Naperville Central High School

Naperville Central High School (Naperville Central or NCHS) is a four-year public high school located in Naperville, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. The school, which enrolls students in grades nine through twelve, is a part of the Naperville Community Unit School District 203.

Naperville Central High School
Address
440 W. Aurora Avenue Naperville , Illinois 60540 United States
Coordinates	41°46′02″N 88°09′20″W / 41.7672°N 88.1556°W / 41.7672; -88.1556
Information
School type	public secondary
Opened	1863; 160 years ago (1863) (2011, current building with complete renovation and additions to the original structure)
School district	Naperville Comm. Unit S.D. 203
Superintendent	Dan Bridges
Teaching staff	180.15 (FTE)^[2]
Grades	9–12
Gender	coed
Enrollment	2,674 (2020)
Student to teacher ratio	15.09^[2]
Campus	suburban
Color(s)	red   white^[4]
Athletics conference	DuPage Valley Conference
Mascot	"Redhawks"
Nickname	Redhawks^[4]
Newspaper	The Central Times^[6]
Yearbook	Flight^[5]
Website	www.naperville203.org/nchs

The school, notable for its strong academic standing and history of athletic accomplishments, has been ranked in the top 3% of high schools nationally by U.S. News & World Report.

History

 

Illustration of the Naperville Central High School main entrance, as it has appeared from 1992 to 2010.

The present NCHS structure is on Aurora Avenue just outside the downtown business district in Naperville. The building is within walking distance of the Naperville Riverwalk park/trail network, and is just north of Knoch Park and the Edward Hospital campus. The school is across the street from the historic Naper Settlement.

Naperville High school was established in 1916.^[7] The oldest part of the current building, known by some as the "3-Story Wing," was constructed in 1950.^[8]

The current Naperville Central building has received building additions in 1955, 1963, 1968, 1987, 1992 and 2009. For the 1992–93 school year, three projects in three independent locations added a Student Services wing in the northeast part of the building (demolished in the summer of 2010 to make way for an addition), an auditorium in the northwest part of the building and a natatorium in the southern part of the building.^[9] Prior additions included a field house and renovations to the former student cafeteria area in the late 1980s, the former school library, and a large single-story classroom wing, known as the Flat Wing.

There was an increasing concern about the safety and reliability of Naperville Central. Complaints of lack of building organization, aging infrastructure, and inadequate educational spaces cause it to be the main focus of Naperville School District 203's "Facilities Task Force".^[10] After a 59% voter passage of a $43 million referendum, the school underwent a massive renovation to completely renovate approximately 75% of the school's footprint. On the 27th of May, 2009 ground was broken on the renovation.^[11] The renovation had the three-story wing undergo a mix of new construction and remodeling in order to house all major subject areas. It also moved and updated the learning resource center, it added physical education and music spaces, it reduced building entrances and put synthetic turf on the football field. At the start of the 2011 school year, renovations were completed, and the school was fully re-opened.^[12]

Plagiarism scandal

In 2008, principal Jim Caudill plagiarized a speech he gave to graduating seniors.^[13] The speech originally came from Megan Nowicki-Plackett, a teacher at the time who was formerly a student at the school.^[14] Earlier in the year, Caudill had fired a newspaper adviser earlier over profanity, which began a free speech debate among the community.^[14] The school district ultimately decided to remove Caudill from his principal position and reassign him to oversight of construction during renovations.^[15] Caudill was replaced by Bill Wiesbrook the following year. Wiesbrook was hired in 1996 and previously had worked as a dean to students and assistant principal of operations.^[16]

Mummy

 

The Mummy at Naperville Central High School.

One of the most notable displays at the school is an Egyptian mummy, also known as "Butch".^[17] It is stored in a glass case on the second floor of the school.^[18]

The mummy was donated to the school in the 1940s by local doctor, who had purchased it in a curio shop.^[18] The mummy was wrapped up and forgotten in an attic at the school until it was accidentally rediscovered by a teacher in 1975.^[18] The mummy underwent restoration in the 1990s at the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute.

