Glenbard West High School
Glenbard West High School is a public four-year high school located at the corner of Ellyn Avenue and Crescent Boulevard in Glen Ellyn, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Glenbard Township High School District 87.[8] The West campus draws students from Glen Ellyn (primarily north of Illinois Route 38), a small portion of Lombard, and portions of Wheaton, Glendale Heights and Carol Stream.
| Glenbard West High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
670 Crescent Boulevard , , 60137 United States | |
| Coordinates | 41°52′46″N 88°03′37″W / 41.87944°N 88.06028°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public secondary |
| Motto | Pride, Tradition, Excellence |
| Established | May 15, 1923 |
| School district | Glenbard Twp. H.S. 87 |
| Superintendent | David Larson[1] |
| Principal | Ben Peterselli (2023-)[2] |
| Staff | 208[3] |
| Teaching staff | 138.40 (on an FTE basis)[4] |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Gender | coed |
| Enrollment | 2,360 (2019-20)[4] |
| Average class size | 26.1[5] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 17.05[4] |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colour(s) | Glenbard Green (Pantone 626) White[6] |
| Athletics conference | West Suburban (Silver) Conference |
| Nickname | Hilltoppers[6] |
| Publication | Byzantium[7] |
| Newspaper | The Glen Bard |
| Yearbook | Pinnacle[7] |
| Website | www |
History edit
Glen Ellyn High School 1915−1922 edit
The need for high schools arose with developed communities in the late 1800s. Wheaton voters wanted their own high school but accepted Glen Ellyn students on a tuition basis. In the fall of 1915, Wheaton raised the tuition rates and Glen Ellyn residents decided to start their own high school. Classes were rented on the second floor of the DuPage Bank Building, founded by Arthur. W. Holzman as Principal on October 4, 1915, hosting to fifty Freshmen and Sophomores.[9] From 1915 to 1918 the first high school that area students attended was called Glen Ellyn High School.[9] By 1916 the bank built on a third floor to accommodate the growing student body.
America entered World War I on April 2, 1917, and Glen Ellyn residents petitioned the school board citing that the German language fueled propaganda which they did not want in their school curriculum. Arthur Holzman, an American citizen who was born Canadian, became a controversial topic which put newly elected Glen Ellyn school board president Louis J. Thiele in a difficult predicament, to delegate a successor. (As for the school's future of teaching German, a German Club would not form for another 45 years, 17 years following the end of World War II.)
When Fred L. Biester took over this office in 1918 at Mr. Holzman's recommendation to Mr. Thiele, the faculty consisted of five members who instructed 120 students in a basic curriculum. By 1920, class enrollment quickly outgrew the space and spread between the bank building and local church basements. The administrators decided to search for a site to build a dedicated high school building.[9]
Glenbard Township High School 1922−1959 edit
In preparation for this growth, the district purchased a site on Honeysuckle Hill from Charles R. Raymond[10] in April 1919. Twenty-five acres for the price of US$8,000 ($18.2, accounting for inflation).[9] Lake Ellyn, which then covered the present football field, was purchased for an additional dollar. In 1923, the high school deeded the lake to the park board with the stipulation that it revert to the high school should it ever cease to be a lake.
Neighboring Lombard residents learned that Honeysuckle Hill was within one-half mile of the geographical center of the proposed district and their unification would enable the towns to establish a school as large as any in the county, with an attendance of about two hundred pupils. A contest was held among the students to name the districts and the merging of 'Glen' Ellyn and Lom'bard' officially became "Glenbard" on May 15, 1923.
The current building opened in 1923 as Glenbard Township High School, the first of the district's high schools.[9] It was built in the style of a castle, complete with roof turret by the firm of Coolidge and Hodgeson, the architects who planned Chicago's Art Institute, the Chicago Public Library (a.k.a. the Chicago Cultural Center), and Saint Olaf College.
Glenbard West (GBW) 1959−Present edit
Glenbard East High School opened in Lombard, September 1959. Glenbard North High School opened in Carol Stream, August 1968. Glenbard South opened in Glen Ellyn in 1972.
Facilities edit
Glenbard, as it was named by Glen Ellyn and Lombard townships, was constructed in 1922 atop Honeysuckle Hill, overlooking Lake Ellyn. Built with dark red brick, the building was built with castle-like design, complete with a turret and other minor castle details. Glenbard West also has a tower known as the sixth floor. From the window of the sixth floor tower, the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower in downtown Chicago can be seen on a clear day.
