Chicago Vocational High School Explained

Chicago Vocational High School
Streetaddress:2100 East 87th Street
City:Chicago
State:Illinois
Zipcode:60617
Country:USA
Coordinates:41.7381°N -87.5729°W
District:Chicago Public Schools
Principal:Douglas L. Maclin
Ceeb:140735[1]
Gender:Coed
Grades:9–12
Campus Type:Urban
Conference:Chicago Public League[2]
Accreditation:North Central Association of Colleges and Schools[3]
Team Name:Cavaliers
Colors: Navy Blue
Gold
Yearbook:Technician[4]
Newspaper:Trademaster
Opened:1941
Enrollment:637 (2022–2023)[5]

Chicago Vocational High School (also known as Chicago Vocational Career Academy and locally known as CVCA or CVS) is a public 4–year vocational high school located in the Avalon Park neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Opened in 1941, the school is operated by the Chicago Public Schools district.

History

Planning for the school began in 1936 with the need for a new vocational school on the South Side of the city. The school groundbreaking ceremony occurred in June 1938.[6] [7] Construction began in 1939, and was partially funded through the Works Progress Administration.[8] With construction completed in April 1940, Chicago Vocational School opened with an all–male class of 850 in 1941.[8] [9] Enrollment was further restricted to students who had already completed a year of high school.[10]

According to then Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools, Dr. William H. Johnson, the school's purpose was "the employ-ability of Chicago boys in the heavier trades and industries."[10] The Chicago Daily Tribune noted that the new school was "regarded as the most modern and best equipped trade school in the United States."[10] In June 1941, with entry into World War II imminent, the school was turned over to the United States Navy, where the school's emphasis would be on training aviation mechanics.[8] [11] [12]

This change from general vocational education to specific wartime training had been something anticipated as a possible future of the school shortly before it had opened.[10] Later, additional training for teachers and other civilians in national defense jobs was added. These defense related training courses permitted the Defense Priority Board to free up funds for purchasing more equipment for workshops, and to build a US$500,000 addition to the building. Construction also included a still–extant airplane hangar.[8] During this time, non–vocational courses were moved to Calumet High School.[8] [13] By 1942, classes were being taught 24 hours a day to accommodate work and training schedules.[14] [15] [16]

February 1946 saw the academic classes return from Calumet High School, and a return to the normalcy that the school had virtually never known, with the Navy officially "handing back the keys" to the school on April 30, 1946.[17] [18] 1946 also the admittance of the first women to the school.[14] [19] CVS started offering night courses to help returning veterans who held a day job. For times, classes were being offered 24 hours a day, seven days a week to accommodate the varied hours of returning veterans.[14] [20] The Navy had left behind an aircraft hangar, and a small number of relatively intact "war weary" combat aircraft, keeping aviation maintenance in the school's curriculum until 1995. This was highlighted in 1948 when students restored a Stinson Reliant monoplane to airworthy condition.

Rather than dismantle the plane and shipping it to an airport, the owner pilot received permission to wheel the plane onto nearby Anthony Avenue, and take off and fly it to Midway Airport; all in front of cameras for WGN-TV.[21] [22] [23] the school was home to a Civil Air Patrol Cadet squadron but 1958 saw the activation of the school's ROTC program; the first to be started in a Chicago high school since 1946. The same article noted that the entire population of the school was 4,000, with the first ROTC class seeing an enrollment of 250.[24]

Academics

When the school first opened, it was not a diploma granting institution, with students earning certificates for industry. Aside from vocational education, students only took courses in English and United States History,[10] Being a vocational and career academy, one of the core aspects of the school's curriculum is the Education-To-Careers (ETC) curriculum. Within this curriculum, students select a "major" from one of the "schools", such as the School of Construction and Manufacturing and the School of Transportation.[25]

Chicago Vocational High School is rated a 1 out of 10 by GreatSchools.org, a national school quality information site. [26] 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.

