Warren Township High School

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Warren Township High School
Expect Success, Exceed Dreams
Address
Almond Campus:
34090 Almond Road
O'Plaine Campus:
500 N. O'Plaine Road
Gurnee, Illinois 60031
Information
School district Warren Township High School District 121
Principal O'Plaine Campus:
Dr. Jeff Brierton
Almond Campus:
Dr. Doug Domeracki
Vice principal O'Plaine Campus:
Chuck Maurer
Almond Campus:
Rob Parrot
Staff 260
Enrollment

3828
School type Public High school
Grades 9-12
Language English
Campus Suburban
Mascot Blue Devil
Team name Blue Devils
Color(s) Royal Blue, Old Gold
Founded 1917
Homepage www.wths.net

Warren Township High School, or Warren, is a public four-year high school located in Gurnee, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. The school is split across two campuses: the O'Plaine Road Campus for freshmen and sophomores and Almond Road Campus for juniors and seniors. It is part of Warren Township High School District 121.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Early History

The first high school in Warren Township was erected in 1917. The one-floor school first opened in the fall of 1918 with 57 pupils in attendance. Between the years 1920 and 1924, a Vocational Agriculture Building and Farm Shop (separate from the school) were constructed. In 1926, a second floor and gymnasium were added to the 1917 structure. Additions to this structure were also made in 1951, 1956, 1960, 1968, and 1974.

The school is indirectly named after Joseph Warren, a doctor and patriot soldier in the American Revolution. The settlers who founded Warren Township were from Warren, New York, also named for Joseph Warren.

[edit] Recent History

The original building was destroyed by a major fire on December 20, 1984 just prior to the winter vacation. A Warren Township student set the fire just after a chorus concert. As a result, all students and staff moved to the Lake Forest West Campus. From January 1985 until June 1987, the Lake Forest Campus was the educational facility for all the students of Warren Township High School. Construction on a new facility began in May 1986 and was completed in mid-August 1987.

A referendum for an additional building was successful in the November 1995 election. Warren Township High School's Almond Road Campus subsequently opened in the fall of 1997 and is located on Almond Road behind the Township Center. This location houses the juniors and seniors, while the O'Plaine Road Campus houses the freshmen and sophomores.

Warren Township High School hired a new superintendent, Dr. Philip Sobocinski, for the 2003-2004 school year. Dr. Sobocinski had a brief career as an NFL player [1] and was known as a very successful high school football coach. Dr. Sobocinski also works in a professional capacity for School Exec Connect. The firm's website says that he has a number of other part-time jobs as well. [2]


In 2000, Warren won the coveted Blue Ribbon Award for excellence, presented by the U.S. Department of Education. [3] Warren was cited for excellent overall testing and successful programs targeting minority subgroups. Warren was one of only four Illinois high schools to win the Blue Ribbon in 2000. [4]

[edit] No Child Left Behind

According to Warren's 2007 Report Card, the school failed to meet the minimum requirements for adequate yearly progress for the fifth year in a row. [5] The school remains on Academic Watch Status. 13.3% of the schools in Illinois are in this lowest academic category. [6]

Since the 2004-2005 Report Card, Warren has had the status of "Choice" under the federal No Child Left Behind law.[7] This was intended to allow parents to transfer their children to a school with passing scores.

Since the 2005-2006 Report Card, Warren has had the status of "Supplemental Educational Services" under the federal law. .[8] This requires Warren to offer free outside tutoring to qualified students.

Schools that have failed to meet the minimum requirements of No Child Left Behind for five successive years are required to adopt a school re-organization plan and submit it to the state. If the school fails to meet the minimum requirements in the next Report Card, then the restructuring plan must be implemented.

Options for restructuring include:

1. Reopening the school as a charter school.
2. Replacing staff members who are relevant to the school's inability to pass.
3. Entering into a contract with a private company to operate the school.
4. Implementing another fundamental restructuring plan. [9]


[edit] Statistics

Percentages less than 1% are shown as <1%. Other percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number.