In 2002, the National Geographic Channel visited the school and featured the school's mummy on an episode of its Mummy Roadshow television series. The mummy dates to approximately 55 BCE.^[18]

Demographics

In 2020, 67.0% of the student body identifies as White, 16.6% of the student body identifies as Asian, 8.5% of the student body identifies as Hispanic, 3.9% of the student body identifies as Black, and 4.0% of the student body identifies as another race.^[19]

Academics

 

Seal of Naperville Central High School

In 2009, Naperville Central was ranked #1353 on the annual Newsweek Magazine listing of their top 1500 American public high school (based on AP test results and the size of the graduating class). The school had been ranked #1015 in 2008.^[20]

Student life

Athletics

Naperville Central competes in the DuPage Valley Conference (DVC), and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), which governs most interscholastic athletics and competitive activities in the state. Teams are stylized as the Redhawks.

The school sponsors the following interscholastic teams for young men and women: lacrosse, basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and water polo. Young men may compete in baseball, football, and wrestling, while young women may compete in badminton and softball. While not sponsored by the IHSA, the Athletic Department also oversees a competitive poms team for young ladies.^[21]

 

Memorial Stadium: Neuqua Valley’s Football Field

The following teams have won their respective IHSA sponsored state tournament or meet:^[22]

• Baseball: 2005–06, 2009–10^[23]
• Basketball (girls): 2002–03, 2003–04^[24]
• Football: 1999–2000, 2013–14^[25]
• Swimming & Diving (boys): 2001–02, 2009–10^[26]
• Swimming & Diving (girls): 2004–05, 2005–06^[27]
• Tennis (boys): 2016–2017^[28]
• Tennis (girls): 1993–94^[29]
• Volleyball (boys): 1997–98^[30]
• Volleyball (girls): 2005–06, 2007–08^[31]
• Water Polo (boys): State Champions 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018-19^[32]

In 2010, the Redhawks achieved fame outside of the playing field, as the NCHS football team appeared in the country singer Kenny Chesney's music video, "The Boys of Fall".^[33]

In 2021, the IHSA sanctioned the NCHS football team for violations of its transfer bylaws. The result of this sanction was the forfeiture of NCHS football games encompassing all wins in the 2018–19, 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons, totaling 17 competitions where ineligible players participated. The School accepted full responsibility's for their actions, and implemented revised procedures. Along with the football team, the basketball team also had to forfeit 4 wins in the 2018–19 season due to at least one ineligible player.^[34]

Science

The NCHS Science Olympiad Team, founded in 2004, ranked third in the state in 2005 and 2006 and second in state in 2007 and 2008(thus advancing to the national tournament).^[35] The Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering Team won the State Championship in 2006, ending rival Naperville North's multiple-year winning streak.^[36] In 2009, Central's WYSE team captured first place at the regional competition held at Naperville North. The Varsity Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS) TEAMS's team placed first in the nation in 2006;^[37] the JV JETS team placed second. In 2009, the Varsity JETS team took 1st place at the regional competition held at IIT (Wheaton Campus), while the JV team took 2nd.^[38]

In 2006, four students from NCHS competed in the Toshiba/NSTA Exploravision Competition and were recognized as 2nd Place National Finalist Winners for their design of a Wireless Information Integration network.^[39]

Chess

The NCHS chess team placed in 10th in 2010 and respectably in 2005 and 2006, and student Dafe Finster was the Individual State Champion in 2005.^[40][41]

Journalism

The Central Times (CT) student newspaper has won many national National Pacemaker Awards, the high-school journalism version of the Pulitzer Prize.^[42][43][44] The CT also tied for first in the 2006 IHSA Journalism State competition as well as maintaining their title in 2010.^[45] CT staff members have received national awards for their writing, as well as awards from Columbia University.^[46][47]

