MAINE EAST HIGH SCHOOL

'Maine East High School', or 'Maine East', and officially 'Maine Township High School East', is a public four-year high school located at the corner of Dempster Street and Potter Road in Park Ridge, Illinois, a north-west suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Maine Township High School District 207, which also includes Maine South High School and Maine West High School.

Contents

History

Diversity

Notable alumni

Academics

Extracurricular

Athletics

References

External links

History

Maine East was known as 'Maine Township High School' from when it was built in 1929 through 1959 when Maine West High School was built. The original Maine Township High School was housed in a smaller building in Des Plaines from 1902 until 1929. For a short amount of time, in 1959, there were so many students enrolled in the school, approximately 7,000, that the school day was split into two parts, with half of the population attending in the morning, and half in the afternoon. The largest graduating class at Maine East was just over 1,000 students in 1959 prior to opening of Maine West and again in 1964 with just over 1000 graduates prior to the opening of Maine South. Maine North High School opened in 1970 and closed in 1981.
During the Great Depression most of the staff taught without financial compensation, as the district could not afford to meet salaries. As thanks, local merchants provided necessities to the staff free of charge.
The school has two swimming pools. One is used by the swim team and water polo team and is also used for swimming classes required by the school. The natatorium is kept for its irreplaceable decorative mosaics, which could be damaged with further exposure to water and chemicals. The school also has a firing range in the basement that was in use when the school opened, as training with firearms was considered essential for young men in the wake of World War II. Though today used for storage, it is believed to be one of the few non-military academies to have a firing range still on the premesis. The building also includes six floors and a basement. The basement houses classrooms, equipment, the shooting range and the closed swimming pool. The first through third floors are where the classes and offices are located. The fourth floor and above is blocked off for students under normal circumstances, but the fourth floor contains the new heating and air-conditioning systems. The fifth and sixth floors form the "tower" and are also blocked to students, although there are "tours" that allow students up there, due to the fire hazard formed by having only one exit, a narrow staircase. The "tower" originally housed the art and music rooms, but since 1960 houses the broadcasting transmitter for WMTH-FM, 90.5, the student-operated radio station. Following WWII and up into the late 1960s aviation classes were given with the use of a Link Trainer installed in the tower. The sixth floor also has a balcony on the outside from which there is a far view, in some cases the skyline of Chicago.
In 1936, Maine East's band director, Alexander Harley, along with his wife Frances, founded Maine Music Masters as a way of honoring musicians in the school band. The idea spread, and in 1952, the chapters at individual high schools were incorporated as Modern Music Masters. In 1983, it was renamed Tri-M Music Honor Society. Today, it is the largest international honor society in music education.

Diversity

Maine East is known state wide for its diversity. The majority of Maine East students (at least 70%) are children of immigrants. Maine East students collectively speak over 54 languages. Maine East is known for its having a large number of Asian America, Asian Indian American, Hispanic American, African American, and Polish American students. Maine East also has a high percentage of multiracial students. Maine East has students, staff, and teachers from Mongolia, China, Taiwan, Belarus, Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Austria, Canada, Mexico, India, Pakistan, Bosnia, Serbia, Nigeria, Italy, Greece, Venezuela, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Ecuador, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Syria, Burma, Hawaii, the Territory of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. The school has a mostly Roman Catholic population, but also has a considerable number of Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Evangelical Christians, Jews, Protestants, and Atheists. Students at Maine East are known for their racial and religious tolerance.

Notable alumni

★ James B. Loken, 1958 Chief Judge of the Federal 8th Circuit

★ Hillary Rodham Clinton, United States Senator and former First Lady of the United States
::''Attended from 1961-1964, prior to district boundary changes forcing her to attend and graduate from the newly opened Maine Township High School South for her senior year.''

★ Rich Koz, 1970, Chicago radio and television personality

★ Melissa Bean, 1979, member of the United States House of Representatives

★ Roz Varon, 1975, Chicago news reporter (ABC-7 Chicago News)

★ Jami Gertz, 1983, Actress

★ Joe Bohannon, , Chicago radio personality; morning show (WBBM, 96.3)

★ Richard Maxwell, 1986, Obie Award-winning Playwright

★ Jennifer Benka, 1986, Poet, Author of Preamble and A Box of Longing with 50 Drawers

★ Janice Klich, 1971, Cardiovascular thoracic surgeon on call when the president is in town.

★ Mary (Gosy) Richards, 1982, Noted Milwaukee Attorney

★ Douglas Montgomery, 1972, Concert Pianist

★ Mark Hempel, 1975, Cartoonist and author

★ Steve Goodman, 1968, folk singer-songwriter

★ Carrie Snodgress, 1963, Actor, Oscar Nominee for "Diary of a Mad Housewife"

★ Stephen Smith, 1962, Played on Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV

★ Harrison Ford, 1960, Actor, Han Solo, Indiana Jones

★ Marshall Seese, 1960, Anchor/Meteorologist, The Weather Channel

★ James Hager & John Hager, 1959, ''The Hager Twins'' Performers on ''Hee-Haw''

★ Karen Black, 1957 Actor, Oscar Nominee for "5 Easy Pieces"

★ Gordon Fornell, 1954, Headed Strategic Air Command of North America

★ David Stahl, 1952, Deputy Mayor of Chicago

★ Stanton Cook, 1943, Former Chicago Tribune Publisher and former Chairmen of the Chicago Cubs

★ Philip Tone, 1940, Former U.S. Dist Court & U.S. Court of appeals judge

★ Hugh Brannum, 1927, Actor, played Mr. Green Jeans on Captain Kangaroo.

★ Linda Stabb, 1961, Actor - wife of actor Robert Vaughn

★ David Hiller, Publisher, President, CEO, ''Los Angeles Times''

★ Carolyn Glassman, 1978, Diplomat, U.S. Department of State

Academics

In 2006, Maine East had an average composite ACT score of 20.9, and graduated 87.6% of its senior class. Maine East has made Adequate Yearly Progress on the Prairie State Achievements Examination, a state test part of the No Child Left Behind Act. The average class size is 18.1.^[1]
The staff comprises 220 teachers.^[2]

Extracurricular

Maine East High School is active in United States policy debate and hosts a tournament with regional significance to Great Lakes-region high school debaters, as those advancing far enough receive a bid to attend the national Tournament of Champions.
The CoEd Cheerleading Team has won nationals twice.
In the 2006-2007 school year two students from the Maine East Varsity Academic Team were placed on the Illinois all-star team.

Athletics

Maine East competes in the Central Suburban League. Its mascot is the Blue Demons. Athletics are offered after school and are usually either free or very inexpensive to join. Also, sports are separated into three seasons, fall, winter, and spring. (More information on specific sports can be found by clicking on them.)
As of right now, Maine East offers the following athletics:

'Boys' ★ Boys Baseball ★ Boys Basketball ★ Boys Cross Country ★ Boys Golf ★ Boys Gymnastics ★ Boys Soccer ★ Boys Swimming ★ Boys Tennis ★ Boys Track ★ Boys Volleyball ★ Boys Football ★ Boys Chess ★ Water Polo ★ Wrestling

'Girls' ★ Girls Badminton ★ Girls Basketball ★ Girls Cross Country ★ Girls Gymnastics ★ Girls Soccer ★ Girls Softball ★ Girls Swimming ★ Girls Tennis ★ Girls Track ★ Girls Volleyball ★ Water Polo

References

1. Illinois School Report Card
2. School profile

External links

★ Official website.

★ Maine East High School Alumni website

★ Maine East Class of 1983 website

★ WMTH Alumni website