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Prospect High School (Illinois)

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Prospect High School
Location
Map
801 W. Kensington Rd.
Mt. Prospect
,
Illinois

USA
Information
TypePublic secondary
Established1957 (Arlington HS)
1958 (Prospect HS)
Grades9–12
Enrollment2,046
CampusSuburban
Color(s)Navy Blue, Columbia Blue
MascotKnights
NewspaperThe Prospector
Yearbook"Crest"
Websitephs.d214.org

Prospect High School, or Prospect, is a public four-year high school located in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Township High School District 214, which also includes Buffalo Grove High School, Elk Grove High School, John Hersey High School, Rolling Meadows High School, and Wheeling High School.

History

Prospect was opened in 1957 as a freshman campus for the now-defunct Arlington High School. By the next school year, the district had grown enough that Prospect was turned into a full four-year school.[1]

In August 1995, on only the second day of the new school year, the school's field house suffered a fire. The cause of the fire was nothing short of a freak accident. Thick mats used by the track team (mostly the mats for high jump) had been out in the blistering sun on the previous day. The mats, with the heat of the sun still within them, were placed above a loft in the field house. One of the mats rested against a frayed electrical cord. The heat of the mat combined with the frayed wiring started the fire. The scoreboard and school record plaques were melted in the fire, though the most damage came from the water damage from the fire hoses. The field house was closed off for most of the 1995-1996 school year. The field house re-opened with a much-needed lighting improvement, better basketball floor, and new paint.

The most recent additions to the school have been a library in 2002, a new art wing in 2003, and a new cafeteria in 2004. As of 2007, work is being done to remove asbestos from the older parts of the building.

Academics

In 2005, Prospect had an average composite ACT score of 23.5, and graduated 93.0% of its senior class. Prospect has made Adequate Yearly Progress on the Prairie State Achievement Examination, a state test used for the No Child Left Behind Act.[2]

Athletics

Prospect competes in the Mid-Suburban League East Conference and Illinois High School Association. Its mascot is the Knight. The football team won the state 7A championship in 2001, 2002 and 2005, in addition the Knights also made it to the state 7A semi-finals in 2003 and 2006.

Activities

Foreign Exchange

Since 2005-06, the foreign language department facilitates an exchange program between students studying French and Itailan at Prospect, and students studying English in Sèvres, France and Verona, Italy.

Fine & Performing Arts

The award-winning Fine & Performing Arts Department at Prospect High School provides hundreds of students with a broad exposure to the visual and performing arts. The music curricula consists of many performing ensembles including the Prospect Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble I & II, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Pit Orchestra, Concert Choir, Treble Choir, Varsity Choir, Chamber Choir, Jazz Choir, “Xentricity” (female a cappella ensemble), One Stop (male a cappella ensemble), and two competitive show choirs - Company and Mixed Company.

In 2007, Prospect‘s Marching Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Chamber Choir were invited to perform in the 2008/2009 London New Year’s Day Parade and Gala Concerts.[citation needed] The Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble I, and Chamber Choir were all selected to perform at the 2008 Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Festival as Honors Ensembles.[citation needed] The Prospect Symphonic Band has been selected to perform at the Illinois Superstate Festival 13 times, and was named an Honor Band in 2005.[citation needed] The Prospect Marching Knights, both Jazz Bands, Mixed-Company, and Company have gained national recognition for their performance at all levels of competition.[citation needed]

Students at Prospect are provided the opportunity to study Harmony and Arranging in a fully equipped MIDI lab focusing on music theory, technology, and recording. Art studies include beginning and advanced placement in drawing, painting, sculpting, and photography. In addition, Prospect provides the opportunity to compete in Congressional Debate and Speech. Both organizations are consistently recognized for their high levels of performance.[citation needed] The dance ensemble, Orchesis, performs in district festivals, sporting events, an annual recital, and has been selected to perform at the state dance festival on several occasions.[citation needed] Annual theater productions include the fall and winter plays and spring musical, with corresponding courses focusing in drama and theater tech. Prospect’s production of With Their Eyes was chosen in 2006 to perform at the state theater festival.[citation needed]

Band

The Prospect High School Band program consists of the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Marching Band, and Percussion Ensemble. The Symphonic Band and Concert Band regularly perform in concerts and festivals in Illinois and throughout the Midwest. The Symphonic Band has been invited to perform at the prestigious University of Illinois Superstate Festival 12 times and was named the Honor Band in 2005.

The Prospect High School Marching Knights have gained national recognition for their outstanding performances at state and national competitions. The band has been selected for the finals five times at the Bands of America Grand National Championships, and was the Grand Champion at the Bands of America Toledo Regional in 2001. In addition, the band has won the Grand Championship at the University of Illinois Marching Band Festival 26 times, including the past 25 years consecutively. Some of their destinations have included Hawaii, London, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, Phoenix, Orlando, Houston, and the Hollywood Christmas Parade in Los Angeles, CA. The marching band has also performed for the President of the United States on three occasions. This year, the band performed in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade.

This fall, the band was named Grand Champions at the Lake Park Lancer Joust, the University of Illinois Marching Band Festival, finished 4th at the Miami of Ohio Bands of America Regional, and 2nd at the St. Louis Super Regional Championships.

