Elizabeth High School (New Jersey)
| Elizabeth High School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| 447 Richmond Street (Upper) 425 Grier Avenue (Lower) Elizabeth, NJ 07202 |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Public high school |
| School district | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| Principal | Michael Cummings[1] |
| Faculty | 50 (on FTE basis)[2] |
| Grades | 9 - 12 |
| Enrollment | 623 (as of 2009-10)[2] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 12.46[2] |
| Color(s) | Scarlet Black White |
| Athletics conference | Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference |
| Nickname | Minutemen |
| Website | School webpage |
Elizabeth High School is a four-year public high school located in Elizabeth, in Union County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Elizabeth Public Schools from 1979 to 2009. After that year the school and its more than 5,000 students was split into separate houses, each operating as an independent school with its own principal and subject of focus, including one which has retained the Elizabeth High School name.[3] The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools since 1978.[4]
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 623 students and 50 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.46.[2]
Following the split, Schooldigger.com ranked the school 21st out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (a decrease of 8 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (97.5%) and language arts literacy (100.0%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[5]
Contents |
[edit] History
Elizabeth High School was constructed in 1977 as part of a $29.3 million project to create a single co-ed school to succeed Thomas Jefferson High School, which had been for boys only, and Battin High School, which had served girls only during the 73 years it existed and was to become a middle school.[6]
With over 5,279 students, Elizabeth High School had been the largest high school in the nation in terms of population.[7] Prior to 2010, Elizabeth High School occupied eight campuses, also known as houses: The William F. Halsey house, the John E. Dwyer house, the Thomas Jefferson house, the Thomas Edison house, the Sam E. Aboff house, the Alexander Hamilton academy, the Upper academy, and the Lower academy. In 2009, the Elizabeth Board of Education passed the "Transformation Plan", which split-up the houses that made up Elizabeth High School and made each house its own high school. The Upper and Lower academies became the new Elizabeth High School.[3]
Prior to the breakup, the school had been the 294th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 322 schools statewide, in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2010 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 302nd in 2008 out of 316 schools.[8] The school was ranked 287th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[9] Almost half of each graduating class had failed to pass the traditional High School Proficiency Assessment and complete required course credits, so they are funneled through a so-called Alternative High School Assessment test. [10] About one in four students who entered the high school dropped out. [11]
[edit] Houses
Elizabeth High School was composed of the following eight houses (or campuses), plus an administration building, and an indoor sports center:
- Peter B. Gold Administration Building
- Thomas Dunn Sports Center
- William F. Halsey House
- John Dwyer House
- Thomas Jefferson House
- Sam E. Aboff Alternative House
- Thomas A. Edison Vocational and Technical Academy
- Upper Academy
- Lower Academy
- Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy
[edit] Main Complex
The Halsey House, Dwyer House, The Peter B. Gold Administration Building, and Thomas Dunn Sports Center share one large building, forming the Main Complex of Elizabeth High School, most commonly known as "The Main". The Main Complex holds more students, teachers, and administrators than the other houses/campuses in the city. The Main Complex was known as the heart of Elizabeth High School.
The Main Complex is where all the Elizabeth High School extracurricular activities and sports teams are found. The building functions as a hub central as other students from the other Elizabeth High School houses come here during the after school hours. The Main Complex also holds Elizabeth High School's swimming pool where the swim team practices and meets are held. The Main Complex campus is also famous in the student body for holding a unique courtyard, being the only campus in Elizabeth High School to have one accessible to its students.
[edit] Thomas Jefferson House
Located across the street from City Hall and war monuments, Thomas Jefferson House was the school's oldest house. First built in 1928 as an all-boys high school and named for the author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States, Jefferson was now a house of Elizabeth High School and the center for the district's performing arts program. This house was just a short walk away from The Main Complex campus.
Jefferson also specializes teaching its students in visual arts, such as drawing, painting, and creative crafts; as well as performing arts such as dance, acting, and singing. And also extra subjects, including creative writing.
Jefferson does not provide for uniforms. In hopes that this will give students the chance to express their creativity.
[edit] Thomas A. Edison Academy For Career & Technical Education
Thomas A. Edison Academy For Career & Technical Education was originally built as Thomas Edison High School in 1935, and the last graduating class of the high school was in 1987. Named for the great inventor who worked on many of his major contributions to the scientific and commercial world right here in New Jersey. The Thomas A. Edison Academy For Career & Technical Education was the center for vocational and technical education in the city.
