Wells Community Academy High School

Wells was established in William Harvey Wells's honor approximately a year after his death in 1886. The current building opened in 1935 on the site of the original school with extra ground at the north. Originally, the city of Chicago planned for Wells to open as a junior high school in 1930; construction of the school was delayed.[http://www.wells.cps.k12.il.us/history123.htm Wells Academy High School] Wells enrollment was predominately white from its opening until the late 1960s. By 1972, most of the schools' population was considered low-income and majority of the African-American population were residents of the Cabrini-Green Homes public housing project. The school demographic was 71% Hispanic and 20% African-American by 1982. In 2005, Wells served as a receiving school for students zoned to Austin High School when the school board decided to phase out Austin.[https://chicagoreader.com/news-politics/the-trials-of-a-neighborhood-high-school/ NEWS & POLITICS, The trials of a neighborhood high school, Wells Community Academy in West Town has disadvantaged students, many unhelpful parents, a bad reputation, charters nibbling at its enrollment—and some rare successes. Can it survive?, by Steve Bogira, May 6, 2014]

Wells High, we raise our voice to thee. Wells High, you have our loyalty, fighting and always striving, to bring to you a victory. So we'll say... Wells High, to you we pledge our hearts, to you we will be true. Fight on and keep our colors flying, silver and royal blue.

As of the 2023–2024 school year, 53.9% of Wells's student body is Hispanic, 34.8% is African-American, 9.7% White, 0.4% Asian, and 1.1% Other. Low-income students make up 76% of Wells's student body.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cps.edu/schools/schoolprofiles/wells-hs|title=CPS : Find a school : Find a School|website=cps.edu|access-date=2024-07-07}} Wells has a 73% graduation rate.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

Wells includes 2 CTE Programs:

• Law & Public Safety Academy (LPSA)
• Fine Arts Academy

The Law Academy at Wells High School has been in existence since 2003, and the program and its students have been recognized across the district in mock trial competitions.

Wells began building up their Fine Arts programming in their 2019 Continuing Improvement Work Plan (CIWP). They offer programming in Music, Visual Art, Drama, and Dance.

In October 2013, Rituparna Raichoudhuri was named as principal of the school, succeeding Ernesto Matias. Raichoudhuri served as resident principal during the 2012–13 school year, and previously served in the office of performance management at Chicago Public Schools, and as a teacher in California.{{cite web|title=Wells Staff List - CPS.edu|url=http://schoolinfo.cps.edu/schoolprofile/SchoolDetails.aspx?SchoolId=609740}}

Michael Stosek was named as principal of the school in January 2019, after Raichoudhuri's departure from the district and the placement of several interim principals. Dr. Stosek departed in the summer of 2021 and is now the principal of Ruby Thomas Elementary School in Las Vegas, Nevada. https://www.rubysthomas.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1478203&type=u

Dr. Brad Rossi was named as principal of the school at the start of the 2021-2022 school year. In his time at Wells, he has overseen the restoration of the Keith Haring mural, updates to facilities, and the introduction of the RE:ALIZE early college arts program housed on Wells' campus.

Wells competes in the Chicago Public League (CPL) and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). Wells sports teams are nicknamed raiders. The boys' basketball team won the public league championship in 1936–37. The boys' soccer team were regional champions in 2008–09, and the girls' team were regional champions in 2011–12.[http://www.ihsa.org/data/school/records/sum2761.htm IHSA Chicago (Wells)]

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• Chess
• GSA
• Soccer
• Cheerleading
• Volleyball
• Basketball
• Baseball
• Softball
• Track & Field
• National Honor's Society (NHS)
• JROTC
• ROTC

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K-8 schools which feed into Wells include Andersen, Burr, Columbus, Chopin, Jenner, Lozano, Mitchell, Ogden K-8, Otis, Peabody, Pritzker, and Talcott."[https://web.archive.org/web/20130208025258/http://cps.edu/SiteCollectionDocuments/Zone%20maps/Elem_Near_North_West_Central.pdf Elem Near North, West, and Central]". Chicago Public Schools. 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2016."[https://web.archive.org/web/20130622055556/http://www.cps.edu/SiteCollectionDocuments/Zone%20maps/HS_North_Near_North.pdf HS North/Near North]." Chicago Public Schools. 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2016.

• Curtis Mayfield – R&B/funk singer, songwriter
• Jerry Butler – singer, politician
• Michael Rooker – Actor
• Ramsey Lewis – Musician

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• {{Official website|URL=https://wellshs.cps.edu/}}

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Category:Public high schools in Chicago

Category:West Side, Chicago

Category:Educational institutions established in 1935

Category:1935 establishments in Illinois