Choir

The Prospect Choir Department consists of 5 choir classes: Varsity Choir, Treble Choir Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and Madrigal Singers/Vocal Jazz Choir. Prospect Choir also boasts two competition-level show choirs, Company and Mixed Company. Company is a 46-voice all-women's show choir; Mixed Company is a male and female show choir of 44 singer/dancers. In addition to the large class ensembles, three small groups rehearse after school. Knight Voices is a mixed 6-voice vocal jazz ensemble specializing in R&B and vocal jazz. One Stop (all-male) and Girl Stop (all-female) are two student-run a cappella groups that perform at many of the school concerts. The choir department actively participates in local area choir festivals as well as State and National music associations IMEA and ACDA. Individual choir members consistently have been selected for All-District and All-State vocal ensembles each year. Show choirs at Prospect have a solid tradition of high awards in Regional and National competition. Company and Mixed Company pride themselves on Best Vocals, Best Soloist, and Best Choreography Awards. Also, the accompaniment Combo has received Best Horns and Best Combo in several of the competitions from the 2005-2006 season.

Orchestra

Prospect’s Orchestra program consists of the Symphony, Chamber, and Pit Orchestras. The three ensembles are comprised of students ranging from freshman to seniors. All of Prospect’s string students participate in the Symphony Orchestra, which performs several concerts throughout the year at the school and in the community.

In 2008, the Prospect Symphony Orchestra was selected to perform at the 2008 Illinois Music Educator’s All-State Conference as an Honors Ensemble. Additionally, the Symphony Orchestra performs throughout the Midwest on an annual performance tour. Recent tours have included performances and clinics at Illinois Wesleyan University(Bloomington, Illinois) and Butler University (Indianapolis, Indiana). In joint and combined concert, the Symphony Orchestra has performed with the Illinois Wesleyan University Orchestra, Rockwood Summit High School Orchestra (Fenton, Missouri), and the Rockford Youth Symphony Orchestra (Rockford, Illinois). Recently, Prospect’s Symphony Orchestra was selected to perform in the 2008/2009 London New Year’s Gala Concerts.

Concerts have featured music premiers, including the Illinois premier of Cummington Overture and 15,000 Days on Earth composed by Richard Maltz. In the fall of 2008, the orchestra will premier Great Prospects Overture by Dr. Maltz, commissioned for Mt. Prospect by the Prospect High School Symphony Orchestra. The annual spring concert features student concerto-aria winners and guest performers.

Jazz Band/Ensemble

The award-winning jazz program at Prospect High School has received consistent superior ratings and top placement at festivals for more than a decade. Prospect’s top jazz ensemble was selected to perform at the 2008 Illinois Music Educators Association’s All-State conference as an Honors Ensemble. The top band also received superior ratings at the 2008 Jazz in the Meadows, and 2008 Eastern Illinois Jazz Festival (1st place, class AA).

Students are selected for placement in one of the two ensembles through audition. Both bands perform several concerts throughout the year at the school and in the community. Prospect’s top ensemble performs throughout the Midwest in festival and on tour. Recent tours have included performances and clinics at Illinois Wesleyan University(Bloomington, Illinois), Butler University (Indianapolis, Indiana), and Rockwood Summit High School (Fenton, Missouri).

Annual spring jazz concerts feature vocal and instrumental performing ensembles, and a guest artist. Past guest artists have included: Bob Lark, Mark Colby, Rob Parton, Steve Wiest, Randy Brecker, Bobby Shew, and Saturday Night Live trombonist, Steve Turre in 2008.

Notable alumni

Controversies

In September of 2006, Jason Krigas, 36, was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison for sexually abusing a female student. Krigas was fired by the school in 2005. Krigas was a well-respected teacher credited with building the once-small Prospect High School choir into an award-winning group.[18][19]

In October of 2006 The Illinois Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) began investigating allegations of abuse against former Prospect High School administrator David J. Good. That investigation ended in December 2006, with DCFS officials stating that all allegations against Good were unfounded. Good was the former assistant principal of activities at Prospect. He resigned from his job on October 12, 2006 after a leave of absence that had begun on September 22, 2006.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ Brief History of District 214
  2. ^ Illinois School Report Card
  3. ^ Welcome to Comcast SportsNet
  4. ^ “Golden nugget - After 32 years, Prospect graduate Jeff Bzdelik found the job of a lifetime”, Chicago Sun-Times, February 4, 2003.
  5. ^ Jennifer Morrison (II)
  6. ^ Dave Kingman Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com
  7. ^ “First lady of Ukraine comes home 'Ukraine now must make hopes real'- Chicago native talks about troubles of past, risks of future”, Chicago Sun-Times, April 6, 2005
  8. ^ Ankerberg Theological Research Institute, John Ankerberg Show - Christian Apologetics, Jesus, Bible&Christ <link href="jasstyle1.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />
  9. ^ Reinhold Weege
  10. ^ Bruce Boxleitner
  11. ^ Randy Clark Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com
  12. ^ Mike Quade - BR Bullpen
  13. ^ Weightlifting Exchange
  14. ^ “Weighty problem for Schutz, Mt. Prospect lifter trails European foes”, Chicago Sun-Times, August 5, 1987
  15. ^ Rising Stars BBall - Coach
  16. ^ Rosa Blasi
  17. ^ 2006 Pulitzer Prizes - FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY, Biography
  18. ^ * “Teacher fired over sex abuse cases: Ex-Prospect choir leader vows to fight”, Chicago Tribune, August 26, 2005
  19. ^ * “Chorus teacher accused of sex abuse”, Chicago Sun-Times, March 2, 2005
  • “Schools soar to new heights in report card”, Chicago Sun-Times, December 15, 2004.
  • “Mt. Prospect music teacher gets top honor”, Chicago Sun-Times, March 23, 2003
  • “Assault trial ends in guilty pleas, apology, 2 teens get 5 years of probation”, Chicago Tribune, March 12, 1999.
  • “Prospect proud of conservatism”, Chicago Sun-Times, January 15, 1992.
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