DuSable High School

---

title: "DuSable High School" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1935-establishments-in-illinois", "educational-institutions-established-in-1935", "chicago-landmarks", "public-high-schools-in-chicago", "south-side,-chicago"] description: "Public high school in Chicago, Illinois, US" topic_path: "society/education" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuSable_High_School" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Public high school in Chicago, Illinois, US ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox school"]

Field	Value
name	DuSable High School (Campus)
image	DuSable HS Campus.jpg
streetaddress	4934 S. Wabash Avenue
city	Chicago
state	Illinois
zipcode	60615
country	United States
coordinates
district	Chicago Public Schools
principal	Demetra D. Richardson–Starks (Bronzeville)
Leonetta C. Sanders
(Williams Prep)
ceeb	140981 (Bronzeville)
141109 (Williams Prep)
gender	Coed
schooltype
grades	9–12
campus type	Urban
conference	Chicago Public League
motto	"Peace if possible, but justice at any rate."
accreditation	North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
team_name	Panthers
colors	Red
Black
yearbook	Red and Black
opened
2005 (Bronzeville)
2005 (Williams Prep)
closed	2016 (DuSable Leadership)
enrollment	114 (Bronzeville; 2025–26)
82 (Williams Prep; 2025–26)
module	{{Infobox NRHP
name	DuSable High School
embed	yes
designated_other1_name	Chicago Landmark
designated_other1_date	May 1, 2013
designated_other1_abbr	CL
designated_other1_link	Chicago Landmark
designated_other1_color	#aaccff
location	4934 S. Wabash Avenue
Chicago, Illinois
coordinates
locmapin	Chicago#Illinois#USA
area	Grand Boulevard
built	1931–1934
architect	Paul Gerhardt Sr.
architecture	PWA Moderne
homepage

| ::

| name = DuSable High School (Campus) | image = DuSable HS Campus.jpg | caption = | streetaddress = 4934 S. Wabash Avenue | city = Chicago | state = Illinois | zipcode = 60615 | country = United States | coordinates = | district = Chicago Public Schools | principal = Demetra D. Richardson–Starks (Bronzeville) Leonetta C. Sanders (Williams Prep) | staff = | faculty = | teaching_staff = | ceeb = 140981 (Bronzeville) 141109 (Williams Prep) | avg_class_size = | gender = Coed | schooltype = | grades = 9–12 | campus size = | campus type = Urban | conference = Chicago Public League | slogan = | song = | fightsong = | motto = "Peace if possible, but justice at any rate." | accreditation = North Central Association of Colleges and Schools | mascot = | team_name = Panthers | colors = Red Black | yearbook =Red and Black | publication = | newspaper = | opened = 2005 (Bronzeville) 2005 (Williams Prep) | founded = | status = | closed = 2016 (DuSable Leadership) | nobel_laureates = | enrollment = 114 (Bronzeville; 2025–26) 82 (Williams Prep; 2025–26) | free_label = | free_text = | free_label1 = | free_text1 = | free_label2 = | free_text2 = | free_label3 = | free_text3 = | free_label4 = | free_text4 = | free_label5 = | free_text5 = | picture = | module = {{Infobox NRHP | name = DuSable High School | embed = yes | nrhp_type = | image = | caption = | designated_other1_name = Chicago Landmark | designated_other1_date = May 1, 2013 | designated_other1_abbr = CL | designated_other1_link = Chicago Landmark | designated_other1_color = #aaccff | location = 4934 S. Wabash Avenue Chicago, Illinois | coordinates = | locmapin = Chicago#Illinois#USA | area = Grand Boulevard | built = 1931–1934 | architect = Paul Gerhardt Sr. | architecture = PWA Moderne | added = | refnum = | homepage =

Jean Baptiste Point DuSable High School is a public 4–year high school campus in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Chicago Public Schools and named after Chicago's first permanent non-native settler, Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable. Constructed between 1931 and 1934, DuSable opened in 1935.

Since 2005, the school campus has served as home to two smaller schools: the Bronzeville Scholastic Institute and the Daniel Hale Williams Preparatory School of Medicine. Both of the schools use the DuSable name in an athletics context. The DuSable Leadership Academy was also housed at the location until it closed after the 2015–16 school year. The school building was designated a Chicago Landmark in 2013.