Athletics were initially played in a gymnasium, built in 1936, in the school building itself, but with the construction of a $12 million state of-the-art field house across the street (nicknamed the Peter "Commish" Mastandrea Field House after the long time and beloved P.E Teacher who retired at the end of 2021-22 school year), the former gym was turned into the Robert D. Elliott Library, named after one of the most influential principals in the school's history. Biester Gym was built in 1958.
Across the road from Glenbard West is Bill Duchon Field, where football, boys' and girls' soccer, and track are played. Originally built in 1923, it was renamed in 1980 in honor of a head football coach who led West to several conference championships.[11] The stadium seats up to 5,000 spectators, with the home side overlooking Lake Ellyn. In 2001, Duchon field was named by USA Today as one of the top 10 places to watch high school football.[11]
Additions to the school were added beginning in 1926. The auditorium was built in 1931, and the East Wing in 1953. Glenbard East was built in 1959 in Lombard, and the original school became Glenbard West. There was a complete renovation of the school during the 1964–1965 school year, adding new choral, band, and physical science facilities. The George Zahrobsky Botanical Garden, Shakespeare Garden and Poets' Corner were added in later years. A new library and field house were completed in 2001, and the most recent additions, the science wings, were added in 2016.
In media edit
Film and television edit
Bill Duchon Field was used to stage the football field scenes in the 1986 film Lucas,[11][12] which featured rising stars such as Corey Haim, Charlie Sheen, and premiered Winona Ryder, Courtney Thorne-Smith, and Jeremy Piven. The school building was also used for shooting scenes. Glenbard West cheerleaders appeared as extras in the film, though the school colors and school name were changed.
The 1991 television documentary Yearbook was also filmed here.[13][14]
Literature edit
It was also featured in the juvenile post-apocalyptic book The Girl Who Owned a City by O. T. Nelson.[citation needed]
Academics edit
Glenbard West has made Adequate Yearly Progress[when?] on the Prairie State Achievement Examination, which with the ACT, comprise the assessments used in Illinois to fulfill the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[5]
In 2015, U.S. News & World Report ranked Glenbard West #520 in the nation and 20th overall in Illinois.[15]
Glenbard West has been ranked among the top 1500 public schools in the United States six times, according to Newsweek's challenge Index. In 2010, the school ranked #900.[16] The school was previously ranked #1022 (2009), #954 (2008), #673 (2007), #626 (2006), #684 (2005), and #711 (2003).[16]
Activities edit
Active Clubs for the class of 2025 edit
Source:[17]
- Aerospace Club
- Anime Club
- Bass Fishing Club
- Best Buddies
- Black Student Association
- Book Club
- Cheer Club
- Choir
- Chess Team
- Dance Team
- Delta Epsilon Phi (German)
- "Dice it up" Games Club
- Eco Club
- Fashion Club
- FCCLA Club (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America)
- FIFA Club
- Forensics Club (Speech Team)
- French Club
- Future Teachers of America / GIVS- Glenbard Instructional Volunteer Senior-Leaders
- German Club
- The 'Glen Bard' Student Newspaper
- G.L.O. (Glenbard Latino Organization)
- The Glenbard West Historical Society
- Global Connect Club
- Interact Club
- International Club
- Internet Production Club
- Investment Club
- Jam Club
- Jazz Band
- Key Club
- La Société Honoraire de Français
- Math Team
- Medical Club
- MSA (Muslim Students Association)
- Model United Nations
- National Honor Society
- Operation One World
- Orchesis
- Orchestra
- Pinnacle (Yearbook)
- Prism (LGBTQ+ Alliance)
- Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society
- Scholastic Bowl
- Science Olympiad
- Senior Mentors
- Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica
- South Asian Club
- Spanish Club
- STEM Club
- Steppers (Dance)
- Student Council
- Students for Students
- Students For the Protection of Animals (SFPA)
- Target Success
- That One Group (T.O.G.: Student-directed improv)
- Theatre
- Toadies (Technical theater)
- TV/Broadcast Club
- Ultimate Frisbee Club
- WGHS Radio Glenbard
- West Spirit/Superfans
- West Student Leadership
- Yoga Club
- Young Conservatives
- The Forensics Club (Speech, Individual Events) won the team IHSA state championship trophy in 1991. Since then, the team has won numerous individual awards in State Finals. In 2010, the team tied for second overall.[18]
- The Theatre program performs in the Larry Shue Auditorium. In 2008, the school's production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying was performed at the Illinois Theatrefest.[19]
- The Model United Nations team coached by Richard Kotrba, regularly annually competes at the Brown University, Harvard University, Northwestern University, University of Virginia, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Model UN Conferences.[20] The team has received numerous awards at each of those conferences.