[edit] School Overview

The overall view of the school through the Illinois Interactive Report Card.[10]

Average Teacher Salary $63,556
Average Teacher Experience 10.7 Years
Instructional Expenditure per Pupil (03-04) $5,561
Operational Expenditure per Pupil (03-04) $10,433
Low Income 11%

[edit] Local School Districts' Ethnic Subgroups

Each of the local districts has become steadily more diverse in recent years. In terms of educationally disadvantaged subgroups, only Gurnee District #56 is more diverse than the state of Illinois as a whole. [11]

Ethnicity Warren H.S. Dist.#121 Gurnee Dist.#56 Woodland Dist. #50 State of Illinois
White 63% 50% 62% 55%
Black 10% 14% 7% 20%
Hispanic 15% 25% 17% 19%
Asian 11% 6% 10% 4%
Native American <1% <1% <1% <1%
Multiracial 1% 4% 4% 2%

[edit] Local School District's Overall Diversity

There is an alternate point of view on diversity. The state combines ethnicity with other measurements including income, primary language, special education status, etc. These are measured by counting the number of categories in which each district must meet AYP standards. The requirement ranges from a low of 5 categories to a high of 41. By this definition, each of the districts shown on the table below is more diverse than most other Illinois schools. [12]

Warren H.S. Dist.#121 Gurnee Dist.#56 Woodland Dist. #50
Number of Categories 29 33 37


[edit] Local School Districts' Test Results

This is the percentage of students meeting or exceeding the state goals in the average of all tests in 2006-2007. The grade school districts are between 9% and 13% above the state average. The high school district is 12% below the state average. [13]

Warren H.S. Dist.#121 Gurnee Dist.#56 Woodland Dist. #50 State of Illinois
Percentage 62% 83% 87% 74%

[edit] Black Student Performance in Local School Districts

This is the percentage of black students that meet or exceed state standards in overall performance in each subject area. Black subgroups excel at both grade school districts. Scores are much lower at Warren High School. [14]


Subject area Warren H.S. Dist.#121 Gurnee Dist.#56 Woodland Dist. #50
Reading 43% 66% 62%
Math 32% 72% 74%

[edit] Hispanic Student Performance in Local School Districts

This is the percentage of Hispanic students that meet or exceed state standards in overall performance in each subject area. Hispanic subgroups excel at both grade school districts. Scores are much lower at Warren High School.[15]


Subject area Warren H.S. Dist.#121 Gurnee Dist.#56 Woodland Dist. #50
Reading 48% 79% 71%
Math 45% 79% 77%


[edit] Local School Districts' State Academic Status

Warren is the only local district on reduced status. The school was on Academic Early Warning Status for two years and is now in its second year of Academic Watch Status. [16]

Warren H.S. Dist.#121 Gurnee Dist.#56 Woodland Dist. #50
Status Academic Watch Full Recognition Full Recognition


[edit] Warren's Overall Results Compared to the State

This is the percentage of students meeting or exceeding the state goals in the average of all tests. It compares Warren's performance with that of the state as a whole. [17]

Year Warren State  % Difference
2002 66% 60% +6%
2003 61% 61% none
2004 61% 62% -1%
2005 63% 65% -2%
2006 64% 73% -9%
2007 62% 74% -12%

[edit] Warren's Overall Results Compared to the City of Chicago

This is the percentage of students meeting or exceeding the state goals in the average of all tests. This compares Warren District #121's Average of All Tests with that of Chicago District #299, the largest and one of the most diverse districts in the state. [18]

Year Warren Chicago  % Difference
2002 66% 38% +28%
2003 61% 40% +21%
2004 61% 42% +19%
2005 63% 45% +18%
2006 64% 58% +6%
2007 62% 60% +2%

[edit] Lake County H.S. Districts' Instructional Expenditure per Pupil

This demonstrates that there is only one high school district in Lake County which spends less on instructional cost per student than Warren.[19]

H.S. District Dollars per Pupil  %age Difference from Warren
Highland Park #113 $10,139 +82%
Lake Forest #115 $9,204 +66%
Libertyville #128 $8,864 +59%
Stevenson #128 $8,303 +49%
Antioch #117 $7,575 +36%
Zion-Benton #126 $6,131 +10%
Mundelein #120 $5,981 +8%
Grayslake #127 $5,583 none
Warren #121 $5,561 ---
Grant #124 $5,044 -9%

[edit] Parental Contact

Warren is on average with the state for parental contact, which includes parent-teacher contacts, phone contacts, written contacts, and parent visits to the school. [20]

