Wikipedia

Fenwick High School (Oak Park, Illinois)

Fenwick High School is a private Catholic college preparatory school located in Oak Park, a town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Fenwick was founded in 1929[2] and is a ministry of the Province of St. Albert the Great (Dominican Friars). It is the only school directly operated and staffed by the Order of Preachers (Dominican friars) in the United States.[3] It is named in honor of the first bishop of Cincinnati, Dominican friar Edward Dominic Fenwick, O.P..

Fenwick High School
Location
Map
505 Washington Boulevard

Oak Park
,
Illinois
60302

United States
41°52′52″N 87°47′19″W / 41.881°N 87.7886°W / 41.881; -87.7886
Information
TypePrivate secondary
MottoVeritas
Religious affiliation
Roman Catholic
Opened1929
OversightArchdiocese of Chicago
PresidentOtto Rutt
Principal
John Finan
Teaching staff
87.4 (on an FTE basis)[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,101[1] (2021–22)
Student to teacher ratio
12.6[1]
CampusLarge suburb[1]
ColorsBlack and white    
Athletics conference
Chicago Catholic League & Girls Catholic Athletic Conference
NicknameFriars
PublicationTouchstone
NewspaperThe Wick
YearbookBlackfriars Yearbook
AffiliationDominicans
Websitefenwickfriars.com

Retired Marine Corps Col. Otto J. Rutt, a Harvard University graduate and Fenwick alumnus, became the school's first lay president in November 2024.[4]

History

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Bishop Edward D. Fenwick, the namesake of Fenwick High School
Fenwick's school chapel with stained glass windows created by Rinaldo Angelo Zarlenga, O.P., a Dominican Blackfriar from Rome, Italy

Fenwick High School was founded as an all-boys college preparatory high school in 1929 by the Catholic Order of Dominican Fathers and Brothers of the Province of St. Joseph.

Since its founding, Fenwick has maintained a strict dress code which includes slacks, dress shirts and ties for the boys, and plaid skirts for the girls. During assemblies, all students are required to wear blazers and boys are additionally required to wear ties.

Fenwick was originally intended to be a prep school for matriculation to the University of Notre Dame in the Midwest and Georgetown University on the East Coast, similar to Phillips Academy Andover's matriculation to Yale, Portsmouth Abbey School's matriculation to Fordham University and Boston College and Phillips Exeter Academy's matriculation to Harvard. Today, Fenwick's students matriculate to many top American and international universities.[5]

In 1939, the St. Joseph Province was divided and Fenwick High School became part of the new Province of St. Albert the Great, with headquarters in Chicago.

Fenwick became coeducational in 1992, rather than raise tuition costs or see enrollment decline.[6] Fenwick's first coeducational graduating class, was led by valedictorian Bridgid Esposito, one of the few girls in her class.

Today, Fenwick is known as a secondary school.

Students have access to many athletic facilities, including a baseball field, two football fields, a softball diamond, a pool, and a soccer field on the campus of Fenwick's Dominican Priory in the nearby suburb of River Forest.

Since its founding, Fenwick has maintained a 100% college matriculation rate.[7]

In 1983, Fenwick was selected by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School.[8] On January 18, 1999, U.S. News & World Report classified Fenwick as an "Outstanding American High School", making Fenwick tied for the #1 ranked preparatory school in the Chicago area.[7] 290 of the 211 students in the 2009 graduating class received 718 academic scholarships to top universities around the country, with the monetary value of these awards in excess of $16,000,000 (up from $13,900,000 in 2007–2008, $12,555,800 in 2006–2007 and 9,370,000 in 2005–2006). The 2009 graduating class also boasted 187 Presidential Scholars and 30 National Merit finalists, with 22 others receiving commendation for being named to the top 5% in the nation.[5]: 26  Fenwick's 2010–2011 class achieved $40,000,000 in merit based scholarships.[9] As of 2025, Fenwick is currently ranked in the top five Catholic high schools in Illinois.

