Editing Aledo, Illinois (section)

==Education==
Aledo was the home to [[William & Vashti College]] (1908–1917) — the campus/buildings were purchased and used by the Roosevelt Military Academy from 1924 to 1973. The Administration Building was torn down, and the spot was used to construct an assisted living facility. The remaining two buildings (Niles Hall and North Hall) are unused. William & Vashti College was a member of the [[Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]] from 1910 to 1917.

The High School Mascot used to be the Aledo Green Dragons. School colors were [[Forest Green (color)|Forest Green]] and [[White]]. The Class of 2006 had 71 students, which is about an average class size.

[[Mercer County High School (Illinois)|Mercer County High School]] offers a variety of course curriculum in the sciences, math, literature, social sciences, and the arts. The school has a [[concert band]], [[jazz band]], [[marching band]], [[Concert Choir|concert choir]], and [[swing choir]].

The school also offers a variety of athletics including [[volleyball]], [[American football|football]], both men and women's [[golf]], men and women's [[basketball]], [[scholastic wrestling|wrestling]], [[track and field]], [[softball]], [[baseball]], and [[Cross country running|cross country]]. Some extracurricular activities that students can become involved in are [[scholastic bowl]], football, basketball, [[Pom-pom|pom poms]], [[cheerleading]], [[Pep flags|flags]], [[Majorette (dancer)|majorettes]], and [[Musical theatre|musicals]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aledoschools.org/index.php |title=Aledo Schools: Unit District 201 |access-date=2008-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023033054/http://www.aledoschools.org/index.php |archive-date=2008-10-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

From 1915 to 2009, [[Aledo High School (Illinois)|Aledo High School]] competed in boys football. They qualified for the state tournament on 17 occasions since the tournament began in 1974.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IHSA Season Summaries |url=http://www.ihsa.org/school/records/sum0105.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626145212/http://www.ihsa.org/school/records/sum0105.htm |archive-date=June 26, 2010 |website=Illinois High School Association |access-date=May 1, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=IHSA Boys Football Chronology |url=http://www.ihsa.org/activity/fb/records/chron.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101109023920/http://www.ihsa.org/activity/fb/records/chron.htm |archive-date=November 9, 2010 |website=Illinois High School Association |access-date=May 1, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> From 1998 to 2006, Aledo High School has reached the finals of five [[Illinois High School Association|IHSA]] boys' football championship tournaments. Of those five, the school won three times.<ref>{{cite web |year=2006 |title=IHSA Boys Football Champions and Runners-Up |url=http://www.ihsa.org/activity/fb/records/team1-2.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117003058/http://www.ihsa.org/activity/fb/records/team1-2.htm |archive-date=November 17, 2010 |access-date=2008-10-09 |work=Illinois High School Association |publisher= |url-status=live }}</ref>

Aledo School District #201 and Westmer School District #203 have consolidated since the 2009–2010 school year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/news/x1588605521/Consolidation-passes-in-Westmer-and-Aledo-by-a-landslide |title=Consolidation passes in Westmer and Aledo by a landslide |access-date=2014-05-17 |work=Cathy Decker |publisher=Aledo Times Record |date=2008-11-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213160052/http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/news/x1588605521/Consolidation-passes-in-Westmer-and-Aledo-by-a-landslide |archive-date=2012-02-13 }}</ref>
The consolidation was voted upon by both school boards and was on the ballot for the 2008 election. The measure passed by a 76% margin.

The new consolidated district is Mercer County District #404 and the new mascot adopted by popular vote in early 2009 is the Mercer County [[Golden eagles in human culture|Golden Eagles]]. School colors changed to [[navy blue]] and [[Vegas Gold|vegas gold]]. The Class of 2010 had over 120 students, well above the usual average.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}}