Prospect High School (Illinois)

Prospect High School
Address
801 W. Kensington Rd.
Mt. Prospect, Illinois 60056
United States
Coordinates 42°04′41″N 87°56′56″W / 42.0781°N 87.949°W / 42.0781; -87.949
Information
School type public secondary
Opened 1957
School district Twp. H.S. District 214
Superintendent Dr. David Schuler[1]
Principal Michelle Dowling[2]
Grades 9–12
Gender coed
Enrollment 2,087[3]
Average class size 24.2[3]
Campus suburban
School color(s)      Navy blue
     Columbia blue[4]
Athletics conference Mid-Suburban League
Mascot Knights
Nickname Knights[4]
Newspaper The Prospector
Yearbook Crest
Website http://phs.d214.org

Prospect High School, or Prospect, is a public four-year high school located in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is part of Township High School District 214, which also includes Buffalo Grove High School, Elk Grove High School, John Hersey High School, Rolling Meadows High School, and Wheeling High School. It serves central Mount Prospect and a large portion of east Arlington Heights close to the Mt. Prospect village limits. Its feeder schools are Holmes Junior High School, Lincoln Middle School, South Middle School and Friendship Junior High School.

History

Prospect was opened in 1957 as a freshman campus for the now-defunct Arlington High School. By the next school year, the district had grown enough that Prospect was turned into a full four-year school.[5]

In August 1995, on only the second day of the new school year, the school's field house suffered a fire. The cause of the fire was nothing short of a freak accident. Thick mats used by the track team (mostly the mats for high jump) had been out in the blistering sun on the previous day. The mats, with the heat of the sun still within them, were placed above a loft in the field house. One of the mats rested against a frayed electrical cord. The heat of the mat combined with the frayed wiring started the fire. The scoreboard and school record plaques were melted in the fire, though the most damage came from the water damage from the fire hoses. The field house was closed off for most of the 1995-1996 school year. The field house re-opened with a much-needed lighting improvement, better basketball floor and new paint.

Additions

In 2002, a library was added. A new art wing was finished/proposed in 2003. The school was given a new cafeteria in 2004. As of 2007, work is being done to remove asbestos from the older parts of the building. In 2009, the gym was remodeled and a concession stand was added. Construction for a pool was started in the summer of 2015, with completion expected to be done for the start of the 2016-2017 school year. This addition is expected to cost approximately 13 million and add 27,000 square feet to the high school campus. The entire project will be modeled after the new natatorium at Buffalo Grove High School. The pool will have a shallow end depth of 4.5 feet, a middle area at 7.5 feet and a deep end of 14.5 feet. There will be the proper accommodations for handicap access. Alongside that there will be an upper balcony that can fit 500 people and a lower area that will include a concession stand, locker rooms, a storage area, and offices for coaches. Currently and in the past aquatic teams (swimming, diving, water polo) would have to travel to Wheeling High School to use their pool.[6]

Academics

In 2008 Prospect had an average composite ACT score of 25 and graduated 94.9% of its senior class. Prospect has made Adequate Yearly Progress on the combined Prairie State Achievement Examination and ACT, the test used to meet the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[3]

Since 2005-06, the foreign language department facilitates an exchange program between students studying French and Italian at Prospect, and students studying English in Sèvres, France and Verona, Italy. In 2010-2011, an exchange program between students studying Spanish and students studying English in Barcelona, Spain was added.

Computer Science Program

In the fall of 2014, Prospect added a new class, Mobile App Development, or the "Mobile Makers Class" after partnering with Chicago-based technology firm Mobile Makers. District 214 is the only district in the country, along with Barrington High School, to offer a course teaching iOS App Development with the new Apple language, Swift.

Athletics

Prospect competes in the Mid-Suburban League (East Division). Along with Prospect High School, the other schools apart of the East Division are Buffalo Grove High School, Elk Grove High School, Hersey High School, Rolling Meadows High School, and Wheeling High School. The West Division includes Barrington High School, Conant High School, Fremd High School, Hoffman Estates High School, Palatine High School, and Schaumburg High School. The school is also a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), which governs most interscholastic sports and competitive activities in Illinois. Its mascot is the Knight.