Around the time Fenwick started admitting girls, there was a proposal to officially move classes to the school's priory in River Forest, or construct a brand new school in collaboration with nearby Trinity High School, its all-girls counterpart run by the Dominican Sisters.[3] The idea almost passed, but was dropped when Fenwick insisted on maintaining complete control over the standards of the new school. Instead, Fenwick has commenced several expansion campaigns at their present location in Oak Park based around their original neo-Gothic designed school created by the New York architect Wilfred E. Anthony, who also redesigned the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Indiana for the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.[10] The latest expansions include: a new field house with a 1,100-seat gymnasium and a 450-seat natatorium; several new classrooms and updated athletic lockers; a new school entrance and gateway inspired by the Arch at Northwestern University; and additional science laboratories and art studios, all of which are in keeping with the original Neo-Gothic look of Fenwick's school and priory.[11]

Fenwick is the only high school in the United States owned and operated by the Dominican Order.[3]

Academics

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Fenwick's Gothic Tower

The first sentence of the school's philosophy statement, defines the school as a "college preparatory high school".[12] Students are required to study four years of theology, English, mathematics, and a foreign language in order to graduate.[13]

As a part of the third-year theology course, students are required to plan and conduct a "Christian Service Project". The project requires a minimum of thirty hours of service, no more than 20 of which may be completed prior to the start of the student's junior year.[14]

The school offers AP Calculus BC, and gives students the option to take either the "AB" or "BC" test at the end of the year. Beyond AP Calculus, the school offers courses in multivariable calculus, linear algebra and differential equations.[15]

Extracurricular achievements

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Athletics

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The Fenwick Friars compete in two conferences. Male teams compete in the Chicago Catholic League (CCL), and female teams compete in the East Suburban Catholic Conference. The school competes in state championship series sponsored by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).

Fenwick's football team playing in the Prep Bowl at Soldier Field

Prior to the institution of a state playoff system for football in the 1970s, Fenwick competed to play in the Prep Bowl, which pitted the champions of the CCL against the champion of the Chicago Public League. Fenwick won two Prep Bowl titles at the game's usual home of Soldier Field. The first was in 1945, when a crowd of 80,000 fans saw Fenwick defeat Tilden High School, 20–6. The second was in 1962, and saw Fenwick defeat Schurz High School, 40–0. The win not only capped an undefeated season, but was played before over 91,000 fans; the third-largest crowd to witness a high school football game in Illinois history. The 1945 game is tied for seventh in terms of crowd size.[16] The Prep Bowl has continued as a separate competition since the introduction of the statewide playoff, for teams which do not make those playoffs or are eliminated early, and Fenwick has won it in 1991 and 2010.[17]

Sports Illustrated included Bishop Fenwick in its 2007 list of the "top high schools in each of the 50 states and D.C.", recognizing Fenwick as having the best athletic program in Illinois.[18] Fenwick's 2006–2007 swimming and swim/polo teams produced 12 NISCA Academic All-American athletes.[19][20] For 2009, two state championships were achieved in water polo, 11 regional, sectional or supersectional championships were earned, along with 15 conference titles. There were also 17 All-State athletes, 19 All-American athletes and 12 All-Academic athletes named. Five students were granted NCAA athletic scholarships.[21]

Non-athletic activities

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Fenwick's academic teams are also highly competitive. The Math Team was state champion[22][23] in 2002, in large part to the great teaching[promotion?] of Roger Finnell, a teacher there for 50 years now[as of?], and has also been[as of?] the highest scoring private school in the AA Division for 14 years in a row.[24][failed verification] 2009 marks the 16th consecutive year for Fenwick's Math Team to qualify for state.[25][additional citation(s) needed]

The Wick (school newspaper), The Blackfriars Yearbook, and the Touchstone (literary magazine) have all been recognized with awards by the American Scholastic Press Association. The 2006–2007 edition of Touchstone was awarded first place with special honors by the American Scholastic Press Association, placing Fenwick's publication at the top 5% of all high school literary publications in the country. Touchstone has earned 970/1000 possible points by the American Scholastic Press Association, thereby allowing it to be a contender for the "Most Outstanding High School Literary and Art Magazine".[26][27]

