Wonder how many stories these walls could tell? We are standing before Downers Grove North High School. It is locally known as North. This public four-year high school sits near Main Street and Ogden Avenue. Downers Grove North is part of Community High School District 99.
Let’s journey back to 1928. The original Downers Grove High School was finished then. It welcomed 311 students. The building had 20 classrooms and an auditorium/gymnasium. Additions were made in 1935, 1952, 1976, 1999-2000, 2011-2013 and 2019-2021. The school expanded from 158000 square feet to 480000 square feet.
In 1964, the student body split. Half went to North. The other half went to the newly built Downers Grove South. The auditorium is named after Clarence Johnson. He was the school’s principal for 35 years. Dick Carstens coached football from 1955 to 1985. Downers Grove North’s outdoor stadium is named after him. The theater’s Green Room honors George B. Pappas. He was an English teacher known for his positive spirit.
Downers Grove North competes in the West Suburban Conference. The school’s teams are called the Trojans. Young men can compete in baseball, football and wrestling. Young women can compete in badminton, bowling, cheerleading and softball.
Several teams have excelled. The girls’ badminton team won state championships multiple times. The football team won a state championship in 2004-2005. The girls’ cross country team also claimed state champion titles.
Downers Grove North offers many activities. The student newspaper is called Omega. It has been nationally ranked. The school literary magazine is Northwind. It is published annually.
Downers Grove North has produced notable alumni. Cammi Granato captained the U.S. Olympic hockey team. She led them to a gold medal in 1998. She was inducted into the International Hockey Hall of Fame. Tony Granato played in the NHL and coached the Colorado Avalanche. Tomlinson Holman created the THX Sound System. Jim McDermott represented Washington in Congress. Sherrill Milnes is a baritone opera singer. He performed with the Metropolitan Opera. Lanny Poffo was a professional wrestler known as “The Genius”. Randall Poffo was also a wrestler known as “Macho Man Randy Savage”.
Downers Grove North High School has a rich history. It has a tradition of academic and athletic excellence. The school fosters a “Positively North” culture. Students are respectful, responsible and engaged. The lights of Forest Avenue symbolize education. They represent the door of opportunity for young people. May the lights burn bright for many years.