Farmington Central High School (Illinois)
Encyclopedia
Farmington Central High School, or FCHS, is a public four-year high school
located at 310 North Lightfoot Road across the Peoria County
line from Farmington, Illinois
, a town
of Fulton County, Illinois
. FCHS is part of Farmington Central Community Unit School District 265, which also includes Farmington Central Junior High School, and Farmington Central Elementary School. The campus is just east of Farmington, 20 miles (32.2 km) west of Peoria, Illinois
, and serves a mixed town
and rural
residential community.
in 2009 on the Prairie State Achievement Examination
, a state test that is part of the No Child Left Behind Act
. The school's average high school graduation rate between 2000–2009 was 89%.
The district's faculty is 85 teachers, averaging 15.0 years of experience, and of whom 29% hold an advanced degree. The district's instructional expenditure per student is $3,467.
The average high school class size is 13.0. The high school student to faculty ratio is 16.8. High school enrollment increased from 413 to 436 (6%) in the period of 1999—2009.
Farmington Central High School was a recipient of an Illinois Honor Roll Academic Improvement Award in 2008. The Illinois State Board of Education in partnership with Northern Illinois University delivers three kinds of awards to recognize schools that demonstrate exemplary academic performance. These awards make up the Illinois Honor Roll. The Academic Improvement Award recognizes schools that have sustained an upward trend in test scores for at least three years and showed a 7.5 point increase this year or a 15 point increase in test scores over the past three years.
. Its mascot is the Farmer. The school has 2 state championships on record in team athletics and activities, both in Girl's Softball (1988–89 & 1990–91).
now attend Farmington Central High School. Prior to this consolidation, Yates City High School existed since 1856, with their last high school building built in 1928. Yates City's failed attempts to consolidate with Elmwood eventually resulted in the consolidation with Farmington.
was a log cabin built on the outskirts of Farmington in 1833. The crudely built facilities did not last long and were constantly replaced. Over time, the one room school houses became crowded and demanded that more advanced facilities be built.
The first of these new facilities was the Chapman School, built in 1866 on East Fort Street. Its name came from Phineas Chapman, who donated the land to be built on. The school was three stories tall with the high school on the top floor and the lower grades on the bottom two floors. Late in 1890 the school was destroyed by fire. Chapman School was replaced in 1893 with a new and improved building. The building was state of the art at the time and won an award at the World Fair for its ventilation system.
The next school to be built was the Ward School in 1908, later to be renamed the Harris School. Chapman School also had another wing added. Even with these new facilities, they could not accommodate the surplus of students they were now faced with educating. Therefore, in 1926 a separate high school was built. Now the schools were divided into one elementary school, one junior high school and one high school.
Farmington East Unit District #324 was formed in 1968 from the towns of Smithville, Hanna City
, Farmington, Trivoli
, and Middle Grove. In 1986, the Yates City
and Farmington East Districts combined to become the present Farmington Central District #265.
After the passing a referendum in 2001, the District began plans to build a new K-12 campus just east of Farmington. The District partnered with the local towns and transferred ownership of the old school buildings to these entities for use within each town. Some are used for community centers while others are being utilized as city offices.
In August 2004, the new school complex was opened for students.
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 310 North Lightfoot Road across the Peoria County
Peoria County, Illinois
Peoria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 186,494, which is an increase of 1.7% from 183,433 in 2000. Its county seat is Peoria....
line from Farmington, Illinois
Farmington, Illinois
Farmington is a city in the northeast corner of Fulton County, Illinois, United States. It is north of Canton and Lewistown, west of Peoria and Bloomington, and east of Galesburg and Macomb. The population was 2,601 at the 2000 census. The public school system is Farmington Central Community Unit...
, a town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
of Fulton County, Illinois
Fulton County, Illinois
Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 37,069, which is a decrease of 3.1% from 38,250 in 2000. Its county seat is Lewistown. Canton is the largest city. Both cities are southwest of Peoria, and the county is considered...