Annual Dances edit
The West Nation "Back to School" Dance, Homecoming, Heart Hop, and Prom.
Athletics edit
Glenbard West competes in the West Suburban Conference. The school is also a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), which governs most sports and competitive activities in Illinois. Teams are stylized as the Hilltoppers.
The school sponsors interscholastic teams for young men and women in basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, boys' lacrosse, and volleyball.[21] Young men may compete in baseball, football, lacrosse, basketball, wrestling, track & field, and cross country, while young women may compete in badminton, field hockey, gymnastics, dance, cheerleading, tennis, golf, swim, basketball, track & field, wrestling, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, cross country, and softball.[21]
State championships edit
- Basketball (boys): (2021-22)
- Cross country (boys): (1960–61)[22]
- Cross country (girls): (2013–14)[23]
- Football: (1983–84, 2012–13, 2015–16)[24]
- Gymnastics (boys): (1995–96, 2016–17)[25]
- Gymnastics (girls): (2017–18)
- Volleyball (girls): (1983–84, 2015–16)[26]
- Volleyball (boys): (2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2021-22, 2022-23[27])[citation needed]
- Track and field (girls): (2016-2017)[28]
School Spirit: Glenbard West Fight Song! edit
Oh, it's G-L-E-N-B-A-R-D
Oh, well, it's Glenbard, Glenbard fight again!
And for the school and team we love so well,
We're going to yell and yell and yell and yell and yell!
And when the teams in green and white appear,
With heads held high we stand and shout and cheer,
And for the school and team go on to fame
win this game.
Fight, team fight!
Notable alumni edit
- Laurie Anderson (class of 1965), musician, songwriter, inventor, and performance artist[29]
- Zak Bagans (class of 1995), investigator on Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures[30]
- Samuel Bodman (class of 1956), U.S. Secretary of Energy (2005–2009)[31]
- Rob Boras, football coach; tight ends coach of the NFL's Buffalo Bills[citation needed]
- Matt Bowen (class of 1995), NFL defensive back (2000–06)[29][32]
- Amy Carlson (class of 1986), actress in film and television (Alex Taylor on TV series Third Watch)[29]
- Jeffery Deaver (class of 1968), mystery novelist; chosen as new author of the James Bond novels; created character Lincoln Rhyme in novels including The Bone Collector[33]
- Erin Gilreath (class of 1998), hammer throw at 2004 Olympics[29]
- Alex Green (class of 1982), NFL defensive back (1987)[34]
- Mike Hall (class of 2000), sportscaster and ESPN Dream Job winner[29]
- Sean Hayes (class of 1988), Emmy Award-winning actor, best known for his role as Jack McFarland on television series Will & Grace[29][35]
- Michael Herbick (class of 1967), Oscar-nominated sound mixer (Lonesome Dove, The Fugitive)[36][37]
- Diane Holum (class of 1968), won Olympic silver and bronze medals (1968) and gold and silver medals (1972) in speed skating[citation needed]
- Braden Huff (class of 2022), college basketball player for the Gonzaga Bulldogs[38]
- Jim Molinari (class of 1973), men's head basketball coach at Western Illinois, Minnesota, Bradley and Northern Illinois
- Alec Pierce (class of 2018), NFL Wide Receiver for the Indianapolis Colts drafted 53rd Overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, Second Team All-AAC Wide Receiver for the Cincinnati Bearcats
- Bobby Rahal (class of 1971), auto racer and co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing; winning driver in the 1986 Indianapolis 500[29]
- Nancy Reno (class of 1984), Olympic competitor in beach volleyball (1996), bronze medalist at the 1997 Beach Volleyball World Championships[29]
- Peter Roskam (class of 1979), U.S. Congressman, representing Illinois's 6th congressional district (2007–2019)[29]
- Janice Rule, actress, psychotherapist[39]
- Larry Shue (class of 1964), playwright (The Foreigner)[40][41]
- Gary Sinise, Emmy Award and Golden Globe-winning actor.
