In March 1968, taxpayers of District 228 approved a US$1.3 million loan from the Illinois School Building Commission to begin first phase construction of the district's fourth high school. In August 1968, the Board of Education approved the new school's name, and in September, the architectural plans were approved.[5] The construction contract was approved in March 1969, with the plan calling for an initial "first phase" of construction, and a second phase to be added on if necessary.[6]
Oak Forest High School opened in 1971 as a remedy to the excessively high numbers of students attending the three other existing high schools in the district. Before the school had even opened, it became clear that the school would not be sufficient to contain the increasing student population. The district again turned to voters to approve a bond issue to add onto the school.[7] After two failures, and threats of students needing to attend double shifts, the bond issue passed in December 1971.[8][9]
On December 2, 1985, a fire broke out at the school causing severe damage to the school's electric systems. After missing a week of school, and with the building still not inhabitable, Oak Forest students were required to temporarily attend classes at Tinley Park High School with split shifts set up (Tinley Park students from 7 am to noon, and Oak Forest students from 12:40 to 6 pm).[10]
Construction to the building in the summer of 2005 created a new Instructional Materials Center (IMC), which serves as media lab and library. Additionally, the space occupied by the old IMC was re-structured into additional classrooms, a move towards solving the approaching five-year deadline of the outdoor portable classroom mobile units (commonly referred to as the "trailers"). The room numbers were also changed in the process with the numbering system developed by Adam Hillier (Class of 2005).
Academics
In 2007, Oak Forest High School had an average ACT score of 21.2 and graduated 97.3% of its senior class. The average class size was 20.2.[11][12]
In accordance with the federal law No Child Left Behind, Oak Forest has achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). The school has no subgroups that meet the minimum number to be included in testing.[13]
As of January 17th 2022, OFHS has a rating of 9/10 on GreatSchools [14]
The following teams placed in the top four of their respective class in their respective sports in IHSA sponsored state championship series: [16]
Baseball: State Champions (1984-85); 2nd Place (2010-11)
Basketball (Girls): 4th Place (1978-79)
Cheerleading: State Champions (2015-16, 2020-21); 2nd Place (2011-12, 2018-19, 2019-20); 3rd Place (2008-09, 2009-10, 2012-13, 2016-17)
Softball: State Champions (2008-09)
Volleyball (Girls): 2nd Place (1979-80); 3rd Place (1983-84, 1985-86)
Wrestling: 3rd Place (2013-14, 2014-15)
Activities
Oak Forest has 46 student organizations in fields ranging from community service to the arts and from academic competition to career related groups. Among these 46 organizations are some groups of national notability with chapters or other representation at Oak Forest. These include: Science Olympiad, Business Professionals of America, DECA, FCCLA, National Honor Society, Scholastic Bowl, Mathletes, Speech Team and Operation Snowball.[17]
