The school's first superintendent, Marshall G. Batho, announced the opening of Evergreen Park Community High School (EPCHS) on September 6, 1955.[4] The school's overall construction consisted of three phases that expanded through 1953–1963, with the completions of each phase in 1955, 1957, and 1963.[4][3]
After opening its doors in 1955, the school quickly reached capacity as the small suburb experienced a major unexpected population boom during the decade. In a span for only two years, and during the initial planning and construction phase, the population spiked 3,985 people (between 1954 and 1956). In 1950, according to the census, the town's population was listed as 10,400, but by the spring of 1956, Evergreen Park's population ballooned to nearly 20,000 residents.[5]
On May 5, 1963, at the cost of $1,285,000, the board of education of district 231 announced an open house for the new 2-story wing addition to the original buildings. The wrap-around architectural design, created by Perkins and Willis, preserved the athletic fields to the east of the school, saved available parking, eliminated noise from Kedzie Ave, shielded the classrooms from the afternoon sun, and created a hexagon cafeteria positioned in the center of the building with a court yard view. Upon completion, the project unified the building and doubled the size of the school by expanding the lay out to 193,830 square feet of usable space with a capacity to serve 1,400 students.[3]
In 1965, Evergreen Park voters approved a $495,000 bond issue to build a year-round swimming pool addition to be built on the southeast corner of the high school. However, the construction was contingent on a proposed 21-cent tax hike that was initially defeated.[6] The pool was eventually built and opened in 1969.
The boundaries of District 231 are with coterminous the Village of Evergreen Park: Pulaski Avenue on the west, 87th Street on the north, Western Avenue on the east, and 103rd Street on the south between Central Park and California.
Athletics
EPCHS main gymnasium
Evergreen Park competes in the South Suburban Conference (SSC), and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), the body which governs most athletics and competitive activities in the state. School colors are Green and Grey. Teams are stylized as the Mustangs.
