Bloom Trail High School

About Trail

Current Enrollment: over 1,300 annually; Bloom Trail has graduated over 10,000 students since 1977.

School Colors: Royal Blue and Vegas Gold

School Mascot: Blazing Trojan (Originally Trail Blazer)

Principals: Mr. E. Neubauer (1976-1980), Mr. William D. McGee (1980-1985), Mr. Gerald Lauritsen (1985-1994), Mr. Jim Krygier (1994-2001), Dr. Lynn Manning (2001-2004), Mr. Ron Ray (2004-2005) Address: 22331 Cottage Grove Ave. Chicago Heights, IL 60411

Phone: 708 758-7000

Bloom Trail High School opened as a four-year high school in the fall of 1976. Prior to that, since 1964, it had been a Freshman-Sophomore Division of Bloom Township High School. In 1964, it housed only freshmen (940) and then expanded to freshmen and sophomores the following year. As the school population grew in the Late 60's, the frosh-soph building was so crowded that 200 sophomores commuted one-half day to Bloom Junior-Senior Division in 1969. Two years later all sophomores were sent to Bloom on a permanent basis, making that school go on a split day schedule. The Freshman-Sophomore Division then housed only freshmen on a regular school day schedule.

In the fall of 1976, following a successful building bond referendum, Bloom School District had two four-year schools. Bloom Trail was then born. Names for the new four-year school were suggested by the community at large and narrowed down to five by a student vote. Bloom Trail was ultimately chosen by the Board of Education, navy blue and old gold were selected for the school's uniforms and the logo chosen was the fiery helmet. The seniors, falling within the new Bloom Trail boundaries, were given the choice of finishing at Bloom High School or being the first senior class at the new Bloom Trail. About half of those eligible opted for Bloom Trail and the school graduated 348 seniors in 1977.

Since that first graduating class, Bloom Trail has seen 27 other graduations. The total graduated since 1977 numbers 10,000. Among our graduates, as calculated from fourteen ten-year class reunions, there are fifteen physicians, twenty-six teachers, fifteen nurses, ten lawyers, ten with engineering degrees, fifteen small business owners, some architects and accountants and many others enjoying successful careers.

Since our birth as a four-year comprehensive high school, Bloom Trail has been privileged with outstanding leadership from five principals. Mr. E. E, Neubauer had the distinction of being the first principal, until he retired in 1980. He was succeeded by Mr. William D. McGee who enjoyed the period of Bloom Trail highest enrollment. When Mr. McGee retired in 1985, the leadership was passed on to Mr. Gerald Lauritsen. He has the distinction of the longest term of office at Bloom Trail, from 1985 to 1994, when he was promoted to Assistant Superintendent in charge of Instruction. Mr. Jim Krygierer served as principal after Mr. Lauritsen, and under his supervision Bloom Trail moved to block scheduling. Dr. Lynn Manning is the current Principal.


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	About Trail Current Enrollment: over 1,300 annually; Bloom Trail has graduated over 10,000 students since 1977. School Colors: Royal Blue and Vegas Gold School Mascot: Blazing Trojan (Originally Trail Blazer) Principals: Mr. E. Neubauer (1976-1980), Mr. William D. McGee (1980-1985), Mr. Gerald Lauritsen (1985-1994), Mr. Jim Krygier (1994-2001), Dr. Lynn Manning (2001-2004), Mr. Ron Ray (2004-2005) Address: 22331 Cottage Grove Ave. Chicago Heights, IL 60411 Phone: 708 758-7000 Bloom Trail High School opened as a four-year high school in the fall of 1976. Prior to that, since 1964, it had been a Freshman-Sophomore Division of Bloom Township High School. In 1964, it housed only freshmen (940) and then expanded to freshmen and sophomores the following year. As the school population grew in the Late 60's, the frosh-soph building was so crowded that 200 sophomores commuted one-half day to Bloom Junior-Senior Division in 1969. Two years later all sophomores were sent to Bloom on a permanent basis, making that school go on a split day schedule. The Freshman-Sophomore Division then housed only freshmen on a regular school day schedule. In the fall of 1976, following a successful building bond referendum, Bloom School District had two four-year schools. Bloom Trail was then born. Names for the new four-year school were suggested by the community at large and narrowed down to five by a student vote. Bloom Trail was ultimately chosen by the Board of Education, navy blue and old gold were selected for the school's uniforms and the logo chosen was the fiery helmet. The seniors, falling within the new Bloom Trail boundaries, were given the choice of finishing at Bloom High School or being the first senior class at the new Bloom Trail. About half of those eligible opted for Bloom Trail and the school graduated 348 seniors in 1977. Since that first graduating class, Bloom Trail has seen 27 other graduations. The total graduated since 1977 numbers 10,000. Among our graduates, as calculated from fourteen ten-year class reunions, there are fifteen physicians, twenty-six teachers, fifteen nurses, ten lawyers, ten with engineering degrees, fifteen small business owners, some architects and accountants and many others enjoying successful careers. Since our birth as a four-year comprehensive high school, Bloom Trail has been privileged with outstanding leadership from five principals. Mr. E. E, Neubauer had the distinction of being the first principal, until he retired in 1980. He was succeeded by Mr. William D. McGee who enjoyed the period of Bloom Trail highest enrollment. When Mr. McGee retired in 1985, the leadership was passed on to Mr. Gerald Lauritsen. He has the distinction of the longest term of office at Bloom Trail, from 1985 to 1994, when he was promoted to Assistant Superintendent in charge of Instruction. Mr. Jim Krygierer served as principal after Mr. Lauritsen, and under his supervision Bloom Trail moved to block scheduling. Dr. Lynn Manning is the current Principal.
	22331 Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago Heights, IL 60411 Tel: (708) 758-7000 Copyright © Bloom Trail High School