The History of Compton High School
Compton (population 347) is located in north-central Illinois about 15 miles south of Rochelle. Compton
sits quietly in the southeast corner of Lee County on the east side of Illinois Route 251.
According to the website address of http://www.leecountyhistory.com/lee_county/compton.htm, Compton is named after a gentleman named Joel Compton who owned the farm land that the village
was platted on in the late 1860's. Compton was farmland until the Kenyon Railroad laid tracks through the area. The
town of Melugin's Grove was located about one mile north of the tracks. As the tracks were laid and a depot built,
the folks of Melugin's Grove (still listed on the MapQuest website as "The Burg") migrated to the depot as the town was
named after the land owner whose land it was platted on, Joel Compton.
Compton was officially incorporated in 1875. A school house and several businesses were already
in place. We believe that Compton residents had a school program with high school curriculum in place by the late
1800's.
High school education in Compton was established in 1929 with a 2-year curriculum. The third year of studies
were added at a later date. Compton High School was never more than a three-year high school, and was officially closed in
1949, sending its students to Mendota (10 miles south). Prior to the annexation, students had a choice between Lee Center,
Paw Paw, and Mendota as to where they could go to complete their fourth year of high school education. The building has
been since razed.
Compton High School Quick Facts
Year opened:
1929
Year closed:
1949
Consolidated to:
Mendota School District
Compton HS team nickname: "Comets"
Compton HS team colors: Blue & White (Grade School
Green & White)
School Fight Song:
unavailable
