Carl Schurz High School is a public four-year high school located in the Irving Park neighborhood on the northwest side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. The school is named after German–American Carl Schurz, a statesman, soldier, and advocate of democracy in Germany. The school building, which represents a combination of the Chicago and Prairie schools of architecture, was designed in 1910 by Dwight H. Perkins and designated a Chicago Landmark on December 7, 1979. It is considered one of "150 great places in Illinois" by the American Institute of Architects. The AIA has described the school as Perkins's masterpiece, "an important example of early-twentieth century architecture, utilizing elements of both the Chicago and Prairie schools." In celebration of the 2018 Illinois Bicentennial, Carl Schurz High School was selected as one of the Illinois 200 Great Places by the American Institute of Architects Illinois component (AIA Illinois).
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History
The land upon which the current school is built was purchased in 1908, and is about two blocks south of an older building which was also Carl Schurz High School (located at 2338 N. 41st Court). The final site was approved in October 1908, with an estimated US$500,000 construction cost. Shortly after the school's opening, Carl Schurz's son donated a picture of his father and copies of his father's two published works to the school. The school was formally dedicated on the evening of 18 November 1910, with a presentation of a bust of the school's namesake. Able to accommodate 1,400 students, the building included an assembly hall, gymnasium, foundry, forge, a physiographical lab, and lunchroom.
Schurz High School has a twin on the south side of Chicago. Bowen High School at 2710 E. 89th st. was built using the same design.
Athletics
Schurz competes in the Chicago Public League (CPL) and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA); the organization that governs most athletic and competitive activities in the state. Teams are stylized as the Bulldogs. The following teams finished in the top four of their IHSA sponsored state championship tournament:
Baseball: state champions (1954–55, 1968–69)
Cross country (boys): 4th place (1947–48)
Soccer (boys): 2nd place (1977–78)
Swimming and diving (boys): 3rd place (1946–47)
Notable alumni
Hadley Arkes is a political author and professor.
Camila Ashland, actress (real name Camille Stanczewski), class of 1928
Sybil Bauer was a swimmer who set 23 world records in her career. She won the first ever Olympic gold medal contested in the women's backstroke at the 1924 Summer Olympics.
John William Chapman served as Lieutenant Governor of Illinois (1953–61).
Rey Colón, alderman of the 35th ward of the City of Chicago
Bill Conterio was a soccer player who played professionally in the National Soccer League of Chicago, and played for the United States men's national soccer team at the 1952 and 1956 Olympics.
Ruth Cruz, alderwoman of the 30th ward of the City of Chicago
David Diaz is a boxer who held the WBC world lightweight championship (2006–08).
Adolph Dubs was the United States Ambassador to Afghanistan (1978–79). He was assassinated there, and was not replaced until 2002.
Bruce DuMont is the host of the political radio talk show Beyond the Beltway. He also founded the Museum of Broadcast Communications.
Vincent du Vigneaud was a biochemist who won the 1955 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work in the isolation, identification, and synthesis of oxytocin.
Ed Earle played basketball for the Syracuse Nationals of the NBL (1953–54).