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Lincoln Park High School
Address
2001 N. Orchard Street Chicago, Illinois 60614 United States
Coordinates	41°55′10″N 87°38′44″W / 41.9194°N 87.6456°W / 41.9194; -87.6456
Information
School type	Public Secondary
Opened	1900
School district	Chicago Public Schools
CEEB code	141100
Principal	Dr. Eric A. Steinmiller
Grades	9–12
Gender	Coed
Enrollment	2,173 (2024–2025)
Average class size	28
Campus size	Large
Campus type	Urban
Color(s)	Navy Blue   Gold
Athletics conference	Chicago Public League
Mascot	Leo The Lion
Team name	Lions
Accreditation	AdvancED
Newspaper	The Lion's Roar
Yearbook	Pride
Website	lincolnparkhs.org

Lincoln Park High School (LPHS) is a public four-year high school located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood on the north side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Lincoln Park High School, operated by the Chicago Public Schools district, opened its main present building in 1900. The school borders Oz Park, a public park owned by the Chicago Park District. It was formerly known as North Division High School and then Robert A. Waller High School. In 1981, the school began its International Baccalaureate program. It was one of the first schools to begin the program within the Chicago Public Schools district.

History

Lincoln Park High School began as North Division High School, which opened in 1875, as the first public high school on the north side of Chicago. By the late 1890s, the school needed more room, and construction began on the current school building in 1899. This building opened as Robert A. Waller High School in 1900. The students and staff of North Division relocated to the new building and the old name remained in use, alongside the new name, for several decades.

By the 1910s, a concern grew that the school would soon need more room, and plans began to expand the school. It would not be until 1928 when land north of the school was obtained, and plans for an annex were pushed forward; plans that were interrupted with start of the Great Depression. The need for more space became critical, and the school's Franklin Branch was opened in 1934 (closing in 1948). In 1938, the school's annex was constructed to alleviate the need for portable classrooms. The new annex included (among other features) two new gyms, which allowed for the original gymnasium to be converted into a lunch room for students.

By the 1960s, the school's increased population required the return of portable classrooms as plans began for more expansion. The new north wing included a new lunch room and auditorium, allowing the old lunch room to become an office complex for counselors, and the library to move into the former assembly hall. The 1970s saw problems as the school aged and discipline issues caused the opening of an alternative satellite center for the school. As a part of the revitalization of the school in the late 1970s, the school's name was changed to its current name, and Orchard Street in front of the school was closed to create a mall between neighboring Oz Park and Armitage Street.

Programs

Lincoln Park High School is made up of four smaller programs. Aside for the basic general education program,there is the Performing Arts,Visual Arts, Advanced College Prep (formerly Double Honors), International Baccalaureate (IB)] (which is one of the most selective IB programs in the city). Most students take part in classes in more than one program, except for students in the IB program who follow a prescribed curriculum. Students in the IB Diploma Program only take classes with other IB DP students, with the exception of music and/or arts classes, lunch, and physical education.

There is a JROTC Program at Lincoln Park. The Performing Arts program requires auditions in order for students to be considered for enrollment. The music program consists of orchestra through all levels from beginning to symphony, and band from beginning to concert/marching band. There is also a jazz band option for advanced musicians. Students participating in the music program (with the exception of those also participating in the IB Diploma program) are required to take two years of Music Theory, at both the regular and AP levels. The drama program has multiple levels and produces numerous shows throughout the school year.

The high school classes of the French-American School of Chicago are held at this school; these classes began in 1995.

Academics

Lincoln Park High School is rated a 9 out of 10 by GreatSchools.org, a national school quality information site. GreatSchools’ Summary Rating is based on four of the school’s themed ratings: the Test Score Rating, Student or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, and Equity Rating and flags for discipline and attendance disparities at a school.

Lincoln Park was ranked as #96 in a 2010 Newsweek ranking of top U.S. high schools and was one of only two schools from Illinois to be listed in the top 100. Courses offered according to the IB syllabus are HL English A1, HL/SL History, HL/SL Mathematics, SL Math Studies, HL Biology, HL Chemistry, SL French A1, HL/SL Spanish B, HL/SL French B, SL/Ab Initio Arabic, SL Psychology, SL Physics, SL Music, SL Visual Arts and SL Information Technology in a Global Society. According to the 2020 US News High School Rankings, Lincoln Park is ranked 22nd in Illinois (out of 677) and received an overall score of 97.57 out of 100. Lincoln Park was also ranked #8 in Chicago Public High Schools (out of 167).

