Joliet West High School
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{primary sources|date=April 2010}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Joliet West High School
| logo =
| established = 1924
| type = Public secondary
| grades = 9–12
| streetaddress = 401 North Larkin Avenue
| city = Joliet
| state = Illinois
| zipcode = 60435
| country = United States
| coordinates = {{Coord|41|31|45|N|88|7|33|W|display=inline,title}}
| principal = Tecara Parker
| teaching_staff = 177.60 (FTE)
| enrollment = 3,436 (2023–2024){{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=1720610&ID=172061002352|title=Joliet West High School|publisher=National Center for Education Statistics|access-date=January 6, 2025}}
| campus = Suburban
| mascot = Tiger
| colors = {{color box|black}} Black
{{color box|gold}} Gold
| newspaper = Tiger Tales
| yearbook = Alpha Omega
| website = [http://www.jths.org/west/default.aspx School website]
| picture =
}}
Joliet West High School, along with Joliet Central, comprises district 204 Joliet Township High School district in Joliet, Illinois. West's mascot is the Tiger.
Construction and expansion
Construction of the school began in 1962, with the first classes held in September 1964. It has undergone six additions since. The first, completed in the early 1980s, added a bookstore to the cafeteria, additional space around the maintenance area, a multi-purpose room by the gymnasiums (primarily used for dance and wrestling), six additional classrooms, and a greenhouse. That greenhouse was later torn down.
The second and third additions were completed as two consecutive projects, adding several additional classrooms, a new band room, cafeteria, conference room, dean's offices, and student commons area. The first phase broke ground on November 4, 2001, and was completed the following school year. The second phase began during the 2002–03 year and was open for fall 2003 classes.
A field house was built in late 2007, and additional housing science classes was constructed in 2011.
In 2017, construction began on another smaller section of the building adding a Police Liaison Office, a conference room, and a security entrance. This project would be completed in Spring 2018. The project also added another connection from the main building to the fine-arts building, decreasing hallway traffic congestion.
Separation of schools
During the 2008 - 2009 school year, Central and West began to again divide the schools' athletic programs, allowing the West mascot to become the Tiger once again, leaving Central as the Steelmen. The split began with Joliet's freshman football team dividing. As of the 2010 - 2011 school year, Joliet Central and Joliet West have their own, entirely independent sports programs.
Notable alumni
- Charlie Adams, drummer/percussionist (Chameleon, Yanni){{cite web|title=Charlie Adams|url=http://www.cityofjoliet.com/halloffame/artists/charlieadams.htm|website=cityofjoliet.com|access-date=13 November 2016|archive-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814103156/http://www.cityofjoliet.com/halloffame/artists/charlieadams.htm|url-status=dead}}
- John Barrowman, television and Broadway actor (Doctor Who, Torchwood){{cite journal|last=Anstead|first=Mark|date=11 May 2007|title=My Best Teacher|journal=Times Educational Supplement|url=http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=2382799|issn=0040-7887|access-date=13 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215114441/http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=2382799|archive-date=15 February 2012|url-status=dead}}
- Jimmy Chamberlin, drummer (The Smashing Pumpkins){{cite web|title=Jimmy Chamberlin|url=http://www.cityofjoliet.com/halloffame/artists/jimmyc.htm|website=cityofjoliet.com|access-date=13 November 2016}}
- Adrianne Curry - model, TV personality{{cite web|title=Adrianna Curry|url=http://www.cityofjoliet.com/halloffame/artists/adriannecurry.htm|website=cityofjoliet.com|access-date=13 November 2016}}
- Andy Dick - actor-comedian (The Andy Dick Show){{cite web|title=Andy Dick - biography|url=http://www.biography.com/people/andy-dick-21194465|website=biography.com|access-date=13 November 2016}}
- Janina Gavankar - actress, musician (The L Word, True Blood){{cite news|last1=Rackl|first1=Lori|title=Joliet's Janina Gavankar plays it straight in cop dramedy 'Mysteries of Laura'|url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/joliets-janina-gavankar-plays-it-straight-in-cop-dramedy-mysteries-of-laura/|access-date=13 November 2016|work=Chicago Sun Times|date=16 September 2014}}
- Randall Kleck - martial artist{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}
- Eric Parker - NFL player for San Diego Chargers{{cite news|last1=Clark|first1=Mike|title=Rockets' new coach has deep roots in program|url=http://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/rockets-new-coach-has-dep-roots-in-program/article_cb41f17f-9024-5866-b857-ee50604ff3db.html|access-date=13 November 2016|publisher=nwitimes.com|date=16 June 1998}}
- Steve Parris - pitcher for four MLB teams{{cite news|title=Joliet native Steve Parris to attend grand slammer|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/joliet-native-steve-parris-to-attend-grand-slammer/n-4163920|access-date=13 November 2016|publisher=oursportscentral.com|date=9 March 2011}}
- Doug Pinnick - musician, King's X{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}
- Anthony Rapp - actor (Rent){{cite news|last1=Jacobs|first1=Jodie|title=Rapp Session|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/01/04/rapp-session/|access-date=13 November 2016|work=Chicago Tribune|date=4 January 1998}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.jths.org/joliet-west-high-school Official website]
{{Joliet, Illinois}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Public high schools in Illinois
Category:Education in Joliet, Illinois
Category:Schools in Will County, Illinois