Larkin High School is one of five high schools in School District U-46, the second-largest K-12 unit district in Illinois. We are a  public, four-year comprehensive high school with a certified staff of approximately 150 administrators, teachers, and counselors. We opened our doors in 1962. Enrollment in the 2020-2021 school year is approximately 2100 students with an anticipated graduating class of 422 seniors. Larkin High School is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and the Illinois Department of Education. Larkin High School is the home of the Visual and Performing Arts Magnet Academy. This academy offers specialized training and curriculum to students in the areas of Dance, Vocal and Instrumental music, including orchestra and band. We also offer Drama and Visual Arts of Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Ceramics, and Photography. Our demographic breakdown shows that our students are 67 percent Hispanic, 16 percent Caucasian, nine percent African American. Approximately 75 percent of our students receive free or reduced lunch.

More than 200 courses are offered so that students may challenge themselves to meet their potential as well as to explore areas of interest. Classes are fifty minutes in length, five days per week. Students receive one credit per semester for each course successfully completed except for some Advanced Placement classes and Academy classes which meet for 1.5 periods per day and receive 1.5 credits.

40-semester credits are required for the graduating class of 2017, including the following:

8 credits in English                                                                                            1 credit in Health                               

6 credits in Mathematics                                                                                    7 credits in Physical Education

4 credits in Lab Sciences (including 2 credits in Biology)                                   1 credit in Economics

2 credits in U. S. History                                                                                      1 credit in Civics

The following Advanced Placement classes are available:

Biology                                  English Language and Composition                      Macroeconomics                     Spanish Literature 

Calculus AB                            English Literature and Composition                     Physics 1                                United States History

Calculus BC                            European History                                                  Psychology                               World History

Environmental Science          Government and Politics                                      Spanish Language        

There were 890 AP course enrollments. Of the students taking AP tests, 138 of these students received a 3, 4, or 5. However, the number of minority students and 1st generation college students continues to increase. AVID is a major component of our academic program and this year has 464 students enrolled. All AVID students are required to participate in the Honors program as Sophomores and in the AP program as Juniors and Seniors. AVID students last year received over $1,500,000 in scholarship awards.

Awards and Recognition:  Twenty-one students from the graduating class of 2017 were named Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Larkin High School has a student that was selected to serve on the School District U-46 School Board to represent over 41,000 students. Our Varsity Basketball team and Soccer team both continue to have an outstanding play in the Upstate 8 Conference with basketball advancing to the “Sweet 16”. Our current SAT Composite/Mean for the class of 2017 is 908. Our school has been awarded Platinum status in PBIS for the Midwest Region for the third consecutive year; this is an award achieved by less than 10 percent of high schools nationwide, and we are the only high school in the state of Illinois to earn this level of distinction for three consecutive years.

Grading System: Larkin High School uses a weighted grading system. This weighted system is also used to calculate the rank of students.                

Honors courses are identified on the transcript with “Honors” or “Hon”, or an HN or AP can be found in the course number indicating an Honors or AP class designation. Class rank is computed at the end of each semester, with the exception of 9th graders, as well as after summer school. This rank excludes Driver’s Education, any courses are taken Pass/Fail, or any courses audited.

Grade Point Indicator (GPI) is calculated according to the following:

Semester 6 – highest 34 classes are included   Semester 7 – highest 40 classes are included Semester 8 – highest 45 classes are included.

Note: Students who begin ninth grade in Geometry 1-2 are recognized as having completed Algebra 1-2 in eighth grade. No credit or grade is recorded for Algebra 1-2.

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Honors courses are identified on the transcript with “Honors” or “Hon”, or an HN or AP can be found in the course number indicating an Honors or AP class designation. Class rank is computed at the end of each semester, with the exception of 9th graders, as well as after summer school. This rank excludes Driver’s Education, any courses taken Pass/Fail, or any courses audited.

Grade Point Indicator (GPI) is calculated according to the following:
Semester 6 – the highest 34 classes are included
Semester 7 – the highest 40 classes are included
Semester 8 – the highest 45 classes are included

Note: Students who begin ninth grade in Geometry 1-2 are recognized as having completed Algebra 1-2 in eighth grade. No credit or grade is recorded for Algebra
1-2.

Post-Secondary Plans: The class of 2014 had approximately 82% of the students planning to enter college in the fall. 32% plan to attend a four year college directly out of high school, and 50% plan to attend a 2 year college. Approximately 5% of the class will attend technical schools or enter the military. These statistics are based on submitted requests for final transcripts.