Lincoln-Way Central High School

Lincoln-Way Central High School
File:Lincolnwaycentral-knight.jpg
Location
1801 E. Lincoln Hwy New Lenox , Illinois USA
Information
Type	Public secondary
Established	1954 (9-12) LWHS 1977 (11-12) LWHS-C 2001 (9-12) LWCHS
Principal	Dr. Monica Schmitt
Faculty	178
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	2,748
Campus	Suburban, 70 acres
Color(s)	Red and Black
Mascot	Knights
Website	www.lw210.org/central

Lincoln-Way Central High School or LWCHS, is a public four-year high school located approximately three miles south of Interstate 80 near the intersection of Schoolhouse Rd. and The Lincoln Highway in New Lenox, Illinois, a southern suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is the part of Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210, which also includes Lincoln-Way East High School.

History

In June, 1952, another election provided for the approval and construction of Lincon-Way High School. Construction ultimately began in March 1953, and Lincoln-Way opened its doors to students on September 7 1954. The name of the school was selected by one Mrs. Florence Pittman and the board of education officially adopted it as "Lincoln-Way". The charter members of the student body voted to have red and black as their school's colors. Lyrics to the Lincoln-Way Central school song were written by Robert Taylor and Betty Tryon, set to the tune of the University of Chicago pep song.

Bond issues for additions to the original building were approved in 1957, 1960, 1962, and 1969. The 1969 bond issue approved a ninth grade building which was built north of the main building. In 1971 the north building opened up, accommodating 700 students.

In 1995, a field house was added to the campus. Then in 1998, citizens of District #210 approved a $60 million dollar building bond referendum to split the existing high school freshmen-sophomore / junior-senior configuration into two separate four year high schools, add to the existing two schools an academic wing with 50 classrooms at each campus, put a fine arts auditorium and music classrooms at Central and build swimming pools at each campus. The changeover became official for the 2001-02 school year as the central campus opened as Lincoln-Way Central High School.

Academics

In 2005, Lincoln-Way Central had an average composite ACT score of 21.9 and graduated 98.9% of its senior class. The average class size is 23.7. Lincoln-Way Central has not made Adequate Yearly Progress on the Prairie State Achievements Examination, a state test part of the No Child Left Behind Act.

The staff is comprised of 178 teachers, of which 64% have an advanced degree.

Athletics

Lincoln-Way Central has 27 athletic teams, of 14 boys and 13 girls teams, which play in the SICA West and SICA Blue conferences and Illinois High School Association. Lincoln-Way Central's mascot is the Knights.

In the fall of 1996, Lincoln-Way Centrals Football team (13-1) reached the State Championship game for the first time against Wheaton Warrenville South (13-1) and lost 42-27.

In 1998 Lincoln-Way Centrals Football team (14-0) reached the State Championship game to face off against Addison Trail (12-2) winning 52-22 and bringing the 6a State Championship trophy to New Lenox.

Activities

• Art Club
• Chess Club/Team
• Computer Technology Club
• Computer Repair Club
• Debate Club
• Environmental Action Club
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes
• Future Business Leaders of America
• Future Educators of America
• Future Farmers of America
• International Club
• Intramural Athletics
• Junior Classical League
• Knight Pride Student Section
• Knight Times Newspaper
• Creative Writing
• Leo Club
• Lincoln-Way Television
• Mathletes
• Political Science Club
• Students Against Destructive Decisions/Teens Against Tobacco Use
• Scholastic Bowl
• Science Club
• Science Olympiad
• Singing Knights
• Skills USA
• Snowball
• Speech Team
• Stage/Lighting Crew
• Student Ambassadors
• Student Council
• Wrestling Club
• Ye Olde Knight Book Shoppe

Notable alumni

Lincoln-Way High School
(Attended the east campus as freshmen and sophomores prior to graduating from the central campus).

• Ned Grabavoy, Major League Soccer midfielder for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Lincoln Way Central High School

• James Augustine, a power forward and center for the University of Illinois basketball team. In the 2006 NBA Draft, Augustine was drafted in the second round by the Orlando Magic.
• Rob Ninkovich, a defensive end for Purdue University. Selected in 5th round (2nd pick) draftpick by the New Orleans Saints in the 2006 NFL Draft.

External links

• Official website