School History

Founded in 1883, Evanston Township High School is the first and only public high school in Evanston, Illinois. The school opened with four teachers and 107 students at its original location on Dempster and Elmwood, serving a growing population and quickly becoming one of the most distinguished public high schools in the country.

In 1924, the school moved to its current location on Church Street and Dodge Avenue, a campus designed by renowned American architect Dwight H. Perkins, to accommodate the rapidly growing population.

The 1960s marked a period of significant growth for ETHS. Between 1966 and 1968, the school underwent substantial expansions that created the building structure that exists today: four wings connected by Heritage Hall, each named for the first four Superintendents: Boltwood, Beardsley, Bacon, and Michael. At the time, the individual wings were considered their own schools. These expansions allowed ETHS to offer a wider variety of academic and extracurricular programs, solidifying its role as a leading educational institution in the region.

Throughout the decades, ETHS has remained at the heart of Evanston, fostering a strong sense of school pride and community. Its history is rich with accomplishments in academics, sports, and the arts, and it continues to serve as a symbol of excellence and opportunity. As the school has evolved, it has embraced innovation in teaching, technology, and facilities, ensuring that future generations of Wildkits are equipped for success in an ever-changing world.

Spanning 65 acres, ETHS is one of the largest single-campus high schools in the nation.