William Fremd High School

William Fremd High School
Address
1000 S. Quentin Rd.
Palatine, Illinois 60067
United States
Coordinates 42°05′39″N 88°03′58″W / 42.0943°N 88.0661°W / 42.0943; -88.0661
Information
School type public secondary
Opened 1961[1]
School district Township H.S. 211
Superintendent Daniel Cates[2]
Principal Kurt Tenopir[3]
Grades 9–12
Gender coed
Enrollment 2,859[4]
Average class size 22.7[5]
Campus suburban
School colour(s)      Forest Green
     Gold[6]
Fight song "Viking Fight Song"
Athletics conference Mid-Suburban League
Mascot Vikings
Average ACT scores 25.1[5]
Publication The Conspiracy[7]
Newspaper The Viking Logue[8]
Yearbook Valhallan[9]
Website http://www.fhs.d211.org

William Fremd High School, or Fremd, (formerly known as Palatine High School South) is a public four-year high school located in Palatine, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Township High School District 211, which also includes James B. Conant High School, Hoffman Estates High School, Palatine High School, and Schaumburg High School. The school is known for its academic excellence, and its athletic, drama, visual arts, and music programs have won state championships in recent years. Academically, Fremd High School has also been recognized by Newsweek as one of “America’s Best High Schools” and by U.S. News & World Report as one of 99 outstanding high schools in the United States[10] with the average AP test taker taking 4.2 exams. Fremd serves Palatine that is southwest of the UP NW Line railroad tracks, north Hoffman Estates, west Rolling Meadows, north Schaumburg and southeast Inverness.[11] Feeder schools include Plum Grove Junior High, Carl Sandburg Junior High, Walter Sundling Junior High and Margaret Mead Junior High. Feeder elementary schools are Pleasant Hill, Paddock, Hunting Ridge, Central Road, Willow Bend, Thomas Jefferson, Marion Jordan, Fairview, and Frank C. Whiteley.

History

Fremd opened in 1963 as Palatine High School South. The school was later named after William Fremd who had been a member of the high school board of education for over 30 years and had served on school boards in the area for a consecutive period of more than 45 years. Fremd donated the land for the school. In the first yearbook the school was said to 'blend and stretch into the cornfields'. The school was the second high school to be built in Palatine, Illinois after Palatine High School. Palatine South and then Fremd originally served as the school for all Palatine freshman and sophomores while Palatine High School was the school for juniors and seniors. This plan was only in effect for three years before Fremd was expanded to serve as a 4 year high school. In the fall of 1966 the first junior class entered, and they became the first Fremd graduating class in 1968. Then Junior Cathy Klep designed the Viking logo, based on the Minnesota Vikings logo. Junior, Colleen McGrath designed the school crest, incorporating the Viking logo and modeled after her family crest. A school motto was adopted in 1995 after a contest for students. Sophomore Jessica Frank won the contest. In 2001, construction began to create a new science wing. The courtyard which stood in the center of the school was demolished. After two years of year round construction, the new science wing was built along with a heating and ventilation facility on the roof of the building.[12]

Today, Fremd is one of the largest high schools in the region, with over 2900 students including 589 students in the 2004 graduating class and 727 students in 2006. However, the school is also noted for its high operating costs. In 2005, the school had the highest average salary for teachers in the state of Illinois and currently stands at $93,806.[13]

Fremd has seen several construction projects in the last few years, such as new bleachers in the main gymnasium, new tiling and additional classrooms. Recently, the music department finished major construction including a whole new rehearsal room, and the addition of bigger practice rooms with more advanced sound-proof walls as well as storage space.[14] In the newest addition to the school, a synthetic turf football field was added. In 2015, it was announced that a new pool would be added to Fremd, and in 2016, the pool was opened to the school.

Academics

In 2005, Fremd had an average composite ACT score of 25.1, and graduated 99.9% of its senior class. The average class size is 24.7. Fremd has made Adequate Yearly Progress on the Prairie State Achievement Examination, a state test part of the No Child Left Behind Act.[15]

Since 1998, 41 students from Fremd have achieved a score of 36 on the American College Test (ACT) (the highest possible composite score).[16]

In 1987, Fremd was named among the top in the nation in the United States Department of Education's National Secondary School Recognition Program. Fremd High School has also been recognized by Newsweek as one of “America’s Best High Schools” and by U.S. News & World Report as one of 99 outstanding high schools in the United States.[10] In 2006, Fremd was recognized as the 302nd best high school in the nation by Newsweek, with an average of 1.3 AP tests taken per graduating senior.[17]

Athletics

Fremd competes in the Mid-Suburban League (west division), and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) which governs most interscholastic sports and competitive activities in the state. Its mascot is the Viking.

Fremd sponsors interscholastic teams for young men and women in basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and water polo. Men may also compete in baseball, football, and wrestling, while women may compete in badminton, bowling, and softball. While not sponsored by the IHSA, the school also sponsors separate teams for young men and women in lacrosse. Hockey is also a club sport for men.[18]

The boys basketball team achieved success beginning in the late 1980s. The 1988 team was the best ever, led by Jason Joseph and George Poorman. They were upset in the super sectional game by East Aurora and finished with the best record ever, 28-2. The 1989 team led by Todd Leslie returned to the super sectional game and once again lost to East Aurora. The 1993 team was the most successful ever, with a 4th place state finish. Mo Tharp coached the Vikings from 1975–2002 and established Fremd as the premiere basketball program in the northwest suburbs.

