- Wheaton Warrenville South High School, or WWSHS, and locally referred to as "South," is a public four-year high school located at the corner of Butterfield Road and Wiesbrook Road in the southwest corner of affluent Wheaton, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Community Unit School District 200, which also includes Wheaton North High School.
- The school has had a long history, during which it has had four names, and is considered the successor to a school with a similar name. While the school is known for its academic and athletic accomplishments, it is best known for its association with a number of notable alumni including astronomer Edwin Hubble, football player Red Grange, and comedian John Belushi.
- History
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The history of Wheaton Warrenville High School can be traced back to the original high school in Wheaton, Wheaton High School, which opened in 1876.
- The 1925 building housing Hubble Middle School was closed at the end of the 2008—09 school year. A new Hubble Middle School was constructed, and the site is awaiting final disposition.
- Architecture
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The building comprises five major pods: Grange, completed in 2005, and Tradition, Scholarship, Commitment, and Integrity, which are taken from the school seal.
- In 1999, the Integrity wing was built in the southeast corner of the school to house the math department. It includes eleven new classrooms, a math lab, and a math office.
- In 2002, The Tradition and Commitment pods, primarily housing the English and Science departments, respectively, underwent significant renovations with reconstruction of all second floor classrooms. More than $100,000 worth of technology was also upgraded in 2002, with all classrooms receiving at least one new Dell XP computer connecting to a new broadband internet access connection, cable TV, accompanying DVD/VCR combo player. The computer labs were also updated and several carts of wireless internet laptops were added.
- Wheaton Warrenville South installed solar panel on the roof of the school as an alternative energy source as part of a 2004 partnership with British Petroleum. BP's North American Chemical headquarters is located approximately two miles south of the school in Naperville. The remaining energy comes from Commonwealth Edison, which primarily produces energy from nuclear and fossil fuel sources.
- On April 1, 2003, residents of Community Unit School District 200 approved, by a vote of 10,173 to 6,518, a $72 million bond referendum to add about of space and renovate both Wheaton Warrenville South, and its counterpart, Wheaton North.
- The first phase of construction began in August 2003 and was completed in March 2005 and included 21 new classrooms with two resource centers to house the English and Foreign Language departments, two art rooms, a band room, an orchestra room, a choral room, and nine sound-proof practice rooms. In addition, the central office area was reconverted for the counseling center and the health office, while all other administrative offices were moved to the front of the building. A new commons area was constructed and the cafeteria underwent significant renovations.
- The second phase began in spring 2005 and was completed by May 2006 and consisted primarily of renovations to the athletics wing and the construction of the field house. The library has undergone significant renovations during summer of 2006.
- Academics
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In 2008, Wheaton Warrenville South had an average composite ACT score of 23.6, and graduated 99.8% of the senior class.
- All academic classes at South are divided into three difficulty levels: Regular, Intermediate, and Advanced. The increased difficulty of intermediate and advanced/AP classes is reflected in the school's G.P.A. weighting system. Instead of a standard 4.0 scale, South uses a 5.0 scale. An A grade in a Regular class earns a pupil 4.0 points, an A in an Intermediate class 5.0 points, and an A in an Advanced or AP class 6.0 points.
- Students are required to successfully complete twenty-four credits, each course at .5 credit.
- Student Life
- Athletics
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right|thumb|200px|Grange Field at WWSHS is named for "the Galloping Ghost", alum Red Grange
- WWSHS competes in the DuPage Valley Conference (DVC). Wheaton Warrenville South is also a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), which oversees most sports and competitive activities in the state.
- The school sponsors interscholastic athletic teams for young men and women in: basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.
- The following teams have finished in the top four of their respective IHSA sponsored state tournament or meet:
- Badminton: 4th place (1992—93, 2000—01)
- Basketball (boys): 4th place (1980—81)
- Basketball (girls): 2nd place (1984—85)
- Cross Country (girls): 3rd place (1991—92)
- Football: semifinalists (1989—90, 2004—05, 05—06); 2nd place (1990—91, 91—92, 2007—08); State Champions (1992—93, 95—96, 96—97, 98—99, 2006—07)
- Golf (boys): 3rd place (1997—98)
- Gymnastics (boys): State Champions (2004—05)
- Gymnastics (girls): 4th place (1997—98)
- Soccer (boys): 3rd place (2003—04); 2nd place (1974—75, 76—77, 83—84)
- Soccer (girls): 3rd place (2002—03); 2nd place (2001—02)
- Track & Field (boys): 4th place (1905—06, 20—21, 97—98, 2003—04); 3rd place (2002—03); 2nd place (1929—30, 94—95); State Champions (1995—96, 98—99)
- Volleyball (boys): State Champions (2000—01, 03—04, 04—05, 06—07, 07—08, 08—09)
- Volleyball (girls): 4th place (2002—03)
- Wrestling: 2nd place (1965—66)
- As of the end of the 2008—09 season, the six state titles for WWS in boys volleyball is a state record.