- John Shurna (class of 2008), all-time leading scorer at Northwestern University in men's basketball[42]
- Patricia Tallman (class of 1975), actress, TV series Babylon 5 and film Night of the Living Dead[citation needed]
- Phil Vischer (class of 1984), author, actor, and puppeteer; co-founded Veggie Tales[29]
- Ted Wass (class of 1970), actor and director best known for his work on television (Blossom)[29]
- Chris Watt (class of 2009), former NFL offensive lineman
- Laurie Anderson
- Samuel Bodman
- Matt Bowen
- Jeffrey Deaver
- Bobby Rahal
- Peter Roskam
References edit
- ^ . glenbard87.org. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ "Glenbard West High School - Administrative Team". Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ . glenbardwesths.org. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ a b c "Glenbard West High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ a b c (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 November 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ^ a b "Page Not Found". ihsa.org. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ a b . glenbardwesths.org. Archived from the original on 2 September 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Glenbard West High School". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
- ^ a b c d e . glenbardwesths.org. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ "Glenbard West 1920s". Glenbard West High School History. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
- ^ a b c "Glen Ellyn, Ill. Glenbard West High School". USA Today. 25 October 2001.
- ^ Fuentes, Gabe; HOLLYWOOD ON LOCATION AT GLENBARD WEST STUDENTS GET CLOSE-UP LOOK AT FILMMAKING; 25 June 1985; Chicago Tribune; accessed 30 July 2009[dead link]
- ^ L.L; ""Yearbook": The Real Thing"; 3 March 1991; Los Angeles Times; "Au contraire, say seniors at suburban Illinois' Glenbard West High School, who willingly bared their souls for Fox's new reality series "Yearbook.""; accessed 29 July 2009 March 6, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Rowland, Debran; "A teen drama in Glen Ellyn? Stay tuned..."; 9 October 1990; Chicago Tribune; accessed 30 July 2009[dead link]
- ^ "Glenbard West High School in GLEN ELLYN, IL - Best High Schools - US News". usnews.com. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ a b The top of the Class - The complete list of the 1,500 top U.S. high schools; 8 June 2009; newsweek.com; accessed 29 July 2009 14 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "GW Clubs & Activities Handbook 2021-2022.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
- ^ "SpeechWire Tournament Services - Forensics Tournament Software - Speech, Debate, Congress". speechwire.com. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ [1] May 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ activities
- ^ a b Athletic Department for GWHS; accessed 29 July 2009
- ^ "Records & History". ihsa.org. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ "State Series Information & Results". ihsa.org. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ "Records & History". ihsa.org. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ "Records & History". ihsa.org. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ "Records & History". ihsa.org. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ "Boys Volleyball: Glenbard West repeats as state champions". Shaw Local. 2023-06-04. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
- ^ "Girls Track & Field Records Menu".
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Wilcox, George M; Glenbard West Hilltoppers; 24 March 2009; Chicago Sun-Times; accessed 29 July 2009[dead link]
- ^ Swartz, Tracy (24 July 2019). "'Ghost Adventures' films at Old Joliet Prison for John Wayne Gacy episode". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
- ^ Glenbard Twp. HS district 87 Famous Alumni; accessed 30 July 2009 July 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ . databasefootball.com. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ "Mystery Writers of America (Midwest Chapter), 8 February 2009 meeting report; 19 February 2009; As a boy, Deaver ... developed his own subgenre about pudgy, clumsy, socially inept boys—wish fulfillment stories in which the nerds got the pom-pom girls. He became editor of the Bard, Glenbard West’s literary magazine; accessed 29 July 2009 March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Alex Green". Retrieved January 12, 2019.
- ^ Biography: Sean Hayes; New York Times; accessed 29 July 2009 November 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Gire, Dann (22 February 2009). "Why you can't buy a ticket to the Oscars - and more". Arlington Heights, IL: Daily Herald. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
To answer this one, I asked a real, live Academy voter: Michael Herbick. He grew up in Glen Ellyn, graduated from Glenbard West High School in 1967 ...
- ^ "List of Awards for Michael Herbick". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
- ^ Henricksen, Joe (27 September 2021). "Glenbard West senior Braden Huff commits to Gonzaga". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ Herbert, Ian, ed. (1978).Who's Who in the Theatre : A Biographical Record of the Contemporary Stage. London: Pitman Publishing. p. 1088. ISBN 0-273-01195-2.
- ^ Production notes for "The Nerd" by Larry Shue; The Theater of Western Springs; September 2000; About The Author: ... Larry attended Glenbard West High School, and while there, he played Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream.; accessed 29 July 2009 January 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Christiansen, Richard; Obituary: ACTOR LARRY SHUE, COMEDY PLAYWRIGHT; 25 September 1985; Chicago Tribune; When his family moved to the western Chicago suburbs, Mr. Shue attended Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn.; accessed 30 July 2009[dead link]
- ^ . Northweern Wildcats. Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
External links edit
- Official website
- Athletics website