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An Award-Winning District

Three-Time Blue Ribbon Award Winner

Building

The National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award, from the U.S. Department of Education, was first awarded to H-F in 1983 (only the second year of the program). Given to the most outstanding public and private schools across the U.S., the award identified exemplary schools that exhibit a strong commitment to educational excellence for all students, model equity, and succeed in furthering the intellectual, social, moral and physical growth of all students. Refusing to rest on its success, the school continued to excel and received the prestigious award again in 1996. When in 2002, the U.S. Department of Education announced H-F had again been named a Blue Ribbon school, it became one of only 14 public schools nationwide, and two in Illinois, to claim the honor three times.

One of the Highest Ranked Schools in Chicago’s Southland

In 2012, Homewood-Flossmoor was ranked one of the best high schools in the country by three separate publications: Newsweek ("America's Best High Schools"), the Washington Post ("America's Most Challenging High Schools") and U.S. News & World Report ("Best High Schools Report 2012"). While the three news organizations used figures based on 2011 graduates, their methodology varied. In all three reports, however, it was clear that H-F is still one of the best high schools in Chicago’s Southland.

Additional District Awards

  • Since 2005, H-F has annually received the highest financial profile score of "financial recognition" from the Illinois State Board of Education and was awarded a perfect 4.0 score in 2012.
  • In 2010 & 2011, H-F received an exemplary ranking by the College Board for having one of the best A.P. Psychology programs in the country. H-F?was the only Illinois high school to receive this prestigious ranking.
  • H-F was awarded the Red Quill Award by the ACT?for best practices in the use of assessments and data for the enhancement of curriculum and in continued dedication to students.
  • In 2002, H-F was the only school in the nation to receive the U.S. Department of Education’s Special Honor for Technology Usage.
  • In 2010, H-F received its 17th in a row Bright Red Apple Award for educational excellence! SchoolSearch chose H-F as one of only 83 Illinois School Districts out of 869 districts for the award. 

Additional Individual Staff Awards

  • H-F has been home to three teachers who were given the National Golden Apple for excellence in teaching: Lawrence Baran (1995), Karen Nyberg (1998) and Dean Auriemma (2001)
  • In 2011, Greg Petecki, Art teacher, was named the Secondary Art Educator of the Year by the Illinois Art Education Association. The school has had two other teachers who were named Illinois Teacher of the Year in their disciplines and one who was named national Teacher of the Year.
  • In 2011, Student Services Coordinator John Schwaller was given theIllinois Education Association's Human and Civil Rights Award.
  • H-F has had one teacher who was inducted into the national Teachers Hall of Fame.
  • At least 12 of our teachers have served on national boards and nearly 70 have served on state-level professional committees.
  • Those Who Excel Award Winners:
    • 2010/11 A.P. Psychology Team (Merit)
    • 2009/10 Amy Garcia – Teacher (Excellence) & MAPPS Team (Excellence)
    • 2008/09 Negotiations Team (Recognition)
    • 2005/06 J.R. Rose – Teacher (Excellence); Reading Dept. Team (Excellence) & Larry Connor – Educational Service Personnel (Recognition) 
    • 2004/05 Dr. Von Mansfield – Administrator (Excellence)
    • 2003/04 Dr. Laura Murray – Administrator (Excellence); Michael Rugen – Teacher (Recognition); Social Science Dept. Team (Merit); Tom Wagner – Educational Service Personnel (Merit)
    • 2002/03 Visual Arts Dept. Team (Merit)
    • 2001/02 William Jastrow – Teacher (Recognition)
    • 2000/01 James Chasey – Teacher (Merit)
    • 1998/99 Brent Williamson – Teacher (Merit)BlueRibbon

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