Lincoln Park High School (Chicago)

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Lincoln Park High School began as North Division High School, which opened in 1875, as the first public high school on the north side of Chicago.{{Cite web| title = A History of Robert A. Waller • Lincoln Park High School: One Hundred Years in Lincoln Park| publisher = Lincoln Park High School| url = http://www.lincolnparkhs.org/history.jsp?rn=5927283| access-date = January 17, 2010}} By the late 1890s, the school needed more room, and construction began on the current school building in 1899. This building opened as Robert A. Waller High School in 1900. The students and staff of North Division relocated to the new building and the old name remained in use, alongside the new name, for several decades.

By the 1910s, a concern grew that the school would soon need more room, and plans began to expand the school. It would not be until 1928 when land north of the school was obtained, and plans for an annex were pushed forward; plans that were interrupted with start of the Great Depression. The need for more space became critical, and the school's Franklin Branch was opened in 1934 (closing in 1948). In 1938, the school's annex was constructed to alleviate the need for portable classrooms. The new annex included (among other features) two new gyms, which allowed for the original gymnasium to be converted into a lunch room for students.

By the 1960s, the school's increased population required the return of portable classrooms as plans began for more expansion. The new north wing included a new lunch room and auditorium, allowing the old lunch room to become an office complex for counselors, and the library to move into the former assembly hall. The 1970s saw problems as the school aged and discipline issues caused the opening of an alternative satellite center for the school. As a part of the revitalization of the school in the late 1970s, the school's name was changed to its current name, and Orchard Street in front of the school was closed to create a mall between neighboring Oz Park and Armitage Street.

Lincoln Park High School is made up of four smaller programs. Aside for the basic general education program,there is the Performing Arts,Visual Arts, Advanced College Prep (formerly Double Honors), International Baccalaureate (IB)] (which is one of the most selective IB programs in the city). Most students take part in classes in more than one program, except for students in the IB program who follow a prescribed curriculum. Students in the IB Diploma Program only take classes with other IB DP students, with the exception of music and/or arts classes, lunch, and physical education.

There is a JROTC Program at Lincoln Park. The Performing Arts program requires auditions in order for students to be considered for enrollment. The music program consists of orchestra through all levels from beginning to symphony, and band from beginning to concert/marching band. There is also a jazz band option for advanced musicians. Students participating in the music program (with the exception of those also participating in the IB Diploma program) are required to take two years of Music Theory, at both the regular and AP levels. The drama program has multiple levels and produces numerous shows throughout the school year.

The high school classes of the French-American School of Chicago are held at this school;{{cite web|url=http://www.efachicago.org/home-2/|title=Home| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514061514/http://www.efachicago.org/home-2 |archive-date=2015-05-14|website= French-American School of Chicago|access-date=April 28, 2015|url-status=dead}} these classes began in 1995."[http://www.efachicago.org/home-2/history/ History]." French-American School of Chicago. Retrieved on April 28, 2015.

Lincoln Park High School is rated a 9 out of 10 by GreatSchools.org, a national school quality information site. {{Cite web |title=Best High Schools in Chicago, IL {{!}} GreatSchools |url=http://www.greatschools.org/illinois/chicago/1421-Lincoln-Park-High-School/ |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=GreatSchools.org}} GreatSchools’ Summary Rating is based on four of the school’s themed ratings: the Test Score Rating, Student or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, and Equity Rating and flags for discipline and attendance disparities at a school.

Lincoln Park was ranked as #96 in a 2010 Newsweek ranking of top U.S. high schools and was one of only two schools from Illinois to be listed in the top 100.{{cite web | url = http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380 | title = The Top of the Class - The complete list of the 1,300 top U.S. schools | publisher = Newsweek}} Courses offered according to the IB syllabus are HL English A1, HL/SL History, HL/SL Mathematics, SL Math Studies, HL Biology, HL Chemistry, SL French A1, HL/SL Spanish B, HL/SL French B, SL/Ab Initio Arabic, SL Psychology, SL Physics, SL Music, SL Visual Arts and SL Information Technology in a Global Society. According to the 2020 US News High School Rankings, Lincoln Park is ranked 22nd in Illinois (out of 677) and received an overall score of 97.57 out of 100. Lincoln Park was also ranked #8 in Chicago Public High Schools (out of 167).{{cn|date=July 2022}}

Lincoln Park competes in the Chicago Public League (CPL) and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). Their school teams are named Lions. The boys' basketball were Regional champions and Class AA in (2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07).{{cn|date=April 2022}} The boys' cross country were Class AA in 1984.{{cn|date=April 2022}} The girls' cross country were Class AA three times (1998–99, 1999–2000, 2001–02).{{cn|date=April 2022}} The sports offered include the following:

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• Baseball
• Basketball
• Bowling
• Cross Country
• Football
• Golf
• Lacrosse
• 16-inch softball
• Soccer
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Track
• Volleyball
• Water Polo

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• Basketball
• Bowling
• Cheer
• Cross Country
• Golf
• Lacrosse
• Pom Pom
• Soccer
• Softball
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Track
• Volleyball
• Water Polo

