Wheaton North High School

Infobox Secondary school
name = Wheaton North High School

principal = Jill Bullo
established = 1964
type = Public secondary
grades = 9–12
city = 1 Falcon Way
Wheaton
state = Illinois
country = USA
faculty = 118
enrollment = 2,254
campus = Suburban, 51 acres
mascot = Falcons
colors = Royal blue and gold
newspaper =
yearbook =
website = [http://www.wnhs.org/ www.wnhs.org]
picture =

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, a 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

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 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, [ [http://www.cusd200.org/expansion/index.htm High School Expansion] ] 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.

Academics

The staff is 118 teachers with a student-teacher ratio of 18:1, and an average class size of 23.

In the May 6, 2006 issue of "Newsweek", Wheaton North was ranked 4th out of 1,200, placing it in the top 99 percent nationally. [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12532668/site/newsweek/from/ET/ Wheaton North makes Newsweek's top 1,000] ] The rankings are determined by a "Challenge Index", which includes the total number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cat house tests given at a school, divided by the number of seniors graduating that year.

Athletics

Wheaton North is a member of the DuPage Valley Conference, where they enjoy an intense and natural rivalry with their sister school, Wheaton-Warrenville South. In 2003, Wheaton North and Wheaton 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.

Girls Sports
*Fall
**Cross Country
**Golf
**Volleyball
**Tennis
**Swimming
*Winter
**Basketball
**Gymnastics
**Cheerleading
*Spring
**Badminton
**Track and Field
**Soccer
**SoftballBoys Sports
*Fall
**Cross Country
**Football
**Golf
**Soccer
*Winter
**Basketball
**Swimming
**Wrestling
*Spring
**Baseball
**Gymnastics
**Tennis
**Lacrosse
**Track
**Volleyball

The following sports teams earned a top-four finish in their respective State Championship Tournaments, sponsored by the IHSA: [ [http://www.ihsa.org/school/records/sum2321.htm/ IHSA.org historic records for Wheaton North athletics and competitive activities] ]

*Cross Country (boys): 2nd (1976-77)
*Cross Country (girls): State Champions (2002-03); 3rd (1986-87); 4th (1998-99)
*Football: State Champions (1978-79, 81-82, 86-87)
*Gymnastics (boys): State Champions (2004-05); 3rd (2003-04)
*Soccer (boys): 3rd (2005-06)
*Soccer (girls): 3rd (2005-06)
*Swimming and Diving (girls): 2nd (1975-76)
*Track and Field (boys): 3rd (2001-02 & 03-04)
*Track and Field (girls): 3rd (1988-89)
*Volleyball (boys): 2nd (1995-96)
*Wrestling: 3rd (1978-79)

Activities

Wheaton North offers language clubs, service activities, and various other activities typical of an American high school.

Competitive Activities

The following competitive activities have earned a top four-finish in their respective State Championship Tournaments, sponsored by the IHSA: [ [http://www.ihsa.org/school/records/sum2321.htm/ IHSA.org historic records for Wheaton North athletics and competitive activities] ]

*Debate: State Champions (1977-78 & 2005-06); 3rd (1975-76 & 76-77); Semifinalist (2005-06 & 07-08)
*Individual Events: 3rd (2006-07); 4th (1995-96) [ [http://www.espeech.net/tournament.php?tournid=66 2007 IHSA State Speech Individual Events results] ]
*Scholastic Bowl: State Champions (2001-02, 02-03 & 03-04); 2nd (2000-01, 04-05 & 06-07), 4th (2005-06)

The Scholastic Bowl team's current run of seven consecutive top-4 finishes is a state record for the competition. Their five consecutive top-2 finishes is similarly a state record.

Performing Arts

In a typical year, Wheaton North typically presents a fall drama, spring musical, and an evening of one-act plays.

Wheaton North has 11 performing arts ensembles, including:
* Four choirs
* Two orchestras
* Three bands
**Concert Band
**Symphonic Band (Audition)
**Wind Ensemble (Audition)
* One pep band

Freshman Girls chorus and SATB Concert Choir are non-audition choirs.

Audition Choirs consist of Treble Choir, sophomore-senior women's ensemble that focuses on more Classical repertoire; Show Choir, a group that performs student-choreographed routines to pop and Broadway repertoire; and Chamber Ensemble, which performs a cappella material.

Recent Events

Kendall and Clinton

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. [ [http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=29634 "Clinton, Oprah, cash" in "Daily Herald"] ]

Notable Alumni

*Kent Graham, NFL quarterback, "National High School Quarterback of the Year" [ [http://www.nqbc.com/history.html The National Quarterback Club] ] ; Class of 1987
*Chuck Long, San Diego State University head football coach, record-breaking quarterback at Iowa; Class of 1981
*Gail O'Grady, Actress, NYPD Blue, American Dreams, Boston Legal, Class of 1981
*Randy Pfund, NBA Miami Heat General Manager; Class of [1970]

*Adam Haris, Sprinter, 200 meter 2008 Olympics; Class of 2006
*Jordan Dileonardi. [Quarterback] [NFL, "National High School All around player of the year-football" class of "('09in progress)" --in the process of leading Wheaton North to Illinois State Championship

References

Jordan Dileonardi- class of 98

External links

* [http://www.wnhs.org/ Wheaton North High School]
* [http://www.cusd200.org/ Community Unit School District 200]
* [http://www.wnspeech.com/ Wheaton North Speech Team]
* [http://www.wnhslax.org/ Wheaton North Lacrosse Club]