East Peoria Community High School Explained

East Peoria Community High School
Motto:Proud to be EP
Established:1923
Superintendent:Marjorie Greuter
Principal:Khassandrae Brown
Enrollment:935 (2023-24)[1]
Grades:9-12
Address:1401 East Washington Street
Zipcode:61611
District:309
Colors: Maroon Gold
Athletics Conference:Mid-Illini
Mascot:Raiders
Yearbook:EPoCH

East Peoria Community High School is a four-year public high school located in East Peoria, Illinois, and is the only school of East Peoria Community High School District 309. As of 2023, the school has 935 students enrolled.[2] East Peoria Community High School has several feeder schools: Central Junior High School (East Peoria School District 86), Parkview Middle School (Creve Coeur School District 76), and Robein Elementary School (Robein School District 85).

History

The school began in 1900 with four pupils in a rented space near present-day Central Junior High School.[3] [4] In 1918, it became a community school and expanded its district and enrollment.[5] The "A building" was built to accommodate up to 210 students.[6] Some community members felt the building was too large and too remote. However, the referendum passed and the school was constructed in two phases for $150,000. The architects were Hotchkiss & Whitmeyer. The new building opened in 1922.

The band was organized in 1925 and competed at the 1927 State Fair, where they won third place. In 1926, there were 31 graduates.

In 1929, with an enrollment of 219, the school decided to expand again. WPA workers cleared the hill behind the school. Stamper Stadium was built in 1939. After WWII, the school expanded again. A powerhouse was constructed in 1947-1948 to supply additional heat to the large building. The new wing was known as the "C" building opened in fall 1950 and included a new cafeteria, office, shops, and classrooms.

By 1954, enrollment was over 1,100 students. A new gym and auditorium were built. A "B" wing was opened in 1962 with a library and additional classrooms. In 1972, the "D" building opened with a new library, student commons, and classrooms.

During the summer of 2009 construction began on "E" building. The new construction included a new larger cafeteria and multiple classrooms. The cafeteria seats 800 students and has a separate room for faculty dining. The classrooms are state of the art, with built-in sound systems, DVD and VHS, and up-to-date electronics. "E" building is the first phase of construction. For phase II the old lunch room is being turned into a fine arts wing, and phase III is the demolition of the original building "A building".

In September 2023, the school celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Controversies

Mascot

The school's team name was "Red Raiders" until the 1990s.[7] In 2020, there were two online petitions about the Raiders name and associated traditions - one to change and one to keep.[8] There has been a gradual shift away from the Native American imagery.[9] In 2021, the school administration discussed changing the school's Native American mascot in anticipation of Illinois General Assembly House Bill 4783, which would require written consent from a tribe and programs on Native American contributions in order to retain a Native American mascot or icon. The Raiders "head" mascot was removed from the gym floor during renovation and replaced with red and gold initials "EP". Some school traditions, such as the war chant, have been phased out as well.

Notable alumni

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: East Peoria High School. Illinois Report Card. November 22, 2023.
  2. Web site: Illinois Report Card . 2023-11-22 . www.illinoisreportcard.com.
  3. Web site: Kendall . Jeanette . 2008-04-29 . Class of 1935 shares stories of school days . 2023-11-22 . Peoria Journal Star . en-US.
  4. Book: Centennial History of East Peoria . East Peoria Centennial Commission . 1984 . LaKemper . Daniel A. . East Peoria, Illinois . 44-45 . en-US.
  5. Web site: Bozikis . Jack . 2023-09-25 . East Peoria Community High School celebrates 100 years . 2023-11-22 . CIProud.com . en-US.
  6. Book: Annual review edition East Peoria Post . 1922 . East Peoria, Ill. . University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign . 1922 . 15 . en-US.
  7. Web site: Shelley . Tim . 2021-10-28 . East Peoria Community High School asks city: is it time to drop Native American iconography? . 2023-11-22 . WCBU Peoria . en.
  8. Web site: Deacon . Joe . 2020-08-20 . Dueling Petitions Bring East Peoria High's Native American Mascot To Forefront . 2023-11-22 . WGLT . en.
  9. Web site: Deacon . Joe . 2021-10-29 . Q&A: Greuter discusses East Peoria High School’s ‘Raiders’ nickname and use of Native American imagery . 2023-11-22 . WCBU Peoria . en.
  10. News: EP native Tim Broe, a 2004 Olympian, celebrates games . August 2, 2012 . Jane . Miller . 2013-10-01 . PJStar.com . Peoria, Illinois . GateHouse Media . He returned to Peoria to coach cross country and track at East Peoria High School, his alma mater, in 2007, but left two years ago . Photo caption: "Olympic runner Tim Broe returns to his roots by visiting his alma mater, East Peoria Central Junior High".
  11. Web site: CORWIN CLATT . profootballarchives.com . May 6, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150909014401/http://www.profootballarchives.com/clat00200.html . September 9, 2015 .
  12. Web site: Debating . William Lane . Craig . William Lane Craig . Q&A with William Lane Craig . 2013-10-01 . Reasonable Faith . Dallas, Texas . She explained to me about the high school debate team at East Peoria Community High School (which was, by the way, very good, having won state that year). So when I became a freshman the following year I went out for the team and started debating. That was 1964. . https://web.archive.org/web/20140512214855/https://www.reasonablefaith.org/debating . 2014-05-12 . dead .
  13. News: Country/gospel star has roots in East Peoria . May 15, 2013 . Jeanette . Kendall . EastPeoriaTimesCourier.com . Gatehouse Media . Peoria, Illinois . 2013-10-01 . She graduated from East Peoria High School where she took speech class for a lisp she had. .
  14. News: Roger Phegley . Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame . Peoria, Illinois . 2013-05-28 . 2013-10-01 . ...both a basketball and baseball standout at East Peoria High School. As a pitcher, he played a major role in East Peoria's making the state baseball tournament for the first time. .
  15. [Phil Luciano]
  16. News: WATN: Tim Simpson . Dave . Eminian . Sep 27, 2010 . 2013-10-01 . PJStar.com . Peoria, Illinois . 157-4 record as a prep wrestler at East Peoria Community High School ... The Cleveland Browns took him in the 12th round of the NFL Draft, and Simpson went on to play as a guard on the offensive lines for Cleveland and Pittsburgh. After his NFL career, he returned home and later played indoor football for the Peoria Pirates .

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