Galva High School
Encyclopedia
Galva High School, or GHS, is a public four-year high school
located at 1020 Center Ave. in Galva, Illinois
, a small city
in Galva Township of Henry County, Illinois
, in the Midwestern United States
. GHS is part of Galva Community Unit School District 224, which also includes Galva Junior High School, and Galva Elementary School. The school is combined with the Galva Junior High School to form Galva Junior-Senior High School. However, academics, athletics, and activities remain mostly separate. The campus is 28 miles northeast of Galesburg, Illinois
, 42 miles southeast of Moline, Illinois
, and serves a mixed small city
and rural
residential community. The school is the only high school
in the city
of Galva
. The school is part of the Davenport-Moline
-Rock Island
, IA
-IL
metropolitan statistical area.
and is currently in compliance with state testing and standards. However, the combined scores of both Galva Junior High School and Senior High School students to form a composite rating for AlWood Middle-High school masks the discrepancy between the two. In 2009, 47% of high school students tested met or exceeded state standards on the Prairie State Achievement Examination
, a state test that is part of the No Child Left Behind Act
. In 2009, 87% of junior high school students tested met or exceeded standards on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test
, also a state test that is part of the No Child Left Behind Act
. Many Illinois school districts see a decrease in percentile as grade level increases. However, other high schools in the 47% standards range are not marked as making adequate yearly progress, and have received an Academic Early Warning Status rather than being marked as Fully Recognized. The school's average high school graduation rate between 2000-2009 was 85%.
In 2009, the Galva Junior-Senior High School faculty was 47 teachers, averaging 13.0 years of experience, and of whom 23.5% held an advanced degree. The average high school class size was 12.0 The high school student to faculty ratio was 10.1. The district's instructional expenditure per student was $4,768. Galva Junior-Senior High School enrollment decreased from 356 to 265 (26%) in the period of 1999-2009.
Galva schools installed one of the first solar power generating systems in local area high schools in the fall of 2009.
and is a member school in the Illinois High School Association
. Its mascot is the Wildcat. The school has no state championships on record in IHSA sponsored team athletics and activities.
The Galva High School Dance and Drill Team has won 5 State Championships (2008, 2006, 2005, 2002, 1999) in the Class A Production Category. In 2008, they performed Peter Pan. Since 1994 they have also placed in the state's top 5 in the categories of Kick and Pom. In 2010, they won a state championship in the Class A Musical Theatre category for their performance of Mary Poppins. Galva was the only participant in the category. The Dance and Drill state championship is sponsored by the Illinois Drill Team Association, which is not affiliated with the IHSA.
Brittany Dehler: Played softball for Bradley University
in Peoria for 4 years.
Rich Falk
: Former college basketball coach. He was head coach of the Northwestern Wildcats
team from 1978 to 1986. Currently, Falk is the Associate Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference
.
Steven Schultz, MD: Graduate of Augustana College
, the University of Illinois College of Medicine and the University of Rochester
Pediatric Residency Training Program. Currently a pediatrician for Crusader Health in Rockford, Illinois
.
Ryan M. Holmes, JD: Graduate of Knox College and the Northern Illinois University
College of Law. Currently a partner with Lewis, Overbeck and Furman, LLP in Chicago, Illinois.
Michael R. Hepner, PhD: Graduate of Southern Illinois University
, Indiana State University
and Saint Louis University
. Currently a forensics professor in St. Louis, Missouri
.
Lindsey Hepner-Jackson, PhD: Graduate of Western Illinois University
and Saint Xavier University, wife of NFL Player Frisman Jackson
and psychology professor at the University of Akron
.
Katrina Appell, PhD: Graduate of the University of Illinois and the University of Michigan
. Currently a professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan
.
John Kearsing: Chicago, Illinois area marathon
runner.
Devika Mathur
is a former foreign exghange student at GHS and is currently a popular singer, radio host and voice over artist based in Toronto, Canada
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located at 1020 Center Ave. in Galva, Illinois
Galva, Illinois
Galva is a city in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,589 at the 2010 census, down from 2,758 at the 2000 census.-Information:...
, a small city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Galva Township of Henry County, Illinois
Henry County, Illinois
Henry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 50,486, which is a decrease of 1.0% from 51,020 in 2000. Its county seat is Cambridge...
, in the Midwestern United States
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
. GHS is part of Galva Community Unit School District 224, which also includes Galva Junior High School, and Galva Elementary School. The school is combined with the Galva Junior High School to form Galva Junior-Senior High School. However, academics, athletics, and activities remain mostly separate. The campus is 28 miles northeast of Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....
, 42 miles southeast of Moline, Illinois
Moline, Illinois
Moline is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States, with a population of 45,792 in 2010. Moline is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois and the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa. The Quad Cities has a population of...
, and serves a mixed small city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
and rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
residential community. The school is the only high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in the city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Galva
Galva, Illinois
Galva is a city in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,589 at the 2010 census, down from 2,758 at the 2000 census.-Information:...
. The school is part of the Davenport-Moline
Moline, Illinois
Moline is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States, with a population of 45,792 in 2010. Moline is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois and the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa. The Quad Cities has a population of...
-Rock Island
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
, IA
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
-IL
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
metropolitan statistical area.
