Kenwood Academy (also known as Kenwood Academy High School[4] and formerly known as Kenwood High School) is a comprehensive publichigh school and magnet middle school located in the Hyde Park–Kenwood neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Operated by the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) district, Kenwood opened in 1969. Kenwood limits acceptance of high school students to those living in Hyde Park: from Lake Michigan to Cottage Grove Avenue east to west, and 47th to the Midway Plaisance north to south. Kenwood was recognized as a School of Distinction for its academic achievement and a Model School by the International Center for Leadership in Education in 2004.[citation needed] In addition to being a local high school, Kenwood has a magnet program that accepts students entering into 7th grade who pass a rigorous admissions test. The magnet program accepts students citywide using a random lottery with a standing of 6 or higher in both reading and math.
The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) began the planning process to build Kenwood Academy, then called Kenwood High School, on November 3, 1965. With Northern big cities undergoing the final years of the baby boom, the CPS felt the need for a modernized new high school on Chicago's South Side. During the time of planning for the new school, CPS operated Kenwood Upper Grade Center; a neighborhood elementary school that was later converted into a high school to relieve overcrowding at nearby high schools in 1962. At the time, the school served 900 students in a building meant for only 500.
The question of whether to build Kenwood High School was the center of intense interest and tension for community members in Hyde Park, Kenwood, and Woodlawn who were concerned about the impact a new school would have on the racial composition of the surrounding neighborhoods and schools. Before the construction of Kenwood High School all students from these communities attended Hyde Park High School in Woodlawn. Community activists from Woodlawn argued that building a new high school in Hyde Park/Kenwood would drain all of the white students from Hyde Park High School, effectively segregating the school.[5] These activists argued for an expansion of Hyde Park High School to alleviate overcrowding rather than the construction of a separate school. However, on November 17, 1966 the Chicago Board of Education approved the proposal to build Kenwood High School,[6] on a site bordered by 51st Street to the south, Lake Park Avenue to the east, Blackstone Avenue to the west; near the Illinois Central Railroad.[7]
Construction on the school began in March 1968. At $7.4 million, it was considered Chicago's most expensive high school at the time.[8] The new school, situated at 5015 South Blackstone Avenue, opened in September 1969 with an enrollment of 700. The school's demographics during the first ten years was made up of 79% African-American and 21% White. The white population at the school continue to decline over the years, bringing the current demographics to 84% African-American, 5% white, 4% Hispanic, 3% Asian, and 4% multi-racial or other.[9] Elizabeth Mollahan–Jochner, who had been the principal of Kenwood Upper Grade Center, served as the new Kenwood's principal, holding the position for eighteen years from the school's opening until her retirement in June 1987.[10][11] In recognition of the school's academic excellence and special programs, the Chicago Board of Education and CPS designated the school an "academy" and " a school of distinction" in 1977.[12]
Demographics
As of the 2019–2020 school year, 85.8% of Kenwood's student body is African-American, 4.5% White, 4.8% Hispanic, 2.3% Asian, and 2.5% Other. Low-income students make up 57.5% of Kenwood's student body.[13] Kenwood has a 93% graduation rate.
Curriculum
Academic Center
The Academic Center Program started as a way to introduce a select few 7th and 8th grade students to the high school environment before actually entering high school. Students in this program are referred to as "preppies," as they are preparing for high school by taking high school courses before they graduate from the 8th grade. Students are offered the choice of staying at Kenwood Academy or attending any other high school with their credits and GPA. Students that choose to stay at Kenwood are granted the right, in their senior year, to take tuition-free courses at the University of Chicago. The academic center is now housed in the former Canter Middle School (formerly Louis Wirth Elementary School) building, which closed after the 2013–14 school year.[14]
University of Chicago
Kenwood Academy students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses can access student resources on the University of Chicago's Hyde Park campus. University of Chicago students and professors have traditionally worked closely with Kenwood students in classes and on special projects. A recent example of a Kenwood Academy/University of Chicago relationship is evidenced in the Program of Academic Excellence for High School Juniors at Kenwood Academy (The Kenwood Project). This program pairs Kenwood Academy Juniors with professors at the University of Chicago, as mentors.
