Stevenson High School (Lincolnshire, Illinois)

Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Address
1 Stevenson Drive Lincolnshire, Illinois, USA
Coordinates	42.1993°N 87.9455°W / 42.1993; -87.9455
Information
Type	Public high school
Established	1965
School district	Consolidated High School District 125
Superintendent	Dr. Eric Twadell
Principal	Dr. John Carter
Vice principal	Troy Gobble
Vice principal	David Saxe
Faculty	252.0 (on FTE basis)
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	4,044 (as of 2011)
Average class size	20.1
Student to teacher ratio	18.0
Campus	Suburban, 76 acres
Color(s)	Green and Gold
Nickname	Patriots
Newspaper	The Statesman
Yearbook	The Ambassador
Revenue	$90,336,209
Website	http://www.d125.org/

Adlai E. Stevenson High School (AESHS), commonly called Stevenson High School (SHS), is a public four-year high school located 3/4 of a mile west of the corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Half Day Road in Lincolnshire, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago, serving Lincolnshire, Long Grove, larger portions of Buffalo Grove, Mundelein, Kildeer, Hawthorn Woods and smaller portions of Vernon Hills, Lake Zurich, Lake Forest, Mettawa, Riverwoods, Bannockburn and Deerfield, though some of these smaller portions may not even have residents. It is the only school in Consolidated High School District 125, Lake County, Illinois and is fed mainly from Lincolnshire-Prairieview School District 103, Kildeer Countryside Community Consolidated School District 96 and Aptakisic-Tripp Community Consolidated School District 102, from four schools of those three districts.^{[citation needed]}

As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 4,461 students and 267.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 16.7.^{[citation needed]}

Awards and recognition

During the 1986-87, 1990–91, 1997–98 and 2001-02 school years, Stevenson High School was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive.

In Newsweek's 2009 Top 1500 high schools in the United States, which bases school rankings on a ratio of advanced Placement exams taken compared to the student population, Stevenson was ranked #151 in the nation. The school had been previously ranked #69 (2003), #86 (2005), #121 (2006), #170 (2007), and #154 (2008). It was also recently discussed in a Chicago Tribune article how Stevenson offers the most Advanced Placement classes than any other school in Illinois.

In 2010, Stevenson High School was awarded the National School of Distinction in Arts Education from the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

History

Adlai E. Stevenson High School opened in September, 1965 amid turmoil and adversity. Prior to the opening of Stevenson, the students in the Stevenson area attended Ela-Vernon High School in Lake Zurich. Stevenson was planned to become a second school for the growing district, but the western side (Lake Zurich) of the district decided to go their own way and build their own district. This left Stevenson with an unfinished building, no board or administration and no faculty. When Stevenson opened to 467 students and 34 teachers in 1965, the building was not carpeted, the library was empty, most classrooms were without desks and athletic fields were non-existent, as most of the school furniture was shipped to Prairie View, Texas instead of Prairie View, Illinois.

Stevenson High School is named after former Governor of Illinois Adlai Stevenson. Shortly before the school opened in 1965, Stevenson died of a heart attack. Stevenson was a prominent resident of the area and embodied everything that the board of education wanted the high school to embody. Many other aspects of the school, such as its nickname (Patriots), the school magazine (Minuteman), and Newspaper (Statesmen) were also named after characteristics of Adlai E. Stevenson. Stevenson got its colors (Green and Gold) from the colors that were worn during the American Revolutionary War by the nation's earliest patriots, Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys.

Stevenson has grown since its opening in 1965 to become one of the largest high schools in the area. The school has undergone various additions over the years, the first being in 1970 where the school gym, auto shop, and pool were renovated. During the mid to late 1980s, a bi-level addition of classrooms was built along the side of the school as well as a new gym and a sky-bridge connecting the older part of the school to the new addition, which add a modern feel to the school. During the mid-1990s, a much larger addition, the size of another school, was built which included 60 classrooms, a 50 meter swimming pool, a 1,186 seat Performing Arts Center and a field house was built. In 2000, the new building added another wing which included more classrooms, a student resource center, and a new commons area. In 2004, the main entrance to the school was completely rebuilt and transformed into another commons area. Other renovations that year included more fine arts areas. Around 2008, many of the athletic fields were expanded and the football field got new turf. Also, the original school auditorium was renovated. Currently, the school library and student resource center in the old building are being renovated for the first time.