Athletics and sports

Lincoln Park competes in the Chicago Public League (CPL) and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). Their school teams are named Lions. The boys' basketball were Regional champions and Class AA in (2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07). The boys' cross country were Class AA in 1984. The girls' cross country were Class AA three times (1998–99, 1999–2000, 2001–02). The sports offered include the following:

Boys

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Bowling
• Cross Country
• Football
• Golf
• Lacrosse
• 16-inch softball
• Soccer
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Track
• Volleyball
• Water Polo

Girls

• Basketball
• Bowling
• Cheer
• Cross Country
• Golf
• Lacrosse
• Pom Pom
• Soccer
• Softball
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Track
• Volleyball
• Water Polo

Feeder patterns

Several K-8 schools feed into Lincoln Park High School. All of the attendance zones of Agassiz, Alcott, Abraham Lincoln, Manierre, Oscar Mayer Magnet School, Ogden International School, and Prescott feed into Lincoln Park. In addition portions of the zones of Ogden and Prescott feed into Lincoln Park. However, this is only for the neighborhood program, as all other programs require separate applications to be offered a place of enrollment. As well, all other programs have students enrolled from all over the city. Prior to its 2018 merger with Ogden, Jenner Academy fed into Lincoln Park High.

Notable alumni

• George W. Collins, 1943 — politician
• Dorothy Day, 1914 — journalist and Catholic social activist
• Ken Dunkin, 1984 — politician
• Kim Foxx, 1990 — politician
• Paul Halmos (attended) — mathematician
• Nicholas Ray (attended) — film director
• Freddy Rodríguez, 1993 — actor
• Terrence Shannon Jr. (attended) - basketball player
• Nate Silver — football quarterback
• Michael Stahl-David (attended) — actor
• Jesse White, 1952 — politician
• Michael Thompson, 2007 — professional basketball player

References

1. "High School Code Search". College Board. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
2. ^ "Chicago (Lincoln Park)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). January 8, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
3. "Institution Summary for Lincoln Park High School". AdvancED profile. North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
4. "The Lion's Roar". Lincoln Park High School. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
5. Chicago Public Schools: Lincoln Park
6. "Profile: Lincoln Park High School". International Baccalaureate Organisation. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
7. ^ "A History of Robert A. Waller • Lincoln Park High School: One Hundred Years in Lincoln Park". Lincoln Park High School. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
8. "Home". French-American School of Chicago. Archived from the original on May 14, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
9. "History." French-American School of Chicago. Retrieved on April 28, 2015.
10. "Best High Schools in Chicago, IL | GreatSchools". GreatSchools.org. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
11. "The Top of the Class - The complete list of the 1,300 top U.S. schools". Newsweek.
12. "North/Near North High Schools." Chicago Public Schools. Retrieved on December 30, 2016.
13. ^ "Near North West Central Elementary Schools." Chicago Public Schools. Retrieved on December 30, 2016.
14. "North Elementary Schools." Chicago Public Schools. Retrieved on December 30, 2016.
15. "Timeline of Events". Jenner-Ogden Merger Official Site. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
16. Black Americans in Congress, 1870-2007. Government Printing Office. 2007. ISBN 9780160801945. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
17. Black Past - George Washington Collins (1925-1972)
18. Bio Guide - COLLINS, George Washington
19. 1984 Lincoln Park High School (Chicago, Illinois) Yearbook
20. Chicago Defender - Kim Foxx Triumph Adversity - November 13, 2015
21. Chicago Sun-Times - Mark Brown: formerly homeless Preckwinkle aide Kim Foxx has the makings of a formidable candidate - May 30, 2015
22. Chicago Mag - October 2015 - Kim Foxx
23. "Lincoln Park High School". Chicago Public Schools. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
24. Kozlowski, Carl (November 13–18, 2008). "Staying humble in Humboldt Park (and Hollywood)". Time Out Chicago. Retrieved January 17, 2010. Rodriguez decided to audition for the yearlong opportunity to test his wings as a performer—but mostly to skip out on a math test. He aced the audition and became a frequent star of school plays at Lincoln Park High School
25. "Jesse White". biographic sketch. Chicago Public Schools. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
26. Hutson, Wendell (January 9, 2009), prepares-to-retire.html "Secretary of State Jesse White prepares to retire", Chicago Defender, archived from the original on April 13, 2009, retrieved January 17, 2010, (White) was an all-city baseball and basketball player at the former Waller high school (now Lincoln Park high school) on the North Side and was inducted into the Chicago Public League Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1995. {{citation}}: Check |archive-url= value (help)

External links

• Official website

• Educational institutions established in 1900
• 1900 establishments in Illinois
• International Baccalaureate schools in Illinois
• Public high schools in Chicago