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J. Sterling Morton High School East

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Coordinates: 41°50′46″N 87°46′19″W / 41.846°N 87.772°W / 41.846; -87.772
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This article is about the multi-campus school in suburban Chicago. For the high school in Central Illinois, see Morton High School (Morton, Illinois).

J. Sterling Morton High School East
Address
Map
2423 S. Austin Blvd.

Cicero
,
Illinois
60804

United States
Coordinates41°50′46″N 87°46′19″W / 41.846°N 87.772°W / 41.846; -87.772
Information
School typepublic secondary
Opened1894
StatusOpen
School districtJ. Sterling Morton HS Dist. 201
SuperintendentTim Truesdale[1]
PrincipalJose Gamboa[2]
Faculty183[3]
Teaching staff178.95 (FTE)[6]
Grades10–12
Gendercoed
Enrollment3,474 (2023–2024)[6]
Average class size23.0[4]
Student to teacher ratio19.41[6]
Campussuburban
Color(s)Maroon and white[5]
Athletics conferenceWest Suburban Conference
MascotMustangs
NicknameMustangs[5]
Websitewww.morton201.org/Domain/8

J. Sterling Morton High School East (often called Morton East; formerly Morton High School) is a public secondary school located in Cicero, Illinois. Morton East is one of three schools in J. Sterling Morton High School District 201. Morton East is a sophomore through senior building, with future students attending the J. Sterling Morton Freshman Center for one year. Morton East's sister school, J. Sterling Morton High School West is a four-year secondary school.

From 1920 to 1959, the school operated as Morton High School, changing its name when Morton West opened.

The district and its schools are named after Julius Sterling Morton because he was friends with Cicero resident and fur trader Portus Baxter Weare.[7]

In the high school district students living east of Ridgeland Avenue are zoned to Morton East;[8] areas east of Ridgeland Avenue include Cicero and a small portion of Berwyn. There are small sections of Stickney and Forest View,[9] but no Stickney residents live in that section.[10]

History

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See also: J. Sterling Morton High School District 201 § History

In 1892, there were reports that the town of Cicero was beginning to work to consolidate a school district that would include the current Morton Park and Hawthorne district with one consisting of the towns of Clyde and LaVergne, for means of adding what was called a "High School Department".[11]

Though only seven miles from downtown Chicago, the school, in its early history was situated on prairie and farmland. In 1915, the Chicago Tribune reported that Professor H.V. Church, then the principal of J. S. Morton, was forced to walk his cow nine miles from Berwyn to the docks at Rush Street so that he and his family might have nourishment at their summer farm in Michigan, where they stayed the summer. The article noted that the principal was "following the example of the mayor".[12]

More than 20 students were expelled in June 1916, after a lemon throwing incident which started in the evening of a school play, escalated into fighting in the school cafeteria the next day.[13] That 1916 graduating class was reported to consist of 29 students graduating from "academic courses", 24 in "shorthand", and 8 in "bookkeeping".[14]

By 1917, the events of World War I were having an effect on the school. Students began raising vegetables on a six-acre plot of land adjacent to the school in order to supply produce for the school lunch room in the autumn. The six-acre garden was so consuming that the school withdrew their baseball team from the league they had been playing in to "devote (their) energies to the garden".[15]

At some point in the 1920s, the school began moving to a split schedule, with freshmen attending in the morning, and upperclassmen attending in the afternoon. This practice would continue until the opening of Morton West in 1958.[16]

In 1924, during a basketball game in the school's gym, a major fire erupted which caused US$900,000 in damage. The auditorium, girls' gymnasium, library, and several classrooms and offices were lost.[17] The fire forced the school to temporarily move to a split schedule, with the 1,200 freshmen attending classes from 8–12:30 during the day, and the upperclassmen to attending classes from 12:30–5.[18]

Cicero's more infamous claim to fame is its association with former resident Al Capone. In at least one instance in 1930, Capone was known to attend a football game at the school "still surrounded by his bodyguard of six".[19]

Rather than receiving standard diplomas, the 1,045 graduates of the class of 1938 were each given pocket sized diplomas so that they may could be "conveniently displayed to prospective employers".[20]

In 1950, a major reconstruction began at the school. The five old frame structures were demolished to make way for brick structures, including two gymnasiums, an auto shop, a greenhouse, two libraries, a band room, a typesetting room, and over 100 other rooms.[21] The expansion was not only in response to the increase in student population, which had already prompted preparations for building a second school, but that the older buildings were considered a safety hazard.[21] The addition was completed in April 1952.[22]

By the spring of 1956, construction had begun on what was to become Morton West High School. The school would open in 1958 reducing the population congestion in the school.[23] The graduation of the class of 1956 included a commencement address by the visiting mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, Harold Roe Bartle.[24]

In 1963, a US$400,000 upgrade to the main library was completed, including new data processing equipment, including equipment that would create and read punch cards.[25]

In 1966, Morton East's student government sponsored a performance by the Chad Mitchell Trio, which at the time included a relatively unknown John Denver.[26]

Campus and architecture

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The school houses the collection of the Cicero Historical Society.[27]

The school's Chodl Auditorium was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. It is one of the largest non-commercial proscenium style theaters in the Chicago metropolitan area.[28]

Academics

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Morton East's class of 2008 had an average composite ACT score of 16.8.[29] 70.3% of the senior class graduated.[29] Morton East did not make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) on the Prairie State Achievements Examination, which with the ACT comprises the state assessments used to fulfill the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Neither the school overall, nor any of its three student subgroups met expectations in reading or mathematics. In addition, the school overall, and one of its student subgroups failed to meet minimum expectations in terms of graduation rates.[29] As of 2009 school was listed as being in its fifth academic year.[29]

Some time prior to or during 2009 the school hired a "High Schools That Work" consultant that, along with the leader of the school's science department, gave instruction to science teachers on how to teach classes. Marge Scherer, author of Challenging the Whole Child: Reflections on Best Practices in Learning, Teaching and Leadership, wrote that the school decided to "reject" the demographics of the school, considered disadvantaged, "as an excuse for low science scores."[30]

In the year 2015, J.Sterling Morton High School District 201 was named the national leader among medium-sized school districts in expanding access to Advanced Placement program courses while improving AP exam performance. According to three years of AP data analysis, the number of Morton students enrolled in AP courses has gone up by 98% since 2011. Furthermore, there's been a 68% increase in the percentage of students scoring high enough to earn college credit.[31] More than 2,350 students were enrolled in AP classes that year.

Student body

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As of 2009 70% of the students at Morton were from low-income backgrounds and 94% were Hispanic and Latino.[30]

Athletics

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Since 1985, the schools have operated a unified athletics program under the name Berwyn-Cicero (Morton).[5] Prior to this, Morton East competed as a separate school. Prior to the 1960–61 school year, the school was the only school in the district, and competed as Morton High School. Morton competes in the West Suburban Conference. Morton is also a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) which governs most sports and competitive activities in the state. Teams are stylized as the Mustangs. When Morton East (and prior to that, Morton High School) competed independently, the school's teams were stylized as the Mustangs, but used school colors of maroon and white.[32]

The school sponsors interscholastic teams for young men and women in: basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and water polo. Young men may compete in baseball, football, and wrestling, while young women may compete in badminton, bowling, Poms, cheerleading, and softball.[33]

The following teams have finished in the top four of their respective IHSA sponsored state championship tournaments or meets:[34]

  • Baseball: State Champions (1942–43, 1951–52, 1960–61, 1969–70)
  • Basketball (boys): 4th place (1941–42); State Champions (1931–32, 1940–41)
  • Gymnastics (girls): 4th place (1981–82); 3rd place (1979–80, 1980–81)
  • Soccer (boys): State Champions (2011–12); 4th place (2006–07, 2021-22); 2nd place (1973–74, 2019-20); 3rd place (2015-2016)
  • Softball: State Champions (1985–86)
  • Tennis (boys): 4th place (1947–48)
  • Track & Field (boys): 3rd place (1938–39)

In 1927, Morton's boys' basketball team won the "Interscholastic Championship of the United States". The meet had been organized at the University of Chicago by Amos Alonzo Stagg.[35]

In 1941, the school hosted an amateur boxing night which featured Barney Ross, Johnny Coulon, and Battling Nelson (all former world champions) as referees.[36]

In November 1968, the school was to host exhibition matches with the Poland men's national volleyball team and Poland women's national volleyball team, however the teams were denied entry into the United States because of Poland's involvement in the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia.[37]