Williams Field, which holds the school's football field and outdoor track and field, is adjacent to the Thomas A. Edison Academy.
[edit] Sam E. Aboff Alternative House
The Sam E. Aboff Alternative House was the Elizabeth High School's smallest house in terms of both population and area. It was home to troublesome students and students who are excessively absent and/or tardy. It was located less than 100 yards from the Main Complex.
[edit] Upper and Lower Academy
The Upper and Lower Academies were established in 2006 with a curriculum that prepares students for four-year colleges. The Upper Academy building held 10th–12th grade students (upper classmen), while the Lower Academy building holds 9th graders (lower classmen). Students enrolling in these academies are encouraged to take honors and Advanced Placement-level courses. Students are required to wear school uniforms and must maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average to enroll or continue to stay in The Upper and Lower Academies.
In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post, the school was ranked 2nd in New Jersey and 177th nationwide.[12]
[edit] Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy
Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy was the newest house in Elizabeth High School, accommodating lower and upper classmen, bringing a total of eight houses in Elizabeth High School, serving the largest high school population in the United States.
Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy integrates a curriculum with the philosophies of the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program.
AVID is a research-based instructional model that encourages students to prepare for and participate in a challenging college preparatory curriculum. In addition to enrolling in honors and AP level courses, students will receive academic support through a specially designed AVID elective taught by AVID-trained instructors. The rigorous curriculum prepares students for four-year colleges. Students are required to wear school uniforms during school hours.
Each student needs to establish and maintain at least a 2.0 Grade point average to enroll or continue to stay in Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy.
Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy's campus is the farthest one from Elizabeth High School's Main Complex. It is located next to Westfield Avenue, close to the borders of other towns. Hamilton Preparatory is the only house in which students must walk outside to classes. They are held in a small separate one-story adjacent building known as "The Portables", which is only a few yards away from the student cafeteria back door entrance and the main teachers' parking lot.
[edit] Transformation Plan
From 1979 to 2009, Elizabeth High School was one big high school composed of eight campuses (or houses). In 2009, the Elizabeth Board of Education passed the "Transformation Plan" that split-up the high school and created six smaller high schools.
- The Upper Academy and Lower Academy became the new Elizabeth High School
- The William F. Halsey House became Admiral William F. Halsey Leadership Academy
- The John Dwyer House became John E. Dwyer Technology Academy
- The Thomas Jefferson House became Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy
- The Sam E. Aboff Alternative House became part of Admiral William F. Halsey Leadership Academy
- The Thomas A. Edison Vocational and Technical Academy stood the same
- The Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy stood the same
[edit] Athletics
The Elizabeth High School Minutemen now compete in the Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.[13] prior to the 2010 realignment, the school had participated in the Watchung Conference, a high school sports league shich included schools in Essex County, Hudson County and Union County.
The football team won the North II Group IV state sectional championships in 1981, 1988-89, 1997, 1999-2000 and 2006.[14] The football team won the 2006 North II, Group IV sectional championship, defeating Phillipsburg High School, 14-9.[15] The team also took the 1999 North II, Group IV sectional championship with a 26-14 win over Montclair High School.[16]
The boys basketball team won the 2003 North II, Group IV title, topping Linden High School 77-72 in the final.[17]
The Elizabeth High School girls rugby team won the title of Northeast Regional Champions in June 2008. They went on to become the 7th-ranked Girls U-19 rugby team in the nation. The team only formed in 2006.[citation needed]
| Fall Sports | Winter Sports | Spring Sports |
|---|---|---|
| Football (Boys) | Indoor Track (Boys and Girls) | Outdoor Track (Boys and Girls) |
| Soccer (Boys and Girls) | Basketball (Boys and Girls) | Baseball (Boys) |
| Volleyball (Girls) | Wrestling (Boys) | Softball (Girls) |
| Tennis (Girls) | Swimming (Boys and Girls) | Tennis (Boys) |
| Cross Country (Boys and Girls) | Bowling (Boys and Girls) | Golf (Boys and Girls) |
| Gymnastics (Boys and Girls) | Rugby (Girls) |
[edit] Notable alumni
- Todd Bowles (born 1963), former NFL Defensive Back with the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers. Currently, the Defensive Back Coach of the Dallas Cowboys.[18]
- Rodney Carter (born 1964), former NFL Running back/3rd Down Receiver with the Pittsburgh Steelers.[19]
- Al Catanho (born 1972), former linebacker in the NFL for the New England Patriots and the Washington Redskins.[20]
- Gil Chapman (born 1953), punt and kickoff return specialist for the New Orleans Saints during the 1975 NFL season.[21]
- Chris Gatling (born 1967), former professional basketball player for numerous NBA teams from 1991 to 2002.[22]
- Horace Jenkins (born 1974), former player in the NBA.[23]
- Jerome Murphy (born 1987), is a current NFL American football cornerback who played college football at the University of South Florida and was drafted as the first pick in the third round by the St. Louis Rams.[24]
- Luther Wright (born 1971), former player in the NBA for the Utah Jazz.[25]
[edit] References
- ^ Administration, Elizabeth High School. Accessed June 22, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Elizabeth High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed June 22, 2011.
