| Gordon Tech High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 3633 North California Avenue Chicago, Illinois, 60618-4602 USA |
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| Information | |
| Type | Private, Coeducational, secondary, parochial |
| Motto | Ad Societatem Resurgendum ((For the Resurrection of Society)) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic; |
| Established | 1952 |
| Authority | Archdiocese of Chicago |
| President | Kelly Jones |
| Teaching staff | 40 |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 507 (2008) |
| Campus type | urban |
| Color(s) | orange gray |
| Athletics conference | Chicago Catholic League (m) Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (f) |
| Team name | Rams |
| Accreditation(s) | North Central Association of Colleges and Schools[1] |
| Tuition | US$8,250[2] |
| Affiliation | Congregation of the Resurrection |
| Website | http://www.gordontech.org |
Gordon Tech High School, formerly known as Gordon Technical High School, is a Roman Catholic high school located in Chicago, Illinois. It is located on the north side of Chicago on Addison Street and California Avenue. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. The school is named in honor of the Very Reverend Francis Gordon, an influential and high ranking member of the Congregation of the Resurrection.[3]
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Gordon Technical High School was opened in 1952 at Division Street and Haddon Avenue. The school was built in the wake of the relocation of another high school run by the Congregation of the Resurrection, Archbishop Weber High School, which closed in 1999. The school was founded at the request of Cardinal Samuel Stritch, who envisioned a new type of Catholic high school, one that had both a college preparatory curriculum, and a technical curriculum. The school moved to its current campus in 1961. The school formally shortened its name to Gordon Tech in 1999. In 2001, the new school motto was adopted, replacing the old motto Ad Viros Faciendos (For the Making of Men). The school was an all–male school until 2002 when women were admitted.[4][5]
The school uses a block schedule where students meet for four 85-minute classes each day. While English and math classes are taught on alternating days for an entire year, other courses are taught on a semester basis, with some classes taught everyday for one semester, and other classes taught on alternating days for one semester.[6]
Students are required to take four years of religious studies. The school offers a course on world religions which non–Catholics may take to replace any of the four required courses. Any student may choose to take it as an elective.
In keeping with the tradition of the school, students are required to take at least one course in applied technology, with offerings ranging from automotive technology and woodworking to computer–aided design (CAD) and computer repair.
The school offers what it calls The Fr. Francis Gordon Academy (also called the A.P. Academy). The program is designed for advanced students, based upon entrance exam scores, a personal essay, and middle school grades. Students take honors classes for their first two years, and then take a combination of honors and AP courses their last two years. In addition, students must publicly present a multi-disciplinary thematic project during the spring semester of their sophomore year, and a similar final project during the spring semester of their senior year.[7]
The Advanced Placement courses offered are: English Language, English Literature, Calculus (BC), Biology, Chemistry, U.S. History, and European History.[8]
The Gordon Tech Rams compete in two conferences. The mens teams compete in the Chicago Catholic League (CCL) while the women compete in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC). The school competes in state championship series sponsored by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). The current school colors are orange and gray, though they were originally orange and blue.
The school sponsors interscholastic team for men and women in basketball, cross country, soccer, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. Men also compete in baseball, bowling, football, and wrestling, while women also compete in softball. The school also sponsors a non-competitive cheerleading squad.[9]
The following teams have placed in the top four of their respective state tournaments sponsored by the IHSA:[10]
The school also claims two Chicago Prep Bowl championships in football (1982, 87).
The school used to support an interscholastic fencing team, and competed as a founding member of the Great Lakes High School Fencing Conference (which represents teams from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana). The team won the Midwest Boys Title in 1981, 84, 85, and 88.[11]
Like Gordon Tech, Archbishop Weber High School was administered by the Congregation of the Resurrection. It served Chicago’s Catholic community for over 100 years, but closed in 1999 due to low enrollment. The heritage of Weber is kept alive through Gordon Tech High School. Alumni records are held in Gordon Tech's Office of Records.
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