- Wheaton North High School, or WNHS, and locally referred to as "North," is a public four-year high school. It is located at the corner of Geneva Road and Gary Avenue in the northwest corner of Wheaton, Illinois, an affluent western 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.
- History
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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(Wheaton North's evil rivals) 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, 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.
- 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.
- Academics
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In 2008, Wheaton North had an average composite ACT score of 23.8 and graduated 99.6% of its senior class. Wheaton North has not made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) on the Prairie State Achievements Examination, which with the ACT comprise the assessment tools used in Illinois to fulfill the federal No Child Left Behind Act. One of the school's student subgroups failed to meet minimum expectations in reading and mathematics.
- The Challenge Index, used annually by the Washington Post and Newsweek magazine to rank U.S. high schools, placed Wheaton North in the top 1300 three years in a row. This index ranks public schools according to a ratio devised by Jay Mathews: the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and/or Cambridge tests taken by all students at a school in the past year divided by the number of graduating seniors. In 2009, Wheaton North ranked #1260. In 2006, the school had ranked #1078, in 2007 it had ranked #1039, and in 2008, the school ranked #1276.
- Athletics
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Wheaton North competes in the DuPage Valley Conference (DVC), and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), which governs most interscholastic sports and competitive activities in the state.
- In 2003, Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville 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.
- 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. Young men may compete in baseball, football, and wrestling, while young women may compete in badminton, cheerleading, and softball.
- The following teams have finished in the top four of their respective IHSA sponsored state championship tournament or meet:
- Baseball: 4th place (2007–08)
- Cross Country (boys): 2nd place (1976–77)
- Cross Country (girls): State Champions (2002–03); 3rd place (1986–87); 4th place (1998–99)
- Football: Semifinalists (1988–89, 2002–03); State Champions (1978–79, 81–82, 86–87)
- Gymnastics (boys): State Champions (2004–05); 3rd place (2003–04)
- Soccer (boys): 3rd place (2005–06)
- Soccer (girls): 3rd place (2005–06)
- Swimming and Diving (girls): 2nd place (1975–76)
- Track and Field (boys): 3rd place (2001–02, 03–04)
- Track and Field (girls): 4th place (1990–91); 3rd place (1988–89)
- Volleyball (boys): 2nd place (1995–96)
- Wrestling: 3rd place (1978–79)
- Activities
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Wheaton North offers language clubs, service activities, and various other activities typical of an American high school.
- Student Government
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The Student Body of Wheaton North is represented with one out of nine students registered as a member of the WN Student Council. The Student Council is broken up into four Class Councils, which are presided over by class officers, and the full Student Council which is overseen by the Executive Board. The board members function as both heads of the student body and student government, and have regular meetings with building administrators about student concerns.
- The Council oversees almost all student functions such as The Battle of the Bands: North vs. South, prom, homecoming, turnabout, blood drive, Christmas Sharing, The Spring Extravaganza, teacher appreciation, Daddy Daughter Dance, Mother Son Dance, and many smaller committees.
- Competitive Activities
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The following competitive activities have earned a top four-finish in their respective State Championship Tournaments, sponsored by the IHSA:
- Debate: State Champions (1977-78 & 2005-06); 3rd (1975-76 & 76-77); Semifinalist (2005-06 & 07-08)
- Individual Events: 3rd (2006-07 & 2008-2009); 4th (1995-96)
- Scholastic Bowl: State Champions (2001-02, 02-03 & 03-04); 2nd (2000-01, 04-05 & 06-07), 3rd (2007-08), 4th (2005-06)
- The Scholastic Bowl team's current run of eight consecutive top-4 finishes is a state record for the competition. Their earlier five consecutive top-2 finishes is similarly a state record.
- Performing Arts
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In a typical year, Wheaton North typically presents a fall drama, spring musical, and an evening of one-act plays. The Wheaton North Thespian Troupe, which is the drama honor society, helps to incorporate students in the performing arts decision making process.
- Wheaton North has 11 performing arts ensembles, including five choirs (concert, treble, show, chamber, and mens), two orchestras (concert, chamber), three bands (concert band, symphonic band, and wind ensemble). In addition, there is a pep band and a marching band which perform at sporting events.
- Notable alumni
- Kent Graham (class of 1987) was an NFL quarterback (1992–94, 96–2001), playing most of his career with the New York Giants. He was the National High School Quarterback of the Year in 1986.
- Adam Harris (class of 2005) is a sprinter who represented Guyana, and ran in the 200 metres at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Rick Johnson is an actor, director, and former Canadian Football League quarterback (1984–89), spending most of his career with the Calgary Stampeders.
- Chuck Long (class of 1981) was an NFL quarterback (1986–90), playing most of his career for the Detroit Lions. He later became the head football coach at San Diego State University (2006–08). He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
- Gail O'Grady (class of 1981) is an Emmy Award nominated actress, best known for her work on the television series NYPD Blue, American Dreams, and Boston Legal.
- Randy Pfund (class of 1970) was the head coach of the NBA Los Angeles Lakers (1992–94) and then served as General Manager of the NBA Miami Heat (1995–2008).
- External links
- Wheaton North 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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