School History

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The Campus

Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School opened in 1959 with an enrollment in all four grades of 1,170 students. There were 51 classrooms, 51 staff, four major buildings and no computers. Today, there are 153 classrooms, 300+ staff, 12 major buildings and more than 1,500 computers. With plenty of space on the 95 acres that comprised the campus, a football field and track were added in 1961, and four tennis courts in 1962. By 1965, the school's population had nearly doubled and additional buildings were added: Auditorium (1965), G Building (1966) and E Building (1966). As growth continued, it became apparent that a major new facility was needed, and in 1971, the North Building and field house opened when the student population topped 4,000.

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Throughout the remaining 1970s and most of the 1980s the student population remained relatively stable. By the late 1980s enrollment began to decline, mainly because of the aging population in the community and the growing number of empty-nest households. During those years little physical change took place on campus, with the notable exception of an Ice Arena (partnered with the H-F Park District), which provided hockey and practice rinks, making the school unique, as one of the only public schools in the nation to have such a facility.


Following a decade of preparation and fiscal planning, in 1995 a $25 million renovation and addition program was completed: all classrooms and offices were wired for internet access; a music wing was added, providing student practice and performance; a Technology Center Image of Old Viking Mascotand numerous labs to offer computer assisted instruction were completed; the Mall Building, located mid-campus near the football field and field house, was expanded, modernized and staffed, providing athletic training and rehabilitation of student athletes; a new Olympic sized aqua-center was opened; 14 tennis courts were added; and the student-run WHFH radio and TV stations were modernized.


 

Timeline

1958

Ground is broken for Homewood-Flossmoor High School

1959

School opens in September with an enrollment of 1,170 students

1961

Football Field and Track area are added

1962

Four tennis courts are built

1965

Auditorium is built while student population reaches more than 2,000 students.

1966

Continuing expansion as G and E Buildings are added. Before the construction of the theatre, the H-F Bookstore served as the stage where all the musical and dramatic productions were held.

1971

Major campus construction. North Building and Fieldhouse are opened to facilitate a student population of almost 4,000 students.

1983

Academic excellence is recognized through the first of three National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Awards. Recognizing the most outstanding public and private schools across the US, the award identifies exemplary schools that exhibit a strong commitment to educational excellence for all students.

1988

The first five perfect scores ever to be given to a competitive drama are all given to H-F's 1988 performance of The Good Woman of Setzuan at the Illinois State Finals.

1993

First edition of the Viking Television News airs

1994

Varsity football wins the State Title defeating Naperville North 13- 12

1995

New improvements come to H-F in the form of renovations to wire the buildings for internet access; a music wing is built; Technology Center is completed; a new Olympic-sized pool opens; 14 tennis courts are added; and the student-run WHFH radio and TV stations are renovated and modernized.

1996

H-F is once again recognized with the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award; President Bill Clinton visits campus in September.

2002

H-F becomes only one of 14 public high schools nationwide, and one of two in Illinois, to claim the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award for a third time.

2005

WHFH celebrates its 40th anniversary

2013

 2020

H-F is named an IB World School; Fieldhouse is rebuit.

New music wing, renovated art wing and Performing Arts Center open at South Building.