History

In 1929, the Chicago Board of Education voted to construct a new school building at East 49th Street and South Wabash Avenue due to the overcrowding conditions at Wendell Phillips Academy High School. Construction on the school began in February 1931 with an estimated cost of $2,500,000. Designed by the school board's architect Paul Gerhardt Sr., The completion date was estimated January 1932 but construction of the school was suspended in December 1931 due to funding issues. Construction resumed on the school in 1934. The school opened on February 4, 1935, and was called New Wendell Phillips High School. New Phillips was a part of a five high school expansion that included Lane Tech High School, Steinmetz High School, Senn High School, and Wells High School.

On April 25, 1936, the school's name was changed to honor Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, the first non-native to settle the area; however there was a delay in implementing the name, as the exact spelling was in dispute. During the 1940s on thru the 1960s, DuSable enrollment was more than 4,000 which prompted two graduation ceremonies (spring and summer). During this period, DuSable became notable for its music program: Captain Walter Dyett was the longtime music instructor at the school. By the early 1960s, DuSable became surrounded by the Robert Taylor Homes, a Chicago Housing Authority public housing project and approximately 80% of the student population were residents.

Renaissance 2010

With the demolition of the Robert Taylor Homes (demolition occurred in stages between 1998 and 2007), student enrolment at DuSable had substantially declined. Because of this, in 2003, Chicago Public Schools decided to phase out DuSable: the history of poor academic performance was also a factor. In 2005, three schools were opened in the building as a part of the Renaissance 2010 program. The three new schools: Bronzeville Scholastic Institute, Daniel Hale Williams School of Medicine and DuSable Leadership Academy were created by DuSable staff members. The DuSable Leadership Academy which was a part of the Betty Shabazz International Charter School was phased out due to poor academic performance and closed after the 2015–16 school year.

Small schools

Bronzeville

**Bronzeville Scholastic Institute High School (BSI) ** is a public 4–year high school located in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. The school is named after the community in which it is located, Bronzeville. In 1930, the editor of the Chicago Bee used the name in a campaign to elect the "mayor of Bronzeville". After a physician was elected in 1945, the community began to use the name Bronzeville. It reflected both the dominant skin color of the members of the community, and an attempt to raise the community's and outsiders' favor toward the area, as the word "bronze" had a more positive connotation than "black." Bronzeville Scholastic Institute was opened in 2005 as a Performance School in the Chicago Public Schools' Renaissance 2010, which was an effort to create more quality schools across the city of Chicago.

Williams Prep

Daniel Hale Williams Preparatory School of Medicine High School (DHW) is a public 4–year career academy high school and academic center. The academic center serves 9th through 12th grade students. The school opened in September 2005 as a part of the Chicago Public Schools' Renaissance 2010 program. The school is named for Daniel Hale Williams, an African-American doctor who performed the first successful open heart surgery. Helping minority students get into medical school and become future members of the medical field is central to DHW's mission and vision. The school celebrated its first graduating class in 2011.

Enrollment and demographics

| caption = Student Demographics (2025–2026) | width = | value2 = 6.25 | label2 = Hispanic or Latino | value3 = 0.00 | label3 = Non-Hispanic White | value1 = 93.75 | label1 = Black or African-American | value4 = 0.00 | label4 = Asian | value5 = 0.00 | label5 = Multiracial | value6 = 0.00 | label6 = Native American or Pacific Islander

Other information

Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Board of Education opened a birth control clinic in the school in June 1985, in efforts to lower the school's high teen-age pregnancy and drop-out rates. The opening of the clinic caused worldwide controversy. The school once held an inner sanctuary that had many different animals, including peacocks, a goat, snakes, pigeons, chickens, and various other species. Emiel Hamberlin, the schools' biology teacher and sanctuary was featured in the March 1977 issue of Ebony magazine. In 1994, then-DuSable principal Charles Mingo created the "Second-Chance Program", a program that served as an alternative school for recent high school drop-outs and adults looking to earn a high school diploma. In 1995, with funding from NASA, DuSable became the first public high school in Chicago to be connected to the Internet.