District State
96.3 96.1

[edit] Student to Staff Ratios

Warren's student to staff ratios are higher than the state average. [21]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio Pupil-Certified Staff Ratio Pupil-Administration Ratio
District 19.2 14.5 314.5
State 18.8 13.9 230.6

[edit] Average Class Size

Warren's class sizes are above the state average. [22]

District State
20.3 18.9

[edit] Teacher Salaries

The average Warren teacher salary is 9% higher than the state average teacher salary. However, Warren's average teacher salary is 22% lower than the average salary in large high school districts in Illinois. (The state classifies Warren as a large high school district.)[23] In fact, Warren has the lowest beginning teacher pay of all large Illinois high school districts (more than 3000 students.) [24]

State Warren Large High School Districts
$58,275 $63,556 $77,750

[edit] Administration Salaries

The average Warren administration salary is 24% higher than the state average administration salary. However, it is 5% higher than the average administration salary in large high school districts in Illinois. (The state classifies Warren as a large high school district.) [25]

State Warren Large High School Districts
$102,310 $127,223 $120,738

[edit] Activities

  • Band
  • Hockey
  • SSC (Stupid Students Club)
  • Academic Team (Scholastic Bowl)
  • Astronomy Club
  • Art Club
  • Choir
  • EXCEL
  • FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
  • French Club
  • German Club
  • International Club
  • Knitting Club
  • MECS (Mother Earth's Concerned Students)
  • Tech Team
  • Ski Club
  • Spanish Club
  • Speech Team
  • Student Council
  • Scratch Paper (Student Newspaper)
  • Students of Service (SOS)
  • Yearbook
  • Winter Guard
  • CEC (Counsel for Exceptional Children)

[edit] Band

The Warren band program is one of the top in the state. Warren provides the band students with many opportunities to succeed at their level. Warren has six concert bands consisting of (from most experienced to least): Symphonic I, Symphonic II, Concert I(Almond Campus), Concert I ( Oplaine Campus), Concert II, and Concert III. Warren's highest band, Symphonic Band I, is one of the top concert bands in the state. Accomplishments include:

  • Bands of America National Concert Band Festival - 1998, 2003
  • Illinois Honor Band – University of Illinois Superstate Contest.
  • Illinois State Music Educators Conference Performance - 2000
  • 18 years consecutive Division I ratings at State IHSA Org. contest.

Warren also provides four jazz bands, consisting of: Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Lab II, Jazz Lab III, and Jazz Lab IV. Warren's Jazz Ensemble is also a very competitive band in the state of Illinois. Accomplishments include:

  • Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic Performance - 1995
  • International Association of Jazz Educators Performance - 1997
  • Monterey Jazz Festival – 2000
  • Illinois State Jazz Band Champions – 1998
  • Jazz in the Meadows Champions – 1996
  • Student selection in the National High School Grammy Jazz Band
  • Student selection in Downbeat Magazine feature

On January 19, 2008, all four jazz bands participated in the North Shore Jazz Festival at Glenbrook South High School. All four bands received straight superior ratings. In addition: Jazz Lab III received first place in the AA second band class, Jazz Lab II received second place in the AA second band class, and Jazz Ensemble received fourth place in the AA first band class.

During the Fall, Warren's band students participate in one of two marching bands. The two bands are the Competition Band, consisting of musicians from Symph. I, Symph II and some of Concert I Almond; and Warren's Show Band, consisting of members from Concert I Oplaine, Concert II, Concert III and the other members from Concert I Almond. The Marching Blue Devils Competition Marching Band is a very competitive Band at Warren, just like the top Jazz and Concert bands. Accomplishments of the Marching Blue Devils include:

  • Illinois State Finalist – 1994, 95, 97, 98, 99, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006
  • Chicagoland Marching Band Festival Grand Champions – 1998, 2000
  • Cavaliers "Preview of Champions" Grand Champions - 2002
  • Prospect 'Knight od Champions" Grand Champions - 2003
  • Various Local Contest Grand Champions 1994, 95, 96
  • Tri-Star Pictures Film “Angus” – featured in movie soundtrack

The Warren Winter Guard has been on a roll, a seven-year one for that matter. The Winter Guard placed first in the 6-minute Flag Show category at the 2007 Team Dance & Flag Illinois state finals in Peoria, making it seven State Championships in a row. The Warren Blue Devil Winter Guard has begun taking their show on a larger road this year, becoming a force in the Midwest Color Guard Circuit, competing against winter guards from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Iowa this season. The team completed their season on March 3rd, going undefeated in their class. [26]

For more information on succeeses of any club or activity, check out the warren website, there is a web page full of information for every activity.

