Newsweek High School Rankings Map: Hinsdale South at No. 389

The magazine's 2013 report out this week recognizes several Illinois schools.

On mobile? You can see interactive map here. Newsweek has ranked Hinsdale South High School at No. 389 among high schools in the country, with a "Newsweek Score" of 3.28. For its rankings, Newsweek sent out a survey to more than 5,000 high schools in the U.S., with about 2,500 schools responding in 2013. You can see the details about Hinsdale South's ranking, and every other ranked high school by clicking on the markers in the interactive map above. The survey scores were then weighted and calculated using several criteria including on-time graduation and college acceptance rates. In addition, instead of averaging the number of courses offered, this year Newsweek considered the percentage of students enrolled in AP, IB or Advance …

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Harlem Wizards Pro Basketball Coming to Darien

The team, which has a comedic take on basketball, will face off against the Darien Mayhem -- a squad made up of local students, parents and teachers.

Looking for a comedic take on basketball? Local schools are organizing an event that's sure to bring enjoyment to families and the community. The Hinsdale South Athletic Club and Cass District 63 Foundation for Educational Excellence are bringing the Harlem Wizards, a professional entertainment basketball teamwhose players had illustrious college and professional basketball careers. The event is at 7 p.m. March 9 in the Hinsdale South gym, 7401 S. Clarendon Hills Rd. in Darien.  An emcee will announce players and give a play-by-play of the game, and the Harlem Wizards will face off against the Darien Mayhem.  The Mayhem players will be students, parents and teachers from Cass and Hinsdale South. A pep rally will be held Wednesday, Feb. 13…

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The Hangover, Sherlock Holmes and Hinsdale South Hall-of-Famers

The 2012 Hinsdale South Hall of Fame inductees are both tied to show business: Grant Stuart works on promos for major movies, and Matthew Walsh is a Hollywood funnyman in The Hangover, Old School and more.

Editor's note: The following information was provided by Hinsdale South in a news release. From Hornets to Hollywood, this year's Hinsdale South High School Hall of Fame inductees are all about show business.  The 2012-13 inductees are Grant Stuart ('86) and Matt Walsh ('82), and they'll be honored at the induction ceremony Thursday, Nov. 15. He graduated from Hinsdale South High School in 1982. After graduating from Northern Illinois University with a degree in psychology, Walsh studied improv acting at the Annoyance Theater, Second City, Improv Olympic and Players Workshop. Walsh began performing stand-up comedy in 1991 as a co-founder of the Upright Citizens Brigade, which ran for three seasons on Comedy Central. Following this success…

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PSAT Practice at Library Friday

Mock test will help students in grades 10-12 identify their test-taking strengths, weaknesses before taking the real thing in the fall.

The Indian Prairie Public Library at 401 Plainfield Road in Darien invites teens in grades 10-12 to participate in a free, proctored practice Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3. The practice test is designed to help students identify their test-taking strengths and weaknesses before “the real thing” during the school year. Each student who takes the mock test will be contacted about his or her analyzed test results. Students should bring sharpened #2 pencils and an approved calculator for the test on Friday. To register to participate in the practice test at the library on Friday, click here. The library asks that those who have registered but are unable to attend give a 24-hour …

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Washington Post: Hinsdale South Ranked 19th Most Challenging School in Illinois

As opposed to the Newsweek "America's Best High Schools" list, the Post's criteria is more focused on the "level of a high school’s commitment to preparing average students for college."

Both District 86 high schools ranked among the 20 most challenging schools in Illinois, according to The Washington Post's 2012 "High School Challenge," which judges schools on criteria it says show commitment to preparing students for college. Hinsdale South was ranked No. 19 and No. 713 and Hinsdale Central was ranked No. 6 in Illinois and No. 445 in the U.S, respectively. The top five most challenging high schools in Illinois, in order, were Walter Payton College Prep (Chicago), Jones College Prep (Chicago), Lincoln Park (Chicago), Stevenson (Lincolnshire), and Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn). "The formula is simple," the Post explains in its introduction. "Divide the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or other college…

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Relay for Life at Hinsdale South Tonight

Organizers say they hope the weather cooperates for the Downers Grove/Woodridge Relay for Life to take place outside Hinsdale South.

The Relay for Life of Downers Grove and Woodridge is scheduled to take place on the Hinsdale South football field tonight. In case of bad weather, the event will be moved around the corner to the Darien Sportsplex at 451 Plainfield Road. The Relay For Life celebrates cancer survivors, remembers lost loved ones and brings people together to fight back against the disease.  There will be live music, food and fun activities for all ages at the event, which starts at 6 tonight. For more information, contact Leslie Abrahamson at 630-886-4168, leslie.abrahamson@cancer.org or visit the event website at www.RelayForLife.org/DownersGroveWoodridgeil.

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Business Spotlight

'Whether You Need Shirts or Canned Hams, We’re Able to Do It'

The Darien couple behind Hutco helps organizations find marketing solutions.

Jerry Hutter and his wife, Linda Templin Hutter, each learned about business from their families. Now they are pooling their experience and talents in their own promotional-products business – Hutco, LLC. Linda Templin’s family owned the automotive-parts business that her grandfather bought in the 1940s. But Templin had other plans for her career. She studied communications at Eastern Illinois University. “I was always out doing something for the newspaper at the college,” she said. Templin tried radio and photography before selling ads for the newspaper. That led her to a job in outside sales with the Hammond Times.  Jerry Hutter left school for a job in retail sales. He was successful but not satisfied, and he began to look for other …

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Hinsdale South 2012 Graduation Week Schedule

Congratulations, seniors!

After four years of hard work and great memories, Hinsdale South seniors will finally say goodbye to high school Friday. Here’s a schedule of the week’s events, courtesy of the school:  Memorial Day – No school Senior exams Senior locker cleanout Senior book buyback and rental return 7 p.m. Spring Athletic Awards Night, Hinsdale South Auditorium. After all-academic awards, the students will break to rooms by sport. Senior exams - continued Senior locker cleanout – continued Senior book buyback and rental return – continued Senior exams - continued Senior locker cleanout – continued 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Senior class picnic, north end of Hinsdale South Stadium. Rain location: Hinsdale South Field House 8:30 – 9 a.m. Senior class picture, …

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Darien Rotary Honors Hinsdale South's Top 10 Percent

The club presented awards to every senior from Darien who graduates in the top 10 percent of their high school class.

The following was submitted by the Darien Rotary Club: On Wednesday, April11, 2012, The Rotary Club of Darien held their annual Top Ten Percent awards presentation at Hinsdale South High School.  This award is given by the Rotary club to every senior from Darien who graduates in the top 10% of their high school class.  The club initiated the program in 1994, on the occasion of the club’s 20thanniversary, as an additional service project to the Darien community.   Eric Martzoff, Assistant Principal at Hinsdale South and a Rotary club member, presented the awards to over 30 student attendees.  Each of the students received a certificate and was allowed to make a brief speech.  Eric explained to the students and their families that the Top …

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