As of 2007, Stevenson had the sixth-highest enrollment, 4,545, of any high school in the state of Illinois, according to the Illinois High School Association.^{[citation needed]}

Faculty

As of 2009, the average teacher experience at Stevenson is 11.3 years with 80.0% of teachers holding master's degrees or above. The student-teacher ratio is 34.0:1.

Athletics

The Stevenson Patriots compete in the North Suburban Conference.

• Badminton
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Bass Fishing
• Bowling
• Cheerleading
• Cross Country
• Fencing
• Field Hockey
• Football
• Golf
• Gymnastics

• Ice hockey
• Lacrosse
• Patriettes (Pom Poms)
• Repertory and Melange (dance companies)
• Soccer
• Softball
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Track and Field
• Volleyball
• Water Polo
• Wrestling

Stevenson High School is a member of the IHSA, the athletic teams are stylized as the Patriots.

The following teams have finished in the top four of their respective IHSA sponsored state championship tournament or meets:

• Baseball: 3rd Place (2009–2010)
• Boys Basketball: 4th Place (2006–2007)
• Boys Cross Country: 2nd Place (2002–2003)
• Football: 2nd Place (2002–2003)
• Boys Gymnastics 3rd Place (1998–1999, 2000–2001); State Champions (2001–2002, 2002–2003, 2003–2004, 2009–2010)
• Boys Swimming and Diving: 2nd Place (2003–2004)
• Boys Tennis: 2nd Place (2006–2007, 2007–2008, 2008–2009)
• Boys Volleyball: 2nd Place (1999–2000)
• Boys Water Polo: 3rd Place (2001–2002, 2002–2003); 2nd Place (2003–2004)
• Cheerleading: 3rd Place (2005–2006)
• Girls Basketball: State Champions (1994–1995, 1995–1996)
• Girls Gymnastics: 2nd Place (1996–1997, 2007–2008), State Champions (2000–2001, 2001–2002, 2002–2003, 2003–2004, 2008–2009)
• Girls Swimming and Diving: 3rd Place (2007–2008)
• Girls Tennis: 2nd Place (1979–1980, 1996–1997)
• Girls Water Polo: 4th Place (2006–2007); 3rd Place (2005–2006, 2007–2008); 2nd Place (2004–2005, 2010–2011)

Academic challenges:

• Chess Team: 2nd Place (2009–2010); State Champions (2007–2008)
• Journalism: 2nd Place (2006–2007)
• Scholastic Bowl: 3rd Place (2000–2001, 2008–2009, 2010–2011); 2nd Place (2003–2004, 2007–2008); State Champions (1999–2000, 2004–2005, 2009–2010)

Controversies

Drug Investigation

As of January 31, 2012, between 100 and 200 students are under investigation for a possible connection to a drug ring whose activities are believed to consist primarily of illegal marijuana trade and consumption. The incident began during the autumn of 2011, when a student had been under investigation for reasons which, according to district spokesperson Jim Conrey, “blossomed into something much larger.” The alleged student drug dealers were expelled, and deans and officials confiscated mobile phones and gained access to email accounts belonging to students suspected of involvement with the ring without the consent of the suspected students or their parents. Various members of the local community have interpreted these actions as a violation of the constutional protection from unreasonable search and seizure. In failing to conduct trials for many of the suspected students before the school board, school officials have also been accused by many students of violating their rights to due process and a trial by jury. At least three students have been expelled from the school, and many more students are currently suspended. No criminal charges have yet been made.

