Chicago (population 2.8 million) is located in northeastern Illinois in eastern Cook County. Lake Michigan, the Chicago and Illinois Rivers, and the Des Plaines River are the main waterways to and from town. Interstates 55, 57, 90, and 94 will all lead you to the “Windy City.” From what started as a small village in the early 1800’s, Chicago has grown to the nation’s third largest city and one of the most famous places in the world.
The following history of Luther North High School was located on the school’s website prior to its closing.
“For a century Luther High School North has contributed to church and society. In the early 1900’s a group of first and second generation German Lutheran immigrants who had settled in various parts of the metropolitan area combined their resources to establish one of the first Lutheran high schools in the world (preceded only by the Milwaukee Lutheran High School, 1903.) The concept of a group of local congregations pooling their resources to provide an education beyond elementary school was unique and exciting.
Luther High School North originated as Luther Institute, located until the early 1950’s on Woods Street on the west side of Chicago’s Loop. The proud traditions held even today by the graduates of that school evidence the power of the Spirit as many laymen and women, clergy and commissioned teachers trace their roots to Luther Institute. So valued was that tradition, that when the building in which Luther Institute was housed was scheduled for an urban renewal project, the city of Chicago working with congregations wisely planned new locations to accommodate the burgeoning Lutheran community. Of the three emergent Lutheran high schools in the Chicago area, Luther North was the first and largest, opening its doors in 1953.
The present location (5700 West Berteau) of Luther North has served both the north and northwest sides of the Chicago community and also the north and northwest suburban community for over 50 years. Growing with the population, Luther North by the late 1960’s exceeded even the largest years of Luther Institute’s student enrollment. By 1971, Luther High School North (built for 1000 potential students) had grown to almost 1400 students and was the largest Lutheran high school in the world.
The almost 10,000 graduates of Luther North have built a legacy of academic excellence, spiritual growth, and athletic and fine arts achievements.”
The amazing years of positive growth and enrollment at Luther North High School began to decline in the late 1990’s. By the early 2000’s enrollment had dipped to 300 students. By the start of the 2016-17 school year that number had reached 170 students. This decrease in enrollment led to financial distress for the school. It was determined that at the end of the 2016-17 school year that Luther North High School would be closed.
Luther North High School enjoyed many great seasons of both girls and boys athletics. Many conference championships were won over the years in many sporting events. The Luther North girls track & field team saved the best for the end of the school’s existence. In what may have been the school’s final athletic event the girls track and field team won the Illinois High School Association Class 1A State Championship!!
The athletic team accomplishments as located on the IHSA website are listed below.
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GIRLS TRACK & FIELD
The Luther North High School girls track team ensured the school would close with the same pride that it started with. The girls won the IHSA Class 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP in their final meet. Coach David Grim led the Wildcat track team for at least 23 years, producing several individual and relay team state meet medalists. Team and individual accomplishments as located on the IHSA website are listed below.
1973-74 440 Yard Relay Team – 6th Place Coach Carol Schultz
1988-89 IHSA State Finals Class A 4th Place! Coach Dave Grim
Individual Medalist
Latrice Goodman- 15th Place!
1989-90 IHSA State Finals Class A 9th Place! Coach Dave Grim
Individual Medalist
Kim Kotowski – 22nd Place!
1990-91 Team Qualified for Class A Finals Coach Dave Grim
1992-93 IHSA Class A Regional Champs Coach Dave Grim
1993-94 IHSA State Finals Class A 6th Place! Coach Dave Grim
IHSA Class A Regional Champs
1994-95 IHSA State Finals Class A 10th Place! Coach Dave Grim
1998-99 IHSA Class A Individual Medalist Coach Dave Grim
Tracy Fleischhacker – 20th Place!
1999-00 IHSA Class A Individual Medalist Coach Dave Grim
Tracy Fleischhacker – 7th Place!
2000-01 IHSA Class A Regional Champs Coach Dave Grim
Individual Medalist
Tracy Fleischhacker – 13th Place!
2001-02 IHSA Class A Regional Champs Coach Dave Grim
2003-04 IHSA Class A Individual Medalist Coach Dave Grim
Britta Helwig – 17th Place!
2004-05 IHSA Class A Regional Champs Coach Dave Grim
Individual Medalist
Britta Helwig – 11th Place!
2005-06 IHSA Class A Regional Champs Coach Dave Grim
Individual Medalist
Britta Helwig – 15th Place!
2006-07 Team Qualified for Class A Finals Coach Dave Grim
IHSA Class A Regional Champs
2009-10 IHSA Class A Individual Medalist Coach Dave Grim
Stephanie Simpson – 20th Place!
2010-11 IHSA Class A Individual Medalist Coach Dave Grim
Stephanie Simpson – 17th Place!
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GIRLS SOFTBALL
1985-86 IHSA Class A Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed
1986-87 IHSA Class A Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed
1989-90 IHSA Class A Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed
2008-09 IHSA Class 2A Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed
2013-14 IHSA Class 1A Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed
2014-15 IHSA Class 1A Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed
2015-16 IHSA Class 1A Regional Champs Coach Chuck Gross – record needed
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GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
1974-75 IHSA Class 1A District Champs Coach’s name & record needed
1985-86 IHSA Class A Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed
1995-96 IHSA Class A Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed
1996-97 IHSA Class A Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed
2011-12 IHSA Class 1A Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed
2012-13 IHSA Class 1A Regional Champs Coach’s name & record needed
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BOYS WRESTLING
1990-91 IHSA Class A Individual Medalist Coach’s name & record needed
Brian Gurley – 171 lbs. Weight Class – 2ND Place
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NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE
If you have information to share regarding Chicago Luther North High School and its many great years of service, we are hopeful that you will share it with us. Photos of teams and the school building along with the fight song, and many more bits of information would be interesting and fun to share. You can e-mail these items to us at ihsgdwebsite@comcast.net or you can write to us at:
