Establishing a foundation of “high-quality instruction in every classroom every day” for its high school transformation plan more than two years ago, a Waukegan High School with freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors in one building may become a reality during the 2027-2028 school year.
Since the 2017-2018 school year, freshmen and sophomore students have attended the Brookside Campus built in 1974, while juniors and seniors go to the Washington Campus building built more than a century ago.
With the first five years of the transformation plan — which started with the 2022-2023 term — devoted to gathering research and seeking ideas from students, teachers, staff, families and the community, Co-Principal Daniel Hill said the second phase will start after two more years.
Hill and Co-Principal Eric Hamilton gave community members an update and answered questions on the transformation plan Tuesday at the Brookside campus in Waukegan, where the idea of a four-year school was discussed along with other options.
“Transitions are hard,” Hamilton, who oversees the Brookside campus, said. “They go from fifth grade to middle school, from eighth grade to ninth and two years later, they move again.”
During the meeting, several members of the public wanted to know why what was once a four-year high school program was split into two campuses. The pros and cons of each were discussed.
Hill, who is responsible for the Washington campus, said during the meeting nothing was set in stone and all possibilities are on the table. After the meeting, Hill and Hamilton were specifically asked if one or two four-year campuses are a possibility.
“You can flip the high school to a four-year model,” Hill said after the meeting. “As long as you have high-quality instruction in every classroom every day it won’t matter. If you don’t, it will be a problem.”
Since the first phase of the transformation plan began, Hamilton said meetings with people at all levels of the high school community yielded both good procedures which should remain and areas needing improvement. The process will purposely continue for the next two years.
“Each change will go better as long as we do it with them, rather than to them,” Hamilton said after the meeting. “We’re looking to talk to people in smaller groups and keep following up.”
When talking to student groups, Hill said members of the school’s JROTC leadership said finding time during the school day for everyone to be together is a challenge since all four classes participate in the program. Membership has declined in the past few years.
“Now, we don’t have the chance for the younger students to get mentorship from the juniors and seniors,” Hill said. “One student said, ‘I wish I could talk to my former self when I was a freshman.’”
As different high schools in the Chicago area take a variety of approaches to how they are organized, Hamilton said District 60 administrators are looking at different options. Some split students between two campuses, and others operate two four-year high schools.
One parent at the meeting asked what counseling the high school students receive. She is concerned they are not being guided toward a college education.
Hill said the goal is to get students ready for their post-secondary-school lives, whether it is college or the workforce. Hamilton said the goal is success.
“We want them to get the right job and be the best at it,” he said.
Whatever decision is made about the future of Waukegan High School to start the 2027- 2028 school year, Hill said it will be made with all the necessary deliberations. And, it will be closely watched once implemented.
“Once you make a decision, you have to give it time to work,” Hill said. “Two years gives us time to make it well-thought-out. We will leave no stone unturned.”
