Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
| Scotch Plains - Fanwood High School | |
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| Location | |
| 667 Westfield Road Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 |
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| Information | |
| Type | Public high school |
| Principal | Dr. David Heisey |
| Faculty | 91 (on FTE basis)[1] |
| Enrollment | 1,444 (as of 2009-10)[1] |
| Student to teacher ratio | 15.87[1] |
| Campus | Suburban, 29 acres |
| Color(s) | Blue and White |
| Athletics conference | Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference |
| Team name | Raiders |
| Website | School website |
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School is a comprehensive regional four-year public high school in Union County, New Jersey, which serves students in Grades 9 through 12 from the Township of Scotch Plains and the Borough of Fanwood, operating as part of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District. The facility is located in Scotch Plains. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools since 1932.[2]
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,444 students and 91 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 15.87.[1]
In order to qualify for graduation, students must complete 120 credits of course work. Over 80% of students participated in clubs, athletics, service organizations, and music programs in 2008. In the class of 2008, there were ten National Merit Commended Students. In the class of 2003, 21 students were named Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars. There were 289 Advanced Placement (AP) examinations administered in 21 subject areas; 71% of the students received a score of 3 or better giving them exemption from certain required courses at various colleges and universities. 98% of the class of 2003 was enrolled in the college preparatory course of study. A total of $2,407,154 in scholarship money was awarded to graduates for their academic achievements.
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[edit] Awards and recognition
In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post, the school was ranked 42nd in New Jersey and 1,349th nationwide.[3]
The school was the 62nd-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 69th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[4] Schooldigger.com ranked the school as 72nd out of 376 public high schools statewide in its 2010 rankings (a decrease of 31 positions from the 2009 rank) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the language arts literacy and mathematics components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[5]
[edit] Publications
The school is host to an annually published literary magazine, Muse, which features poetry, stories and art by the students. The school's newspaper, The Fanscotian, was ranked by the GSSPA as the best newspaper in New Jersey.[citation needed] The school's yearbook is called Culmen.
[edit] Music
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School is host to an extensive music program. They include multiple choruses such as a Concert Choir and five auditioned groups. The band program consists of Freshman Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Lab band, the SPF marching band, and two Jazz bands: SPF Jazz band and the Moonglowers.
Scotch Plains-Fanwood is also home to the Repertory Theatre program, which in the past few years has put on such shows as Footloose, Les Misérables, West Side Story, 42nd Street, Once Upon a Mattress, Urinetown, Guys and Dolls, Curtains, and Hairspray, garnering a number of Rising Star Award nominations from the Paper Mill Playhouse, including one win for Outstanding Student Orchestra, for 42nd Street in 2006.[6]
[edit] SPF Moonglowers
SPF's top level ("A") jazz band is known as the Moonglowers, which are the oldest continuously operated high school jazz band in the state of New Jersey. It was formed in 1942 to play contemporary big-band songs during lunch periods and the senior prom. Beginning in 1979, the Moonglowers started competing in the New Jersey International Association of Jazz Education (now the North Jersey Association for jazz Education) jazz band circuit. Since then, the Moonglowers have won a McDonald's National Jazz Band title, and 10 New Jersey State titles. Since 2007, when the NJIAJE reformed into the New Jersey Association for Jazz Education, the Moonglowers have competed in division II. [7] Notably, in 2007, both the Moonglowers and SPF Jazz, SPF's second tier ("B") jazz band, competed together at the New Jersey State Final festival, and SPF Jazz took first place. This is the only time in the 21 year competition history of the school that SPF Jazz scored higher than the Moonglowers in competitions.
When not competing, the Moonglowers play old time big band swing songs for various community events and organizations. From community concerts to retirement homes, the moonglowers play songs from the golden age of jazz for those who remember them. Since 2007, the Moonglowers have also headlined the Susan G. Komen for the Cure race in New York City in early September.
[edit] SPF Raider Marching Band
The 2006-07 Marching band's show was entitled "Mystic Journey" with selections from Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings movies. They competed in the USSBA NJ State finals, and won with a score of 86.6. They also competed in the USSBA All State finals, and won second place, with a score of 90.1.
