Chicago Vocational Career Academy
| Chicago Vocational High School (CVS) | |
|---|---|
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| Address | |
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2100 E. 87th Street Chicago, Illinois 60617 United States |
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| Coordinates | 41°44′17″N 87°34′22″W / 41.7381°N 87.5729°WCoordinates: 41°44′17″N 87°34′22″W / 41.7381°N 87.5729°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public Secondary Vocational |
| Opened | 1941 |
| School district | Chicago Public Schools |
| CEEB code | 140735 |
| Principal | Douglas L. Maclin |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Gender | Coed |
| Enrollment | 889 (2016–17) |
| Campus type | Urban |
| Color(s) |
Navy Blue Gold |
| Athletics conference | Chicago Public League |
| Team name | Cavaliers |
| Accreditation | North Central Association of Colleges and Schools |
| Newspaper | Trademaster |
| Yearbook | Technician |
| Website | cvca |
Chicago Vocational High School (commonly known as CVCA, Chicago Vocational Career Academy or CVS) is a public 4–year vocational high school located in the Avalon Park neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Operated by Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Vocational High School opened in 1941. The school was barely opened when the outbreak of World War II caused a change in plan. The school would be a vocational school, but one under the control of the United States Navy, where many mechanics who would build and repair aircraft, among others, were trained. After the war, the school was instrumental in helping returning veterans who went off to war prior to graduation to earn their diploma. The school is also closely associated with a few of its notable alumni, none more so than Dick Butkus, who played football at CVS and at the University of Illinois before his Hall of Fame career for the Chicago Bears.
Planning for the school began in 1936 with the need for a new vocational school on the South Side of the city. Construction began in 1939, and was partially funded through the Works Progress Administration.Chicago Vocational School opened with an all–male class of 850 in 1940. Enrollment was further restricted to students who had already completed a year of high school. According to then Superintendent of Chicago Public Schools, Dr. William H. Johnson, the school's purpose was "the employability of Chicago boys in the heavier trades and industries." The Chicago Daily Tribune noted that the new school was "regarded as the most modern and best equipped trade school in the United States." In June 1941, with entry into World War II imminent, the school was turned over to the United States Navy, where the school's emphasis would be on training aviation mechanics. This change from general vocational education to specific wartime training had been something anticipated as a possible future of the school shortly before it had opened. Later, additional training for teachers and other civilians in national defense jobs were added. These defense related training courses permitted the Defense Priority Board to free up funds for purchasing more equipment for workshops, and to build a US$500,000 addition to the building. Construction also included a still–extant airplane hangar. During this time, non–vocational courses were moved to Calumet High School. By 1942, classes were being taught 24 hours a day to accommodate work and training schedules.
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