Dunbar Vocational High School
| Dunbar Vocational High School | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Address | |
 | |
3000 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive , 60616 | |
| Coordinates | 41°50′24″N 87°37′06″W / 41.8400°N 87.6182°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public Secondary Vocational |
| Motto | “Restoring the Legacy of Excellence.” |
| Opened | 1942 |
| School district | Chicago Public Schools |
| CEEB code | 140785[1] |
| Principal | Gerald J. Morrow |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Gender | Coed |
| Enrollment | 702[5] (2015–16) |
| Campus type | Urban |
| Color(s) | Blue Gold[2] |
| Athletics conference | Chicago Public League[2] |
| Team name | MightyMen/MightyWomen[2] |
| Accreditation | North Central Association of Colleges and Schools[3] |
| Newspaper | Craftsman[4] |
| Yearbook | Prospectus |
| Website | dunbarhs |
Dunbar Vocational High School (also known as Dunbar Vocational Career Academy, or DVCA) is a public 4–year vocational high school located in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. The school is operated by the Chicago Public Schools district. Opened in 1942, The school is named in honor of the African–American poet, novelist, and playwright Paul Laurence Dunbar.[6]
History
The school opened in 1942 as a Dunbar Trade School. In 1946, the Chicago Public Schools changed the trade school into a public high school, accepting ninth grade students in January of that year. Dunbar was housed in a school building located at 4401 South St. Lawrence Avenue. [7]By 1952, Dunbar suffered from issues dealing with overcrowding and aging of the school building. The Chicago Board of Education decided that a new school building was needed for Dunbar. Construction began at 3000 South Parkway Avenue (now Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive) on April 6, 1955. The new Dunbar Vocational High School building opened for students for the 1956–57 school year. [8]
Athletics
Dunbar competes in the Chicago Public League (CPL) and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). [9] The Boys' basketball team were Public League champions in the 1955–56 season and regional champions in 2011–12. The Girls' basketball team were Class AA in the 1997–98 season. The Girls track and field team were Public league champions and place 2nd in 1977–78 and Class AA three times (1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86). The Boys' wrestling team were Public league champions in 1977–78 and ranked Class AA two times (1977–78, 2007–08). The Boys' track and field were Public league champions four times (1956–57, 1957–58, 1964–65, 1981–82), and Class AA (1981–82).
Other information
On January 9, 2009, five people were shot outside the school after a varsity basketball game against John Hope College Prep had concluded around 8PM. The shooting was considered gang-related. [10][11] On May 23, 2013, A 16–year old female student was pushed down a flight of stairs and assaulted by a male security guard at the school. The incident was filmed via cell phone video by another student. [12]
Notable alumni
- Barbara Acklin — American R&B/soul singer.
- Michelle Gordon — American martial artist.[citation needed]
- Jennifer Hudson (1999) — American Academy Award-winning actress (Dreamgirls) and singer.[13]
- Jimmy D. Lane — American blues guitarist who has recorded with Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Van Morrison, Jimmy Rogers[14]
- Ronnie Lester — American NBA guard (1980–86), who was selected in the first round of the 1980 NBA Draft. He was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers when they won the 1985 NBA Championship.[6]
- Lou Rawls — American Grammy Award-winning soul/R&B, jazz, and blues singer (You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine, Love Is a Hurtin' Thing).[6]
- Bernard Shaw — American journalist and news anchor, perhaps best known for his work at CNN (1980–2001).[6]
- Mr. T (Lawrence Tureaud) (1970) — American actor (Rocky III, The A-Team).[6]
- LaDonna Tittle — American radio personality (WBMX-FM, WJPC-FM, WGCI-FM)
- Cynda Williams — American actress (Mo Better Blues)[citation needed]
Notable faculty
- Cornelius Coffey -- American aviator[15]
References
- ^ "High School Code Search". College Board. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
- ^ a b c "Chicago (Dunbar)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). 31 December 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
- ^ "Institution Summary for Dunbar High School". AdvacedED profile. North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
- ^ "School Clubs". Directory. Dunbar High School. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
- ^ "Chicago Public Schools: Dunbar". Chicago Public Schools. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Dunbar at a glance". Chicago Sun-Times. December 29, 1993. 76.
- ^ Dunbar Vocational High School: 1955
- ^ Dunbar Vocational High School: 1957
- ^ "IHSA Season Summaries". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). 16 November 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
- ^ 5 wounded in Chicago high school drive-by (January 10, 2009)
- ^ Chicagoist: Five Shot Outside Dunbar High After Basketball Game (January 10, 2009)
- ^ CBS: Chicago School Employee Pushes Student Down Stairs Cell phone video shows a Dunbar Vocational Career Academy employee pushing the girl (May 24, 2013)
- ^ Bill Zwecker. "Sweet home Hudson - Holiday special brings the singer back to familiar sites". Chicago Sun-Times. December 9, 2009. 31.
- ^ "Jimmy D. Lane ALLMUSIC Bio Page".
- ^ "Cornelius Coffey, Early Black Aviator". Chicago Tribune.