- As of the end of the 2008—09 season, the five state titles in football is the sixth highest total in state history, and the second highest among public schools.
- Activities
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There are over 30 student activities ranging from athletic and artistic to social awareness and academic interests; and entire list of which can be seen here.
- Chess: 3rd place (2001—02, 02—03)
- Debate: State Champions (1940—41)
- Drama: 4th place (1981—82, 89—90); 3rd place (1974—75, 84—85); 2nd place (1982—83)
- Group Interpretation: State Champions (1981—82)
- Individual Events: 4th place (1984—85, 86—87, 87—88, 2002—03, 06—07); 3rd place (1995—96, 2000—01, 03—04); 2nd place (1969—70, 76—77, 88—89, 92—93, 94—95, 96—97, 2004—05, 07—08); State Champions (1968—69, 81—82, 82—83, 89—90, 97—98, 98—99, 99—2000, 01—02)
- Scholastic Bowl: 3rd place (1995—96); 2nd place (1987—88)
- Speech: 4th place (1968—69); 3rd place (1969—70)
- Notable alumni
- Wheaton High School (1876-1925)
- C. Wayland Brooks (class of 1916) was a U.S. Senator (1940—49).
- Harold "Red" Grange (class of 1922) was a notable college and NFL halfback. He is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame. His uniform #77 was retired by the University of Illinois and the Chicago Bears. WWSHS's football field is named in his honor.
- Edwin Hubble (class of 1906) was an astronomer who determined the existence of galaxies beyond the Milky Way, and proposed Hubble's Law, which helped in postulating the Expanding Universe Theory. The Hubble Space Telescope was named in his honor.
- Wheaton Community High School (1925-1964)
- Dennis Dugan (class of 1964) is an actor and director (I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, You Don't Mess with the Zohan).
- James H. Monroe (class of 1962) was a US Army combat medic during the Vietnam War. He received the Medal of Honor when he saved lives by throwing himself on a live grenade.
- William Rathje (class of 1963) is an archaeologist, best known as "Professor of Garbology", while heading the Tucson Garbage Project at the University of Arizona.
- Grote Reber (class of 1929) was an amateur astronomer. He constructed one of the first radio telescopes in his Wheaton backyard, and conducted the first radio survey of the sky.
- Samuel K. Skinner (class of 1956) was the United States Secretary of Transportation (1989—91) and Chief of Staff for President George H. W. Bush (1991—92).
- Orrin Tucker (class of 1929) was a bandleader.
- Bob Woodward (class of 1961) is an investigative reporter and author who works for The Washington Post. He is best known for his collaboration with reporter Carl Bernstein in uncovering the Watergate scandal.
- John Wright (class of 1964) was an NFL receiver (1968—69).
- Wheaton Central High School (1964-1992)
- James Belushi (class of 1972) is a comedian and actor best known for his work in film (Salvador, K-9) and television (Saturday Night Live, According to Jim).
- John Belushi (class of 1967) is a comedian and actor known for his work on television (Saturday Night Live) and in film (Animal House, The Blues Brothers).
- Wheaton-Warrenville High School (1973-1983)
- Wheaton Warrenville South High School (1992-Present)
- Jon Beutjer (class of 1999) was a professional football quarterback who has played in the Arena Football League and Canadian Football League.
- Jerome Collins (class of 2000) was an NFL tight end (2005—07).
- Sean Rooney (class of 2001) is a professional volleyball player in Europe and Asia. He was a member of the gold medal winning team for the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Sonal Shah (class of 1998) is an actress, best known for her role as Dr. Sonja "Sunny" Day on the television series Scrubs.
- Kevin Streelman (class of 1997) is a professional golfer on the PGA Tour.
- File:JamesBelushi.jpg|Jim BelushiFile:James H Monroe.jpg|Pfc James H. MonroeFile:Grote Reber.gif|Grote ReberFile:Samuel Knox Skinner.jpg|Samuel K. SkinnerFile:Bobwoodwardatgmu.jpg|Bob WoodwardFile:Sean Rooney in 2006.jpg|Sean Rooney
- Notable staff
- James Stankevitz is a physics teacher who in 1992 received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
- External links
- Wheaton Warrenville South High School
- Community Unit School District 200
- 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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