Oak Park and River Forest High School

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Oak Park and River Forest High School
Image:Oprfhslogo.gif
Motto: ΤΑ Γ'ΑΡΙΣΤΑ (Those things that are best)
Established	1873
Type	Public secondary
Principal	Dr. Susan Bridge
Faculty	231
Students	3,087
Grades	9–12
Location	201 North Scoville Ave. Oak Park, Illinois USA
Campus	Suburban
Colors	Burnt Orange, Navy Blue
Mascot	Siberian Husky
Yearbook	Tabula
Newspaper	Trapeze
Website	www.oprfhs.org
Image:Oak Park and River Forest High School.jpg

Oak Park and River Forest High School, or OPRF, is a public four-year high school located in Oak Park, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is the only school of Oak Park and River Forest District 200.

1 History
2 Academics
3 Athletics
4 Notable alumni
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

Starting in 1873, high school students from Oak Park attended classes in space in an elementary school. The first class, which contained only three people, graduated in 1877. The population of the area was growing rapidly, to accommodate this a building solely for the high school was constructed in 1892. The population continued to grow, and in 1899 the high school was separated from the elementary school district, and a consolidated district was created with River Forest, establishing Oak Park and River Forest Township High School.

A new building, designed to hold 800 students was opened in 1907 in the school's current location. Many additions to the building took place during the 1920s, including a new football field, and the first high school field house in the nation. The school now holds approximately 3200 students.

In 1946, River Forest established a high school of its own, creating River Forest Community High School District 223. However, this was short-lived; on June 21, 1949 the Consolidated High School District 200, Cook County, Illinois, was created, combining district 223 and Oak Park District 200.

Several minor additions to the buildings were made during the 1940s and 1950s, but it was during the 1960s that the most large-scale construction projects were completed. The building was extended across Ontario Street, connecting the academic building with the field house. The new construction included a 1700-seat auditorium, a 350-seat Little Theatre, two cafeterias, and more classrooms.

In 2003, the WB Network aired the reality series of High School Reunion, featuring alumni of OPRFHS. Although the show purported to feature members of the class of 1992, the ten cast members actually came from the classes of 1991, 1992, and 1993.

[edit] Academics

In 2005, OPRF had an average composite ACT score of 23.2, and graduated 94.7% of its senior class. The average class size is 25. OPRF has not made Adequate Yearly Progress on the Prairie State Achievement Examination, a state test part of the No Child Left Behind Act.<ref>Illinois School Report Card</ref>

OPRF is listed as number 578 on Newsweek's 2005 list of the top 1000 U.S. Schools.<ref>Newsweek's Top 1,000 High Schools</ref>

[edit] Athletics

OPRF competes in the West Suburban Conference and Illinois High School Association. Its mascot is the Siberian Husky.

OPRF currently holds third place in total number of state championships won overall in Illinois. The most recent state championship victory was from the softball team in the 2004-2005 school year.

OPRF still has the center of its original field house, the first for a high school in the US.