Activities
Music department
The Kenwood Academy Concert Choir has performed locally and nationally at churches, colleges and universities, and vocal competitions nationwide. Oscar winner Denzel Washington and Grammy award winners The Winans have shared billings (at their own requests) with the Kenwood Academy Concert Choir. The Kenwood Concert Choir has performed for President Barack Obama. The Kenwood Academy Bands include the Jazz Emsemble (known as "Jazz At The Wood"), Jazz Combo, Concert Band, and the newly revived Marching Band (known as the "Marching Broncos"). Jazz At The Wood was the first CPS high school band to be invited to perform at the Annual Jazz Festival (located in Grant Park) in 2007. They have also performed for the Annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival, Golden Apple Awards, Ravinia, Hewitt and Associates and Room 43.[citation needed]
Athletics
Kenwood competes in the Chicago Public League (CPL) and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).[15] Kenwood varsity athletic teams are named the "Broncos." The school's football field is not of regulation size, and thus no home games are played there. There are no stands or seats for spectators. The boys' swimming and diving team were Public League champions 14 times (1985–96, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000). Kenwood boys' track and field were Public league champions and Class AA 3 times; (1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86). Kenwood girls' swimming and diving were public league champions 8 times (1981–82, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1998–99). Kenwood boys’ football team won the Public league championship (2021–2022), the first time in the schools' history.[citation needed]
Other information
On February 19, 1970, 22 students were arrested at the school when a crowd of 200 students staged a sit–in outside of the principal's office. The sit–in was in response to minorities of the student body to get implementation of manifesto. The students also wanted a social room in the school to be named in memory of the late Black Panther Party chairman Fred Hampton.[16] On February 15, 1972, 21–year old Cornell Fitzpatrick was shot to death in the school by a white Chicago police officer Benard Martin who was working as security at the school.[17][18] According to the officer, the confrontation began when Fitzpatrick and a friend refused to leave the school after being asked repeatedly by the officer; which resulted in a physical altercation and Fitzpatrick's death. Eyewitness stories contradicted the officer's account of what occurred.[19] In October 1989, Two teenage male students were charged with attempted arson and reckless conduct when they intentionally started a fire at the school.[20] On October 2, 2003, the body of a newborn baby girl was found in a trash bin at the school by Chicago police officers. The baby was discarded by a 14–year old female student who had given birth in a bathroom at the school the previous day.[21]
Lena McLin – Music teacher, composer, author, and minister. McLin served as a music teacher and head of the music department at the school from 1970 to 1993.[31]
References
^"High School Code Search". College Board. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
^"Chicago Public Schools: Kenwood". Retrieved 24 January 2015.
^. AdvancED profile. North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
^1982 Kenwood Academy (Odyssey) (Chicago, Illinois)
^. Archived from the original on 2015-09-28. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kenwood Academy.
Kenwood Academy Website
January 06, 2023
kenwood, academy, this, article, uses, bare, urls, which, uninformative, vulnerable, link, please, consider, converting, them, full, citations, ensure, article, remains, verifiable, maintains, consistent, citation, style, several, templates, tools, available, . This article uses bare URLs which are uninformative and vulnerable to link rot Please consider converting them to full citations to ensure the article remains verifiable and maintains a consistent citation style Several templates and tools are available to assist in formatting such as Reflinks documentation reFill documentation and Citation bot documentation September 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Kenwood Academy also known as Kenwood Academy High School 4 and formerly known as Kenwood High School is a comprehensive public high school and magnet middle school located in the Hyde Park Kenwood neighborhood on the south side of Chicago Illinois United States Operated by the Chicago Public Schools CPS district Kenwood opened in 1969 Kenwood limits acceptance of high school students to those living in Hyde Park from Lake Michigan to Cottage Grove Avenue east to west and 47th to the Midway Plaisance north to south Kenwood was recognized as a School of Distinction for its academic achievement and a Model School by the International Center for Leadership in Education in 2004 citation needed In addition to being a local high school Kenwood has a magnet program that accepts students entering into 7th grade who pass a rigorous admissions test The magnet program accepts students citywide using a random lottery with a standing of 6 or higher in both reading and math Kenwood AcademyAddress5015 S Blackstone AvenueChicago Illinois 60615United StatesCoordinates41 48 12 N 87 35 23 W 41 8034 N 87 5898 W 41 8034 87 5898 Coordinates 41 48 12 N 87 35 23 W 41 8034 N 87 5898 W 41 8034 87 5898InformationSchool typePublicSecondaryMagnetMotto Our mission is COLLEGE Established1965School districtChicago Public SchoolsCEEB code140917 1 PrincipalKaren A CallowayGrades7 12 2 GenderCoedEnrollment2 316 4 2022 2023 Campus typeUrbanColor s Columbia Blue RedAthletics