Athletics

Chicago Vocational competes in interscholastic sports as a member of the Chicago Public League (CPL), and competes in state championship series sponsored by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). The schools' sport teams are nicknamed Cavaliers. The school sponsors interscholastic athletic teams for men and women in basketball and volleyball. Men may compete in baseball, football, swimming & diving, and wrestling. Girls may compete in bowling, cross country, softball, and track & field.[27] While not sponsored by the IHSA, CVS sponsors a boys softball team which competes exclusively in the CPL. Unlike the fast-pitch variety played by girls, the boys play the 16 inch variety of softball.[28] [29]

The boys' baseball team were public league champions four times (1952–53, 1975–76, 1979–80 and 1986–87) and Class AA twice (1979–80 and 1986–87). The boys' basketball team were Class AA twice (1975–76 and 2006–07) and regional champions four times (2006–07, 2008–09, 2014–15, and 2015–16). In 1988–89, The girls' bowling team were public league champions. The boys' cross country were Class AA four times from 1987 through 1991. The golf team were public league champions in 1951–52. In 1990–91, the boys' track and field team were public league champions and Class AA. The boys' wrestling team were public league champions in 1967–68.[30] The school was the site of the weightlifting competition for the 1959 Pan American Games.[31]

Notable alumni

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: High School Code Search. College Board. January 2, 2010. August 30, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090830044201/http://apps.collegeboard.com/cbsearch_code/codeSearchHighschool.jsp. dead.
  2. Web site: Chicago (C. Vocational). Illinois High School Association (IHSA). December 31, 2009. January 2, 2010.
  3. Web site: Institution Summary for CVCA. AdvancED profile. North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. January 2, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724224340/http://www.advanc-ed.org/oasis2/u/par/accreditation/summary?institutionId=27346. July 24, 2011. dead.
  4. Web site: Activities. Directory. Chicago Vocational Career Academy. January 2, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20091019061122/http://cvca.cps.k12.il.us/afterschoolclubs.htm. October 19, 2009. dead.
  5. Web site: Chicago Public Schools: Chicago Vocational HS. Chicago Public Schools. 13 March 2023.
  6. https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/zlup/Historic_Preservation/Publications/CPS_Bldgs_Pre_1940_Context_Statement.pdf CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDINGS, PRE-1940 CONTEXT STATEMENT
  7. Web site: A second look at Chicago Vocational. May 21, 2012. WBEZ Chicago. February 20, 2022.
  8. http://www.cvca.cps.k12.il.us/History%20of%20CVCA.htm Local Dream, Worldwide Influence
  9. https://search.proquest.com/docview/176302783 New Vocational School will be opened in 1940
  10. http://search.proquest.com/docview/176479089 Big New School will Train for Heavy Industry
  11. https://search.proquest.com/docview/176550058 U.S. to Operate New Trade School
  12. https://search.proquest.com/docview/176674879 Turn Vocational School into U.S. Training Center
  13. https://search.proquest.com/docview/176625849 Open Vocational School Spet. 8 in Westcott Unit
  14. Web site: It's Always Something, History of CVCA; accessed 19 August 2008 . February 15, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100324094032/http://www.cvca.cps.k12.il.us/History%20of%20CVCA.htm . March 24, 2010 . dead .
  15. https://search.proquest.com/docview/176509166 Bares Shortage of Teachers for Defense Trades
  16. https://search.proquest.com/docview/176584750 Classes to Meet Round the Clock at Trade School
  17. https://search.proquest.com/docview/177210778 Out of the Navy
  18. https://search.proquest.com/docview/177165444 School Reopens to Give Civilians Training Center
  19. https://search.proquest.com/docview/177254534 City to Admit Girl Students to Vocational
  20. https://search.proquest.com/docview/177363814 S. Side Evening School Classes Begin Monday
  21. https://search.proquest.com/docview/177544668 Rebuilt Plane Flown From Pavement at Vocational School
  22. Web site: CVCA History Beginnings . February 15, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100324094032/http://www.cvca.cps.k12.il.us/History%20of%20CVCA.htm . March 24, 2010 . dead .
  23. http://www.cvca.cps.k12.il.us/History%20of%20CVCA.htm Welcome Home, History of CVCA (note: the school website lists 1947, but the reuse of the same photo, and the date on the newspaper articles is definitively 1948)
  24. https://search.proquest.com/docview/182077406 "R.O.T.C. Unit at Vocational Attracts 250"
  25. http://www.cvca.cps.k12.il.us/ETC.htm "Schools of the Education-To Careers curriculum"
  26. Web site: Best High Schools in Chicago, IL GreatSchools . 2024-07-25 . GreatSchools.org.