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Several K-8 schools feed into Lincoln Park High School."[https://web.archive.org/web/20130622055556/http://www.cps.edu/SiteCollectionDocuments/Zone%20maps/HS_North_Near_North.pdf North/Near North High Schools]." Chicago Public Schools. Retrieved on December 30, 2016. All of the attendance zones of Agassiz, Alcott, Abraham Lincoln, Manierre, Oscar Mayer Magnet School, Ogden International School, and Prescott feed into Lincoln Park. In addition portions of the zones of Ogden and Prescott feed into Lincoln Park."[https://web.archive.org/web/20130622054252/http://www.cps.edu/SiteCollectionDocuments/Zone%20maps/Elem_North.pdf Near North West Central Elementary Schools]." Chicago Public Schools. Retrieved on December 30, 2016."[https://web.archive.org/web/20130208025258/http://cps.edu/SiteCollectionDocuments/Zone%20maps/Elem_Near_North_West_Central.pdf North Elementary Schools]." Chicago Public Schools. Retrieved on December 30, 2016. However, this is only for the neighborhood program, as all other programs require separate applications to be offered a place of enrollment. As well, all other programs have students enrolled from all over the city. Prior to its 2018 merger with Ogden, Jenner Academy{{cite web|url=https://www.jenner-ogden-merger.com/timeline.html|title=Timeline of Events|publisher=Jenner-Ogden Merger Official Site|access-date=May 21, 2018}} fed into Lincoln Park High.

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• George W. Collins, 1943 — politician{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-cNiPp-D260C&q=George+Collins+Waller+High+School&pg=PA362 |title=Black Americans in Congress, 1870-2007 |author= |date=2007 |publisher=Government Printing Office. |isbn=9780160801945 |access-date= November 26, 2017 }}[http://www.blackpast.org/aah/collins-george-washington-1925-1972 Black Past - George Washington Collins (1925-1972)][http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000637 Bio Guide - COLLINS, George Washington]
• Dorothy Day, 1914 — journalist and Catholic social activist
• Ken Dunkin, 1984 — politician[http://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/4182801233?page=33 1984 Lincoln Park High School (Chicago, Illinois) Yearbook]
• Kim Foxx, 1990 — politician[https://chicagodefender.com/2015/11/13/kim-foxx-triumph-over-adversity/ Chicago Defender - Kim Foxx Triumph Adversity - November 13, 2015][https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/mark-brown-formerly-homeless-preckwinkle-aide-kim-foxx-has-the-makings-of-a-formidable-candidate/ Chicago Sun-Times - Mark Brown: formerly homeless Preckwinkle aide Kim Foxx has the makings of a formidable candidate - May 30, 2015][http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/Felsenthal-Files/October-2015/Kim-Foxx/ Chicago Mag - October 2015 - Kim Foxx]
• Paul Halmos (attended) — mathematician
• Nicholas Ray (attended) — film director
• Freddy Rodríguez, 1993 — actor{{Cite web| title = Lincoln Park High School| publisher = Chicago Public Schools| url = http://www.cpsalumni.org/school/lincoln-park-high-school| access-date = January 17, 2010}}{{Cite web| last = Kozlowski| first = Carl| title = Staying humble in Humboldt Park (and Hollywood)| publisher = Time Out Chicago| date = November 13–18, 2008|issue=194| url = http://chicago.timeout.com/articles/film/68649/freddy-rodriguez| access-date = January 17, 2010| quote = Rodriguez decided to audition for the yearlong opportunity to test his wings as a performer—but mostly to skip out on a math test. He aced the audition and became a frequent star of school plays at Lincoln Park High School}}
• Terrence Shannon Jr. (attended) - basketball player
• Nate Silver — football quarterback
• Michael Stahl-David (attended) — actor
• Jesse White, 1952 — politician{{Cite web| title = Jesse White| work = biographic sketch| publisher = Chicago Public Schools| url = http://www.cpsalumni.org/honor_roll/jan/08/2009/jesse-white| access-date = January 17, 2010}}{{Citation|last=Hutson |first=Wendell |title=Secretary of State Jesse White prepares to retire |newspaper=Chicago Defender |date=January 9, 2009 |url=http://www.chicagodefender.com/article-2953-secretary-of-state-jesse-white-prepares-to-retire.html |access-date=January 17, 2010 |quote=(White) was an all-city baseball and basketball player at the former Waller high school (now Lincoln Park high school) on the North Side and was inducted into the Chicago Public League Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1995. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413022741/http://www.chicagodefender.com/article-2953-secretary-of-state-jesse-whit prepares-to-retire.html |archive-date=April 13, 2009 }}
• Michael Thompson, 2007 — professional basketball player

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• Skye P. Marshall, 1999 - actress, star of Matlock (2024 TV Series)

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Category:Educational institutions established in 1900

Category:1900 establishments in Illinois

Category:International Baccalaureate schools in Illinois

Category:Public high schools in Chicago