conferenceChicago Public LeagueTeam nameBroncosAccreditationNorth Central Association of Colleges and Schools 3 NewspaperKenwood KaleidoscopeYearbookOdysseyWebsitekenwoodacademy wbr org Contents 1 History 1 1 Demographics 2 Curriculum 2 1 Academic Center 2 2 University of Chicago 3 Activities 3 1 Music department 4 Athletics 5 Other information 6 Notable alumni 7 Notable staff 8 References 9 External linksHistory EditThe Chicago Public Schools CPS began the planning process to build Kenwood Academy then called Kenwood High School on November 3 1965 With Northern big cities undergoing the final years of the baby boom the CPS felt the need for a modernized new high school on Chicago s South Side During the time of planning for the new school CPS operated Kenwood Upper Grade Center a neighborhood elementary school that was later converted into a high school to relieve overcrowding at nearby high schools in 1962 At the time the school served 900 students in a building meant for only 500 The question of whether to build Kenwood High School was the center of intense interest and tension for community members in Hyde Park Kenwood and Woodlawn who were concerned about the impact a new school would have on the racial composition of the surrounding neighborhoods and schools Before the construction of Kenwood High School all students from these communities attended Hyde Park High School in Woodlawn Community activists from Woodlawn argued that building a new high school in Hyde Park Kenwood would drain all of the white students from Hyde Park High School effectively segregating the school 5 These activists argued for an expansion of Hyde Park High School to alleviate overcrowding rather than the construction of a separate school However on November 17 1966 the Chicago Board of Education approved the proposal to build Kenwood High School 6 on a site bordered by 51st Street to the south Lake Park Avenue to the east Blackstone Avenue to the west near the Illinois Central Railroad 7 Construction on the school began in March 1968 At 7 4 million it was considered Chicago s most expensive high school at the time 8 The new school situated at 5015 South Blackstone Avenue opened in September 1969 with an enrollment of 700 The school s demographics during the first ten years was made up of 79 African American and 21 White The white population at the school continue to decline over the years bringing the current demographics to 84 African American 5 white 4 Hispanic 3 Asian and 4 multi racial or other 9 Elizabeth Mollahan Jochner who had been the principal of Kenwood Upper Grade Center served as the new Kenwood s principal holding the position for eighteen years from the school s opening until her retirement in June 1987 10 11 In recognition of the school s academic excellence and special programs the Chicago Board of Education and CPS designated the school an academy and a school of distinction in 1977 12 Demographics Edit As of the 2019 2020 school year 85 8 of Kenwood s student body is African American 4 5 White 4 8 Hispanic 2 3 Asian and 2 5 Other Low income students make up 57 5 of Kenwood s student body 13 Kenwood has a 93 graduation rate Curriculum EditAcademic Center Edit The Academic Center Program started as a way to introduce a select few 7th and 8th grade students to the high school environment before actually entering high school Students in this program are referred to as preppies as they are preparing for high school by taking high school courses before they graduate from the 8th grade Students are offered the choice of staying at Kenwood Academy or attending any other high school with their credits and GPA Students that choose to stay at Kenwood are granted the right in their senior year to take tuition free courses at the University of Chicago The academic center is now housed in the former Canter Middle School formerly Louis Wirth Elementary School building which closed after the 2013 14 school year 14 University of Chicago Edit Kenwood Academy students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses can access student resources on the University of Chicago s Hyde Park campus University of Chicago students and professors have traditionally worked closely with Kenwood students in classes and on special projects A recent example of a Kenwood Academy University of Chicago relationship is evidenced in the Program of Academic Excellence for High School Juniors at Kenwood Academy The Kenwood Project This program pairs Kenwood Academy Juniors with professors at the University of Chicago as mentors Activities EditMusic department Edit The Kenwood Academy Concert Choir has performed locally and nationally at churches colleges and universities and vocal competitions nationwide Oscar winner Denzel Washington and Grammy award winners The Winans have shared billings at their own requests with the Kenwood Academy Concert Choir The Kenwood Concert Choir has performed for President Barack Obama The Kenwood Academy Bands include the Jazz Emsemble known as Jazz At The Wood Jazz Combo Concert Band and the newly revived Marching Band known as the Marching Broncos Jazz At The Wood was the first CPS high school band to be invited to perform at the Annual Jazz Festival located in Grant Park in 2007 They have also performed for the Annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival Golden Apple Awards Ravinia Hewitt and Associates and Room 43 citation needed Athletics EditKenwood competes in the Chicago Public League CPL and is a member of the Illinois High School Association IHSA 15 Kenwood varsity athletic teams are named the Broncos The school s football field is not of regulation size and thus no home games are played there There are no stands or seats for spectators The boys swimming and diving team were