Hillcrest High School (Country Club Hills, Illinois)

Infobox School
name = Hillcrest High School
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location =
streetaddress = 17401 S. Pulaski Rd.
region =
city = Country Club Hills
state = Illinois
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zipcode = 60478
country = USA
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district = Bremen Com. HS District 228
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superintendent = Bill Kendall [ [http://www.bhsd228.com/DistAdmin/index.htm District 228 Administration; accessed 30 August 2008] ]
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principal = Renee Simms [ [http://www.bhsd228.com/hillcrest/hillcrest/administrators.htm Hillcrest school administration; accessed 30 August 2008] ]
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teaching_staff = 73
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SAT =
ACT = 17.2 [ [http://www.bhsd228.com/StudentsParents/ReportCards/HCS2.pdf 2007 School Report Card, p. 3; accessed 30 August 2008] ]
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gender = Coed
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schooltype = Public Secondary
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grades = 9–12
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campus = Suburban
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conference = South Suburban Conference
slogan =
song =
fightsong =
motto = "Soaring with unity, pride, and excellence"
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mascot =
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sports =
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team_name =
nickname = Hawks
school_colours = colorbox|#9BDDFF Columbia Blue
colorbox|#000080 Navy Blue
colorbox|white White
school_colors =
yearbook =
publication =
newspaper = "Pinion"
opened = 1967
established =
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status =
closed =
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enrollment = 1,337 [ [http://www.ihsa.org/school/enrolla.htm IHSA list of 2008-09 school enrollments; accessed 30 August 2008] ]
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homepage = http://www.bhsd228.com/hillcrest

Hillcrest High School is a public four year high school located in Country Club Hills, Illinois. It is part of Bremen High School District 228 which also includes Tinley Park High School, Oak Forest High School, and Bremen High School.

The name "Hillcrest" aside from the obvious connotation of being "the highest point of a hill", is a portmanteau of the two towns which the school primarily serves: Country Club "Hills" and Hazel "Crest".

History

The first principal of Hillcrest, WIlliam Henry Reeves, was appointed in May, 1965, leaving his job as principal of Bremen High School to start the new school. [ [http://proquest .umi .com/pqdweb ?did=585742602 &sid=1 &Fmt=1 &clientId=68442 &RQT=309 &VName=HNP "Reeves to head Hillcrest High", 27 May 1965, "Chicago Tribune", p. S11; accessed 31 August 2008] ] Groundbreaking took place in November of that year, with a needed bond referendum passing in December, 1966 to cover construction of an addition, even before the school was opened. [ [http://proquest .umi .com/pqdweb ?did=629567262 &sid=1 &Fmt=1 &clientId=68442 &RQT=309­&VName=HNP "Begin work on school", 21 November 1965, "Chicago Tribune", p. S1; accessed 31 August 2008] ] [ [http://proquest .umi .com/pqdweb ?did=609146872 &sid=1 &Fmt=2 &clientId=68442 &RQT=309 &VName=HNP Elliott, Michael, "Bremen Schools Seek a Tax Levy Increase", 20 November 1966, "Chicago Tribune", p. R1; accessed 31 August 2008] ] [ [http://proquest .umi .com/pqdweb ?did=587234682 &sid=1 &Fmt=1 &clientId=68442 &RQT=309­&VName=HNP "Bremen voters OK 1.9 million school bonds", 5 December 1966, "Chicago Tribune", p. 2; accessed 31 August 2008] ] The school opened in February, 1967. [ [http://proquest .umi .com/pqdweb ?did=646754522 &sid=1 &Fmt=1 &clientId=68442 &RQT=309 &VName=HNP "Bremen District Hires 11 Teachers, 7 July 1968, "Chicago Tribune", p. S2; accessed 31 August 2008] ]

The early 1970s at Hillcrest saw a number of racially motivated incidents as the demographics of the school's attendance area began to shift. A late April, 1970 incident, coupled with similar incidents in other local schools led to the spread of attacks beyond the school to the local community of Markham. [ [http://proquest .umi .com/pqdweb ?did=630206922 &sid=1 &Fmt=1 &clientId=68442 &RQT=309 &VName=HNP "12 Suspended at Hillcrest High School", 24 April 1970, "Chicago Tribune", p. 7; accessed 31 August 2008] ] [ [http://proquest .umi .com/pqdweb ?did=613365602 &sid=1 &Fmt=2 &clientId=68442 &RQT=309 &VName=HNP "Markham hit by 2nd night of race turmoil", 1 May 1970, "Chicago Tribune" p. 18; accessed 31 August 2008] ] In 1971, the school was temporarily closed after a racially motivated fight that resulted in 48 students being suspended. [ [http://proquest .umi .com/pqdweb ?did=597076642 &sid=1 &Fmt=2 &clientId=68442 &RQT=309 &VName=HNP "3 Hurt in Hillcrest High Fight; Hyde Park Boycott Continues", 22 May 1971, "Chicago Tribune", p. 2; accessed 2008] ] 1973 saw a May 14 riot that resulted in 34 suspensions and the recommendation for 20 expulsions. When the school board, under pressure from parents, decided to rescind some of the punishments without consulting the building staff or administration, the school's principal, Lee Cox, requested reassignment. [ [http://proquest .umi .com/pqdweb ?did=639532432 &sid=1 &Fmt=2 &clientId=68442 &RQT=309 &VName=HNP Lannon, Linnea, "Integrated schools; Racial tensions: a ritual of spring No.2 -- Integrated schools Suburbs find trouble in classrooms", 31 May 1973, "Chicago Tribune", p. W_A1; accessed 31 August 2008] ] [ [http://proquest .umi .com/pqdweb ?did=639620932 &sid=1 &Fmt=2 &clientId=68442 &RQT=309 &VName=HNP "Hillcrest unrest leaves question", 21 June 1973, "Chicago Tribune", p. W_A6; accessed 31 August 2008] ]