- ^ a b Kwoh, Leslie. "Elizabeth High School to split into six different schools in September", The Star-Ledger, January 15, 2009. Accessed June 22, 2011. "Elizabeth High School's 5,300 students will be divided into six schools in September to alleviate overcrowding in the biggest school in New Jersey."
- ^ Elizabeth High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools. Accessed July 22, 2011.
- ^ New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2010-2011, Schooldigger.com. Accessed February 23, 2012.
- ^ Horowitz, Ben. "Elizabeth Awaits Coed High School", The New York Times, July 10, 1977. Accessed December 4, 2011. "ELIZABETH'S 48-year role as the only community in the state with separate public high schools for boys and girls will end in September with the opening of a new fourbuilding complex at the corner of South Pearl and South Streets."
- ^ "This school should be a city". 2006. http://www.elizabeth.k12.nj.us/news/ehslargest/index.pdf?year=2006. Retrieved 2006-06-25.[dead link]
- ^ Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed June 22, 2011.
- ^ "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
- ^ | "N.J. high school seniors struggle with alternative graduation test", NewJerseyNewsroom.com, March 28, 2011. Accessed December 15, 2011.
- ^ | "Elizabeth High School to split" The Star-Ledger, January 15, 2009. Accessed December 15, 2011.
- ^ Mathews, Jay. "The High School Challenge 2011: Elizabeth High School", The Washington Post. Accessed July 22, 2011.
- ^ League Memberships – 2011-2012, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 4, 2011.
- ^ Goldberg, Jeff. N.J.S.I.A.A. FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CHAMPIONS, NJSIAA. Accessed December 4, 2011.
- ^ 2006 Football Tournament - North II, Group IV, NJSIAA. Accessed May 27, 2007.
- ^ North II, Group IV, NJSIAA. Accessed May 26, 2007.
- ^ 2003 Boys Basketball - North II, Group IV, NJSIAA. Accessed May 26, 2007.
- ^ Todd Bowles, Database Football. Accessed September 19, 2007.
- ^ Rodney Carter, database Football. Accessed September 19, 2007.
- ^ Alcides Catanho profile, database Football. Accessed June 10, 2007.
- ^ Staff. "Chapman Scores 5 Touchdowns As Jefferson Subdues Cranford", The New York Times, November 29, 1968. Accessed December 4, 2011. "Gil Chapman, Thomas Jefferson sophomore halfback, scored five touchdowns as Jefferson erased a 14-0 deficit to defeat Cranford, 32-21, today."
- ^ Chris Gatling profile, Basketball Reference.
- ^ Coffey, Wayne. "MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY Horace Jenkins, 26, goes from William Paterson to possible NBA first-round pick", New York Daily News, April 22, 2001. Accessed March 1, 2008. "It is a prodigious jump, even for someone with a 44-inch vertical leap. It is even more impressive, considering that Jenkins: Never played his senior year at Elizabeth High School"
- ^ Sargeant, Keith. "Pitching Rice", Home News Tribune, September 26, 2006. Accessed March 20, 2011. "The lone New Jersey native on South Florida's roster is Jerome Murphy, a 2005 Elizabeth High School graduate."
- ^ Luther Wright profile, Basketball Reference. Accessed June 15, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Elizabeth High School
- Elizabeth Public Schools's 2009–10 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Elizabeth Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
Coordinates: 40°39′36″N 74°12′50″W / 40.660085°N 74.21391°W
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