Public League champions 14 times 1985 96 1997 98 1998 99 1999 2000 Kenwood boys track and field were Public league champions and Class AA 3 times 1982 83 1983 84 1985 86 Kenwood girls swimming and diving were public league champions 8 times 1981 82 1985 86 1986 87 1987 88 1988 89 1989 90 1990 91 1998 99 Kenwood boys football team won the Public league championship 2021 2022 the first time in the schools history citation needed Other information EditOn February 19 1970 22 students were arrested at the school when a crowd of 200 students staged a sit in outside of the principal s office The sit in was in response to minorities of the student body to get implementation of manifesto The students also wanted a social room in the school to be named in memory of the late Black Panther Party chairman Fred Hampton 16 On February 15 1972 21 year old Cornell Fitzpatrick was shot to death in the school by a white Chicago police officer Benard Martin who was working as security at the school 17 18 According to the officer the confrontation began when Fitzpatrick and a friend refused to leave the school after being asked repeatedly by the officer which resulted in a physical altercation and Fitzpatrick s death Eyewitness stories contradicted the officer s account of what occurred 19 In October 1989 Two teenage male students were charged with attempted arson and reckless conduct when they intentionally started a fire at the school 20 On October 2 2003 the body of a newborn baby girl was found in a trash bin at the school by Chicago police officers The baby was discarded by a 14 year old female student who had given birth in a bathroom at the school the previous day 21 Notable alumni EditWalter S Arnold class of 1971 Sculptor stone carver Da Brat Shawntae Harris attended Rapper recording artist 22 Quincy Black class of 2002 NFL linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers Prashant Bhargava class of 1990 Film director 23 Kim English attended Dancer musician Kerrie L Holley class of 1972 IBM Fellow in IBM Research IBM Black Engineer of the Year Award Recipient 2003 Eva Lewis attended Activist advocate poet 24 Karen Lewis class of 1971 Educator president of the Chicago Teachers Union 25 LisaRaye attended Actress model and businesswoman R Kelly attended R amp B singer songwriter 26 Chaka Khan Yvette Stevens attended R amp B Soul singer recording artist Nazr Mohammed class of 1995 NBA player center Chicago Bulls Mandy Patinkin class of 1970 Singer television film and Broadway actor Andrew Patner class of 1977 Biographer cultural critic 27 Derrius Quarles class of 2009 Entrepreneur designer author 28 Jesse Saunders class of 1980 DJ record producer film producer entrepreneur 29 Jacqueline Stewart class of 1987 Film studies scholar television presenter Juliana Stratton class of 1983 Lawyer politician Democratic Lieutenant Governor of Illinois 30 Latasha Thomas attended Alderman 17th ward Chicago Illinois Erica Watson class of 1992 Actress comedian and writer Jay Yuenger attended Guitarist White Zombie Notable staff EditLena McLin Music teacher composer author and minister McLin served as a music teacher and head of the music department at the school from 1970 to 1993 31 References Edit High School Code Search College Board Retrieved 23 May 2014 Chicago Public Schools Kenwood Retrieved 24 January 2015 Institution Summary for Kenwood Academy AdvancED profile North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement Archived from the original on 18 June 2015 Retrieved 31 August 2012 a b Chicago Public Schools Kenwood Acad HS Banas C January 29 1966 Hyde Park High Plan Illegal Foes Charge Chicago Tribune Retrieved 2018 10 24 Getz A November 17 1966 Kenwood High Gets Go Ahead Chicago Tribune Retrieved 2018 10 24 Chicago Politics Ward by Ward Chicago Tribune Construction To Begin On Kenwood High School March 17 1968 Illinois Report Card www illinoisreportcard com Retrieved 2019 05 23 Chicago Sun Times Elizabeth Jochner former Kenwood HS principal dies at 76 April 13 1998 Kenwood Academy Chicago Illinois 1987 Yearbook Chicago Tribune Kenwood Academy Rises To Top Of School System May 29 1985 CPS Find a school Find a School cps edu Retrieved 2019 12 07 Chicago Sun times CPS plans to move Kenwood program into closed school Archived 2015 05 29 at the Wayback Machine IHSA Chicago Kenwood Chicago Tribune Two Teachers Are Beaten At High School February 20 1970 Chicago Tribune Kenwood Killing Inquest May 3 1972 Chicago Tribune Black Cop 2 Rights Leaders Subpenaed In School Slaying February 26 1972 JET Magazine Probe Death Of Student At Chicago High School Ban Armed Patrol Guards March 9 1972 Chicago Tribune Sayer s Son Charged With Setting Fire October 26 1989 Chicago Tribune Baby s Body Found At High School October 3 2003 Hyde Park History Archived 2015 04 02 at the Wayback Machine Patang review Archived 2012 10 14 at the Wayback Machine rogerebert com Hill Tonia Kenwood Academic Center grad hosts benefit concert for elementary school Hyde Park Herald May 17 2017 Chicago Teacher s Union About Us Your Body s Calling Me Music Love Sex amp Money the Life amp Times of R Kelly Andrew Patner Biography Hyde Park Historical Society Archived from the original on April 2 2015 Retrieved March 10 2015 http hpherald com 2014 04 27 kenwoods college on track system lauded House Music the Real Story The Saunders Family 1982 Kenwood Academy Odyssey Chicago Illinois The Historymakers Lena McLin Archived from the original on 2015 09 28 Retrieved 2014 05 02 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kenwood Academy Kenwood Academy Website Kenwood s page on Chicago Public School s website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kenwood Academy amp oldid 1131150915, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
