Rock Island High School participates in the Illinois High School Association and is a member of the Western Big 6 Conference. Rock Island High School seeks to provide an array of activities to engage each student in finding their true passion.
Sports
The Lady Rocks Swim Team won its first Western Big 6 Conference title in 21 years in November of 2017. The Rocks won the IHSA 3A Boys' Basketball championship on March 19, 2011. They defeated the Centralia Orphans by a score of 50-40 in double overtime. The Rock Island Girls' Track team also grooms multiple state qualifiers and has won numerous contests. The Lady Rocks softball team also won their first state title ever this past season. The Rocks have also won the IHSA Speech sectional for 11 years in a row, which has qualified them for the Illinois State Championship in speech, a contest that has no class divisions. The Speech Team has been recognized as one of the key players in the State Tournament for more than 20 years.
Music
The band was named an Illinois All-State Honor Band in 2013 by the Illinois Music Education Association. Under the direction of Peter Carlin, the Pride of Rock Island Marching Band has ranked among the best in the state and represented themselves as the premier marching band of the Quad Cities. The program consistently produces more ILMEA All-State musicians than any other in the immediate region. Of the three choirs, the Chamber Singers are recognized throughout the Quad Cities for their Christmas tour. Further, the Chamber Singers are requested at many charitable events. Under the direction of Scott Voigt, the program constantly produces high numbers of ILMEA District 2 choir members, as well as All-State singers. Furthermore Rock Island High School boasts two Orchestra classes due to the large number of enrollment in the program. The chamber orchestra, previously Rock Group performs at events, gigs. Mrs. Katrina Benson directs the Orchestras.
Rock Island Public Schools Stadium and Almquist Field
Rock Island High School has an on-campus stadium, the Rock Island Public Schools Stadium, with a seating capacity of nearly 16,000. Within the stadium, Almquist Field is surfaced with an AstroTurfartificial turf.
The Rock Island High School Auditorium
The community has a 1930s art deco auditorium. The lower seating capacity is 1000 persons. The upper capacity is 500 persons. The proscenium measures 50 feet.
Charles Carpenter: highly-decorated Second World War artillery observation pilot nicknamed Bazooka Charlie; destroyed several German armored vehicles in his bazooka-equipped Piper L-4 Cub/Grasshopper light observation aircraft, christened Rosie the Rocketeer.
Brian W. McRae Six time Emmy Award winning Lighting Designer. Credits include... "The Tonight Show" starring Johnny Carson, "Days of Our Lives", and "Guiding Light".
Don Nelson is a former professional basketball player and coach. His 1335 victories as a head coach is the all-time record for a head coach in NBA history. Nelson was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in
Gary Payton is a former astronaut who flew aboard the space shuttle Discovery as a part of mission STS-51-C.