The 2007-2008 Marching band's show was entitled "Quest: Visions of a Dream" with selection from Zorro and Man of La Mancha. The SPF Raider Marching Band competed at the USSBA Yamaha Cup in Giant's Stadium and took second place. At the USSBA New Jersey State Finals, the Marching Band took first place for the second year in a row while also receiving the award for best percussion for the third year in a row. Moving on to the All-Eastern Finals in Allentown, P.A., the band received the award for second place as well as caption awards for best percussion.
The 2008-09 show was entitled "Destiny: Past, Present, And Future", marking the first year that the band is competing in USSBA Group VI Open, the most prestigious of all USSBA groups. It also included large props, actors, and narration. At the 2008 All Eastern Finals, SPF took 7th place with an historic score of 94.375.
The 2010-11 show, entitled "Generation Millennium", had selections of music from Walt Disney World's Epcot fireworks show, entitled IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. The band competed in the USSBA NJ State Finals in Union, NJ and were named state champions of Group 6A. At the All-Eastern Finals in Allentown, PA, the band received 3rd place but received the caption awards for best colorguard and best music.
[edit] Athletics
The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Raiders 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.[8] With 1,100 students in grades 10-12, the school is classified by the NJSIAA as North I Group III, a category that includes schools with enrollment of 808 to 1,106.[9]
[edit] Notable alumni
[edit] Government & public service
- Carol Bellamy (born 1942, class of 1959), was appointed Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in 1995 and was re-appointed in 1999. Prior to her UNICEF appointment, Ms. Bellamy served as the Director of the Peace Corps beginning in 1993. She served five years in the New York State Senate. In 1978, she was the first women to be named President of the New York City Council.[10]
- Donald DiFrancesco (born 1944, class of 1962), elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1976 and moved to the New Jersey Senate in 1979, serving as the Senate President for 10 years and as Acting Governor of New Jersey for 11 months.[11]
- Linda Stender (born 1951), member of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 22nd district who was formerly the Mayor of Fanwood.[12]
[edit] Sports
- Derrick Caracter (born 1988), former power forward/center for the University of Louisville Cardinals basketball and then power forward/center for University of Texas-El Paso UTEP basketball team. Current member of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers. Played at St. Patrick for his freshman, junior and parts of his senior year, and trained with SPFHS coach Frau Keyes for sophomore year while attending SPFHS.[13]
- Scott Goldblatt (born 1979, class of 1997), swimmer who won a Gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and a Silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, with both medals earned in the 4x200 m Freestyle Relay.[14]
- Jeffrey Hammonds (born 1971), baseball Olympian, twelve years in major leagues including one all star appearance.[15]
- Nathan Jones (b. 1982), New England Patriots cornerback, Rutgers academic All-American.[16]
- Bryan Meredith (born 1989), High-School Adidas All American, Keeper for the Seattle Sounders FC soccer team of the MLS.[17]
- Renaldo Nehemiah (born 1959), held 110 meter hurdles record for years, twice Superstars Champion, San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver.[18]
- Joe Scarpati (born 1943), holder for Tom Dempsey's record 63-yard (58 m) field goal in 1970.[19]
- Lance Thomas (born 1988), power forward/center for the Duke University basketball team. Attended Scotch Plains before graduating from St. Benedict's in 2006.[20]
[edit] Fine arts
- John B. Riley (born 1955), jazz drummer who has recorded on over 40 albums and CDs with internationally renowned artists, winning two Grammy Awards out of 14 nominations.[citation needed]
- Marc Shaiman (born 1959), Tony and Grammy winning composer, five time Academy Award-nominee.[21]
- David S. Ware (born 1949), jazz musician.[22]
- Ailee (born 1989), Korean Idol Singer and Actress
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed August 9, 2011.
- ^ Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools. Accessed August 10, 2011.
- ^ Mathews, Jay. "The High School Challenge 2011: Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School", The Washington Post. Accessed September 9, 2011.
- ^ Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed August 10, 2011.
- ^ New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2009-2010, Schooldigger.com. Accessed February 2, 2012.
- ^ PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE RISING STAR AWARDS 2006 AWARD RECIPIENTS, presented June 13, 2006
- ^ 2011 Finals, The New Jersey Jazz Ensemble Festival. Accessed February 2, 2012.