Notable alumni

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Public service and politics

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Arts, sciences, and letters

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Athletics and gaming

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Business and industry

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Notable staff

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 "Search for Private Schools - School Detail for Fenwick High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  2. ↑ Fandal, Damian (September 26, 1978). "To a Fenwick High School Assembly". Sermons, Lectures and Notes. www.op.org. Ordo Preadicatorum / the Order of Preachers (the Dominicans). Archived from the original on December 9, 2006. Retrieved May 29, 2007.
  3. 1 2 3 "Ministries – Dominican Vocations". Province of St. Albert the Great. 2006. Archived from the original on January 16, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  4. ↑ Baker, Hope (October 21, 2024) [Updated October 24, 2024]. "Fenwick High School names first lay president". Wednesday Journal (of Oak Park and River Forest). NEWSWELL.
  5. 1 2 Dixon, Robert (Fall 2007). The Magazine. Oak Park, Il. {{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[full citation needed]
  6. ↑ "Fenwick High to Open Doors to Girls". Chicago Tribune. December 1, 1990.
  7. 1 2 Private Independent Schools (60th ed.). Wallingford, CT: Bunting & Lyon Inc. 2007. ISBN 978-0-913094-60-0.
  8. ↑ "Blue Ribbon Schools Program: 1982–1983 through 1999–2002" (PDF). U.S. Department of Education. 2002. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 26, 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  9. ↑ "About Fenwick scition: Welcome to Fenwick High School Home of the Friars".
  10. ↑ Hope, Arthur J. (1999). The Story of Notre Dame – 100 years – via University of Notre Dame Archives.
  11. ↑ Mitchell, L. (May 15, 2007). "Fenwick High School: New Field House and Renovations" (PDF). Project Management Advisors, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
  12. ↑ "School Philosophy". Fenwick High School. Archived from the original on April 2, 2007.
  13. ↑ "Student Handbook" (PDF). Fenwick High School. pp. 27–28. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 27, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Christian Service Project". Fenwick High School. Archived from the original on February 26, 2005.
  15. ↑ "Course selection guide". Fenwick High School. Archived from the original on April 2, 2003.
  16. ↑ "IHSA Boys Football All-Time General Records". Illinois High School Association. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  17. ↑ "CPS Prep Bowl History Page" (PDF). Prep Bowl: Catholic League vs. Public League. cpsathletics.com. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  18. ↑ Armstrong, Kevin (June 19, 2007) [Posted: Tuesday June 19, 2007 12:23PM; Updated: Monday June 25, 2007 12:30PM]. "Best in state: The top high schools in each of the 50 states and D.C." SI.com. Time Inc. & CNN. Archived from the original on December 9, 2007. See also https://www.si.com/high-school/stats/illinois/schools/766-fenwick, operated in partnership with SBLive Sports.
  19. ↑ "2006–2007 NISCA/Speedo Boys High School Academic All-America". National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association. August 14, 2007. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2008. 7 boys listed.
  20. ↑ "2006–2007 NISCA/Speedo Girls High School Academic All-America". National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association. August 14, 2007. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2008. 5 girls listed.
  21. ↑ Fenwick, The Magazine, Summer 2009.[full citation needed]
  22. ↑ Woolsey, Josh (March 6, 2007). "Atlantic-Pacific Contest Results (Division Update)" (PDF). Atlantic-Pacific Mathematics League. p. 3. Retrieved June 10, 2007. [dead link] See also https://web.archive.org/web/20071015040222/http://www.atpacmath.com/.
  23. ↑ "Atlantic Pacific (At-Pac) Math League". NEST+m Math Team. See results table. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
  24. ↑ Annual Report (Report). Evanston: National Merit Scholarship Corporation. 2006.[page needed]
  25. ↑ Dixon, Robert (2008). The Magazine. Oak Park. {{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[full citation needed]
  26. ↑ Dixon. The Magazine. Oak Park, Il. {{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[full citation needed]
  27. ↑ "Annual Contest/Review for Scholastic Yearbooks, Magazines and Newspapers" (Press release). American Scholastic Press Association. 2007. Archived from the original on January 1, 2008. Retrieved June 10, 2007.
  28. ↑ "Biography of Senator Cronin". senatorcronin.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008.
  29. ↑ Dan, O'Brien (1999). Fenwick, Over the Years. Wheeling, Illinois: Northern Printing Network.
