crew began with The Kentucky Cycle in 1999, ending a decade-long absence from the festival, and have since included West Side Story, Pirates of Penzance and Macbeth. In 2000, a Naperville North adaptation of 12 Angry Men (presented as Twelve Angry Jurors), was selected to perform as a showcase at the IHS Theatre Festival.[2] More recent selections taken to state include The Laramie Project, Angel's Fall and Wings. The NNHS theatre recently received a technical over-haul, allowing for better lighting and control mechanisms. North's newspaper, the North Star, has won numerous local and state-wide awards, most notably during the three years served under 2007 graduate editor Steve McMillen.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] References

  1. ^ Newsweek Magazine's 1000 Top US High Schools
  2. ^ 12 Angry Jurors by Sherman Sergel
  3. ^ [1] McMillen's profile on Amazon.com
  4. ^ Voting page for "Naperville's Most Famous", sponsored by the Naperville Sun newspaper.

[edit] External links

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DuPage Valley Conference