History
In April 1952, two local school districts, Orland District 221 and Palos District 222 were consolidated into Consolidated High School District 230, for the express purpose of constructing a new high school. This new high school would replace an older high school which had been run by the Orland district at one of its grammar schools, along with rented space around the town for history, English, home economics, and science classes. The new school was designed to serve 450 students. The site of the school was an old corn field, which at the time was surrounded by a forest preserve, a lake, and a golf course. A school board resolution called for the new school to be named for Carl Sandburg, out of "a desire for historic significance transcending purely local associations of the former school districts". In April 1953, it was announced that the new high school building would be named for the poet, after Sandburg "consented and expressed his pleasure" in a letter to the school board. At least until 1960, Sandburg visited the school every other year. Ground breaking took place on the United States dollar, US$930,000 structure on May 17, 1953. The school was designed to be a one-story structure with a central gymnasium/auditorium capable of holding 1,200 people. A smaller two story section was to house agriculture, science and business education classes as well as the school's library. The school was built with the specific intent to build additions on to the building as the student population grew. The school opened for classes in September 1954. The school was formally dedicated on October 10, 1954, with the school's namesake in attendance. The district saw enormous growth, growing from 186 high school students just prior to the construction of the new school, to a projected population of over 900 for the 1956–57 school year. In the summer of 1956, construction began on the first major addition to the school; an addition that more than doubled the school's size. The 1956–57 school year also saw students attend in split shifts to alleviate the overcrowding that was already occurring. A second gym, primarily for use by girls, was opened ahead of the rest of the addition in January 1958. The remainder of the new addition was ready in May 1958, expanding the school's capacity to 1,700 students. The original administration offices became the new book store, while the addition itself contained new classrooms and administrative offices, as well as expanded room for the music and industrial technology classes. No sooner was the new addition occupied, when, in the autumn of 1958, the school board issued a bond referendum to raise over US$1 million to further expand the school, and to purchase property for the site of a future high school. This second addition, finished for the 1960–61 school year, included ten new classrooms, a new library (the old library was subdivided to make new classrooms) and the school's first swimming pool. The next bond issue came in 1966; this time a US$3.5 million request from the electorate to finance additions at Sandburg and its now sister school, Stagg High School. As a result, Sandburg saw more science laboratories as well as rooms for art, music, and industrial arts training. The first time Carl Sandburg visited Carl Sandburg High School in his home state of Illinois he was mistaken for a homeless man off the street and promptly ordered to leave the premises. School officials quickly learned their mistake. Sandburg, it is said, was gracious and extremely considerate through the whole thing. When Carl Sandburg died in 1967, the school's choir performed at the official memorial tribute, held at the Chicago Public Library.Academics
In 2005, Sandburg had an average composite ACT (test), ACT score of 22.3 and graduated 98.1% of its senior class. The average class size is 19.2. Sandburg has made Adequate Yearly Progress on the Prairie State Achievements Examination, a state test part of the No Child Left Behind Act. Additionally, it has scored a 90.3 on the State Test Performance Index. Sandburg has been named one of ''Newsweek, Newsweek's'' top 1,000 schools on several occasions. * 2003, Sandburg was ranked 607 * 2005, Sandburg was ranked 744 * 2006, Sandburg was ranked 967Advanced Placement
The school has a 38% Advanced Placement (AP) participation rate and boasts a 79% pass rate. The average test taker takes 3.8 exams. Students can choose from more than a dozen different AP courses to take during high school. Options include Calculus, Chemistry, U.S. History, Spanish Language, and others.Student life
Activities
Carl Sandburg High School is home to numerous different co-curricular activities. The debate team haAthletics
Sandburg competes in the Southwest Suburban Conference (SWSC) and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), which governs most sports and competitive activities in the state of Illinois. School teams are stylized as the "Eagles". The school sponsors interscholastic teams for young men and women in basketball, bowling, Cross country running, cross country, golf, gymnastics, Association football, soccer, Swimming (sport), swimming & Diving (sport), diving, tennis, Track and field athletics, track & field, volleyball, and water polo. Young men may compete in baseball, High school football, football, and Scholastic wrestling, wrestling, while young women may compete in badminton, cheerleading, and softball. While not sponsored by the IHSA, the school's athletic department also sponsors a Pom-pon, poms team. Sandburg's cross country and track teams have been extremely successful and was home to world champion athlete Lukas Verzbicas. Verzbicas won the Gatorade Boys' Cross Country Runner of the Year award his junior and senior seasons. In addition, Verzbicas won the Nike and Foot Locker national championship and went on to run at the University of Oregon. Another member of