The History of Mother Theodore Guerin High School in River Grove
River Grove (population 10,668) is located in far northeastern Illinois in upper western
Cook County. River Grove is a near northwestern suburb of Chicago. The town was incorporated in 1888. The main
roads leading to River Grove are Illinois Routes 64 and 171. The Soo Line Railroad runs through River Grove while the
Des Plaines River flows through the west side of town. The town's official website can be viewed at http://www.villageofrivergrove.org
The history of Mother Theodore Guerin High School (Mother Guerin) is found on the the Guerin
College Preparatory High School website address of http://www.guerinprep.org/about.html. In summary, Mother Theodore Guerin High School was established as an all-girls' high school in 1962 with 398 students enrolled
under the guidance of the Sisters of Providence, whose founder was Mother Guerin!
Of that initial enrollment total, 341 would receive their four-year diplomas in 1965. The peak enrollment in
school history would be 1,608 in the fall of 1976. From 1962 through 2004, Mother Guerin High School
graduated over 11,000 girls and prepared them "for college and life beyond".
Falling enrollment in its next-door neighbor and brother school, Holy Cross High School (for boys), led to the request by the Chicago Archdiocese for Mother Guerin to accept boys after the closure of Holy
Cross High School. This arrangement was set in place in after the 2003-04 school season. Beginning in the fall of
2004 Mother Theodore Guerin High School for girls became known as Guerin College Preparatory High School, a co-educational
institute.
Guerin Prep High School is located in the original Mother Guerin High School building.
Mother Theodore Guerin High School Quick Facts
Year opened:
1962
Year became co-educational: 2004
Name changed to:
Guerin College Preparatory High School
Mother Guerin HS team nickname: the "Gators"
Team uniform colors: Green,
Red, & White
School Fight Song:
unavailable