Crime and gang violence

In November 1949, 16–year old LaVon Cain was shot to death at the school after a group of females began firing shots at another group of female students. 19–year-old Edwina Howard and two other teenage girls were charged in the shooting. The shooting is recorded as one of the first fatal shootings in a Chicago public school. In October 1959, two female students were sexually assaulted by a male mail carrier in the school. In September 1968, twelve students were arrested in a gang retaliation shooting at the school. By 1976, the school had developed a reputation for concurring problems with gang violence. In January 1986, a 15–year-old male student was stabbed by another student. On October 13, 1987, 15–year-old freshmen Dartagnan Young was shot to death in a gang–related shooting in the hallway on the school's third floor shortly after 8 a.m. by 16–year-old sophomore Larry Sims. Witnesses said Young was shot after arguing with Sims over street–gang activity from the previous day. The murder prompted some students to transfer from DuSable that day and days following.

Athletics

DuSable competes in the Chicago Public League (CPL) and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). DuSable sport teams are nicknamed Panthers. The boys' basketball team were Public League champions two times (1952–53, 1953–54) and regional champions twice (2011–12, 2012–13), Sectionals champion in 2012. The girls' track and field team were Class AA in 1977–78. The boys' track and field were public league champions in 1937–38 and placed 3rd during the 1941–42 season.

Notable alumni

Performing arts

Public service

• William Cousins (1945) — Illinois Appellate Court judge and Chicago City Council member

Sports

• Chuck Winfrey (1967) — NFL linebacker (1971–72).

Radio, TV, and film

Commerce

Alumni gallery

File:Washington h.jpg|Harold Washington File:Dinah Washington 1962.jpg|Dinah Washington File:Nat King Cole (Gottlieb 01511).jpg|Nat "King" Cole File:Dorothy Donegan Great Lakes Naval Station.jpg|Dorothy Donegan

Notable staff

• Captain Walter Dyett — noted violinist and music instructor at the school from its opening in 1935 until 1962.
• Emiel Hamberlin – educator, science teacher at DuSable from 1967 until 2004. Hamberlin earned several awards for his work at the school including induction into the National Teacher's Hall of Fame in 2001.
• Charles Mingo — educator and former principal of DuSable from 1988 until 2002, his work at the school earned him a Milken National Educator Award in 1993.
• Margaret Taylor-Burroughs — writer and artist who taught at the school for 23 years (1946-1969). She was best known for co-founding the DuSable Museum of African American History.

