| The History of Chicago Quigley Prepartory High School
Chicago (population 2.7 million) is located in Cook County in the far northeastern portion of Illinois. Chicago is the third largest in the United States of America. What started as a small village on the shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago has become one of the most well-known cities on the world. Ethnicity and religion have always played a big role in the growth and development of Chicago. This also holds true in te development of Chciago’s schools. The catholic faith has been responsible for a vast amount of elementary schools and high schools being developed to educate its parishes children. It also was responsible for the development of a seminary to develop young men to lead the catholic parishes of the future. Quigley Preparatory Seminary was this school. Quigley Preparatory Seminary was the idea of Archbishop James Quigley (http://www.quigley.org/aboutq/heritage.html) . Archbishop Quigley began plans for the Seminary in 1905. His plans were not carried through until 1918, three years after his death. Quigley Seminary flourished for several decades in downtown Chicago. The all-boys school once supported a student body of over 1,300. The school became so popular that in 1961 it was decided to develop a second school on the city’s south side. Chicago Quigley Preparatory Seminary South was developed and the name of Quigley Prep was changed to Chicago Quigley Preparatory Seminary North. The church supported both schools through the late 1980s. In 1989 it was decided to return to the one school system. The school in downtown Chicago returned to being called Chicago Quigley Preparatory Seminary while the southside school was sold and became St. Rita High School. Chicago Quigley Prep continued to educate young men and prepare them for college life as well as, for some, the priesthood. Falling enrollment and financial worries plagued the school through the early 2000s. It was decided that the school could no longer support itself in 2006. The decision was made to close Quigley Prep after 88 years of existence at the close of the 2006-07 school year. Chicago Quigley Preparatory High School Quick Facts Year opened: 1918 Year name changed to Quigley North: 1961 Year became Quigley Prep again: 1989 Year closed: 2007 Quigley Prep team nickname: the “Pheonix” Quigley Prep team colors: Blue & White School Fight Song: |
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