Lincoln-Way Central High School

Lincoln-Way Central High School or LWC, is a public four-year high school about 3.5 miles south of Interstate 80 near the intersection of Schoolhouse Road and Lincoln Highway in New Lenox, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is the original school of Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210, which also includes Lincoln-Way East High School and Lincoln-Way West High School. Lincoln-Way Central and Lincoln-Way West are located in New Lenox; Lincoln-Way East is located in Frankfort. Effective since the 2016–2017 school year, Lincoln-Way North High School, in Frankfort, closed due to financial troubles and the district is now a three school district.[11] District 210 offices are located at Lincoln-Way Central.

Lincoln-Way Central High School
Address
1801 E. Lincoln Highway

New Lenox
,
Illinois
60451

United States
Coordinates41.5138°N 87.9298°W / 41.5138; -87.9298
Information
School typePublic Secondary
Motto"Once a Knight,
Always a Knight"
Established1954 (9–12) LW H.S.
1977 (11–12) LW H.S.-Central
2001 (9–12) LWC H.S.[1]
School districtLincoln-Way Community H.S.
District 210
SuperintendentR. Scott Tingley[2]
PrincipalSteven Provis[3]
Staff133.52 (on a FTE basis)[4]
Grades9–12
GenderCoed
Enrollment2,059 (2018–19)[4]
Average class size22[5]
Student to teacher ratio15.42[4]
Campus size70 acres
Campus typeSuburban
Color(s)Red
Black
Fight song"Lincoln-Way Loyalty"[6]
Athletics conferenceSouthwest Suburban[7]
MascotKnight
Team nameKnights[8]
NewspaperThe Knight Times[9]
YearbookAegis[10]
Websitelw210.org/central

History

In June 1952, another election provided for the approval and construction of Lincoln-Way High School. The new high school district would draw students which until then had been attending Joliet Township High School, Bloom Township High School, Carl Sandburg High School, and Peotone High School.[12] The cornerstone was ceremonially installed on October 25, 1953, after construction had begun.[12] Lincoln-Way opened its doors to students on September 7, 1954. The name of the school was selected by one Mrs. Florence Pittman and the board of education officially adopted it as "Lincoln-Way". The charter members of the student body voted to have red and black as their school colors. Lyrics to the Lincoln-Way Central school song were written by Robert Taylor and Betty Tryon, set to the tune of the University of Chicago pep song.

Bond issues for additions to the original building were approved in 1957, 1960, 1962, and 1969. The 1969 bond issue approved a ninth grade building which was built north of the main building. In 1971 the north building opened up, accommodating 700 students.

In 1994, a field house was added to the campus. Then in 1998, citizens of District No. 210 approved a $60 million building bond referendum to split the existing high school freshmen-sophomore / junior-senior configuration into two separate four-year high schools while adding to the existing two schools an academic wing with 50 classrooms at each campus, olympic-sized swimming pools, as well as the addition of a fine arts auditorium and music classrooms at Central. The changeover became official for the 2001–02 school year as the Central campus opened as Lincoln-Way Central High School.

Lincoln-Way Central is known as simply “Lincoln-Way” by area residents because it is the original of the four high schools, rich in over sixty-five years of tradition and history. Students here are noted for their exceeding pride. Phrases such as "We are Central", "Once a Knight, Always a Knight", and "Knight Pride" exemplify students' school spirit.

Music

Lincoln-Way Central's Music Department consists of multiple extracurricular music groups, including the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Concert Bands, two jazz ensembles, (Jazz I and II), pep band, orchestra, guitar studio, piano, multiple choirs, including Madrigal Singers, and the school's marching band, the Marching Knights.

The Marching Knights consisted of 101 student members as of the 2012–2013 season. The group marched in the 2005 Presidential Inaugural Parade. The band has been in existence since 1954. In 2017, the Marching Knights combined with the three other Lincoln-Way area High Schools to form the Lincoln-Way Marching Band.

Notable Music Department events include:

  • 2020 – Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
  • 2019 – Tournament of Roses Parade
  • 2012 – Trip to San Diego (Big Bay Balloon Parade)
  • 2010 – Trip to Orlando, Florida (Citrus Bowl Parade)
  • 2008 – Trip to Italy
  • 2007 – Opening Ceremony for I-355
  • 2007 – Guitar studio and orchestra tour of Toronto, Ontario
  • 2005 – Presidential Inaugural Parade Participants
  • 2000 – Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade
  • 1999 – ISU State Champions
  • 1996 – WGI – Percussion Scholastic World Class – 4th Place
  • 1995 – WGI – Percussion Scholastic World Class – 2nd Place (Silver Medal)
  • 1994 – WGI – Percussion Scholastic World Class – 1st Place (Gold Medal)
  • 1993 – WGI – Percussion Scholastic World Class – 2nd Place (Silver Medal)
  • 1987 – Performance at the Special Olympics in South Bend, IN
  • 1984 – Orange Bowl Parade and Field competition, Miami, FL (3rd place National Field Show competition)
  • 1982 – Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade
  • 1974 – Marching Knights formed
  • 1968 – Opening Ceremony for I-80

Athletics

Lincoln-Way Central competes as a member of the Southwest Suburban Conference. The school is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), which governs most athletics and competitive activities in Illinois. Teams are called the "Knights".

The school sponsors interscholastic teams for young men and women in basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, volleyball,esports and water polo.[13] Young women may compete in badminton, cheerleading, poms, and softball, while young men may also compete in baseball, football, and wrestling.[13] Now recognized by the IHSA, the school's athletic department also oversees lacrosse teams for young men and women.[13]

The following teams have finished in the top four of their respective IHSA sponsored state championship tournament or meet:[14]

  • Badminton: 2nd place (2007–08, 2008–09)
  • Bowling (boys): 3rd place (2007–08, 2017–2018)
  • Cross Country (boys): 3rd place (1968–69, 1990–91); 4th place (1997–98)
  • Football: State Champions (1997–98); 2nd place (1996–97); Semifinalists (1999–2000, 2000–01)
  • Golf (boys): 4th place (1984–85)
  • Gymnastics (boys): State Champions (2005–2006, 2010–2011); 2nd place (1996–97)
  • Soccer (boys): 2nd place (1999–2000, 2000–01); 3rd place (2001–02); 4th place (1992–93)
  • Soccer (girls): 2nd place (1998–99, 1999–2000); 4th place (1997–98, 2004–05, 2006–07)
  • Softball: State Champions (2007–08)
  • Track & Field (boys): 3rd place (1996–97)
  • Track & Field (girls): 4th place (1973–74)
  • Volleyball (boys): 4th place (1998–99)
  • Wrestling: 3rd place (2007–08)
  • Water Polo (girls): 2nd place (2012–2013)

Activities and clubs

Notable alumni

References
  1. "District History". Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210. Archived from the original on March 14, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  2. "Administrative Team at Lincoln-Way District". Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210. Archived from the original on October 30, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  3. "Administrative Team at Lincoln-Way Central". Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210. Archived from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  4. "Lincoln-Way Central High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  5. "Lincoln-Way Central High School Illinois School Report Card". Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  6. "LincolnWay Central Loyalty & Fight Song". Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  7. "IHSA Conferences Affiliated Schools". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  8. "LincolnWay Central High School". Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  9. "The Knight Times homepage". Lincoln-Way Central High School. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  10. "LW Central yearbook staff celebrates 60th edition of Aegis" (Press release). Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  11. "LincolnWay Board of Education Votes to Close North". Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  12. "Lincoln-Way School to Lay Stone Today". Chicago Tribune. October 25, 1953. pp. SW A1. ProQuest 178558700.
  13. "LincolnWay Central Athletic Department". Lincoln-Way Central High School. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  14. "School Directory-->Season summaries for Lincoln-Way Central High School". Illinois High School Association (IHSA). Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  15. Milbert, Neil (February 24, 2006). "Banding together for the whole ride: Friends Dee Brown and James Augustine are nearing the end of four great seasons at Illinois". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2009. Illinois will hand out 17,000 headbands ... to honor seniors Dee Brown and James Augustine ... Their paths first crossed during the summer between Augustine's junior and senior year at Lincoln-Way Central
  16. "40 James Augustine". biography. University of Illinois Athletics. Archived from the original on October 26, 2009. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
  17. Whalen, Randy (May 27, 2009). "Lincoln-Way Central Knights". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
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