Homewood-Flossmoor High School

Homewood-Flossmoor High School (H-F) is a comprehensive public high school established in 1959 in Flossmoor, Illinois. The school district encompasses nearly 11.5 square miles, drawing students from all or portions of Homewood, Flossmoor, Chicago Heights, Glenwood, Hazel Crest, and Olympia Fields.[7] As of the 2019-2020 academic year there were 2,796 students. The demographics of the student body that year was 69.7% Black, 17.2% White, 7.6% Hispanic, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 4.7% from two or more races.[8]

Homewood-Flossmoor
High School
Address
999 Kedzie Avenue

Flossmoor
,
Illinois
60422

United States
Coordinates41.545748°N 87.692558°W / 41.545748; -87.692558
Information
School typepublic secondary
MottoDedicated to Excellence
Opened1959
School districtHomewood-Flossmoor Community HS 233
SuperintendentDr. Von Mansfield[1]
Staff301[2]
Grades9–12
Gendercoed
Enrollment2,796 (2019-2020)[3]
Average class size19.5[4]
AreaSouth Suburbs
Campus typesuburban
Color(s)  red
  white[5]
Fight songFight On, You Vikings, Fight!
Athletics conferenceSouthwest Suburban Conference[5]
MascotVictor Viking
Team nameVikings[5] (males) / Lady Vikings (females)
NewspaperThe Voyager[6]
RadioWHFH (88.5 FM)[6]
Websitehttp://www.hfhighschool.org/

A three-time U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award for Academic Excellence winner (1983, 1996, 2002), Homewood-Flossmoor continues to be ranked nationally, including as one of America’s Most Challenging High Schools by The Washington Post. In 2012–13, Homewood-Flossmoor became the first public high school in Chicago's suburbs to earn the International Baccalaureate World School status.[9] Homewood-Flossmoor has an Advanced Placement program (25 AP courses in 2017-18); a five-course Project Lead the Way STEM program; and a Media, Visual & Performing Arts Academy (MVP).

The campus consists of a North* and South Building. The South Building contains a number of sub-buildings each assigned a letter, and includes the school's radio station (WHFH) 88.5 FM Flossmoor, television station VTV, science labs, a swimming pool, a music building, gymnasium and an auditorium. An ice rink is also located on the campus, owned by the local park district.

In 2014, H-F took part in a multimillion-dollar ($26,070,000 contract) [10] renovation of the North Building on campus. The renovations included a new 200-meter track containing four full-sized basketball, volleyball, and badminton courts in the center of the track. The 9,000-sq. ft. facility also contains cardio and training equipment. Additionally, a 50-yard indoor turf has expanded the playing and practice season for a variety of field sports and activities, including football, soccer, field hockey, baseball and marching band. The project was finished in late spring 2014. In 2015, H-F was awarded a Gold LEED Award for outstanding environmental practices in the construction of this addition. In 2019, the school began the first phase of its Fine Arts Expansion Project, which created a new music wing and black box theater, in addition to renovated visual arts classrooms. The project was completed in October 2020.

History

Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School site opened in 1959[11] with enrollment at 1,170 students. There were 51 classrooms, which included 10 English classes, 10 Social Science, eight Science, six Mathematics, five Foreign Language, three Physical Education, one Homemaking, three Industrial Arts, two Art, and three Music classes. A cafeteria, library and administrative area were also included.

By 1965, the school's population had nearly doubled and additional buildings were added: Auditorium (1965), G Building (1966) and E Building (1966). As growth continued, it became apparent that a major new facility was needed, and in 1971, the North Building and fieldhouse opened when the student population topped 4,000.

Following a decade of preparation and fiscal planning, in 1995 a $25 million renovation and addition program was completed: all classrooms and offices were wired for internet access; a music wing was added, providing student practice and performance; a Technology Center and numerous labs to offer computer assisted instruction were completed; the Mall Building, located mid-campus near the football field and field house, was expanded, modernized and staffed, providing athletic training and rehabilitation of student athletes; a new Olympic sized aqua-center was opened; 14 tennis courts were added; and the student-run WHFH radio and TV stations were modernized.

