The History of Peoria Quest Charter High School
Peoria (population 110,460) is located in the upper central portion of Illinois in the lower eastern portion of Peoria County along the banks of the Illinois River. Peoria was first settled in the 1690s. Peoria County was established in 1825. The city was named after a Native American tribe of the same name. The tribe was a member of the Illinois Confederation. Peoria has a long and storied history. Many highways, railways, and waterways take you to and from Peoria. Interstate Highway 74 passes through the heart of Peoria.
Quest Charter Academy opened in 2010 in the former Loucks School building in Peoria as an academically focused school which had only grades 5 – 7 that first year. In 2012 a freshman class was begun. The school enjoyed it’s first high school graduation for seniors after the 2014-15 school year. Quest Academy educated high school-aged students for the next 9 years. Though a primarily public school, the institution began having difficulties maintaining a consistent staff and was experiencing overall financial difficulty. The Peoria School Board voted to close Quest Academy after the 2023-2024 school year.
The Quest Charter Academy school building still stands and is used for other educational purposes.
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Peoria Quest Charter Academy High School Quick Facts
Year opened as grades 5 – 7 school: 2010
Year Freshman HS courses began: 2011-12
Year of First Graduating Senior Class: 2014-15
Year Quest Academy Closed: 2024
Quest Academy Team Mascot: “Gators”
Quest Academy Sports Teams’ Uniform Colors: Blue, Orange, & Black
Quest Academy School Fight Song: (needed)
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ATHLETICS
The Peoria Quest “Gators” definitely competed in interscholastic athletics. Boys basketball, football, track, and baseball were offered for certain. If you have any information regarding any of these or other acitivities offered at Peoria Quest Charter Academy High School please email us at the following address:
IHSGDWEBSITE@COMCAST.NET
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BOYS BASKETBALL
2014-15 IHSA Class ‘1A’ Regional Tournament Season Record & Coach’s Name Needed.
1st Rd lost to Elmwood 50-38
Elmwood lost to Brimfield in Semi-Final Round.
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2015-16 IHSA Class ‘1A’ Regional Champions Season Record & Coach’s Name Needed.
IHSA Class ‘1A’ Abingdon Regional Tournament
Semi-Final Beat Biggsville West Central 50-35
Title Game Beat Delevan 43-42
IHSA Class ‘1A’ Bushnell Sectional Tournament
Semi-Final Beat Payson Seymour 60-58
Title Game lost to Liberty 71-62
Liberty placed 3rd in State Tournament
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2016-17 IHSA Class ‘1A’ Regional Champions Season Record & Coach’s Name Needed.
IHSA Class ‘1A’ Regional Tournament Champions
Semi-Final Beat Peoria Heights 53-40
Title Game Beat Bushnell-Prairie City 62-49
IHSA Class ‘1A’ Sectional Tournament
Semi-Final Beat Pleasant Hill 74-61
Title Game lost to Mendon Unity 62-52
Mendon Unity lost in Elite 8 Round in State Tournament
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2017-18 IHSA Class ‘1A’ Regional Champions Season Record & Coach’s Name Needed.
IHSA Class ‘1A’ Regional Tournament Champions
Semi-Final Beat Brimfield 51-46
Title Game Beat Abingdon-Avon 59-39
IHSA Class ‘1A’ Sectional Tournament Champions
Semi-Final Beat Payson Seymour 83-61
Title Game Beat Mt. Sterling Brown County 70-56
IHSA Super Sectional – ELITE 8 FINALIST
Lost to Okawville 65-64
Okawville won IHSA Class ‘1A State Championship
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2018-19 IHSA Class ‘2A’ Regional Runner-Up Season Record & Coach’s Name Needed.
1st Rd Beat Manito Midwest Central 74-46
Semi-Final Beat Deer Creek Mackinaw 36-35
Title Game lost to Tremont 65-56
Tremont lost in 1st Rd of Sectional.
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2019-20 IHSA Class ‘1A’ Regional Champions Season Record & Coach’s Name Needed.
IHSA Class ‘1A’ Regional Tournament Champions
Semi-Final Beat Woodhull Alwood 57-53
Title Game Beat Abingdon-Avon 57-43
IHSA Class ‘1A’ Sectional Tournament
Semi-Final lost to Athens 67-60
Athens lost in Elite 8 Round.
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2020-21 Covid Pandemic – IHSA Tournament Not Held.
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2021-22 IHSA Class ‘1A’ Regional Tournament Season Record & Coach’s Name Needed.
1st Rd Beat Kewanee Wethersfield 52-43
Semi-Final lost to Woodhull Alwood 88-83
Woodhull Alwood lost in Regional title game.
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2022-23 IHSA Class ‘1A’ Regional Tournament Season Record & Coach’s Name Needed.
1st Rd lost to Peoria Heights 59-48
Peoria Heights lost in Regional semi-final round.
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2023-24 IHSA Class ‘1A’ Regional Tournament Season Record & Coach’s Name Needed.
1st Rd Beat Cuba 75-34
**Semi-Final lost Glasford Illini Bluffs 64-53
Glasford Illini Bluffs lost in Elite 8 Round.
**Final Varsity Boys Basketball Game for Peoria Quest Charter Academy High School.
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FOOTBALL
Quest Academy joined in a co-op agreement with Peoria Heights for at least the 2015-16 season. It is likely the co-op lasted for several more years however this information is needed. The Peoria Heights – Quest Charter Academy team of 2015-16 faired well and made it to the IHSA Class ‘3A’ Playoffs.
2015-16 5 – 5 IHSA Class ‘3A’ Playoff Qualifier Coach Jon Adkins
1st Rd lost to Wilmington 55-13
Wilmington lost in 2nd Rd.
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Work in Progress.
