Proviso East High School
Proviso East High School is a public secondary school in Maywood, Illinois which serves the educational needs of Maywood and three other villages within Proviso Township, Cook County, Illinois: Broadview, Forest Park and Melrose Park. It is the original campus of Proviso Township High Schools District 209. Prior to being split into East and Proviso West High School in 1958, East was known as Proviso Township High School. The school is located at the intersection of Madison Street and First Avenue (which is Illinois Route 171 in that part of Maywood).
Proviso East's history in many ways reflects that of some suburban and urban schools in the United States. While initially serving mostly a Caucasian population, as demographic shifts occurred in the post-World War II years, a larger African-American population moved in, triggering violence and white flight from the white populations whose communities had been initially formed through racially discriminatory real estate codes, as well as cultural and systemic racism.
Despite the tensions that occurred in the second half of the twentieth century, the school is known for its extensive list of notable alumni. While perhaps best known for its connection to notable NBA players (Jim Brewer, Michael Finley and Glenn "Doc" Rivers among the more prominent) and other athletes such as Ray Nitschke, the school has seen other alumni achieve well in other areas, such as Civil Rights Activist and Chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party Fred Hampton, businesswoman Sheila Johnson, actor Dennis Franz, musician John Prine, and astronaut Eugene Cernan, the last man to walk on the Moon.
Academics[edit]
Proviso East's class of 2009 had an average composite ACT score of 15.6.[4] 88.3% of the senior class graduated.[4] Proviso 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 four student subgroups met expectations in reading or mathematics.[4] As of 2009, the school is listed as being in its sixth year of academic watch.[4]
Proviso East competes in the West Suburban Conference. The school is also a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), which governs most sports and non-athletic competition in the state. Teams are stylized as the Pirates. Prior to the 1975–76 school year, Proviso East had been an original member of the Suburban League. With the League's end, Proviso East joined the West Suburban Conference, and has remained there ever since.[53]
The school sponsors interscholastic athletic teams for young men and women in: basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. Young men may also compete in baseball, football, and wrestling, while young women may compete in softball.[54]
The following teams have finished in the top four of their respective IHSA state championship tournament or meet:[55]
The wrestling program, as of the end of the 2008–09, is tied for the most state championships and most top four finishes in state history. The program holds the state record for most top 10 finishes.[56]
The baseball team's four state titles tie it with two other schools for the state record.[57]
On October 3, 1934, the school's new stadium was dedicated. While four teams from the school did play, the highlight of the dedication was an exhibition between the Maywood Athletic club football team and the NFL Chicago Cardinals.[58]
In March 1941, the fieldhouse at Proviso East hosted a tennis exhibition featuring the Alice Marble Troupe of Professional Tennis Stars. Among the tennis players in attendance to compete were Donald Budge and Bill Tilden.[59]
The school was the site for the men's and women's volleyball matches at the 1959 Pan American Games.[60]
In December 2020, the District 209 school board approved a $106,400 bid from Chicago-based National Wrecking to demolish the school’s aging football stadium.
In October 2021, Proviso East dedicated their new football stadium, Theresa L. Kelly Stadium, named after the long serving board member of District 209, Theresa L. Kelly.