Recent Book About Stevenson High School

A book written by a former substitute teacher and security guard documents the history of drug abuse at Stevenson and the extent of the problem. How Safe is Your School is available at Amazon.

Newspaper censorship

In November 2009, a dispute erupted between school officials and the student newspaper, The Statesman, regarding censorship of stories. The administration stopped publication of the November 20 issue, objecting to stories regarding drugs, teen pregnancy and shoplifting. When students wanted to leave the front page blank in protest of the censorship, the officials instead required the students to produce other stories approved by the administration.

The Stevenson public information officer released a statement November 20 stating the administration did not think anonymous sources discussing alleged illegal activity was fit for print.

The Chicago Tribune, in a November 26 editorial, said the school was wrong to force students to produce administration-approved stories: "This isn't editing, it's censorship." The Society of Professional Journalists' Freedom of Information chairman called the censorship "immoral, un-American, irresponsible and not fit for education."

Following the censorship fiasco, 11 of 14 Statesman staffers — and all the paper's top editors — resigned from their positions at the start of the spring 2010 semester.

Since then, many of the reporters who left the staff have graduated. The school administration recently announced an end to its censorship of the paper.^{[citation needed]}

Bombing threat

On October 30, 2007, a student from another school, Jeremie Dalin, 17, posted a threat against Stevenson High School on the 4chan website. When another student found the threat, he made a screenshot of the threat and then created a web page. The FBI traced the message, Dalin's home address, when contacted by the authorities he claimed it was a bad joke and did not intend on harming anyone. The threat caused approximately 500 students to miss a school day, which happened to be on Halloween. Dalin was due back in court in February.

In an article published in the Daily Herald on June 12, 2008, Jeremie Dalin was convicted "for falsely making a terrorist threat". He was sentenced to 24 months of probation.

Notable alumni

• Lauren Jiggetts - NBC Chicago's General Assignment Reporter.
• Kyle Brandt - MTV's The Real World: Chicago participant/actor (Days of our Lives).
• Tamika Catchings - current WNBA All-star, Team USA member.
• Brad Cieslak is a former NFL tight end (2005—08), playing most of his career with the Buffalo Bills.
• Jason Duboe is a professional lacrosse player in the MLL for the Boston Cannons.
• Scott Sherman is a technology entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Zynga
• Kevin Frederick was a Major League Baseball pitcher (2002, 04), playing most of his career with the Toronto Blue Jays.
• Ronald Goldman was a murder victim, allegedly killed by O.J. Simpson.[3][4]
• Andrea Jaeger - former top ranked professional tennis player, Grand Slam champion, Wimbledon finalist and now famous nun.
• Joe Lando - actor (most famous as Sully on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman).
• Alison LaPlaca - actress known for her role of Linda Phillips in the sitcom Duet and its spin-off Open House.
• Drew Mormino - NFL football player for the Miami Dolphins.
• Matt O'Dwyer is a former NFL offensive guard (1995—2004), playing most of his career for the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals.
• Danny Richmond is a professional ice hockey Defenseman, playing in both the NHL and AHL.
• Rex Ryan is the head coach of the New York Jets.
• Rob Ryan is the twin brother of Rex, and the current defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL.
• Lisa Wang - Rhythmic Gymnast and winner of the 2007 Pan Am Games in Rhythmic Gymnastics.
• Andy Wozniewski - Professional hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Graduated from and played hockey at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Ilya Sheyman - Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2012 election.

Feeder schools

Several junior high schools/middle schools feed into the Adlai E. Stevenson High School.

Public schools

Name of feeder school	Name of feeder school's school district
Daniel Wright Junior High School	Lincolnshire-Prairie View School District 103
Aptakisic Junior High School	Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102
Twin Groves Middle School	Kildeer Consolidated School District 96
Woodlawn Middle School	Kildeer Consolidated School District 96
Fremont Middle School	Fremont School District 79
West Oak Middle School	Diamond Lake School District 76

External links

• Official Website
  • Clubs and Activities at Stevenson High School