References

References

1. "High School Code Search". College Board.
2. (December 31, 2009). "Chicago (DuSable)". Illinois High School Association (IHSA).
3. [http://www.classmates.com/yearbooks/Dusable-High-School/107006 DuSable High School 1963 Yearbook, Chicago, IL]
4. [https://www.cps.edu/schools/schoolprofiles/bronzeville-hs Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Bronzeville Scholastic Academy High School ]
5. [https://www.cps.edu/schools/schoolprofiles/williams-hs Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Daniel Hale Williams Prep High School of Medicine]
6. [http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/_qP2CyY12kysCxHPTIe1QA/dusable-panthers/home.htm DuSable High School]. mapreps.com
7. [http://www.suntimes.com/news/education/22909521-418/cps-announces-possible-exceptions-to-school-closing-moratorium.html "CPS Announces Possible Exceptions to School Closing Moratorium,"] by Lauren Fitzpatrick, Education Reporter, October 1, 2013
8. [http://www.enewspf.com/latest-news/school-news/42697-mayor-emanuel-honors-dusable-high-school-as-a-community-cornerstone-presents-landmark-plaque-to-school-alumni-and-ald-pat-dowell-3rd.html Mayor Emanuel Honors DuSable High School as a Community Cornerstone, Presents Landmark Plaque to School Alumni and Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd)] {{webarchive. link. (October 14, 2013)
9. (February 3, 1935). "New Phillips High School To Open Tomorrow: Classes Also to Continue in Old Building". Chicago Daily Tribune.
10. [http://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/dcd/Zoning%20Application/ExhibADuSablFinalReport.pdf Landmark Designation Report: DuSable High School, 2012]
11. (August 26, 1934). "NEW $6,000,000 Lane Technical To Open Sept. 17 :School Finest of Kind; Capacity 7,000 Students". Chicago Daily Tribune.
12. Provines, Julie. (April 23, 1936). "Front Views and Profiles". Chicago Daily Tribune.
13. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100518213356/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-02-12/features/9502150314_1_students-teachers-new-trier-high-school Separate But Equal The Financing Of Public Education In Illinois Works Like This: Dusable Spends $6,000 Per Student, New Trier Spends $12,000 February 12, 1995]
14. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130510165749/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-09-28/news/0409280258_1_9th-graders-7th-graders-teachers Three schools to open at DuSable next year – Chicago Tribune: (September 28, 2004)]
15. [https://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en&q=bronzeville%20scholastic%20institute&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl School Location – Bronzeville]
16. "Bronzeville History".
17. "Renaissance 2010: New School Profiles".
18. "Renaissance 2010".
19. [http://data.aacom.org/events/annualmtg/2007/CommAwards/mwu%20community%20service.pdf Data – Williams Prep HS] {{webarchive. link. (July 24, 2011)
20. [https://archive.today/20131024214422/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-10-10/news/8503090029_1_full-service-clinic-birth-control-contraceptives Chicago Tribune, Birth Control At Du Sable Approved Board Still Backs Clinic At School, October 10, 1985]
21. [https://web.archive.org/web/20131029211153/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-09-26/news/8503050448_1_school-based-health-birth-control-clinic Chicago Tribune, Teen Clinic Wins On Birth Control, September 26, 1985]
22. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19850924&id=CsAzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=w-UFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3752,5512570 Controversy Surrounds High School Birth Control Clinic]
23. [https://www.csmonitor.com/1986/1118/hclin-f.html The battle over birth control – Contraceptives in schools. DuSable clinic at heart of controversy. By Hattie Clark, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor / November 18, 1986]
24. [https://books.google.com/books?id=xeDIr9Ni0uAC&dq=dusable+high+school&pg=PA37 Ebony, October 1986].Retrieved April 21, 2020.
25. [https://books.google.com/books?id=Ac4DAAAAMBAJ Ebony, March 1977].Retrieved April 21, 2020.
26. [https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/10/04/dropping-back-in-2/ Chicago Tribune, Dropping Back In: Dusable High School Gives Hopefuls Another Shot At Their Diplomas, October 4, 1994]
27. (1998). "DuSable High School Internet Project and its influence in connecting Chicago Public Schools to the Internet". [[Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society]].
28. [https://web.archive.org/web/20161220160025/https://casetext.com/case/the-people-v-rivers Casetext – The People v. Rivers] (1951)
29. [https://books.google.com/books?id=IEMDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Dusable+High+School&pg=PA12 Slain Girl's Parents Sue School Board (Jet Magazine: November 29, 1951)]
