Hirsch High School Celebrates 100 Years

Photo provided by Chicago Public Schools
Photo provided by Chicago Public Schools

Hirsch High School Celebrates 100 Years

By Tia Carol Jones

Emil G. Hirsch Metropolitan High School, located at 7740 S. Ingleside, is celebrating its 100th year anniversary. The school, which is located in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood, opened in 1926. It began as a junior high school, serving students from seventh-ninth grade.

In 1933, Hirsch became a high school, serving students from ninth to twelfth grade. During Black History Month in February, Hirsch recognized its 100 years with t-shirts that read ‘100’ to celebrate the school’s anniversary and the 100th year anniversary of Black History Month.

Tiffany Gore is the Principal at Hirsch. She said the school is predominantly African American with about 93-95% students who are African American and about 7% of the school’s population is Latino. She said the school serves students from Auburn Gresham, East Chatham, parts of Avalon Park and parts of Woodlawn. To celebrate the commemoration of Hirsch’s 100-year milestone, there will be a luncheon in April, with alumni, faculty and staff. Parents are also invited to attend.

Gore said it is heartfelt and overwhelming to celebrate the school’s anniversary. When she became the principal two years ago, she was aware of the impending anniversary. Now that it is the anniversary year, she said it is more important to commemorate the anniversary and relay the importance of it to the students.

She said the school is very important to the community and the alum, some of whom still live in the neighborhood where the school is located. She said some of them have lived in the neighborhood for more than 30 years. Gore said the students have been shocked to learn the school is 100 years old. She said so much has changed with the school and the community throughout the years.

“The alumni is quite proud of the school being 100 years old. They speak of it often, they’re proud of the history and the fact that Hirsch is the first city school to win a State Championship in basketball,” said Norman Moore, a Social Science Teacher at Hirsch High School.

Moore added that the alumni also have a lot of pride in the Greater Grand Crossing community. He said any time he wears any paraphernalia with Hirsch High School on it, he gets stopped by people who want to talk about the school. He said the alumni in the community are happy to hear about the good things that are going on at the school. Gore said that Hirsch alum have been giving back to the school in various ways. They are proud to make contributions to the school.

Gore said that community partnerships with entities like New Life Church have been beneficial. New Life Church recently helped to rebuild the school’s clothing closet and also donated meals to the school for its Black History Month celebration. The school is also partnering with the local Park District and Alderman’s office, with the goal to make a better Greater Grand Crossing. The school is also rebuilding its athletics program, bringing back its girls volleyball team, the boys and girls basketball teams and participation in track and field.

“We’re truly trying to change our culture,” Gore said. The school’s theme is RISE UP: Respect, Integrity, Self-Discipline, Excellence, Unity and Perseverance. It is something the faculty and staff talk to the students about all the time. Students are also encouraged to voice their ideas and opinions on what they envision for the school.

Gore said that the school offers dual enrollment credits in an effort to change the students’ mindset around careers. She said the school has provided opportunities for the students to attend trade fairs. As a result, there is a student in the plumbing union and two students are in the People’s Gas internship program. She said that while she is the principal, she could not do as much as she does at the school without her staff. She said with that type of support, they help to see the vision go through. She said that Hirsch is making some great strides in moving forward.

For more information about Hirsch High School, visit www.hirschmetrohs.org.

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