The girls basketball team has achieved great success, not losing a MSL game from 2013-2016

The following teams have won their respective IHSA state tournament or meet:[19]

The twelve state titles in girls gymnastics is a state record.[20] The girls gymnastics team also holds state records for appearances at the state meet, top three team finishes, sectional titles, and regional titles.[21]

Activities

Fremd sponsors 65 clubs and activities ranging from cultural and artistic to academic and technology. Among the activities which are chapters or affiliates of more nationally notable groups are: BPA, Chess, Robotics, FCCLA, Model UN, Modern music masters, National Honor Society, PAVE, Vikettes (Colorguard), and National Science Bowl.[22]

The following activities have won their respective IHSA sponsored competition:[19]

The Fremd Vikettes have also recently won state titles in Team Dance Illinois, earning a 1st Place State Championship in 2010, 2011, and 2012, and Second Place State Titles in 2013 and 2014 for their flag/colorguard performances. Each year, William Fremd High School hosts Writers Week, which has brought more than 200 writers to the Fremd campus since 1995 to share their work and philosophy on the writing process. Distinguished guest presenters have included Billy Collins, Gwendolyn Brooks, Nobel Laureate Leon Lederman; journalists Rick Bragg, Dana Kozlov, Burt Constable, and Eric Zorn; novelists Jane Hamilton, Raymond Benson, Rosellen Brown, Harry Mark Petrakis, and Frederik Pohl; poets Nikki Giovanni, Naomi Shihab Nye, and poetry slam creator Marc Smith; screenwriters Bill Kelly and Craig J. Nevius; and sportswriters Dan Roan and Mike Imrem. Presenters also include selected Fremd students and faculty.[23]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ Twp. District 211 History; accessed 16 June 2009
  2. ↑ Cates, Daniel. "District 211 Selects Daniel Cates As Next Superintendent". dailyherald.com. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  3. ↑ Tenopir, Kurt. "New Principals Named At Conant and Fremd High Schools".
  4. ↑
  5. 1 2 Class of 2008 school report card; accessed 16 June 2009
  6. ↑ School info for Fremd HS; ihsa.org; accessed 16 June 2009
  7. ↑ The Conspiracy homepage; accessed 16 June 2009
  8. ↑ The Viking Logue homepage; accessed 16 June 2009
  9. ↑ Valhallan homepage; accessed 16 June 2009
  10. 1 2 A Current Profile on the District 211 Website
  11. ↑ http://education.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/listings/high-schools/illinois/william_fremd_high_school
  12. ↑ History of Township High School District 211 on the District 211 Website
  13. ↑ http://www.d211.org/pdf/reportcards/fhs_report_card.pdf
  14. ↑ Fremd High School Music Addition
  15. ↑ Illinois School Report Card
  16. ↑ http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/paths_to_adm/freshman/exam_eligibility.html Univ. of California Eligibility by Examination Alone
  17. ↑ Newsweek's Top 1,000 High Schools
  18. ↑ Athletic teams at Fremd HS; accessed 16 June 2009
  19. 1 2 Season summaries for Fremd HS; ihsa.org; accessed 16 June 2009
  20. ↑ Girls Gymnastics Multiple State Champions; ihsa.org; accessed 16 June 2009
  21. ↑ Table of Titles for girls gymnastics; ihsa.org; accessed 16 June 2009
  22. ↑ Directory of activities at FHS; accessed 16 June 2009
  23. ↑ http://fremdwritersweek.ning.com/
  24. ↑ http://smokingsection.uproxx.com/TSS/2010/09/a3c-artist-spotlight-brandun-deshay
  25. ↑ http://www.a3cfestival.com/a3c-artist-spotlight-brandun-deshay/
  26. ↑ http://smokingsection.uproxx.com/TSS/2010/02/download-currensy-smokee-robinson-mixtape/
  27. ↑ http://www.prefixmag.com/media/tyler-the-creator/yonkers-single-version/49494/
  28. ↑ http://www.xxlmag.com/the-break/2011/10/the-break-presents-brandun-deshay/
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Meyer-Abbott, Ben (27 October 2009). "Fremd". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  30. ↑ Todd Hundley stats & bio; baseballcube.com; accessed 16 June 2009
  31. ↑ Daday, Wileen O; Rolling Meadows native scores at Oscars Fremd grad assistant director on 'Million Dollar Baby; 1 March 2005; Daily Herald; accessed 16 June 2009
  32. ↑ http://storyboardprojects.com/#/storyboard-studios/
  33. ↑ Bonaguro, Alison (15 June 2009). "Kenny Chesney scores on talent at Soldier Field". Chicago Tribune.
  34. ↑ Jim Schwantz stats and bio; databasefootball.com; accessed 16 June 2009
  35. ↑ Jekielek, Mary; Ex-Chicago Bear, now mayor, Jim Schwantz looks to call the right plays for Palatine; 27 May 2009; ChicagoTribune.com; accessed 16 June 2009

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