In 1989, football coach John Wrenn proposed District 233 adopt a mandatory drug-testing policy similar to one at two Lafayette, Indiana high schools, where a recent landmark court case decision allowed the creation of such programs.[12] H-F became the first high school in Illinois to require mandatory random drug testing for its student athletes.

In 1996, the school gained publicity when up to 20,000 people gathered on the school lawn to hear President Bill Clinton deliver a speech on education during his 1996 reelection campaign.[13][14]

In addition to being named a Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education three times, the school has received Department of Education Technology Award twice.[15] In 1995, the school's technology plan was named one of the five best in the nation.[15] In spring 2013, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Organization granted IB World School status to Homewood-Flossmoor. H-F now joins the exclusive company of approximately 3,000 IB World Schools that dot the globe across 138 countries.

Beginning with the Class of 2020, the school now offers the unique Media, Visual & Performing Arts Academy (MVP), allowing students the opportunity to develop their talent in an art-focused field and making their passion the focal point of their education.

Academics

A comprehensive school that offers four levels of academic courses, Homewood-Flossmoor serves all of its students at every level through programs such as Project Lead the Way, Advanced Placement, IB Prep Academy, IB Diploma Programme and the Media, Visual & Performing Arts Academy. The school's academic resources and support initiatives help it challenge and meet the needs of all students every day. In 2016, nearly 90% of the graduating class continued on to a two- or four-year college or university. Placement in courses and levels is largely by student choice, yet the school encourages students to aspire to the highest course levels, resulting in an increase in the number of students in AP courses. In 2016, 1,025 AP exams were taken at Homewood-Flossmomor, and — on those tests — students scored a 3 or higher and beat the national average in 10 subject areas.

H-F has been named one of Newsweek's top 1,000 schools on several occasions in recent years: 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009 (#1142), 2008 (#746), 2007 (#682), 2006 (#849), 2005 (#744), and 2003 (#518).[16] H-F has also been ranked for several years as one of America's Most Challenging High Schools by the Washington Post.

H-F's Visual Arts Department was named the Best School Art Program in the state in 2013 by the Illinois Art Education Association.

USGS satellite photo of H-F HS

Fine Arts Department

H-F offers an award-winning fine arts program, which includes courses in music, theatre, and visual arts. There are over 50 courses offered. About 39% of H-F students are enrolled in at least one fine arts course [17]

Music

H-F's Music Department includes three core programs: band, orchestra, and choir. As well as ensembles of these programs, additional classes are offered at HF, such as AP Music Theory, Industry of Music, and Guitar Ensembles. Band, orchestra, and choir ensembles each take turns touring a foreign country once every year, during spring break. Each program consists of multiple ensembles, curricular and extra-curricular.

  • Band: Students enrolled in the band program participate in one of three ensembles: Concert Band, Wind Ensemble (Honors), or Symphonic Band (Honors). Percussionists are placed in Concert Band Percussion Ensemble or Honors Percussion Ensemble. Extra-curricular programs are the music pit orchestra, jazz ensemble, and jazz combos. Band students have the opportunity to audition to participate in the Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA) annual festival honors ensembles. H-F's Viking Jazz Ensemble was one of few ensembles in the state selected to perform at the Illinois Music Educators Association 2018 Conference. All musicians in the H-F band program come together to form Viking Marching Band.
  • Orchestra: The orchestra program has three ensembles: Chamber Orchestra, Sinfonia Strings (Honors), and Viking Orchestra (Honors). Students in all ensembles can also participate in the pit orchestra, as well as audition for ILMEA honors ensembles.
  • Choir: Choir has three ensembles: Bel Canto Choir, Concert Choir (Honors), and Viking Choir (Honors). Students can also audition for Viking Ensemble (an extra-curricular small ensemble) or for ILMEA ensembles.