In 1990, the FBI investigated an incident involving several students from the school who claimed they had been harassed by a Forest Preserve officer while taking a day off from school illegally. Among those counseling parents at the time was R. Eugene Pincham. [ [http://proquest .umi .com/pqdweb ?did=28799924 &sid=2 &Fmt=3 &clientId=68442 &RQT=309 &VName=PQD Copeland, Monica, "FBI to probe police brutality charges", 14 June 1990, "Chicago Tribune", p. 1; accessed 31 August 2008] ] [ [http://proquest .umi .com/pqdweb ?did=28906094 &sid=2 &Fmt=3 &clientId=68442 &RQT=309 &VName=PQD Koziol, Ronald, "Students found innocent in 'ditch day' disturbance", 26 July 1990, "Chicago Tribune", p. 4; accessed 31 August 2008] ]

In February, 1994, the school cancelled planned parent-teacher conferences and a day off of school to accommodate a visit by President Bill Clinton. Students were banned from parking at the school that day to accommodate the president's helicopter, Marine One, landing in the parking lot. The visit coincided with the Brady Bill becoming law. [ [http://proquest .umi .com/pqdweb ?did=24240410 &sid=2 &Fmt=3 &clientId=68442 &RQT=309 &VName=PQD Rubin, Bonnie Miller, "No School, but when the White House called", 25 February 1994, "Chicago Tribune", p. 1; accessed 31 August 2008] ] [ [http://proquest .umi .com/pqdweb ?did=24241578 &sid=2 &Fmt=3 &clientId=68442 &RQT=309 &VName=PQD Elsner, David, "Anti-crime theme echoes at Hillcrest", 1 March 1994, "Chicago Tribune", p. 1; accessed 31 August 2008] ]

As of 2007, 97.8% of the student population is African-American. [ [http://www.bhsd228.com/StudentsParents/ReportCards/HCS2.pdf 2007 Illinois School Report Card for Hillcrest High School; accessed 19 September 2008] ]

Academics

Hillcrest students had an average ACT composite score of 17.2 and a graduation rate of 91% in 2007. [ [http://www.bhsd228.com/StudentsParents/ReportCards/HCS2.pdf 2007 School Report Card, p. 3; accessed 30 August 2008] ] According to the provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind legislation, Hillcrest has not made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). [ [http://www.bhsd228.com/StudentsParents/ReportCards/HCS2.pdf 2007 School Report Card, p. 8; accessed 30 August 2008] ]

ports

Hillcrest Participates in the South Suburban Conference. Their mascot is the Hawk. The school participates in state tournaments sponsored by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).

The school sponsors interscholastic sports teams for both men and women in bowling, basketball, tennis, and track & field. Men may also compete in baseball, football, and wrestling. Women may compete in cross country, golf, softball, and volleyball. [ [http://www.bhsd228.com/hillcrest/hillcrest/Athletics/athletics.htm Hillcrest HS athletic offerings; accessed 30 August 2008] ]

The 1989–90 girls bowling team finished third in the IHSA State Tournament. [ [http://www.ihsa.org/school/records/sum0347.htm IHSA records for Hillcrest HS; accessed 30 August 2008] ]

Notable alumni

* Danny Clark is an NFL linebacker, currently playing for the New York Giants. [ [http://giants.com/team/player391.html Danny Clark bio & stats (under personal section); accessed 30 August 2008] ] [ [http://proquest .umi .com/pqdweb ?did=45572382 &sid=2 &Fmt=3 &clientId=68442 &RQT=309 &VName=PQD Reinmuth, Gary, "Future in theater is not an act for Illinois linebacker", 15 October 1999, "Chicago Tribune", p. 9; accessed 31 August 2008] ]
* Gary Dotson (did not graduate) was a convicted rapist whose conviction was overturned after his accuser recanted. He is believed to be the first person exonerated of a crime through DNA evidence. [ [http://proquest .umi .com/pqdweb ?did=761972592 &sid=1 &Fmt=2 &clientId=68442 &RQT=309 &VName=HNP Lipinski, Ann Marie, "Rape case is exhumed, re-examined", 31 March 1985, "Chicago Tribune", p. 1; accessed 31 August 2008] ] [ [http://proquest .umi .com/pqdweb ?did=744342542 &sid=1 &Fmt=2 &clientId=68442 &RQT=309­&VName=HNP Lipinski, Ann MArie, "Mystery deepens in Webb rape case; Dotson balks at lie test, attorney", 5 May 1985, "Chicago Tribune", p. 1; accessed 31 August 2008] ]
* Jerel McNeal, basketball player for the Marquette Golden Eagles
* Corey McPherrin is an Emmy Award winning television sports reporter, currently working as the weekday reporter and Sports Director for WFLD-TV, the FOX television affiliate in Chicago. [ [http://www.bhsd228.com/BOE/Minutes/040108Regular.pdf District 228 Board of Education minutes 1 April 2008, p. 2; accessed 2 September 2008] ] [ [http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/pages/InsideFox/Detail?contentId=387183&version=6&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=5.3.1 Corey McPherrin bio at myfoxchicago.com; accessed 2 September 2008] ]

References