| Number of Schools Managed |
43 |
3 |
| Number of Students Managed |
15,197 students |
984 students |
| District Total Revenue |
$147,597,000 |
$9,428,000 |
| District Expenditure |
$159,044,000 |
$9,311,000 |
| District Revenue / Student |
$9,712 |
$9,581 |
| District Expenditure / Student |
$10,465 |
$9,462 |
| District Graduation Rates |
60% |
92% |
|
- Richwoods High School is the most northern of the four regular public high schools in Peoria, Illinois, United States. Opened as a township high school in 1957, it was brought into Peoria Public Schools District 150 in the 1960s. Feeder middle schools are Mark Bills, Lindbergh, Rolling Acres Edison, and Washington Gifted.
- The current principal is Mr. Steven Ptacek (since 2008). Recent former principals include Mr. John Meisinger (1998–2008) and Mrs. Jeanne Williamson (1994–1998).
- History
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Richwoods was originally the high school of Richwoods Township. The name of the school when it opened in 1957 was "Richwoods Community High School". In the 1960s, the school was annexed to the city of Peoria, causing it to come under the purview of Peoria Public Schools (District 150). A lengthy legal battle ensued, and District 150 was required to allow students from the original school district to attend Richwoods until Peoria Heights High School could be built to replace it. Once PHHS was completed, Richwoods became an exclusively District 150 school.
- Academics
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Richwoods uses an unweighted grade point average system, and a weighted class-ranking system.
- As of the 2007–2008 school year, Richwoods is making AYP for No Child Left Behind as a result of the PSAE (Prairie State Achievement Exam) results from the RHS Class of 2008.
- International Baccalaureate Program
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In 2005, the first class of International Baccalaureate students graduated from Richwoods High School. Students in the IB Diploma program must take Higher Level Biology, History, and English, and have a wide choice as to their Standard Level Classes.
- Activities
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Richwoods has forensics, football, ultimate, and basketball programs, among others.
- The school publishes its own in-school newspaper, The Shield, and the school yearbook, The Excalibur.
- Marching band
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The band plays at three concerts a year, at two parades, and at the home football and basketball games. It has a large percussion section, and also plays at the home games of the Boys' Basketball team.
- Operation Snowball
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Richwoods High School holds an Operation Snowball event annually. This event promotes awareness of substance abuse, mental health awareness, and healthy relationships. Recent past themes have included Candyland: "Life's Too Sweet to be a Dum-Dum" (2008) and Las Vegas: "Don't Gamble with your Life" (2007).
- Plays and musicals
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Twice a year, Richwoods High School students perform on-stage. In the fall, students perform a play: in 2005, The Bad Seed; in 2006, Peter Pan; in 2007, Arsenic and Old Lace; and in 2008,Our Town. RHS produces musicals in the spring time: in 2004, Damn Yankees, in 2005, Guys and Dolls, in 2006, Fiddler on the Roof, in 2007, The Boy Friend, in 2008 Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, and in 2009, Little Women.
- Madrigals
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Every year, Richwoods has a madrigal dinner, performed in a traditional 16th-century style. Much of the singing is a cappella. Along with a core group of Madrigal Singers, there are other musical student groups which participate, including Ladies in Waiting, Men in Tights, a recorder ensemble, and a string quartet. As well as music, a variety of actors are involved in the madrigal dinners. There is usually a king and queen.
- School dances
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RHS hosts three dances for the entire school yearly: Homecoming, Vice Versa, and Prom. Homecoming involves:
- Spirit Week with dress-up days for the whole school and Class Colors Day (freshmen: green; sophomores: white; juniors: blue; seniors: red).
- Pep assembly. Part of the competition for the Spirit Stick and to encourage the football players for their game later that evening.
- Assembly introducing the Homecoming Queen nominees. Since the whole school votes for the Homecoming Queen, the candidates are introduced during a second hour assembly.
- Stunt Show involves the Olympics (three point shot contest, wheelbarrow race, tug-of-war) and a skit by each class. Each skit contains two dances by dancers from each respective class.
- Homecoming Game: a home game that is usually well-attended.
- Homecoming Dance takes place in Richwoods' terrazzo area (like a foyer) and lasts until 23:00.
- Vice Versa is not as well attended as Homecoming, but there is a theme and the dress is based on that theme. Traditionally, girls asked the boys to Vice Versa, hence the name of the dance. Vice Versa involves:
- Assembly introducing the Vice Versa King nominees during second hour. This assembly usually has more excitement because the candidates have on thematic dress.
- Vice Versa Dance. Couples dress up according to the theme. Voting and crowning of the Vice Versa King occurs before the dance ends at 23:00.
- Sports
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Richwoods has a quality athletic program with several state qualifiers and medalists over the years. The school colors are green and white and their mascot is the Knight.
- Richwoods is currently a member of the Midstate 6 Conference which includes five regular members: Peoria High School (Central), Woodruff High School, Manual High School, Peoria Notre Dame High School for all sports, and includes Quincy Notre Dame High School for football only.
- Notable alumni
- Nancy Brinker — Ambassador and founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure (in memory of her sister who was also an alumna of Richwoods High School); United States Ambassador to Hungary starting in 2001; Chief of Protocol of the United States 2007-2009.
- Shaun Livingston; NBA player for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
- Aaron Schock — U.S. Congressman, politician: elected youngest member of District 150 school board in 2001, eventually becoming school board president; Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 92nd district in the Illinois General Assembly from 2005-2009; elected to succeed Congressman Ray LaHood as a member of the United States House of Representatives from the 18th District of Illinois in November 2008, beginning his term in January 2009.
- http://www.ihsa.org/
- Peoria Journal Star'
- External links
- Richwoods High School — official site
- alternate data site
- Richwoods women's track and field website
- Peoria Richwoods on IHSA website
- Source: Wikipedia; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.
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