[edit] Sports

Warren's Blue Devils compete in the North Suburban Conference.

[edit] Controversies

[edit] Racism Allegations

Controversy took place on September 27, 2007, when a 17 year old student named Curtis Hiett was arrested for disorderly conduct after he allegedly made racist remarks to two female students. His truck was discovered to have at least one noose made of shoe laces and a Confederate flag hanging in it, though he was arrested for his behavior in the school and not the contents of his vehicle. [27] While students contacted Democratic state Rep. Eddie Washington for help because they felt the school was not taking their concerns seriously, he did not become involved because the local police were already alerted by the district's administration.

Hiett later apologized to the school, community and the two girls involved in the incident. [28]

[edit] Project Lead the Way

Project Lead the Way (PLTW) courses began in the 2006-2007 school year with approximately 100 freshman students. This program offers engineering courses to high school students. During the 2007-2008 school year, it was realized that two classes in this course was switched. Therefore, it caused many Sophomores to be placed in the Freshman classes.

[edit] Alumni

Additional notable staff and alumni of Warren can be found at wths.net
  • LaVerne Dixon, Class of 1927, Judge
  • William G. Stratton, Class of 1930, Governor
  • John R. Clem, Class of 1956, Author, Internationally recognized professor of physics at Iowa State University
  • Richard A. Welton, Class of 1960, Chairman of Welton's Food Mart, Mayor of Gurnee
  • Valerie Boettle-Ceckowski, Class of 1977, Judge
  • Kevin Anderson, Class of 1978, actor

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dr. Sobocinski. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
  2. ^ School Exec Connect website.
  3. ^ Ten Illinois Schools Honored as Blue Ribbon Winners. ISBE Press Release (2000-05-31).
  4. ^ ISBE Blue Ribbon List.
  5. ^ ISBE eReport Card Public Site. Retrieved on 2007-11-24.
  6. ^ Interactive Illinois Report Card. Retrieved on 2007-11-24.
  7. ^ ISBE eReport Card Public Site. Retrieved on 2007-11-25.
  8. ^ ISBE eReport Card Public Site. Retrieved on 2007-11-25.
  9. ^ ISBE School Restructuring Guidance Document. Retrieved on 2007-11-25.
  10. ^ Interactive Illinois Report Card. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
  11. ^ ISBE eReport Card Public Site. Retrieved on 2007-12-04.
  12. ^ ISBE eReport Card Public Site. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
  13. ^ ISBE eReport Card Public Site. Retrieved on 2007-11-28.
  14. ^ ISBE eReport Card Public Site. Retrieved on 2007-12-04.
  15. ^ ISBE eReport Card Public Site. Retrieved on 2007-12-04.
  16. ^ ISBE eReport Card Public Site. Retrieved on 2007-12-04.
  17. ^ Interactive Illinois Report Card -- Warren's page. Retrieved on 2007-11-29.
  18. ^ eReport Card Public Site. Retrieved on 2007-12-13.
  19. ^ Interactive Illinois Report Card -- Data search. Retrieved on 2007-11-30.
  20. ^ Warren Township High School’s Illinois Report Card. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
  21. ^ Warren Township High School’s Illinois Report Card. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
  22. ^ Warren Township High School’s Illinois Report Card. Retrieved on 2006-11-28.
  23. ^ Interactive Illinois Report Card -- Data search. Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
  24. ^ ISBE Illinois Teacher Salary Study 2006-2007, p.38-40. Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
  25. ^ Interactive Illinois Report Card -- Data search. Retrieved on 2007-12-02.
  26. ^ http://www.wthsbands.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=159965&module_id=12718
  27. ^ Student’s Behavior Led to Arrest.
  28. ^ Warren Student Apologizes for Racial Remarks.

[edit] External links