East Peoria Community High School
East Peoria Community High School, 2023
Address
1401 East Washington Street

East Peoria
,
Illinois
61611

United States
Coordinates40°40′15″N 89°33′28″W / 40.67083°N 89.55778°W / 40.67083; -89.55778
Information
TypeHigh school
Established1923
School district309
SuperintendentDr. Marjorie Greuter
PrincipalKhassandrae Brown
Grades9-12
Enrollment935 (2023-24)[1]
Color(s)  Maroon   Gold
Athletics conferenceMid-Illini
MascotRaiders
YearbookEPoCH
Websitewww.ep309.org

East Peoria Community High School is a four-year public high school located in East Peoria, Illinois, and is the only school of East Peoria Community High School District 309. As of 2023, the school has 935 students enrolled.[2] East Peoria Community High School has several feeder schools: Central Junior High School (East Peoria School District 86), Parkview Middle School (Creve Coeur School District 76), and Robein Elementary School (Robein School District 85).

History

The school began in 1900 with four pupils in a rented space near present-day Central Junior High School.[3][4] In 1918, it became a community school and expanded its district and enrollment.[5][4] The "A building" was built to accommodate up to 210 students.[5][6][4] Some community members felt the building was too large and too remote.[5][4] However, the referendum passed and the school was constructed in two phases for $150,000.[5][4] The architects were Hotchkiss & Whitmeyer.[6][4] The new building opened in 1922.[5][4]

The band was organized in 1925 and competed at the 1927 State Fair, where they won third place.[4] In 1926, there were 31 graduates.[4]

In 1929, with an enrollment of 219, the school decided to expand again.[4] WPA workers cleared the hill behind the school.[4] Stamper Stadium was built in 1939.[4] After WWII, the school expanded again.[4] A powerhouse was constructed in 1947-1948 to supply additional heat to the large building. The new wing was known as the "C" building opened in fall 1950 and included a new cafeteria, office, shops, and classrooms.[4]

By 1954, enrollment was over 1,100 students.[4] A new gym and auditorium were built.[4] A "B" wing was opened in 1962 with a library and additional classrooms. In 1972, the "D" building opened with a new library, student commons, and classrooms.[4]

During the summer of 2009 construction began on "E" building. The new construction included a new larger cafeteria and multiple classrooms. The cafeteria seats 800 students and has a separate room for faculty dining. The classrooms are state of the art, with built-in sound systems, DVD and VHS, and up-to-date electronics. "E" building is the first phase of construction. For phase II the old lunch room is being turned into a fine arts wing, and phase III is the demolition of the original building "A building".[3]

In September 2023, the school celebrated its 100th anniversary.[5]

Controversies

Mascot

The school's team name was "Red Raiders" until the 1990s.[7] In 2020, there were two online petitions about the Raiders name and associated traditions - one to change and one to keep.[8] There has been a gradual shift away from the Native American imagery.[9] In 2021, the school administration discussed changing the school's Native American mascot in anticipation of Illinois General Assembly House Bill 4783, which would require written consent from a tribe and programs on Native American contributions in order to retain a Native American mascot or icon.[7] The Raiders "head" mascot was removed from the gym floor during renovation and replaced with red and gold initials "EP".[7] Some school traditions, such as the war chant, have been phased out as well.[7][9]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ "East Peoria High School". Illinois Report Card. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Illinois Report Card". www.illinoisreportcard.com. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  3. 1 2 Kendall, Jeanette (2008-04-29). "Class of 1935 shares stories of school days". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 LaKemper, Daniel A., ed. (1984). Centennial History of East Peoria. East Peoria, Illinois: East Peoria Centennial Commission. pp. 44–45.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bozikis, Jack (2023-09-25). "East Peoria Community High School celebrates 100 years". CIProud.com. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  6. 1 2 Annual review edition East Peoria Post. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. East Peoria, Ill. 1922. p. 15.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. 1 2 3 4 Shelley, Tim (2021-10-28). "East Peoria Community High School asks city: is it time to drop Native American iconography?". WCBU Peoria. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  8. ↑ Deacon, Joe (2020-08-20). "Dueling Petitions Bring East Peoria High's Native American Mascot To Forefront". WGLT. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  9. 1 2 Deacon, Joe (2021-10-29). "Q&A: Greuter discusses East Peoria High School's 'Raiders' nickname and use of Native American imagery". WCBU Peoria. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  10. 1 2 Miller, Jane (August 2, 2012). "EP native Tim Broe, a 2004 Olympian, celebrates games". PJStar.com. Peoria, Illinois: GateHouse Media. Retrieved 2013-10-01. He returned to Peoria to coach cross country and track at East Peoria High School, his alma mater, in 2007, but left two years ago Photo caption: "Olympic runner Tim Broe returns to his roots by visiting his alma mater, East Peoria Central Junior High".
  11. ↑ "CORWIN CLATT". profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  12. ↑ Craig, William Lane. "Debating". Q&A with William Lane Craig. Dallas, Texas: Reasonable Faith. Archived from the original on 2014-05-12. Retrieved 2013-10-01. She explained to me about the high school debate team at East Peoria Community High School (which was, by the way, very good, having won state that year). So when I became a freshman the following year I went out for the team and started debating. That was 1964.
  13. ↑ Kendall, Jeanette (May 15, 2013). "Country/gospel star has roots in East Peoria". EastPeoriaTimesCourier.com. Peoria, Illinois: Gatehouse Media. Retrieved 2013-10-01. She graduated from East Peoria High School where she took speech class for a lisp she had.
  14. ↑ "Roger Phegley". Peoria, Illinois: Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame. 2013-05-28. Retrieved 2013-10-01. ...both a basketball and baseball standout at East Peoria High School. As a pitcher, he played a major role in East Peoria's making the state baseball tournament for the first time.
  15. ↑ Phil Luciano, "Ex-REO Speedwagon guitarist and East Peoria native Gary Richrath dies at 65". Peoria Journal Star, September 14, 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-08.
  16. 1 2 Eminian, Dave (Sep 27, 2010). "WATN: Tim Simpson". PJStar.com. Peoria, Illinois. Retrieved 2013-10-01. 157-4 record as a prep wrestler at East Peoria Community High School ... The Cleveland Browns took him in the 12th round of the NFL Draft, and Simpson went on to play as a guard on the offensive lines for Cleveland and Pittsburgh. After his NFL career, he returned home and later played indoor football for the Peoria Pirates


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