30. [http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1959/10/22/page/63/article/du-sable-high-invader-tells-of-raping-two Chicago Tribune – DuSable High Invader Tells Of Raping Two – October 22, 1959]
31. [https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/03/10/living-in-a-war-zone-called-taylor-homes/ Living In A War Zone Called Taylor Homes: Residents Trapped In Battles Over Drug Turf, Chicago Tribune, March 10, 1993]
32. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150120213230/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-01-30/news/8601080288_1_stabbing-student-charged Student Charged In School Stabbing – Chicago Tribune (January 30, 1986)]
33. [https://www.chicagotribune.com/1987/10/16/3-million-bond-set-in-students-slaying/ $3 Million Bond Set In Student`s Slaying – Chicago Tribune (October 16, 1987)]
34. (October 14, 1987). "Student Killed at Chicago High School". AP News Archive.
35. (September 27, 1989). "Witnesses Describe Du Sable Killing". Chicago Tribune.
36. [https://books.google.com/books?id=1CtzAwAAQBAJ&dq=dusable+high+school+shooting&pg=PA191 1 Broadcast Newswriting: The RTDNA Reference Guide, A Manual for Professionals By Mervin Block]
37. [http://www.ihsa.org/Schools/SchoolDirectory.aspx?url=/data/school/d.htm IHSA: Chicago (DuSable)]
38. Lewis, George E.. (2008). "A Power Stronger Than Itself: The AACM and American Experimental Music". University of Chicago Press.
39. (February 20, 2008). "Gene Ammons: The Jug". National Public Radio.
40. Wang, Richard. (May 27, 2008). "Captain Walter Dyett". Chicago Jazz Entertainment.
41. [https://www.moderndrummer.com/2010/05/fred-below/ Fred Below: Elder Statesman Of Chicago Blues Drummers, ''Modern Drummer'', 17th May 2010]
42. "Ronnie Boykins". Chicago Public Schools.
43. Campbell, Robert L.. (March 26, 1995). "From Sonny Blount to Sun Ra: The Birmingham and Chicago Years". University of Alabama-Birmingham.
44. "Redd Foxx". Chicago Public Schools.
45. (2006). ""A beautiful, shining sound object": Contextualizing multi-instrumentalism in the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians". University of Washington.
46. Claesson, Samuel. (September 2024). "In Search of Rosalind Hayes".
47. "Ella Jenkins". Chicago Public Schools.
48. [http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/timuel-black-40 The HistoryMakers: Timuel Black]
49. [http://www.chipublib.org/fa-timuel-d-black-papers/ Chicago Public Library: Timuel Black]
50. 'Judge William Cousins dies;Harvard grad was prosecutor and independent alderman,' '''Chicago Sun-Times,''' January 22, 2018
51. "Harold Washington: Mayor of Chicago, Congressman". Office of the Clerk of Cook County.
52. Coleman, Geoffrey. (April 1994). "Harold Washington: Chicago politician". Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
53. [[United States House of Representatives. (January 27, 2003). "Expressing the sense of the Congress that a commemorative postage stamp should be issued in honor of Harold Washington, the 42d mayor of Chicago". United States House of Representatives.
54. (March 20, 1974). "1954 — DuSable's year to remember". [[Chicago Tribune]].
55. Bell, Taylor. (January 29, 1993). "Lewis' Goal: Revive Du Sable Basketball". Chicago Sun-Times.
56. Berkow, Ira. (February 9, 1991). "Sports of the Times; The Death Of a Prep Legend". New York Times.
57. "Ernie McMillan".
58. (July 20, 2016). "Red Pryor". Peach Basket Society.
59. "Jason Williams".
60. "Chuck Winfrey".
61. "Don Cornelius". Chicago Public Schools.
62. [https://books.google.com/books?id=krUDAAAAMBAJ&dq=DuSable+High+School&pg=PA50 Vincent T. Cullers, Founder Of First Black-Owned Ad Agency Dies: Jet Magazine (October 27, 2003)]
63. "John H. Johnson". Chicago Public Schools.
64. [https://books.google.com/books?id=Kmj83Q9SgeIC&dq=wendell+phillips+high+school&pg=PA73 African American Millionaires (By Otha Richard Sullivan)]
65. [https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/08/21/saluting-capt-walter-dyett-who-made-stars-at-dusable/ Saluting Capt. Walter Dyett, who made stars at DuSable: Chicago Tribune (August 21, 2013)]
66. [https://nthf.org/inductees/emeil-hamberlin/ National Teacher's Hall of Fame, Emiel Hamberlin, Chicago, IL]
67. "Former principal of DuSable High Charles Mingo dies Chicago Sun-Times (February 7, 2012)".
68. [http://clinton2.nara.gov/WH/EOP/First_Lady/html/columns/HRC0527.html "Talking it Over: Hillary Rodham Clinton," May 27, 1998]
69. [https://www.csmonitor.com/1998/1117/111798.feat.feat.6.html/(page)/3 A school's revolution in reading High school basics]
70. [http://legacy.suntimes.com/obituaries/chicagosuntimes/obituary.aspx?pid=155781883 Charles E. Mingo Obituary]
71. "Margaret Taylor-Burroughs". Chicago Public Schools.
72. (November 2, 2007). "Illinois House Resolution 0802". Illinois House of Representatives (95th General Assembly).

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::