Oak Park and River Forest High School

Oak Park and River Forest High School. It is a comprehensive four-year public high school located in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The school serves students from both Oak Park and neighboring River Forest, operating within Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200. Known for its strong academic programs and diverse student body, it has been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School and consistently ranks among the top high schools in Illinois.

History

The institution traces its origins to 1873 when the first public high school classes in Oak Park were held above a local hardware store. The school was formally established as Oak Park High School in 1899, with its first dedicated building opening in 1902 at the corner of East Avenue and Ontario Street. Rapid population growth, fueled by the expansion of the Chicago "L" and the arrival of architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, necessitated a larger facility. The present Tudor Revival building on Scoville Avenue was designed by the firm Perkins, Fellows & Hamilton and opened in 1907. It was renamed to reflect its dual community service in 1924. The school has undergone several major expansions, including additions in the 1920s, a new field house in 1974, and significant renovations in the early 21st century funded by a referendum.

Academics

The school offers a rigorous curriculum with over 200 courses, including more than 30 Advanced Placement offerings. It operates on a block schedule and features specialized programs such as the Huskie Opportunity Program for students needing additional support and the Project Lead The Way engineering sequence. Students consistently perform above state and national averages on standardized tests like the SAT and ACT. The school is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and its graduates are regularly admitted to highly selective universities including the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Athletics

Athletic teams, known as the Huskies, compete in the West Suburban Conference and are members of the Illinois High School Association. The school has a storied athletic history, particularly in basketball, where it won the IHSA state championship in 1941 and 2022. The football program, under legendary coach Bob Spoo, won a state title in 1976. Other successful programs include cross country, which has won multiple IHSA state championships, and water polo. The school's facilities include a historic football stadium, the Ridgeland Common athletic complex, and the Robert A. H. LH. field house.

Arts and activities

The school boasts a robust arts program, with its orchestra and choir frequently receiving top honors at state and national competitions through the IHSA music sweepstakes. The theatre department stages several major productions annually in the historic Little Theatre. Student media is prominent, with the award-winning newspaper The Trapeze and yearbook The Tabula. The school also fields over 80 clubs and activities, including a nationally competitive speech and debate team, a Model United Nations program, and a renowned Scholastic Bowl team.

Notable alumni

Alumni have achieved distinction in numerous fields. In literature and journalism, notable figures include author Ernest Hemingway, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Mary Schmich, and food critic Phil Vettel. In entertainment, alumni range from actor and director Bob Balaban to comedian Kathy Griffin. The political sphere includes former United States Senator Alan J. Dixon and former White House Chief of Staff William M. Daley. Science and academia are represented by figures like Nobel Prize-winning physicist Robert B. Laughlin and anthropologist Helen Fisher.

Campus and facilities

The main campus occupies a city block bounded by Scoville Avenue, Erie Street, and Ontario Street. The original 1907 building is a designated Oak Park Landmark and features a distinctive clock tower. Major facilities include the two-story OPRF Library learning resource center, the 1,200-seat auditorium, the South Building housing science labs and fine arts, and the expansive field house. Athletic facilities also include the stadium with a Tartan track, the Ridgeland Common swimming pool and ice rink, and multiple practice fields.