Academics
Galva Junior-Senior High School is currently Fully Recognized meaning the school made Adequate Yearly ProgressAdequate Yearly Progress
Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, is a measurement defined by the United States federal No Child Left Behind Act that allows the U.S. Department of Education to determine how every public school and school district in the country is performing academically according to results on standardized...
and is currently in compliance with state testing and standards. However, the combined scores of both Galva Junior High School and Senior High School students to form a composite rating for AlWood Middle-High school masks the discrepancy between the two. In 2009, 47% of high school students tested met or exceeded state standards on the Prairie State Achievement Examination
Prairie State Achievement Examination
The Prairie State Achievement Examination is a two-day standardized test taken by all High School Juniors in the U.S. state of Illinois. On the first day, students take the ACT, and on the second day, a WorkKeys examination and Illinois State Board of Education-developed science examination....
, a state test that is part of the No Child Left Behind Act
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States Act of Congress concerning the education of children in public schools.NCLB was originally proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office...
. In 2009, 87% of junior high school students tested met or exceeded standards on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test
Illinois Standards Achievement Test
The Illinois State Achievement Test measures individual student achievement relative to the Illinois Learning Standards. Results of this score are applied to the No Child Left Behind Act, for purposes of identifying failing schools....
, also a state test that is part of the No Child Left Behind Act
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States Act of Congress concerning the education of children in public schools.NCLB was originally proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office...
. Many Illinois school districts see a decrease in percentile as grade level increases. However, other high schools in the 47% standards range are not marked as making adequate yearly progress, and have received an Academic Early Warning Status rather than being marked as Fully Recognized. The school's average high school graduation rate between 2000-2009 was 85%.
In 2009, the Galva Junior-Senior High School faculty was 47 teachers, averaging 13.0 years of experience, and of whom 23.5% held an advanced degree. The average high school class size was 12.0 The high school student to faculty ratio was 10.1. The district's instructional expenditure per student was $4,768. Galva Junior-Senior High School enrollment decreased from 356 to 265 (26%) in the period of 1999-2009.
Galva schools installed one of the first solar power generating systems in local area high schools in the fall of 2009.
Athletics and Activities
Galva High School competes in the Lincoln Trail ConferenceLincoln Trail Conference
The Lincoln Trail Conference is a high school conference in western central Illinois. The conference participates in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association...
and is a member school in the Illinois High School Association
Illinois High School Association
The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High...
. Its mascot is the Wildcat. The school has no state championships on record in IHSA sponsored team athletics and activities.
The Galva High School Dance and Drill Team has won 5 State Championships (2008, 2006, 2005, 2002, 1999) in the Class A Production Category. In 2008, they performed Peter Pan. Since 1994 they have also placed in the state's top 5 in the categories of Kick and Pom. In 2010, they won a state championship in the Class A Musical Theatre category for their performance of Mary Poppins. Galva was the only participant in the category. The Dance and Drill state championship is sponsored by the Illinois Drill Team Association, which is not affiliated with the IHSA.
Alumni of Note
Galva High School has graduated many students who have went on to success in graduate school and their professional fields, including:Brittany Dehler: Played softball for Bradley University
Bradley University
Bradley University, founded in 1897, is a private, co-educational university located in Peoria, Illinois. It is a small institution with an enrollment of approximately 6,100 undergraduate and postgraduate students and a full-time faculty of approximately 350....
in Peoria for 4 years.
Rich Falk
Rich Falk
Rich Falk is a former college basketball coach. He was head coach of the Northwestern Wildcats team from 1978 to 1986. Currently, Falk is the Associate Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference. His primary responsibilities are men's basketball operations, managing the Big Ten Men's Basketball...
: Former college basketball coach. He was head coach of the Northwestern Wildcats
Northwestern Wildcats
The Northwestern Wildcats are the athletic teams that represent Northwestern University, a founding member of the Big Ten Conference and the only private university in the conference. Northwestern has eight men's and eleven women's Division I sports teams. The mascot is Willie the Wildcat...
team from 1978 to 1986. Currently, Falk is the Associate Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
.
Steven Schultz, MD: Graduate of Augustana College
Augustana College
Augustana College may refer to:*Augustana College *Augustana College *Augustana University College, Alberta...
, the University of Illinois College of Medicine and the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
Pediatric Residency Training Program. Currently a pediatrician for Crusader Health in Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
.
Ryan M. Holmes, JD: Graduate of Knox College and the Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
College of Law. Currently a partner with Lewis, Overbeck and Furman, LLP in Chicago, Illinois.
Michael R. Hepner, PhD: Graduate of Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
, Indiana State University
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
and Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
. Currently a forensics professor in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
.
Lindsey Hepner-Jackson, PhD: Graduate of Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University is a public university founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. Like many similar institutions of the time, Western Illinois State Normal School focused on teacher training for its relatively small body of students. As the normal school grew, it became...
and Saint Xavier University, wife of NFL Player Frisman Jackson
Frisman Jackson
Frisman Jackson is a former American football wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League...
and psychology professor at the University of Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
.
Katrina Appell, PhD: Graduate of the University of Illinois and the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. Currently a professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
John Kearsing: Chicago, Illinois area marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
runner.
Devika Mathur
Devika Mathur
Devika Mathur, is a Mumbai-born , Singer, Radio Jockey and Voice Over Artist based in Toronto, Canada.-Biography:Devika Mathur is a popular radio show host, syndicated in the United States on WorldBand Media. Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Mathur has a masters in clinical psychology and worked...
is a former foreign exghange student at GHS and is currently a popular singer, radio host and voice over artist based in Toronto, Canada