Notable alumni

• Dave Gruber Allen, actor^[48]
• Matthew John Armstrong (class of 1991), actor^[49]
• Casey Krueger (class of 2008) professional soccer player for the United States women's national soccer team and the Chicago Red Stars
• Mark Batterson (class of 1988), pastor and author^[50]
• Cameron Brate (class of 2010), tight end for NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers^[51]
• John Clawson (class of 1963), former ABA small forward; Gold medalist at 1967 Pan American Games and 1968 Summer Olympics.
• Drew Crawford (class of 2009), small forward in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Owen Daniels (class of 2001), retired NFL tight end and member of Super Bowl 50 champion Denver Broncos.^[52]
• Tudor Dixon (class of 1995), Republican candidate for Governor of Michigan in 2022^[53]
• David Eigenberg (class of 1982), actor, perhaps best known as Steve Brady on television series Sex and the City^[51]
• Harry Kalas (class of 1954), Ford C. Frick Award-winning sportscaster, most notably with Philadelphia Phillies (1971–2009)^[51][54]
• Nicky Lopez (class of 2013), 2nd baseman for Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals^[55]
• Elizabeth Lumpkin (class of 2004), former WTA Tour player and current assistant women's tennis coach at the University of Oregon^[56]
• Renato Mariotti (class of 1994), legal commentator and former federal prosecutor^[57][58]
• Gary Miller (class of 1974), former sportscaster for ESPN and current anchor at KCBS and KCAL in Los Angeles^[51][59]
• Mary Miller (class of 1978), politician^[60]
• Anthony Parker (class of 1993), former NBA small forward; 2004 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP; current general manager of NBA G League's Lakeland Magic.
• Candace Parker (class of 2004), 1st overall pick in 2008 WNBA draft, two-time Wooden Award winner in college, two-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time WNBA MVP, current studio analyst for NBA on TNT and current forward for WNBA's Las Vegas Aces^{[61][62][63][64]}
• Sean Payton (class of 1982), former head coach of NFL's New Orleans Saints and winning coach of Super Bowl XLIV^[65][66][67]
• Mark Pearson (class of 1975), agricultural journalist on radio and television^[68]
• Jayden Reed (class of 2018), current American football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers
• Paul Sereno (class of 1975), paleontologist^[51]
• Joe Swanberg (class of 1999), film director^[69]
• Tim Szatko (class of 1999), professional basketball player^[70]
• Payton Thorne (class of 2019), current American football quarterback for Michigan State University^[71] and quarterback for Auburn University for the 2023 season^[72]
• Paula Zahn (class of 1974), television newscaster^[51]
• Robert Zoellick (class of 1971), government functionary and former President of World Bank (2007–2012)^[73]
• Nick Mondek (2007) Former professional football player for the Houston Texans
• Emmanuel Rugamba (2016) Professional CFL player for the BC Lions

