West Leyden High School

West Leyden's class of 2008 had a below average composite ACT score of points below the state average. West Leyden did not make Adequate Yearly Progress on the Prairie State Achievements Examination, which with the ACT comprises the state assessments used to fulfill the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Overall, the school did not achieve AYP in reading or mathematics, while two of its three student subgroups failed to meet expectations in mathematics.

{{see also|East Leyden High School#Athletics}}

Since 1981, West Leyden and East Leyden have had a combined athletics program. Prior to the schools unifying into a single program, West Leyden's teams were stylized as the Knights, and the school colors were blue and gold.[http://www.illinoishsglorydays.com/id886.html (Northlake) West Leyden High School "Knights"; illinoishsgolorydays.com; accessed 17 July 2009] While East Leyden's team nickname of "Eagles" was retained for the combined program, West Leyden's colors became the colors for the unified program.

As a separate team, the only team to finish in the top four of their respective Illinois High School Association (IHSA) was the 1968—69 wrestling team.[http://www.ihsa.org/school/records/sum1427.htm Season summaries for Leyden, East Leyden, and West Leyden; ihsa.org; accessed 17 July 2009]

In 2014, 15-year-old student Brody Roybal won the gold medal with the American team in the 2014 Winter Paralympics. He won a gold medal again at the 2018 Winter Paralympics, this time as a 19-year-old.

School activities include:

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• Art Club
• Chess Club
• Class Boards
• International Club
• Key Club
• International Thespian Society (speech team/theater)
• The "L" Club (athletic organization)
• The Lancer (student literary magazine)
• Marching Eagles (marching band)

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• Math Team
• Model UN
• SADD - Students Against Destructive Decisions
• Scholastic Bowl
• Science Club
• Snowball
• Student Council
• Students Helping Achieve Racial Equality Club
• Video Game Club

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The Leyden Fine Arts program is composed of music, art and theatrical departments. Various music groups, ranging from choral groups to instrumental orchestras, have excelled in multiple regional, state and national competitions. Choral participants have consistently been top performers in the Illinois Music Educators Association competitions, in both the Jazz and Classical divisions. The Leyden Chamber Singers annually perform at the Madrigal Dinner. The marching band has travelled to various locations throughout the US, including Pennsylvania and Florida. Student performers have participated in the Illinois High School Theater Association's annual TheaterFest. Students throughout the state compete for roles in the annual performance of a classical musical or drama production. The Speech and Performance Team is also a competitive group which has continued to develop and fine-tune their forensics speaking abilities throughout the years, at various events in Dramatic and Humorous Interpretation, Radio Speaking, Poetry Reading, and Oratorical Declamation.

In September 2019, threats of shooting were made on social media. This led to East Leyden High School and West Leyden High School having classes online for a day.{{Cite web|url=https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/09/26/east-west-leyden-high-school-threats/|title = After Social Media Shooting Threats, East and West Leyden High Schools Keeping Staff and Students at Home for E-Learning|date = 26 September 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://wbbm780.radio.com/leyden-high-schools-e-learning-threats|title = Chicago All News Station - WBBM-AM | WBBM Newsradio 780AM}}

At least one child was forced to undergo a 72 hour hold after the school stalked multiple students' social media accounts.{{clarify|date=November 2024}} The parents of these students were not notified, and all power of attorney was illegally moved to the state during this time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/miste.gardner/posts/10157401010586006|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190928234715/https://www.facebook.com/miste.gardner/posts/10157401010586006|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-09-28|title=👉Here is the story being reported by the... - Miste Gardner-Karlfeld…}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/jammie.nufkins/posts/10220065621967870|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190928234825/https://www.facebook.com/jammie.nufkins/posts/10220065621967870|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-09-28|title=Jammie Gulino - (9/28/19) My son is home!!! With a clean... | Facebook}}

• Tom Dore, play-by-play announcer known for his long association with the Chicago Bulls; Dore attended West Leyden before transferring to and graduating from East Leyden[http://basketball.dailyherald.com/story/?id=269886 Maciaszek, Marty; Goodman's floored by Leyden's court decision; 5 February 2009; Daily Herald; But Goodman had some special basketball players such as Dore, who transferred from West Leyden after his sophomore year...; accessed 17 July 2009]
• Manny Flores, Chicago City Council member from the 1st ward; graduated from West Leyden{{cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-03-13/news/0303130258_1_tough-runoff-politics-wicker-park|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304193127/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-03-13/news/0303130258_1_tough-runoff-politics-wicker-park|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2017|last=Miller|first=Sabrina L.|title=Granato facing a tough runoff, Flores outpolled him in primary|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|location=Chicago, Illinois|date=March 13, 2003|accessdate=March 4, 2017}}
• Tom Rooney, Republican member of the Illinois Senate; has taught U.S. history at West Leyden for over 20 years{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/franklin-park/news/ct-fhj-rooney-split-shift-tl-1117-20161111-story.html|title=Split schedule to allow new state senator to continue teaching at West Leyden|newspaper=Pioneer Press|location=Chicago, Illinois|date=November 11, 2016|accessdate=March 5, 2017}}
• Frankie Sullivan, lead guitarist in Survivor, a band formed with fellow Leyden alumni Rick Weigand in 1978; nominated for an Academy Award in 1982, in the category Best Original Song for co-writing "Eye of the Tiger" from the film Rocky III[http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1N1-121CF284A84F3E90.html Fieldman, Chuck; Survivor member takes the stage; 2 July 2008; Franklin Park Herald-Journal; As the only remaining original member of the rock band Survivor, Frankie Sullivan truly is the real survivor. The former Northlake resident and West Leyden High School student founded the band in late 1977...; accessed 17 July 2009]
• Mark Venturini, actor, Friday the 13th: A New Beginning, Return of the Living Dead{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0893430/?ref_=nv_sr_1|title = Mark Venturini|website = IMDb}}

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• [http://www.leyden212.org/ Leyden High School district website]

{{High schools in suburban Cook County, Illinois}}

{{West Suburban Conference}}

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Category:Educational institutions established in 1959

Category:Northlake, Illinois

Category:Public high schools in Cook County, Illinois

Category:1959 establishments in Illinois