When the doors first opened in 1972, the "Blaine Project" immediately set Blaine High School (BHS) apart from the other senior high schools in the district. We utilized interdisciplinary block scheduling, differentiated staffing to facilitate team teaching and individualized instruction, and the dean system was adopted as a more holistic approach to working with young people. In the mid to late 1980's we were instrumental in the district initiatives for Mastery Learning and Outcome-Based Education. The open-mindedness of the staff and administration at BHS has allowed us to work outside the confines of traditional educational paradigms and has set the stage for the "student centered" curriculum and instruction which we still embrace.

Innovative, student-centered, and research based are a few of the characteristics describing the philosophy at BHS. This philosophy is the catalyst in developing initiatives unique to our school, such as, the shared decision making model and the four-period day. The shared decision making model allows our staff the ownership necessary for success. It was through this process we experienced success when changing to the four-period day.

Currently BHS is on a five-period day with three trimesters. In 2007, BHS became a specialty school - Center for Engineering, Math and Science and is part of the Northwest Suburban Integrated School District.

School info

Grades: 9 to 12
Enrollment: 2,985
School hours: 7:40 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.
Office hours: Monday through Thursday - 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. / Friday - 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.