 Opened in September 1974, The school is named in the honor of American mechanical engineer and inventor George Henry Corliss.During the 1970–1971 school year, The residents of the community areas located on far south side requested to James F. Redmond, the General Superintendent of Chicago Schools that two new high schools were needed to relieve overcrowding at the already two existing schools, Harlan and Fenger.At the time, both schools had an enrollment of approx.