Prospect sponsors interscholastic athletic teams for young men and women in basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, swimming & wrestling

The girls' golf team finished first in the IHSA state competition in 2011 and 2013. They also had a second-place finish in 2012. They finished fourth in 2010.

The football team won the 7A State Championship in 2001, 2002, and 2005.

One sport that is not currently available at Prospect High School is lacrosse. There are currently no District 214 schools that have lacrosse teams, however many students in the district play for a local club team, called the Arlington Falcons. There are no plans at the time for any of the district teams to form official lacrosse teams associated with the respective schools.[7]

Activities

Fine and performing arts

The award-winning Fine & Performing Arts Department at Prospect High School provides hundreds of students with a broad exposure to the visual and performing arts. The music curricula consists of many performing ensembles, including the Prospect: Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Marching Knights, Jazz Ensemble I & II, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Pit Orchestra, Concert Choir, Treble Choir, Varsity Choir Honors Choir, Jazz Choir, and two competitive show choirs - Company and Mixed company. The Art, Dance, Theater, and Congressional Debate and Speech Components of the department provide numerous curricular and extra-curricular opportunities for students to enhance their high school experience.

In 2009 and 2010, The Prospect Music Department was named a "Signature School" Finalist by the Grammy Foundations. In 2011, the school was awarded Grammy Signature Gold Status, placing it among the top seven high school music departments in the country.[8] Music students at Prospect are consistently selected for District, All-State, and All-State Honors Band, Orchestra, and Choir. in 2007, Prospect Marching Knights, Symphony Orchestra, and Chamber Choir were invited to perform in the 2008/2009 London New Year's Day Parade and Gala Concerts. The Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble I, and Chamber Choir were all selected to perform at the 2008 Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Festival as Honors Ensembles. The Prospect Symphonic band has been selected to perform at the prestigious Illinois Superstate Festival thirteen times, and was named an Honor Band in 2005. The Marching Knights, both Jazz Ensembles, Mixed-Company and Company have gained national recognition for their performance at all levels of competition throughout the nation. The Prospect Marching Knights performed in the 2016 New York City Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade before 3.5 million people live and approximately 50 million people on television.[9] Students are provided the opportunity to study harmony and arranging in a fully equipped MIDI lab focusing on music history, theory, technology, and recording.

Art studies include beginning and advanced placement in drawing, painting, sculpting, and photography. in 2007, a Prospect senior was named a Scholastic Art "National Portfolio Gold Winner," one of twelve recipients of the annual award. in addition, Prospect provides the opportunity to compete in Congressional Debate and Speech. In 2016, the Speech Team won the IHSA State Finals for the first time, with 10 of 15 events advancing to the tournament. Both teams are recognized for their high level of performance and have been consistently selected to perform at the state festival. The speech team in nationally recognized with numerous accolades from the state and national level organizations. The dance ensemble, Orchesis, performs at district festivals, sporting events and an annual recital. Orchesis has been selected to perform at the state dance festival on several occasions. Annual theater productions include fall and winter plays and spring musical; corresponding courses focusing on drama and theater technology. Prospect's production of "With Their Eyes" was chosen in 2006 to perform at the all-state theater festival, as well as their 2012 production of "The Sparrow", and their 2016 production of "The Trail to Oregon!", which was written by Prospect 2002 Alum, Jeff Blim.

Special Interest Activities

Clubs available to students include:

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ District 214 Superintendent's homepage; accessed 15 June 2009 Archived 10 February 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ PHS Staff Directory; accessed 2010-Apr-03 Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. 1 2 3 Class of 2008 school report card; accessed 17 June 2009
  4. 1 2 School info for PHS; ihsa.org; accessed 17 June 2009
  5. ↑ Brief History of District 214 Archived 2006-02-10 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ "Prospect High excited about pool plans". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  7. ↑ "Lacrosse players seek connection to District 214". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  8. ↑ "The GRAMMY Foundation® Announces 2011 GRAMMY® Signature Schools". The GRAMMY Foundation. April 19, 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  9. ↑ "Prospect Marching Knights will be in 2016 Macy's Parade". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  10. ↑ "Activities and Sponsors". phs.d214.org. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  11. ↑ biography of Dr. John Ankerberg; ankerberg.com; accessed 17 June 2009 Archived 25 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ↑ Smithe, Maureen; 'Strong Medicine' for a tough actress; 29 December 2000; Daily Herald; accessed 17 June 2009
  13. ↑ Reilly, Sue (4 September 1978). "Bruce Boxleitner Doesn't Need Suzanne Somers; He Married His Sister in How the West Was Won". People. Los Angeles, CA, USA: Time, Inc. 10 (10). ISSN 0093-7673. Retrieved 2 June 2010. Then when the family moved to the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines, Bruce found "I was really a country bumpkin. I didn't fit in." By the time he reached Mount Prospect High, though, his '52 Hudson Hornet ("very much in demand with my friends because it had a huge back seat") had improved his social status.
  14. ↑ “Golden nugget - After 32 years, Prospect graduate Jeff Bzdelik found the job of a lifetime”, Chicago Sun-Times, February 4, 2003.
  15. ↑ McGraw, Mike; From Prospect to pros How Jeff Bzdelik, Denver's new head coach, made his way from suburban playgrounds to the NBA; 6 October 2002; Daily Herald; accessed 17 June 2009
  16. ↑ "Wake Forest Names Jeff Bzdelik Head Basketball Coach"
  17. ↑ Randy Clark bio & stats; databasefootball.com; accessed 17 June 2009
  18. ↑ Ahern, Sheila (25 February 2010), "Suburban 'Idol' hopeful gets Simon's vote: Mt. Prospect native with everything on the line impresses stingy one", Daily Herald, retrieved 2 June 2010, Silverman and DeWyze met when he was a Forest View Alternative School student and signed up for an Upward Bound summer camp trip in 2002. DeWyze also attended Prospect High School.
  19. ↑ Saxenmeyer, Mark (25 May 2010). "Lee DeWyze - Tracking His Path From Mount Prospect To American Idol Stardom". Fox Chicago News. Retrieved 2 June 2010. For a little over three years, Lee attended Prospect High School. When asked if he was an "A", "B", or perhaps a "D" student, three of his former teachers and deans at the school say, "Depends. All of the above."
  20. ↑ Spak, Kara; Slezak, Carol (15 May 2010), "'Idol' finalist DeWyze returns home to thousands of fans", Chicago Sun-Times, retrieved 2 June 2010, “Lunch ladies are proud of you!’’ screamed Pat Schwager, 62, a cafeteria worker at his alma mater, Prospect High School, as DeWyze passed in the motorcade. “I have tears in my eyes. I’m so happy for him.”
  21. ↑ Dave Kingman bio & stats; baseballcube.com; accessed 17 June 2009 Archived 8 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine.
  22. ↑ On Feb. 25, Owner Henry Adaniya will close Trio Atelier...; 1 February 2006; Daily Herald; accessed 17 June 2009
  23. ↑ Spak, Kara; Apartment fire damages famed Evanston eatery; 26 March 2005; Daily Herald; accessed 17 June 2009
  24. ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lundsto01.shtml
  25. ↑ http://tvline.com/2011/03/09/houses-jennifer-morrison-to-star-in-abc-pilot/
  26. ↑ Cubs mainstay Mike Quade named interim manager; Chicago Sun-Times; accessed 28 August 2010
  27. ↑ Salowitz, Stew (27 February 1994), "Reinhold Weege: Fired For An Expose, A Reporter Turns To Show Business", Chicago Tribune, retrieved 2 June 2010, When I was 9, my family moved to Arlington Heights. I attended Prospect High School, where the theater department had quite a good reputation.
  28. ↑ “First lady of Ukraine comes home 'Ukraine now must make hopes real'- Chicago native talks about troubles of past, risks of future”, Chicago Sun-Times, April 6, 2005
  29. ↑ Murphy, Jean; Prospect graduate makes headlines in Ukrainian election crisis; 17 December 2004; Daily Herald; accessed 17 June 2009
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