Although the village of Barrington incorporated in 1865,[6] the area did not have a dedicated permanent high school until 1949.[7] Before that, Barrington had a K-12 school on Hough Street. On February 8, 1947, the village held an election to choose a site for a new high school.[7] Of approximately 1,414 ballots cast, 1,013 were cast in favor of selecting the current location on West Main Street.[7] Voters also granted the village authority to purchase the 70-acre site, issue bonds for the high school's construction, and build the high school.[7] The original purchase price for the site was $37,000.00.[7] At the time, some residents complained that the tract bought had been too large; the opposition countered that unless the tract stretched far to the north, other residents and/or businesses might purchase that land, and the board would not be able to buy the land as cheaply later.[7] The Consolidated High School Board of Education, now Community Unit School District 220, consulted authorities on location, educational needs and the most fitting type of building allowing for future planning.[7] The board engaged the architectural firm of Perkins and Will to design the original structure.[7] The village issued $940,000.00 in bonds for the site and building; however, due to rising construction prices at the time, the high school as planned could not be completed for that amount.[7] On June 12, 1948, an election increased the authorization for such bonds by an additional $328,000.00 by a decision of 388 to 71.[7]Groundbreaking on the high school took place on July 10, 1948, and engineer George Gilfeather supervised the ensuing construction almost daily.[7] Classes began in the new building on September 12, 1949 under Superintendent F.C. Thomas.[7]
Additions and expansions
In February 1955, an election to expand the high school granted a bond issue of $850,000.00 by a vote of 880 to 117.[7] These funds were used to add a wing to the west end of the building that connected the school to the gymnasium and add a second story to the original building at the north end; these additions were completed in September 1956.[7] On November 8, 1958, voters permitted bonds in the amount of $1,600,000.00 to be used for a further addition on the east side of the building, including twenty-three classrooms, an auxiliary gymnasium, and an auditorium.[7] These improvements began in 1959 and were completed in the fall of 1960.[7] In 1999, Barrington voters approved an additional bond issuance for substantial remodeling and expansion of the high school.[citation needed] This expansion included updating the building's classroom and athletic facilities as well as adding additional accommodations for the school's approximately 2,400 students.[citation needed]
Academics
Barrington High School reported that, in 2011, its students scored a composite average of 25 on the ACT college entrance exam, which is reportedly the highest average in the school's history and roughly four points higher than the state and national averages.[8] The school is ranked #553 on Newsweek's 2008 list of the 1,300 best public high schools in America.[9] Ninety-eight percent of Barrington's graduates enroll in college or post-graduate training programs.[10] However, as of 2008, the State of Illinois found that Barrington had not made Adequate Yearly Progress as a part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, as multiple student sub-groups failed to make minimum progress.[11]
According to the College Board, Barrington High School ranks in the top 1% of more than 14,350 high schools both nationally and internationally for the number of AP exams taken by students.[citation needed] District 220 has received the 2004 Bright A+ award for academic excellence from SchoolSearch.[citation needed] Barrington schools rank in the top 5% of Illinois districts, and SchoolMatch has selected District 220 as being among the top 16% of the nation's public school districts being recognized through their Educational Effectiveness Audits.[citation needed] The Physics Program, developed over 25 years, was featured in "Beyond 2000", an Australian television production.[citation needed] The Fine Arts Department is also one of the most comprehensive in Illinois.[citation needed] The studio-based art program received a state award for excellence, and an in-house gallery features regional and professional artists.[citation needed]
Fine Arts
In 2013, Barrington High School's Chamber Choir, formerly under the direction of Nancie Kozel-Tobison, was among 5 high school choral programs in the United States to perform in a choir festival in Carnegie Hall run by Choirs of America. Vocal ensembles, including madrigal groups, have performed at the White House, the Sydney Opera House, Chicago's Orchestra Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Capitol Hill Club, the Supreme Court, and the Goodman Theater, among other venues, festivals, and competitions.
BHS also is home to a bi-weekly school video production called BHS-TV, which has worked directly with CBS, WGN, FOX, Hollywood Chicago, Chicago Bears, Blackhawks, NFL Films, Gatorade, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Bandits, Windy City Bulls, 365 Barrington and Quintessential Barrington. Students enrolled in BHS-TV have raised more than eight million dollars for charities and have earned more than 70 Student Excellence Awards from the National Television Academy. BHS-TV has also earned the award for Best News Program in the Midwest multiple times. In 2015 and 2016 President Obama invited the BHS-TV video students and their instructor to the White House Film Festival.
Athletics
Barrington High School marching band at homecoming football game
While not sponsored by the IHSA, the school also sponsors teams for men and women in ice hockey, in addition to pom poms.[12]
Some teams have won their respective IHSA sponsored state championship tournament, including Baseball 1985–86, Cross Country (girls) 2003–04, Golf (boys) 1992–93, Gymnastics (girls) 1999–2000, Soccer (boys) 2007–08, Soccer (girls) 2016-17 and 2017–18, and Track & Field (girls) 2006–07.
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