Minooka High School Explained

Minooka Community High School
Type:Public high school
Grades:9–12
City:301 S. Wabena Avenue
Minooka
State:Illinois
Country:United States
Pushpin Map:Illinois#United States
Superintendent:Robert Schiffbauer
Principal:Daniel Kampe
Faculty:148.60 (FTE)
Enrollment:2,709 (2018-19)[1]
Ratio:18.23
Mascot:Indians
Colors: orange
black white

Minooka Community High School, or MCHS, is a public four-year high school located in Minooka, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago, in the United States. It is part of Minooka Community High School District 111.

History

The doors to the high school were opened in 1917 and have since grown to over 3,000 students. Minooka Community High School District 111 is a mid-sized school district located in the far southwest suburb of Chicago. The district is largely composed of the communities of Minooka and Channahon, and also includes portions of Shorewood and Joliet.

Central Campus

Outside of transfers, students come to Minooka Community High School from three feeder school districts: Minooka Community Consolidated School District 201, Channahon School District 17, and Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C.

Several additions have been made to the building over the years. The first addition added hallways to the ends of the existing hallways to create two square hallways coming off of the main walkways. With that addition in the 1990s, Minooka added more technology and classroom space. Next came the new physical education department space that has been added in the early 2000s. This addition created more room for PE classes, along with drivers' ed classrooms and more. The other big addition that same year was building a new lunch room, the Cafetorium. This glass panel, rounded room, is the location of lunch, after school programs, athletic practices, concerts, musicals & plays, and the homecoming dance.

South Campus

This addition was created in the mid-2000s and was opened for the first time for the 2008–2009 school year. It currently serves as a freshman/sophomore campus while the original building is a junior/senior campus.

Academics

In 2006, Minooka had an average composite ACT score of 20.8, and graduated 97.6% of its senior class. The average class size was 21.7.[2] Minooka offers many elective options for students in every subject and vocational area.

Muffin Controversy

During the fall of 2017, MCHS along with Quest Food Management Services removed many food items from the menu due to allergies and other reasons, causing uproar. Owen Sterba, the News Team editor for the school's news paper (Peace Pipe Chatter - renamed Nook news in 2021), took it upon himself to write an opinion piece on the matter. Published on November 2, 2017, in Volume 103 Edition 3 Sterba said "MCHS cannot accommodate to everyone’s needs, if someone has an allergy they either shouldn’t get that food or bring their own lunch from home, so that they know what’s in it."[3] Weeks later the muffins returned to the school menu. Sterba is credited for bringing them back.

Notable alumni

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Minooka Community High School. National Center for Education Statistics. June 9, 2020.
  2. Web site: MINOOKA COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL - ILLINOIS SCHOOL REPORT CARD 2006 . webprod.isbe.net . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928042342/http://webprod.isbe.net/ereportcard/publicsite/getReport.aspx?year=2006&code=2403211100001_e.pdf . 11 June 2024. 2007-09-28 .
  3. Web site: PPCIssue11.2.2017.pdf . 2022-10-10 . Google Docs.
  4. News: Minooka's Basak, LWC's Flores in offensive mode. https://web.archive.org/web/20150329154521/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-119008B28D693A40.html. dead. March 29, 2015. January 22, 2015. Herald News. April 21, 2007.
  5. News: Steele. Dick. Morris was a double-sport state qualifier in 1994-95. January 22, 2015. Morris Daily Herald. April 27, 2011.
  6. News: Helfgot. Mike. Minooka's Foltynewicz picked 19th by Astros. January 22, 2015. Chicago Tribune. June 7, 2010.
  7. News: Merli. Melissa. Offerman brings 'American Ham' to his alma mater. January 22, 2015. News Gazette. October 20, 2013.
  8. News: Bourque. Jessica. Nick Offerman Returns To Hometown Of Minooka In Illinois To Promote New Book. January 22, 2015. Morris Daily Herald. Huffington Post. October 25, 2013.