William Howard Taft High School (Chicago) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taft High School |
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| Address | |
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6530 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue
, 60631
United States
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| Coordinates | 41°59′04″N 87°47′31″W / 41.9844°N 87.79192°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public Secondary |
| Motto | "Teaching Academics For Tomorrow." |
| Opened | 1939 |
| School district | Chicago Public Schools |
| Principal | Mark Grishaber |
| Grades | 7–12[1] |
| Gender | Coed |
| Enrollment | 3,908 (2020-2021)[2] |
| Campus type | Urban |
| Color(s) | Blue & silver |
| Song | Fly Like an Eagle |
| Athletics conference | Chicago Public League |
| Mascot | Eagles |
| Accreditation | North Central Association of Colleges and Schools |
| Yearbook | Aerie |
Taft High School is a public high school in Chicago, Illinois. It is located in the Norwood Park neighborhood. The school serves students from grades 7 through 12.
Taft High School opened its doors in 1939. It is part of the Chicago Public Schools district. The school helps students from several nearby communities. These include Norwood Park, Edison Park, and Jefferson Park.
In the late 1990s, Taft High School added new programs. These programs helped attract more students from the local area. One program was the NJROTC unit. This is a special program that teaches leadership and citizenship. Taft's NJROTC unit won a "Distinguished Unit" award every year from 2001 to 2014.
The school also created an academic center for 7th and 8th graders. This center is for students who are ready for more challenging studies. Taft also started an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma program. This program offers a tough academic path for high school students. Since 2014, Taft has been an "IB World School." This means all students can experience the IB learning style.
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Sports and Teams
Taft High School has many sports teams. They compete in the Chicago Public League (CPL). They are also a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).
Baseball and Volleyball Achievements
The boys' baseball team has had great success. They were Public League champions in 1968. They also won regional championships in 2009. The girls' volleyball team won the Public League championship in the 1979–80 school year.
Football and Wrestling Success
In 2018, the boys' varsity football team won a big championship. They brought home their first Chicago Public League title since 1972. They won against Eric Solorio Academy High School.
The wrestling team has been very strong. They won the Chicago Public League Championship four years in a row. This winning streak was from 2018 to 2021.
School Facilities
During the summer of 2023, a new nine-hole putting green was added. This green cost about $32,000. It gives students a fun place to practice golf.
Famous Graduates
Many talented people have graduated from Taft High School. Here are some of them:
- Donna Mills, class of 1958, is a famous actress. She is best known for her role as Abby on the TV show Knots Landing.
- Howard Moore was a head basketball coach. He coached for the University of Illinois at Chicago.
- Jack Suwinski is a professional baseball player. He plays as an outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates MLB team.
- Jerry Krause was the general manager for the Chicago Bulls. His teams won six NBA championships.
- Jim Grabowski was a professional NFL running back. He played in Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II.
- Jim Jacobs helped write the musical Grease. Parts of the story were based on his time at Taft.
- Joseph A. Tunzi is an author, publisher, and producer from Chicago.
- Ken Henry was an Olympic speed skater. He won a gold medal in 1952. He also lit the Olympic torch in 1960.
- Lynn Morley Martin was a congresswoman. She also served as the United States Secretary of Labor.
- Terry Kath was a talented guitarist. He was also a co-founder of the band Chicago.