the cross country team, Pat McMahon, was awarded the prestigious $20,000 Foot Locker scholarship in the Spring of 2013. The following teams have placed in the top four of their respective IHSA sponsored state championship tournament or meet. * Badminton (Girls): State Champions (2010–11) * Baseball: State Champions (2001–02) * Basketball (Girls): 4th Place (1997–98) * Cheerleading: State Champions (2005–06, 2008–09, 2011–12); 3rd Place (2007–08, 2009–10, 2016–17) * Cross Country (Boys): State Champions (2015–16, 2021-22); 2nd Place (2014–15); 4th Place (1981–82, 2006–07) * Cross Country (Girls): 2nd Place (1997–98, 2009–10); 3rd Place (2002–03); 4th Place (2001–02) * Football: semifinals (1993–94) * Gymnastics (Girls): 2nd Place (2008–09); 3rd Place (1994–95); 4th Place (1996–97, 2000–01) * Soccer (Boys): State Champions (1993–94, 2001–02, 2002–03); 3rd Place (1994–95, 2012–13) * Soccer (Girls): 2nd place (1995–96, 2000–01); 3rd place (2008–09) * Softball: State Champions (2009–2010); 2nd place (2000–01); 3rd Place (1992–93, 1999–2000, 2005–06); 4th Place (1993–94, 1998–99, 2001–02) * Swimming and Diving (Boys): 4th Place (2011–12) * Track & Field (Boys): 3rd Place (1976–77) 3rd Place (2015–16) * Volleyball (Boys): State Champions (1995–96, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2010–11); 2nd Place (1996–97, 2000–01) * Volleyball (Girls): State Champions (1998–99); 2nd Place (1981–82, 2001–02); 3rd Place (1980–81) * Water Polo (Boys): 2nd Place (2008–09); 4th Place (2007–08, 2010–11) * Wrestling: State Champions (2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2011–12, 2012–13); 2nd place (1966–67, 2009–10)Notable alumni
* Jeff Alm (1986) was an National Football League, NFL Lineman (American football)#Defensive linemen, defensive lineman (1990–93), playing entire career with History of the Tennessee Titans#Houston Oilers era (1960-96), Houston Oilers. * Sandra Biedron (1990) is a physicist specializing in particle accelerators and laser systems. Her Ph.D. is from Lund University, Sweden. *Connor Carrick is a National Hockey League defenseman for the New Jersey Devils * John Chiang (California politician), John Chiang (1980) is California state treasurer; he previously served as California State Controller, state controller (2007–15). * Kendall Coyne (2010) is a US women's ice hockey team, US Women's Ice Hockey Team forward who won a gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics, and a silver medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. * Omowale Dada (2001) was a Canadian Football League cornerback (2008) with the Edmonton Eskimos. * Dan Feeney (2012) is an offensive guard for the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers. * Pat Fitzgerald (1993) is head football coach of Northwestern Wildcats football, Northwestern University (2006–present). He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. * Justin Hartley (1995) is an actor best known for his work on television (''This Is Us'', ''Passions'', ''Smallville'', ''The Young And The Restless''). * T. J. Helmerich is a musician and sound engineer. * Adam Hochberg (1981) is a Correspondent, news correspondent for National Public Radio. * Dave Jones (politician), Dave Jones (1980) is California Insurance Commissioner (2011-) and a former California State Assembly, California Assemblyman (2004–2010). * Sarah Kustok (2000) is a sports reporter for the YES Network and Fox Sports. * Lisa LaPorta (1985) is an interior designer whose HGTV show ''Designed to Sell'' ran 2003–11. * George Lilja (1976) former NFL Center (American football), center (1981–1987). * Michael McDermott (musician), Michael McDermott (1986) is a folk rock Singer–songwriter, singer-songwriter. * Mary Therese McDonnell is an international soccer player for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team, Republic of Ireland (2008–present) * Shannon McDonnell (footballer), Shannon McDonnell is an international soccer player for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team, Republic of Ireland (2009–present) * Charlie Meyerson (1973) is a journalist and publisher * Marie Newman (1982) is a Democratic member of Congress, elected in 2020. * Jim Nussle (1978) was Director of the U. S. Office of Management and Budget (2007–09); also a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Congressman from Iowa (1991–2007). * Bill Rancic (1989) was winner of ''The Apprentice (American season 1), The Apprentice: Season One''. * Tim Regan (1999) was a Major League Soccer, MLS Defender (association football), defender (2001–08). * Katie Rich (1998) is a comedian who has written for ''Saturday Night Live''. * Jeff Roehl (1998) former NFL offensive tackle (2003–06). * Kendall Coyne Schofield (2010) professional women's ice hockey player, and wife of fellow graduate Michael Schofield (American football), Michael Scofield * Michael Schofield (American football), Michael Schofield (2009) is an NFL offensive lineman, currently playing for the Chicago Bears; he played collegiately at the University of Michigan, for the Super Bowl 50 champion Denver Broncos, and the Los Angeles Chargers. * Tom Toth former NFL player for the Miami Dolphins (1986–91). * Robin Tunney (1990) is an actress known for her work on television (''Prison Break'', ''The Mentalist'') and film (''The Craft (film), The Craft'', ''Vertical Limit''). * Paul Vallas is the former Chief executive officer, CEO of Chicago Public Schools (1995–2001), was superintendent of Bridgeport, Connecticut schools 2012–14. * Whethan (Ethan Snoreck) (2017) is an EDM artist and DJ. * Jed Zayner (2003) is an MLS defender, currently playing for D.C. United. * Lukas Verzbicas (2011) is an American professional triathlete who holds the US high school 2 mile record, and was the 5th ever American to break the 4 minute mile barrier in high school.References
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