Metea Valley High School

Metea Valley High School is a high school in Aurora, Illinois that opened in August 2009 in DuPage County. The school is one of four high schools operated by the Indian Prairie School District. Waubonsie Valley High School is also in Aurora, while Neuqua Valley High School and Wheatland Academy are in Naperville. The school follows IPSD's tradition of naming its High Schools after Native American figures with its namesake Metea. Preparations Serving Indian Prairie School District 204, and opened for the 2009–2010 academic year for freshman and sophomore classes (grades nine and ten), Metea Valley cost $124.7 million to build, and can hold 3,000 students. The school met its full enrollment of students for grades 9-12 during the 2011–2012 academic year. The school began its first Prairie State Achievement Exams (used as a standardized testing measure of academic achievement) during the 2010–2011 academic year, and per Illinois High School Association Policy, the school was not fully recognized for interscholastic sports until that same academic year. The school's namesake, a chief of the Potawatomi tribe, was selected in 2006 while the school was being planned. The school's colors are black and gold (maintaining a tradition of the district's high schools utilizing gold) and the school's mascot is the 'Mustang'. The colors were announced in February 2007, and the mascot selection in March 2007. Both were chosen by middle school students who began attending the school in 2009, as well as the current Neuqua and Waubonsie students in 2007. The School joined the Upstate Eight Conference in the 2010-2011 school year. They left the Upstate Eight Conference for the DuPage Valley Conference in 2015. Demographics In 2024, 29.7% of the student body identified as White, 36.7% of the student body identified as Asian, 13.7% of the student body identified as Black, 14.6% of the student body identified as Hispanic, and 5% of the student body identified as 2 or more races. In 2025, 28.1% of the student body identified as White, 38.6% of the student body identified as Asian, 14.6% of the student body identified as Black, 13.4% of the student body identified as Hispanic, and 5.1% identified as two or more races. Academics Metea Valley High School's first principal was Jim Schmid, former principal of Waubonsie Valley High School. On January 8, 2014, Principal Schmid announced that Dr. Darrell Echols, Principal at Hill Middle School at the time, would succeed him as Metea Valley High School Principal. Echols assumed his position July 1, 2014 following Mr. Schmid's retirement. After 9 years in July 2023, Echols retired as Metea Principal and Daniel DeBruycker took position of Principal for the Metea Valley High School. Metea Valley will be getting a new principal in August 2026 after Mr. Dan DeBruycker leaves Metea. During the 2013-2014 school year, Metea Valley was ranked as the 669th best high school in America and the 29th best in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report. Metea Valley was also ranked the 23rd most challenging high school in Illinois. This ranking is based on standardized test scores and percentage of students on subsidized lunch, among other factors. Construction The school was designed by the Chicago office of DLR Group. The construction manager was Turner Construction Company. The school's music hallway opened on January 4, 2010. The auditorium was completed in early February 2010. The campus was ranked #20 on a list of the "Most Amazing High School Campuses in the Nation" in 2014. Athletics From the fall of 2009 through the spring of 2015, the athletic teams participated in the Upstate Eight Conference. In the fall of 2015, Metea Valley athletes began participating in the DuPage Valley Conference. The athletic teams from Metea Valley High School are supported by the Athletic Boosters Club which provides financial support to the athletic program by providing concussion screening for athletes, school wide heart screening, and continual improvement of the athletic facilities. 2012 Lacrosse Combined State Champion - In 2012, Metea Valley students participated on a combined lacrosse team with Waubonsie Valley and won the IHSLA B-division State Championship against Grayslake North High School. 2014 Hockey Combined State Champion - In 2014, Metea Valley students participated on a combined hockey team with Waubonsie Valley students and won the Combined State Championship. 2014 Rugby Combined State Champion - In 2014, Metea Valley students participated on a combined Rugby team with Waubonsie Valley students and won the State Championship. - In 2021, girls volleyball won the IHSA 4a State Championship. They only had 2 losses on the season. Music In 2016, Metea Valley was presented with one of three GRAMMY Signature Gold Schools award. GRAMMY Signature School awards are given to high school music programs that are keeping music programs alive and well despite budgets and school politics. The music department at Metea Valley hosts an annual concert in December named "Collage". The event comprises four repetitions of the same concert spread over two nights; however, soloists and small ensembles who play during transitions often differ between the concerts. Each concert ends with a finale featuring all music students from Metea Valley. The school's marching band is named the Metea Valley Marching Mustangs. They perform during halftime at all Metea Valley home football games. Their halftime show changes yearly. Every other year the band goes on a trip to another state to perform there. They also participate in band days at places such as University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Northern Illinois University. The Marching Mustangs were one of many bands selected to perform at the 2013 Outback Bowl in Tampa Bay, Florida, and would be invited again in 2019. The band also traveled to Hawaii to perform at the Waikiki Holiday Parade and at Pearl Harbor. Additionally, they participate in an annual Memorial and Labor Day parade in either Naperville or Aurora, the two closest cities. Metea Valley students also participate in an annual Fine Arts Festival since 2009. Notable alumni Malik Hall, basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League Lyndie Lobdell, professional ice hockey defenseman in the Professional Women's Hockey League References