References

1. District 203, Naperville Community Unit School (19 January 2022). "Experienced Naperville Central administrator selected as school's next principal". Positively Naperville. Retrieved 1 July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
2. "Naperville Central High School". National Center for Education Statistics. from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
3. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 May 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. . Archived from the original on 26 June 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
5. . Archived from the original on 22 July 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
6. . Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
7. "Clipped From Chicago Tribune". Chicago Tribune. 29 May 1955. p. 173. from the original on 2 May 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
8. "Clipped From Chicago Tribune". Chicago Tribune. 13 August 1950. p. 18. from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
9. "It's back to class for district voters". Chicago Tribune. from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
10. . 13 August 2013. Archived from the original on 13 August 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
11. Jenco, Melissa (28 May 2009). "Naperville Central renovation kicks off". Daily Herald. ProQuest 313401466.
12. "'New' Naperville Central steals show for second straight year". Daily Herald. 17 August 2011. from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
13. "Principal's blunder holds good lessons". Chicago Tribune. 27 May 2008. from the original on 10 December 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
14. Gregory, Ted (24 May 2008). "Naperville Central principal admits plagiarizing speech". Chicago Tribune. from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
15. "Principal Who Admitted Plagiarism to be Reassigned," 22 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine ABC7-Chicago, 16 June 2008.
16. McCarthy, Jack (20 March 2009). "Naperville schools brace for worst, hope for some relief". Chicago Tribune. from the original on 8 May 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
17. Krause, James. "Butch, the Naperville Central mummy, put in spotlight again thanks to comedian's podcast". chicagotribune.com. from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
18. "Pohl, Laura Zahn; Naperville mummy gets star billing; p. 3; 13 February 2002; Chicago Tribune; accessed through Niles (IL) Public Library 10 July 2009". ProQuest 419625132. from the original on 2 May 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
19. "Naperville Central HS Report Card". from the original on 19 July 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
20. The Top of the Class – The complete list of the 1,500 top U.S. high schools 18 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine; 8 June 2009; Newsweek; accessed 22 June 2009
21. "Naperville Central HS | Home". Athletics2000.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
22. . Archived from the original on 15 April 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
23. "Records & History | Boys Baseball | IHSA Sports & Activities". from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
24. "Records & History". from the original on 13 February 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
25. "Records & History". from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
26. "Records & History". from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
27. "Records & History". from the original on 27 July 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
28. "Boys tennis: Naperville Central takes team championship". 27 May 2017. from the original on 30 May 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
29. "Records & History". from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
30. "Records & History". from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
31. "Records & History". from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
32. "Records & History". from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
33. . articles.chicagotribune.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012.
34. report, Daily Herald (26 May 2021). "IHSA sanctions Naperville Central; 17 football wins forfeited". Football Focus. from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
35. "Illinois Science Olympiad – Illinois Science Olympiad". Illinoisolympiad.org. from the original on 26 March 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
36. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 December 2006. Retrieved 6 September 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
37. . Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
38. . Archived from the original on 11 September 2007.
39. "Wireless Information Integration: A Promethean Network". Dev.nsta.org. from the original on 7 January 2007. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
40. . Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
41. . Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
42. . Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
43. . Archived from the original on 19 August 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
44. . Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
45. . Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
46. . Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
47. . Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
48. "'Freaks and Geeks' actor Dave 'Gruber' Allen talks Naperville, comedy". from the original on 6 February 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
49. "Matthew John Armstrong". IMDb. from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
50. Arrowhead: 1988 NCHS Yearbook. 1988.
51. . Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
52. "Owen Daniels Stats, News and Video - TE". NFL.com. from the original on 26 January 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
53. Zhao, Jeremy (2 December 2022). "Central Class of 1995 runs for Michigan Governor". Central Times. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
54. Voting page for 4 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine "Naperville's Most Famous", run by the Naperville Sun newspaper.
55. "Nicky Lopez Stats". from the original on 12 November 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
56. "Elizabeth Lumpkin Robinson - Women's Tennis Coach". from the original on 2 May 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
57. "High School Students Can't Say Enough About Debate Experience". Chicago Tribune. 24 April 1994. from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
58. "Renato Mariotti". Ballotpedia. from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
59. "Register". Retrieved 18 September 2023 – via linkedin.
60. Donovan, Lisa; Dan, Petrella (7 January 2021). "Lawmaker's Hitler comment draws ire". Chicago Tribune. from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
62. "Refreshing to". Woodenaward.cstv.com. from the original on 17 March 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
63. "Candace Parker Bio – University of Tennessee Official Athletic Site". Utladyvols.com. from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
64. . www.foxsports.com. Archived from the original on 1 May 2016.
65. . Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
66. . Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
67. Hermoso, Rafael; Giants' Offense Purring Under Payton 27 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine; 17 September 2000; The New York Times, sec. 8, p. 6; accessed 22 June 2009
68. "Mark Pearson: Obituary," 22 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine Des Moines Register, 6 June 2012.
69. "Joe Swanberg". IMDb.com. from the original on 26 March 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
70. "Szatko's crusade". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. 16 March 2003. from the original on 2 May 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
71. Friend, Phil. "Michigan State QB Payton Thorne: 3 things to know". Lansing State Journal. from the original on 2 May 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
72. Friend, Phil. "Michigan State QB Payton Thorne: 3 things to know". Lansing State Journal. from the original on 2 May 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
73. Waldorf, Tim; "New World Bank Head has Naperville Roots." Naperville Sun, 5 June 2007.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Naperville Central High School.

• Naperville Community Unit School District 203
• NCHS Athletic Website