Between 1983 and 1985, the Chicago Bears intermittently used Morton East for an indoor training facility, including their Super Bowl XX championship season.[38][39][40][41]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "District 201 Administration". Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  2. ^ "MORTON EAST ADMINISTRATORS". Morton East High School. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  3. ^ Staff e-mail directory; search for "east" staff; retrieved 26 July 2009
  4. ^ a b 2011 Illinois School Report Card; retrieved 19 May 2012
  5. ^ a b c Morton HSs information; ihsa.org; retrieved 26 July 2009
  6. ^ a b c "J Sterling Morton East High Sch". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  7. ^ Kay, Betty Carlson. Cicero: The First Suburb West (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing, 2000. ISBN 0738507865, 9780738507866. p. 45.
  8. ^ "1950s." J. Sterling Morton High School East. Retrieved on 20 December 2016.
  9. ^ "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Cook County, Illinois Page 4." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 20 December 2016.
  10. ^ "Polling Locations for March 2012 Archived 20 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine." Stickney Township. Retrieved on 20 December 2016.
  11. ^ "Cicero's Women Are Barred: They cannot vote for school trustees or school directors". Chicago Daily Tribune. 8 April 1892. ProQuest 174672939.
  12. ^ "SCHOOL CHIEF DRIVES COW 9 MILES THROUGH CHICAGO: Prof. H. V. Church Takes "Bossie" Along with Him for Summer Vacation on Michigan Farm". Chicago Daily Tribune. 19 June 1915. ProQuest 173893905.
  13. ^ "20 HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS FIRED FOR ROUGHHOUSE: Lemons Thrown at Players in Morton High School Class Production Start Trouble". Chicago Daily Tribune. 8 June 1916. ProQuest 174106345.
  14. ^ "Commencement Days". Chicago Daily Tribune. 17 June 1916. ProQuest 174069946.
  15. ^ "MOBILIZE BOYS FOR FARMS". Chicago Daily Tribune. 4 May 1917. ProQuest 174194232.
  16. ^ "RIDGELAND AV. IS MORTON HIGH DIVIDING LINE". Chicago Daily Tribune. 30 March 1958. ProQuest 182152146.
  17. ^ "300 AT GAME IN SCHOOL NEAR PANIC AT FIRE: Loss Is $900,000 on Cicero Buildings". Chicago Daily Tribune. 30 December 1924. ProQuest 180564314.
  18. ^ "CICERO'S SCHOOL WORK UNHURT BY BIG BLAZE". Chicago Daily Tribune. 31 December 1924. ProQuest 180598885.
  19. ^ "CAPONE BECOMES A FOOTBALL FAN (WITH 6 GUARDS)". Chicago Daily Tribune. 5 October 1930. ProQuest 181150877.
  20. ^ "1,045 WILL END THEIR STUDIES AT MORTON HIGH: Pocket Size Diplomas Will Be Given". Chicago Daily Tribune. 5 June 1938. ProQuest 181950212.
  21. ^ a b "1.28 MILLION BUILDING BEGINS AT MORTON HIGH: Three Story Structure to Have 111 Rooms". Chicago Daily Tribune. 18 June 1950. ProQuest 178012913 – via ProQuest.
  22. ^ "School Groups to Tour Addition at Morton High". Chicago Daily Tribune. 6 April 1952. ProQuest 178249883.
  23. ^ Hutchinson, Louise (3 June 1956). "Schools to Empty--But Principals Will Toil On: SUMMER BRINGS NEW PROBLEMS FOR PRINCIPALS Many Face Building, Convention Chores". Chicago Daily Tribune. ProQuest 179799996.
  24. ^ "Morton Grads to Hear Mayor of Kansas City". Chicago Daily Tribune. 10 June 1956. ProQuest 179822304.
  25. ^ "Morton East Has New Addition: Data Processing Taught Now". Chicago Tribune. 1 December 1963. ProQuest 179340623.
  26. ^ "Mitchell Trio Will Perform in Morton East". Chicago Tribune. 20 February 1966. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  27. ^ Schlagheck, Dennis and Catherine Lantz. Hawthorne Works (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing, 2014. ISBN 146711135X, 9781467111355. p. 121.
  28. ^ Fun Facts about the Western Suburbs – Cicero; website for documentary Chicago's Western Suburbs: From Prairie Soil to Prairie Style; wttw.com; retrieved 27 July 2009
  29. ^ a b c d Class of 2008 Illinois School Report Card; retrieved 26 July 2009
  30. ^ a b Scherer, Marge. Challenging the Whole Child: Reflections on Best Practices in Learning, Teaching and Leadership. ASCD, 2009. ISBN 1416608931, 9781416608936. p. 276.
