Fenger, along with its former principal Elizabeth Dozier and numerous staff and students was featured prominently in the 2014 CNN documentary series Chicagoland.

The Chicago Board of Education renamed the school in 1915 in honor of a well-known Danish surgeon, Christian Fenger.

Fenger competes in the Chicago Public League (CPL) and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).

The boys' baseball team won an Illinois state title and placed first in 1945–46 and were public league champions four times; 1945–46, 1951–52, 1970, 1985–86.

Fenger football team won Chicago prep bowls titles four times; 1937–38, 1939–40, 1944–45, 1953–54.