Elgin High School, or EHS, is a public four-year high school located in Elgin, Illinois, an American city 40 mi. (63.5 km) northwest of Chicago. It is part of Elgin Area School District U46, which also includes Bartlett High School, Larkin High School, South Elgin High School, and Streamwood High School.

[edit] History

Elgin High School is one of the oldest public high schools in the state. Its first graduation ceremony was held in 1872 and its accreditation dates back to 1904. It was formerly housed on Gifford Street adjacent to Gifford Park in a building which now serves as the Gifford Street High School. A new campus was constructed on the eastern edge of Elgin adjacent to Poplar Creek, which is its present location.

[edit] Academics

In 2005, Elgin had an average composite ACT score of 18.3, and graduated 81.1% of its senior class. The average class size is 23.7. Elgin has not made Adequate Yearly Progress on the Prairie State Achievements Examination, a state test part of the No Child Left Behind Act.^[1]

Elgin High is the home of the Gifted and Talented Academy, an advanced curriculum to which students must apply. The Academy requires high standardized test scores, superior academic performance, and advanced writing skills for admission. The Academy comprises about 5% of the total student body. Its curriculum is based on a liberal arts education, and students must take advanced Honors/AP courses in English, History, Math, and the Sciences.

[edit] Demographics

As of 2005, the EHS student body was 36.1% White, 9.9% Black, 48.2% Hispanic, 0.1% Native American, and 5.6% Asian. 42% of students were listed as low income. The average salary for teachers was $57,945 and the average length of teaching experience was 13.5 years.^[2]

[edit] Athletics

Elgin competes in the Upstate Eight Conference. In 2003, Chief Maroon was removed as Elgin's mascot due to the symbol's lack of political correctness. A new mascot has yet to be determined.

[edit] Notable alumni

A complete list of notable alumni can be found here.

• Max Adler, 1883, vice-president of Sears & Roebuck, benefactor of Adler Planetarium
• Nina Burleigh, 1978, journalist and best-selling author
• Reb Braddock, 1983, film director (IMDB page)
• Jane Peterson,1901, painter and artist
• John Qualen, 1920, actor (IMDB page)
• James Roche, 1923, president of General Motors
• Paul Flory, 1927, winner of the 1974 Nobel Prize in chemistry
• William E. Rauschenberger, 1935, mayor of Elgin (1971-75)
• George Van De Voorde, 1943, mayor of Elgin (1987-95)
• Charles Swanson, 1946, president of Encyclopædia Britannica
• Tom Shales, 1962, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist in 1988
• Brian Oldfield, 1963, Olympic shot putter
• Edward A. Schock, 1964, mayor of Elgin (1999-present)
• Richard Hoover, 1965, Tony Award-winning production designer
• James Kirkland, 1966, Illinois State Representative (1983-1992)
• Laurence Kaptain, 1970, noted international performer and recording artist, Dean, Shenandoah Conservatory
• Kristine Iverson, 1971, assistant secretary of labor, George W. Bush's cabinet

[edit] References

1. ^ Illinois School Report Card
2. ^ Interactive Illinois Report Card

[edit] External links

• Official Website
• EHS Basketball
• Elgin High Music Department Site
• Elgin to Elgin: Our Worldwide Literacy Project