West Aurora High School

West Aurora High School is a four-year comprehensive, public high school in Aurora, Illinois. The school is sometimes referred to as "West Side High School," "West High," or "Aurora West" (this last being most frequently used by other schools in the region). "West Aurora High School" or simply "West Aurora" or "WAHS" are the currently accepted names, both by its parent district (the West Aurora School District, which is also known by multiple names) and the city itself.

Related Topics:
Aurora - Illinois

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High school classes were first offered in 1867 at Stone School (now defunct). The first graduating class of five students had their commencement in 1870.

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From 1905 until the 1950s the high school was located in a building (still standing) on Blackhawk Avenue (so named after the school's athletics mascot). This same building was Benjamin Franklin Junior High School until the 1970s, when it was sold to Aurora Christian School, which used it as their school building until 2004. The current WAHS structure was built in the early 1950s, and was dedicated in 1953 as "West Side Senior High." From 1979-1981 the building was briefly known as the "West Aurora South Campus," when two buildings existed on Aurora's west side to house the high school population. The building formerly known as the "West Aurora North Campus" now houses the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. The present building has had multiple additions and renovations. The two largest and most recent projects were completed in 1999 and 2004.

Related Topics:
Benjamin Franklin - Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

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In Athletics, West Aurora High School has competed in the DuPage Valley Conference since 1997, and was a member of the Upstate Eight Conference until 1997.

Related Topics:
DuPage Valley Conference - Upstate Eight Conference

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