  31. ^ Lopez, Priscilla Grace. "Morton District 201 Sees a High Percentage of College Enrollment Among 2016 Graduates". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  32. ^ Morton East High School "Mustangs" . Retrieved 27 July 2009
  33. ^ Athletic Department for Morton High schools. Retrieved 26 July 2009
  34. ^ Season summaries for Morton High schools and Morton East High School ihsa.org; retrieved 26 July 2009
  35. ^ "MORTON MARCHES TO U. S. CAGE TITLE". Chicago Daily Tribune. 3 April 1927. ProQuest 180773344.
  36. ^ "Barlund Will Testify Against His Manager (advertisement below article)". Chicago Daily Tribune. 9 April 1941. ProQuest 176621063.
  37. ^ "Teams Refused Visas". Chicago Tribune. 1 November 1968. ProQuest 175894872.
  38. ^ Jauss, Bill (9 December 1983). "Football :Bears left out in the cold by NU". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 170591225.
  39. ^ Pierson, Don (29 December 1984). "Bears have a foothold: Finzer's punting an offense in itself Bears". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 176181638 – via ProQuest. When the Bears practiced indoors at Morton East High School for two weeks, Finzer did no punting
  40. ^ Sherman, Ed (5 December 1985). "Flu may block Payton's path". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 170830054 – via ProQuest. The Bears were anxious to hit the practice field after the loss to Miami. They practiced indoors at Morton East High School in Cicero
  41. ^ Sherman, Ed (8 January 1986). "Hampton overcomes in 'hardest year ever'". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 176240285. This season presented Hampton with more obstacles then he ever faced ... He had to forego practice when the Bears went indoors on the hard Morton East High School surface – it put too much strain on his knees
  42. ^ "Harold R. Côllier biographical entry". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  43. ^ "LOU GAMBINO OF CICERO SIGNS TO PLAY FOR BEARS". Chicago Daily Tribune. 23 July 1946. ProQuest 177252963.
  44. ^ "IHSA Boys All-State Players". Illinois High School Association. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  45. ^ "Phillip, Kerr and Fletcher Next on List of Honored Jerseys". University of Illinois. 9 September 2008. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  46. ^ "Dave Kocourek stats & bio". databasefootball.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  47. ^ "DANCED AT 5 AND NOW HE'S IN FAMOUS BALLET: John Kriza to Appear with Chicago Opera". Chicago Daily Tribune. 27 October 1940. ProQuest 176383857. Kriza, now 21, attended Morton High School and Morton Junior College in Cicero
  48. ^ DeVries, Hilary (9 December 1990). "'The Guy From Chicago Arrives – Joe Mantegna Is Having a Hollywood Dream Season". Los Angeles Times Magazine. p. 6. Retrieved 27 July 2009. Mantegna attended Morton East High School, a sprawling place full of the children of second-generation Czechs, Poles and Italians ...
  49. ^ Cromie, Robert (28 December 1948). "UNIQUE ROOKIE PLACES MONEY SECOND TO CUBS". Chicago Daily Tribune. ProQuest 177566046. "There's no game like it", says 22-year-old Mauro, a graduate of Morton High School ...
  50. ^ "Bob Miller stats & bio". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  51. ^ "Ron Miller". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  52. ^ Hampson, Philip (13 June 1953). "The Road to Success: Sketch of Arthur C. Nielsen, President of A. C. Nielsen Company". Chicago Daily Tribune. ProQuest 178499249. He was graduated from grammar school when he was 12, then went to Morton High school
  53. ^ "Rookie paces Sting to victory". Chicago Tribune. 5 April 1976. ProQuest 169457459. Miro Rys, a rookie fresh out of Morton East High School scored a goal ...
  54. ^ "Clarence Self stats & bio". databasefootball.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  55. ^ Bob Will stats & bio; thebaseballcube.com; retrieved 27 July 2009
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