  30. ↑ "USAAF Aces & Legends: William J. Cullerton". U.S. Army Air Force Resource Center.
  31. ↑ O'Donnell, Maureen (January 14, 2013). "William J. Cullerton, Chicago's top flying ace of World War II, dies at 89". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Dr. Joseph Kerwin". Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest. Archived from the original on July 3, 2008. Retrieved August 16, 2008.
  33. ↑ "Joseph P. Kerwin Hall of Fame biography". Friarsonline.com. Retrieved August 16, 2008.[dead link]
  34. ↑ "Pat Quinn Hall of Fame bio". Friarsonline.com. Retrieved August 16, 2008.[dead link]
  35. ↑ Bowley, Graham; Davey, Monica (April 9, 2013). "Young U.S. Diplomat Remembered as 'One of the Best'". The New York Times.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Fenwick: Friars a perennial powerhouse". Chicago Sun-Times. May 30, 2007. Archived from the original on July 4, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2007.
  37. ↑ "Philip Caputo Hall of Fame bio". Friarsonline.com. Retrieved August 16, 2008.[dead link]
  38. ↑ "Patrick Creadon Hall of Fame biography". Friarsonline.com. Retrieved August 16, 2008.[dead link]
  39. ↑ "Aimee Garcia Hall of Fame biography". Friarsonline.com. Retrieved August 16, 2008.[dead link]
  40. ↑ "Bates Battaglia [Toronto Maple Leafs] Player Page". SI.com. Time Inc. & CNN. STATS LLC. November 25, 2007. Archived from the original on January 30, 2008. Retrieved August 16, 2008.
  41. ↑ Sassone, Tim (March 9, 2000). Written at Raleigh, N.C.. "Blackhawks totally lacking in 4-1 loss to Hurricanes". Sports : Blackhawks Notes. Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, IL: Paddock Publications. p. 3. Gale A61709112. NewsBank 0ECF190B9157232B. ProQuest 312231773.
  42. ↑ Reaven, Steve (July 26, 2021). "'He's put himself on the map': Fenwick's Ryan Fitzgerald continues to make strides at plate while playing stellar shortstop at Double-A in Red Sox system". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  43. ↑ "Bryce Hopkins named 2020–21 MaxPreps Illinois High School Basketball Player of the Year". MaxPreps. March 23, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  44. ↑ "John J. Lattner Fenwick Hall of Fame bio". Friarsonline.com. Retrieved August 16, 2008.[dead link]
  45. ↑ Stablein, Tim (August 29, 2007). "Setting the standard". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008.
  46. ↑ "John Lattner". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved August 16, 2008.
  47. ↑ Profile Archived February 2, 2018, at the Wayback Machine at purduesports.com
  48. ↑ "Scottie Lindsey College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  49. ↑ WNBA Rookie Profile
  50. ↑ "Corey Maggette Hall of Fame bio". Friarsonline.com. Retrieved August 16, 2008.[dead link]
  51. ↑ "Corey Maggette career stats". NBA.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved August 16, 2008.
  52. ↑ "Fenwick alumni update on Ben Pozio". Friarsonline.com. Retrieved August 16, 2008.[dead link]
  53. ↑ "Ben Ponzio - Poker Player". PokerListings.com.
  54. ↑ "Mike Rabold Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards". DatabaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2006.
  55. ↑ "Dave Schrage Hall of Fame bio". Friarsonline.com. Retrieved August 16, 2008.[dead link]
  56. ↑ "Dave Schrage Bio". The Official Site of Notre Dame Athletics. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on September 5, 2017.
  57. ↑ "Ken Sitzberger Hall of Fame bio". Friarsonline.com. Retrieved August 16, 2008.[dead link]
  58. ↑ "Ken Sitzberger bio". International Swimming Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved August 16, 2008.
  59. ↑ "Mike Smith College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  60. ↑ "Robert Spillane (LB): Bio, News, Stats & more". Pittsburgh Steelers. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023.
  61. ↑ "Marques Sullivan Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards". DatabaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2010.
  62. ↑ Demott, John S. (May 20, 1985). "Calling It Quits". Time. Archived from the original on October 14, 2007.
  63. ↑ "Edward Brennan Hall of Fame bio". friarsonline.com.[dead link]
  64. ↑ "Former Sears CEO Edward Brennan dies at 73". USA Today. December 29, 2007.
  65. ↑ "A.G. Lafley bio" (PDF). PG.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 23, 2015.
  66. ↑ "A.G. Lafley Hall of Fame bio". friarsonline.com.[dead link]
  67. ↑ "Michael Quinlan Hall of Fame bio". friarsonline.com.[dead link]
  68. ↑ "Michael R. Quinlan bio". Forbes.com.[dead link]
  69. ↑ "Wisconsin Approaches Coryell for Grid Coach". Chicago Tribune. December 5, 1969. p. C1. ProQuest 168960005. It was revealed earlier today that Hirsch also talked with UCLA Assistant Coach John Jardine ... Before that, he coached at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Ill. and compiled a 51–6–1 record ...[dead link]

Additional information

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