Kelvyn Park High School


Kelvyn Park High School is a public 4–year high school located in the Hermosa neighborhood on northwest side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Opened in 1933, Kelvyn Park is operated by the Chicago Public Schools district. In addition to being a neighborhood high school, Kelvyn Park also serves as a middle school; serving grades seventh and eighth. As of 2015, Kelvyn Park has a graduation rate of 52.1 percent.

History

Kelvyn Park began as an elementary school in 1918. Before that time, the land contained 19 portable units that were connected to Nixon Elementary School. In 1925, a junior high school was organized in the building to relieve pressure at Carl Schurz High School, which was overcrowded at the time. In 1927, some of the Kelvyn Park elementary students were phased-out to the newly constructed Barry Elementary School. In 1933, Kelvyn Park became a high school; however, elementary students remained until 1936. From its opening, the school had been predominantly populated by Whites; with the overflow of Hispanics migrating into the neighborhood in the early 1970s, the school's Hispanic population increased from 11% to 59% by 1978. Kelvyn Park High has been converted into a 7–12 grade school to compensate for the loss of Ames Middle School which is being converted into the Marine Math and Science Academy. The conversion of Ames is considered controversial among community stakeholders and is currently being contested.

Other Information

Kelvyn Park was the subject of a 1979 WTTW/PBS special called As We See It, a short documentary created by Kelvyn Park students about desegregation and student life at the school. Exterior shots of Kelvyn Park were used as the setting for the WB comedy series The Steve Harvey Show which ran from 1996 until 2002.

Athletics

Kelvyn Park competes in the Chicago Public League and is a member of the Illinois High School Association. Their sport teams are stylized and named the Panthers. Kelvyn Park boys' basketball team were Public League champions in 1942–43.

Clubs and athletics