Drama

H-F's drama programs involve both curricular offerings and co-curricular productions. Five courses make up the curricular program: Acting, Theatre Production, Advanced Theatre Performance, Technical Theatre I, and Technical Theatre II. The H-F Theatre Department has won 17 State Championships in Drama, alone.[18][19]

  • International Thespian Society Troupe #2062:The International Thespian Society (ITS) is an honor society for high schooltheatre students. This organization's chapter promotes theatre quality at Homewood-Flossmoor. Students who are involved in Homewood-Flossmoor productions of the Children's Play, Contest Play, Group Interpretation, High School Play, Leaders in Theatre Ensemble, Musical, New Faces, and Reader's Theatre are awarded points. Activities of the group include monthly meetings, improving the theatre, attending plays and participating in festivals.

H-F's drama programs involve both curricular offerings and co-curricular productions. H-F produces seven Mainstage shows in a school year. H-F holds the Illinois record for State Championships in Drama, with 17 State Championships. H-F also holds the record for top three finishes in Drama and Group Interpretation.[19] HF also has 3 State Championships in Group Interpretation.

Visual Arts

H-F's Visual Arts Department was named the best in the state of Illinois in 2013 by the Illinois Art Education Association.[20] Programs offered:

  • A.P. Art History
  • A.P. Studio Art
  • Art Concentration
  • 2D Studio 1
  • 2D Studio 2
  • 3D Studio 1
  • Yearbook
  • Interactive Web Design
  • Photography 1
  • Photography 2
  • Graphic Design 1
  • Graphic Design 2
  • Fundamentals of Art & Design

Athletics

H-F competes in the Southwest Suburban Conference (SWSC) and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), the organization which governs most sports and competitive activities in Illinois. Teams are stylized as the Vikings.

The school sponsors interscholastic teams for young men and women in basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and water polo.[21] Young men may compete in baseball, football, lacrosse, and wrestling, while young women may compete in badminton, cheerleading and softball.[21] While not sponsored by the IHSA, the school also sponsors an ice hockey team for young men as well as field hockey and poms teams for young women.[21]

The school also offers a fencing team at a club level, which participates in the Great Lakes High School Conference every winter.

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

  • Football: State Champions (1994–95)
  • Golf (boys): State Champions (1969–70)
  • Golf (girls): State Champions (1979–80, 1981–82, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1997–98, 2009–10)
  • Gymnastics (boys): State Champions (1996–97)
  • Tennis (girls): State Champions (1989–90)
  • Track and Field (girls): State Champions (2018–19)

As of 2009, the girls golf team has finished in the top ten at the IHSA State Finals more than any team in state history; their six state titles is the second highest total in state history.[23]

Activities

The following activities placed in the top four of their respective IHSA sponsored state championship competition:[22]

  • Chess: 4th place (1980–81); 3rd place (1978–79)
  • Debate: 4th place (1965–66, 1970–71); 2nd place (1974–75); State Champions (1973–74)

·DECA: Multiple state and national championships in various events including Quiz Bowl

  • Drama: 4th place (1977–78, 2006–07, 2009–10); 3rd place (1989–90, 1994–95, 2005–06); 2nd place (1968–69, 1970–71, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1995–96, 1996–97); State Champions (1966–67, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02)
  • Group Interpretation: 4th place (1975–76, 1978–79, 1981–82, 1993–94, 2003–04, 2005–06); 3rd place (1976–77); 2nd place (1998–99, 2007–08, 2010–11); State Champions (1995–96, 1999–2000, 2006–07)
  • Individual Events: 4th place (1966–67, 1978–79, 1985–86, 1996–97); 3rd place (1973–74, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1979–80, 1986–87), 2nd place (1970–71, 1972–73); State Champions (1967–68, 1974–75, 1980–81, 1983–84, 2012–13)
  • Speech: 2nd place (1966–67); State Champions (1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 2013)

• Journalism: State Champions (2010, 2016)