. FCHS is part of Farmington Central Community Unit School District 265, which also includes Farmington Central Junior High School, and Farmington Central Elementary School. The campus is just east of Farmington, 20 miles (32.2 km) west of Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
, and serves a mixed town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
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.
Academics
Farmington Central High School is currently Fully Recognized meaning the school made adequate yearly progress and is currently in compliance with state tests and standards. In 2009, 65% of students tested met or exceeded standards. FCHS 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...
in 2009 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...
. The school's average high school graduation rate between 2000–2009 was 89%.
The district's faculty is 85 teachers, averaging 15.0 years of experience, and of whom 29% hold an advanced degree. The district's instructional expenditure per student is $3,467.
The average high school class size is 13.0. The high school student to faculty ratio is 16.8. High school enrollment increased from 413 to 436 (6%) in the period of 1999—2009.
Farmington Central High School was a recipient of an Illinois Honor Roll Academic Improvement Award in 2008. The Illinois State Board of Education in partnership with Northern Illinois University delivers three kinds of awards to recognize schools that demonstrate exemplary academic performance. These awards make up the Illinois Honor Roll. The Academic Improvement Award recognizes schools that have sustained an upward trend in test scores for at least three years and showed a 7.5 point increase this year or a 15 point increase in test scores over the past three years.
Athletics
Farmington Central High School competes in the and is a member school in the Illinois High School AssociationIllinois 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 Farmer. The school has 2 state championships on record in team athletics and activities, both in Girl's Softball (1988–89 & 1990–91).
Consolidations
Farmington High School consolidated with Yates City High School in 1986. High school students from Yates CityYates City, Illinois
Yates City is a village in Knox County, Illinois, United States. The population was 725 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Galesburg Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Yates City is located at ....
now attend Farmington Central High School. Prior to this consolidation, Yates City High School existed since 1856, with their last high school building built in 1928. Yates City's failed attempts to consolidate with Elmwood eventually resulted in the consolidation with Farmington.
History
The first school of FarmingtonFarmington, Illinois
Farmington is a city in the northeast corner of Fulton County, Illinois, United States. It is north of Canton and Lewistown, west of Peoria and Bloomington, and east of Galesburg and Macomb. The population was 2,601 at the 2000 census. The public school system is Farmington Central Community Unit...
was a log cabin built on the outskirts of Farmington in 1833. The crudely built facilities did not last long and were constantly replaced. Over time, the one room school houses became crowded and demanded that more advanced facilities be built.
The first of these new facilities was the Chapman School, built in 1866 on East Fort Street. Its name came from Phineas Chapman, who donated the land to be built on. The school was three stories tall with the high school on the top floor and the lower grades on the bottom two floors. Late in 1890 the school was destroyed by fire. Chapman School was replaced in 1893 with a new and improved building. The building was state of the art at the time and won an award at the World Fair for its ventilation system.
The next school to be built was the Ward School in 1908, later to be renamed the Harris School. Chapman School also had another wing added. Even with these new facilities, they could not accommodate the surplus of students they were now faced with educating. Therefore, in 1926 a separate high school was built. Now the schools were divided into one elementary school, one junior high school and one high school.
Farmington East Unit District #324 was formed in 1968 from the towns of Smithville, Hanna City
Hanna City, Illinois
Hanna City is a village in Peoria County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,013 at the 2000 census. Hanna City is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Farmington, Trivoli
Trivoli, Illinois
Trivoli is an unincorporated community in Peoria County, Illinois, United States. Trivoli is located along Illinois Route 116 east of Farmington. Trivoli has a post office with ZIP code 61569....
, and Middle Grove. In 1986, the Yates City
Yates City, Illinois
Yates City is a village in Knox County, Illinois, United States. The population was 725 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Galesburg Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Yates City is located at ....
and Farmington East Districts combined to become the present Farmington Central District #265.
After the passing a referendum in 2001, the District began plans to build a new K-12 campus just east of Farmington. The District partnered with the local towns and transferred ownership of the old school buildings to these entities for use within each town. Some are used for community centers while others are being utilized as city offices.
In August 2004, the new school complex was opened for students.