Wheaton North High School

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Wheaton North High School
Established 1964
Type Public secondary
Principal Jill Bullo
Faculty 118
Students 2,254
Grades 9–12
Location 1 Falcon Way
Wheaton, Illinois, USA
Campus Suburban, 51 acres
Colors Royal blue and gold
Mascot Falcons
Website www.wnhs.org

Wheaton North High School, or WNHS, and locally referred to as "North" is a public four-year high school located at the corner of Geneva Road and Gary Avenue in the northwest corner of Wheaton, Illinois, a middle class suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Community Unit School District 200, which also includes Wheaton Warrenville South High School.

Contents

[edit] History

As demand for a second high school increased in the 1950s and 60s, Wheaton North High School split off from the original Wheaton Community High School. At this time Wheaton Community changed its name to Wheaton Central, and in 1992 again changed its name to Wheaton Warrenville South and moved to its present location.

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,[1] 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.

[edit] Academics

The staff is comprised of 118 teachers with a student to teacher ratio of 18:1, and an average class size of 23.

In the May 6, 2006 issue of Newsweek, Wheaton North was ranked 4th out of 1,200, placing it in the top 99 percent nationally.[2] The rankings are determined by a Challenge Index, which includes the total number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cat house tests given at a school, divided by the number of seniors graduating that year.

[edit] Athletics

Wheaton North is a member of the DuPage Valley Conference, where they enjoy an intense and natural rivalry with their sister school, Wheaton-Warrenville South. In 2003, Wheaton North and Wheaton 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, at a cost of $550,000 per stadium.

Girls Sports

Boys Sports

  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Spring
    • Baseball
    • Gymnastics
    • Tennis
    • Lacrosse
    • Track
    • Volleyball

The following sports teams earned a top four finish in their respective State Championship Tournaments, sponsored by the IHSA:[3]

  • Cross Country (boys): 2nd (1976-77)
  • Cross Country (girls): State Champions (2002-03); 3rd (1986-87); 4th (1998-99)
  • Football: State Champions (1978-79, 81-82, 86-87)
  • Gymnastics (boys): State Champions (2004-05); 3rd (2003-04)
  • Soccer (boys): 3rd (2005-06)
  • Soccer (girls): 3rd (2005-06)
  • Swimming and Diving (girls): 2nd (1975-76)
  • Track and Field (boys): 3rd (2001-02 & 03-04)
  • Track and Field (girls): 3rd (1988-89)
  • Volleyball (boys): 2nd (1995-96)
  • Wrestling: 3rd (1978-79)

[edit] Activities

Wheaton North offers language clubs, service activities, and various other activities typical of an American high school.

[edit] Competitive Activities

The following competitive activities have earned a top four finish in their respective State Championship Tournaments, sponsored by the IHSA:[4]

  • Debate: State Champions (1977-78 & 2005-06); 3rd (1975-76 & 76-77); Semifinalist (2005-06 & 07-08)
  • Individual Events: 3rd (2006-07); 4th (1995-96)[5]
  • Scholastic Bowl: State Champions (2001-02, 02-03 & 03-04); 2nd (2000-01, 04-05 & 06-07), 4th (2005-06)

The Scholastic Bowl team's current run of seven consecutive top-4 finishes is a state record for the competition. Their five consecutive top-2 finishes is similarly a state record.

[edit] Performing Arts

In a typical year, Wheaton North typically presents a fall drama, spring musical, and an evening of one-act plays.

Wheaton North has 11 performing arts ensembles, including:

  • Five choirs
  • Two orchestras
  • Three bands
    • Concert Band
    • Symphonic Band (Audition)
    • Wind Ensemble (Audition)
  • One pep band

Freshman Girl's chorus and SATB Concert Choir are non-audition choirs.

Audition Choirs consist of Treble Choir, sophomore-senior women's ensemble that focuses on more Classical repertoire, Show Choir, a group that performs student choreographed routines to pop and Broadway repertoire, and Chamber Ensemble, which performs a cappella material.

[edit] Recent Events

[edit] Kendall and Clinton

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 $100,000 for charity, 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.[6]

[edit] Notable Alumni


[edit] References

  1. ^ High School Expansion
  2. ^ Wheaton North makes Newsweek's top 1,000
  3. ^ IHSA.org historic records for Wheaton North athletics and competitive activities
  4. ^ IHSA.org historic records for Wheaton North athletics and competitive activities
  5. ^ 2007 IHSA State Speech Individual Events results
  6. ^ "Clinton, Oprah, cash" in Daily Herald
  7. ^ The National Quarterback Club

[edit] External links

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DuPage Valley Conference