Notable faculty

Notable alumni

Notes
  1. "Contact Information". directory. Homewood-Flossmoor HS District 233. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  2. "Staff Directory". Homewood-Flossmoor HS District 233. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  3. http://webprod.isbe.net/ereportcard/publicsite/getReport.aspx?year=2020&code=0701623300001_e.pdf
  4. "Illinois School Report Card" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 9, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  5. "Index of Member Schools". IHSA. September 10, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  6. "Viking Media". Homewood-Flossmoor HS District 233. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  7. "H-F at a Glance." Homewood-Flossmoor High School. Retrieved on March 10, 2019. See also: "Boundary Map." Homewood-Flossmoor High School. Retrieved on March 10, 2019.
  9. Vickroy, Donna. "HF graduates first class of IB students". Chicago Tribune. Daily Southtown. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  10. "Homewood Flossmoor High School Fieldhouse". Nicholas Quality. Nicholas Quality. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  11. Fleischer, Benjamin (April 15, 1995). ""The Dream Becomes Reality": The Creation of Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School". Archived from the original on May 15, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  12. Southwell, David (July 30, 1989). "Coach seeks prep drug tests". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  13. Rodriguez, Alex (September 18, 1996). "Clinton touts school plans – Repeats promises on college aid, literacy tutors". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  14. Sweet, Lynn (September 17, 1996). "Clinton won't land at Meigs for today's visit". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  15. O'Brien, Ken (July 16, 2003). "High school is plugged into latest technology: Homewood-Flossmoor earns accolades for incorporating devices into class instruction". Chicago Tribune. p. 28. In 1995 the school's technology plan was voted one of the five best in the country in a competition sponsored by Electronics Learning, Scholastic Network and the National Center for Technology Planning ... Twice, the high school has received the U.S. Department of Education's Technology Award. It was one of three schools recognized last year ... The school received the Technology Award in 2002 in conjunction with the Department of Education's Blue Ribbon Award, which recognizes excellence in schools, for the third time.
  16. "The Top of the Class: The complete list of the 1,500 top U.S. high schools". Newsweek. June 8, 2009. Archived from the original on September 13, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  17. "Growth in arts programs leads to need for H-F High additions". H-F High School. November 7, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2018. In an hour-long presentation, administrators gave insights into the popularity and growth of the high school’s fine arts programs. Today 39 percent of the student population is enrolled in at least one of the 53 arts courses offered at H-F.
  18. "Table of Titles: Drama". Sports & Activities. Illinois High School Association. June 11, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  19. "Table of Titles: Drama". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). November 16, 2009. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
  20. "HF:Best Art Program in the State". HF High School. June 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  21. "Homewood-Flossmoor HS Athletics". Homewood-Flossmoor Community HS District 233. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  22. "IHSA Season Summaries". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). November 16, 2009. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  23. "Table of Titles: Girls Golf". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). November 16, 2009. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
  24. Sutherland, M.B. (November 18, 2009). "Former Bear helps repair high-schooler's broken leg: Prep football player says he appreciated doctor's frank assessment of prospects". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 1, 2009. Vonzell was playing in a junior varsity football game that night, and his parents, Tina and Von Mansfield – superintendent of Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233 and ex-NFL player – were in the stands to cheer him on.
  25. Mannion, Annemarie (August 8, 2006). "Ex-teacher learns lesson about Lee: Former Homewood-Flossmoor official details author's life in 'Mockingbird' biography". Chicago Tribune. p. 1. Charles J. Shields, former chairman of the English Department at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, once asked teachers to consider dropping "To Kill A Mockingbird" from their curricula.
  26. "Homewood-Flossmoor grad leading prosecution in Manafort trial one of many high achieving alumni - Daily Southtown". Chicagotribune.com. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  27. Mullady, Carly A. (February 3, 2008). "Never underestimate yourself, and never let others underestimate you". SouthtownStar.
  28. Clark, Mike (November 12, 2008). "Homewood-Floosmoor Vikings". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
  29. "Larry Rothschild Pitching Coach". MLB. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
  30. Shpigel, Ben (November 19, 2010). "Yankees Pick Larry Rothschild as Pitching Coach". The New York Times.
  31. "Chad Smith". Homewood Flossmoor High School. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  32. "Chad Smith Biography". TheChiliSource.com. June 21, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
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