Prospect was opened in 1957 as a freshman campus for the now-defunct Arlington High School. By the next school year, Prospect had freshmen and sophomores, the year after that juniors were added. In the fall of 1960 Prospect opened as a full four-year school.[citation needed]
In 2002, a library was added.
A new art wing was proposed/finished in 2003.
The school was given a new cafeteria in 2004.
In 2009, the gym was remodeled and a concession stand was added. Construction for a pool was started in the summer of 2015, with completion done for the start of the 2016–2017 school year. This addition was expected to cost approximately 13 million and add 27,000 square feet to the high school campus. In the past, aquatic teams (swimming, diving, water polo) would have to travel to Wheeling High School to use their pool.[5]
Since 2005–06, the foreign language department facilitates an exchange program between students studying French and Italian at Prospect, and students studying English in Sèvres, France, and Verona, Italy. In 2010–2011, an exchange program between students studying Spanish and students studying English in Barcelona, Spain was added.
In the fall of 2014, Prospect added a new class, Mobile App Development, or the "Mobile Makers Class" after partnering with Chicago-based technology firm Mobile Makers. District 214 is the only district in the country, along with Barrington High School, to offer a course teaching iOS App Development with the new Apple language, Swift.
Prospect competes in the Mid-Suburban League (East Division). Along with Prospect High School, the other schools in the East Division are Buffalo Grove High School, Elk Grove High School, Hersey High School, Rolling Meadows High School, and Wheeling High School. The West Division includes Barrington High School, Conant High School, Fremd High School, Hoffman Estates High School, Palatine High School, and Schaumburg High School. The school is also a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), which governs most interscholastic sports and competitive activities in Illinois. Its mascot is the Knight.
The girls' golf team finished first in the IHSA state competition in 2011 and 2013. They also had a second-place finish in 2012. They finished fourth in 2010.
The football team won the 7A State Championship in 2001, 2002, and 2005.
Lacrosse is not currently available at Prospect High School and there are currently no District 214 schools that have lacrosse teams. However, by the year 2021 there will be a lacrosse team at Prospect.[7]
The music curricula consists of performing ensembles, including the Prospect: Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Marching Knights, Jazz Ensemble I & II, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Pit Orchestra, Concert Choir, Treble Choir, Varsity Choir Honors Choir, Jazz Choir, and Mixed company.
In 2009 and 2010, The Prospect Music Department was named a "Signature School" Finalist by the Grammy Foundations. In 2011, the school was awarded Grammy Signature Gold Status, placing it among the top seven high school music departments in the country.[8] Music students at Prospect are consistently selected for District, All-State, and All-State Honors Band, Orchestra, and Choir. in 2007, Prospect Marching Knights, Symphony Orchestra, and Chamber Choir were invited to perform in the 2008/2009 London New Year's Day Parade and Gala Concerts. The Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble I, and Chamber Choir were all selected to perform at the 2008 Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Festival as Honors Ensembles. The Prospect Symphonic band has been selected to perform at the Illinois Superstate Festival thirteen times, and was named an Honor Band in 2005. The Prospect Marching Knights performed in the 2016 New York CityMacy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem .[9]
Art studies include beginning and advanced placement in drawing, painting, sculpting, and photography. in 2007, a Prospect senior was named a Scholastic Art "National Portfolio Gold Winner," one of twelve recipients of the annual award. In 2016, the Speech Team won the IHSA State Finals for the first time, with 10 of 15 events advancing to the tournament. Annual theater productions include fall and winter plays and spring musical; corresponding courses focusing on drama and theater technology. Prospect's production of "With Their Eyes" was chosen in 2006 to perform at the all-state theater festival, as well as their 2012 production of "The Sparrow", and their 2016 production of "The Trail to Oregon!", which was written by Prospect Class of 2003 Alum, Jeff Blim.
Reinhold Weege (class of 1968) was a television writer, producer and director, best known for his writing on the series Barney Miller, and for the creation the series Night Court.[28]
^Reilly, Sue (4 September 1978). "Bruce Boxleitner Doesn't Need Suzanne Somers; He Married His Sister in How the West Was Won". People. 10 (10). Los Angeles, CA, USA: Time, Inc. ISSN0093-7673. Retrieved 2 June 2010. Then when the family moved to the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines, Bruce found "I was really a country bumpkin. I didn't fit in." By the time he reached Mount Prospect High, though, his '52 Hudson Hornet ("very much in demand with my friends because it had a huge back seat") had improved his social status.
^“Golden nugget - After 32 years, Prospect graduate Jeff Bzdelik found the job of a lifetime”, Chicago Sun-Times, February 4, 2003.
^Saxenmeyer, Mark (25 May 2010). "Lee DeWyze - Tracking His Path From Mount Prospect To American Idol Stardom". Fox Chicago News. Retrieved 2 June 2010. For a little over three years, Lee attended Prospect High School. When asked if he was an "A", "B", or perhaps a "D" student, three of his former teachers and deans at the school say, "Depends. All of the above."
^Spak, Kara; Slezak, Carol (15 May 2010), "'Idol' finalist DeWyze returns home to thousands of fans", Chicago Sun-Times, archived from the original on 2010-05-18, retrieved 2 June 2010, "Lunch ladies are proud of you! screamed Pat Schwager, 62, a cafeteria worker at his alma mater, Prospect High School, as DeWyze passed in the motorcade. "I have tears in my eyes. I'm so happy for him."
^"Fire releases Prospect's Pantazopoulos", Daily Herald, March 11, 2012. Accessed August 28, 2020. "The Chicago Fire released defender Pari Pantazopoulos on Sunday. The former Prospect High School star made the team last season."
^Salowitz, Stew (27 February 1994), "Reinhold Weege: Fired For An Exposé, A Reporter Turns To Show Business", Chicago Tribune, retrieved 2 June 2010, When I was 9, my family moved to Arlington Heights. I attended Prospect High School, where the theater department had quite a good reputation.
^“First lady of Ukraine comes home 'Ukraine now must make hopes real'- Chicago native talks about troubles of past, risks of future”, Chicago Sun-Times, April 6, 2005