  27. Web site: Athletic offerings at CVCA . February 15, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100418044232/http://cvca.cps.k12.il.us/bsb.htm . April 18, 2010 . dead .
  28. http://www.ihsa.org/initiatives/hstoric/softball_boys.htm "Boys Softball in Illinois and its Origins from Indoor Baseball"
  29. http://www.lanetechfan.com/Sports%20History/A%20Brief%20History%20of%20Boys%20Softball%20in%20the%20Public%20League.htm "A Brief History of Boys Softball in the Chicago Public League"
  30. https://www.ihsa.org/data/school/records/sum2706.htm IHSA, Chicago (C. Vocational)
  31. News: Lyke . Bill . Drive Out to the Pan-Am Gamnes! . B1 . Chicago Tribune . August 29, 1959 . .
  32. http://www.cpsalumni.org/honor_roll/feb/11/2008/michael-baisden "Michael Baisden"
  33. http://www.abcradionetworks.com/article.asp?id=364098 The Michael Baisden Show
  34. https://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS126281+02-Apr-2008+PRN20080402 "Radio Host Michael Baisden to Receive Keepers of the Dream Award on 40th Anniversary..."
  35. Web site: Whitehorne . Jelani . Yung Berg on Sexy Ladies and what he has in store for them this year . interview . Chicago Flame-Inferno . February 4, 2008 . January 2, 2009 . JW: You represent Chicago in your "Sexy Lady Remix." What part of Chicago are you from? YB: I'm from the Southside of Chicago. I attended CVCA and Curie for high school. .
  36. Web site: 2009–10 NCAA Men's Basketball Records . 2009–10 NCAA Men's Basketball Media Guide . . 2009 . October 17, 2010.
  37. Web site: Bissinger. H. G. . For many, the lure of the promised land of the NBA never fades. July 14, 1991. The Chicago Tribune . October 17, 2010.
  38. Web site: High School of the Week: Vocational, 25 April 2007, Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved August 18, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2008 . February 15, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071222112557/http://www.suntimes.com/sports/preps/highschool/356121,CST-SPT-spot25.article . December 22, 2007 . dead . mdy-all .
  39. Web site: "Dick Butkus biography". Retrieved August 18, 2008 . February 15, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080909015014/http://www.dickbutkus.com/dick_butkus_biography.aspx . September 9, 2008 . dead .
  40. http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=39 Dick Butkus Pro Football Hall of Fame biography
  41. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=freemma02 Marvin Freeman stats
  42. https://www.baseball-reference.com/f/freemma02.shtml Marvin Freeman stats
  43. Web site: "Marvin Freeman biography at Chicago Public School Alumni Honor Roll". Retrieved August 18, 2008 . February 15, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110109214710/http://www.cpsalumni.org/honor_roll/feb/11/2008/marvin-freeman . January 9, 2011 . dead .
  44. http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=bos&coachorstaffid=224103172143 "DeMarlo Hale bio". @Boston Red Sox website. Retrieved August 18, 2008
  45. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/juwan_howard/bio.html "Juwan Howard"
  46. http://www.cpsalumni.org/honor_roll/feb/11/2008/juwan-howard "Juwan Howard"
  47. http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1007777/2/index.htm "Cleaning Up"
  48. Web site: Juwan Howard Agrees to 5-Year Contract as Michigan Basketball Coach. Zucker. Joseph. Bleacher Report. en. 2019-05-30.
  49. Web site: E.J. Jones Stats. Pro-Football-Reference.com. February 20, 2022.
  50. http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-bernie-mac-080814,0,2358184.story "My student, Bernie Mac"
  51. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/preps/highschool/356121,CST-SPT-spot25.article "High School of the Week: Vocational"
  52. Web site: Minyon Moore | the HistoryMakers . www.thehistorymakers.com . 22 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130511111145/http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/minyon-moore-40 . 11 May 2013 . dead.
  53. Web site: Politico : Politics, Policy, Political News. Politico.
  54. Web site: About Strings . Sonicbids.com . 2018-04-19.
  55. http://www.49ers.com/team/front_office_detail.php?PRKey=87 VP "Keena Turner bio"
  56. Web site: Keena Turner biography at Chicago Public School Alumni Honor Roll. Retrieved August 18, 2008 . February 15, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101224040906/http://www.cpsalumni.org/honor_roll/feb/11/2008/keena-turner . December 24, 2010 . dead .
  57. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TurnKe01.htm Keena Turner stats
  58. http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=TURNEKEE01 Keena Turner stats and bio
  59. Garcia, Marlen (December 30, 2007). Illinois QB Juice Williams shoulders heavy load; USA Today; accessed 8 January 2009
  60. http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080718/SPORTS13/807180465/1021/Sports
  61. http://www.cpsalumni.org/honor_roll/feb/11/2008/chris-zorich "Chris Zorich biography"

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