- ^ League Memberships – 2011-2012, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed February 2, 2012.
- ^ 2011-2012 Public Schools Group Classification for ShopRite Cup–Tennis–Soccer–Basketball–Baseball–Softball for Central Jersey, NJSIAA. Accessed February 2, 2012.
- ^ Thompson, Clifford. "Carol Bellamy", Current Biography Yearbook, p. 53. H. W. Wilson Company, 1999. ISBN 0824209885. Accessed August 10, 2011. "Bellamy acted in student productions of musicals at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, from which she graduated in 1959."
- ^ DiFulco, Pasquale. "Senate president has eye on new job", Courier News, June 1, 1999. Accessed July 1, 2011. "DiFrancesco was popular enough at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School to be elected senior class president."
- ^ Staff. "Linda Stender", Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, p. 205. Skinder-Strauss Associates, 2005. ISBN 1577412168. Accessed August 10, 2011. "She attended elementary schools in Union County, and graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School."
- ^ Goodman, Jeff. "Heralded recruit struggles with expectations", USA Today, November 16, 2005. Accessed November 30, 2007.
- ^ Frezza, Jr., Harry. "Central Jerseyans chase their Olympic dreams", Courier-News, August 12, 2004. Accessed February 2, 2012. "Swimmer Scott Goldblatt, a 1997 Scotch Plains-Fanwood High graduate and a silver medalist at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia, who is returning for his second Olympiad."
- ^ Olson, Drew. "Rich brew: Hammonds breaks bank of Brewers", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 22, 2000. Accessed December 13, 2007.
- ^ Professional Donation, The Westfield Leader, February 10, 2005. Accessed July 3, 2007. "Former Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School football star Nathan Jones, now playing for the Dallas Cowboys, donated his jersey to the school."
- ^ Staff. "Hawks hosting NEC soccer tournament After clinching sixth straight regular-season crown", The Hub, November 11, 2010. Accessed February 2, 2012. "“Winning the regular-season championship has become a tradition here, and I’m glad that we can keep that going,” added fellow Hermann Trophy candidate Bryan Meredith (Scotch Plains, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School)."
- ^ Konecky, Chad. "Player Profile: Cordera Jenkins (Dickinson, Texas)", Rise Magazine, March 29, 2006. Accessed July 3, 2007. "In 1977, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High (N.J.) senior Renaldo Nehemiah, who later won a Super Bowl ring as a San Francisco 49ers wideout, ran a computer-timed 12.98 in the 120-yard (110 m) high hurdles, which remains the fastest finish over an equivalent distance in scholastic history."
- ^ "Honoring Former High School Greats", The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood, November 13, 1997. "Mayor Connelly presented a plaque to Mr. Scarpati, who lettered in football, basketball and track for the Raiders and served as the captain of the football team in 1959. Mr. Scarpati went on to play as a defensive back for the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints professional football teams, and was the holder of the record-setting 63-yard (58 m) field goal kicked by Tom Dempsey in 1970 during the game between the Saints and the Detroit Lions."
- ^ Carino, Jerry. "Lance Thomas' work ethic pays off", Courier News, April 1, 2010. Accessed July 1, 2011. "Six years ago, as a sophomore at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, Lance Thomas filled out Duke University's recruiting questionnaire and faxed it in, hoping he could catch the attention of his dream college basketball program."
- ^ "Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman perform benefit for Brook Arts Center", BroadwayWorld.com, March 8, 2004. Accessed July 3, 2007. "Mr. Shaiman was only 13 years old and a 9th grader at Scotch Plains High School at the time."
- ^ La Gorce, Tammy. "A Gift of Life and Music: Musician David S. Ware, of Scotch Plains, recovered from a kidney transplant...with a little help from his fans.", New Jersey Monthly, December 14, 2009. Accessed August 9, 2011. "David S. Ware, 60, a tenor saxophonist from Scotch Plains, got more than support. He got a new kidney.... Having regained his health, Ware, a graduate of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, is planning to release an experimental jazz album this spring."
[edit] External links
- Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
- Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional High School's 2009–10 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics
Coordinates: 40°39′09″N 74°23′05″W / 40.652403°N 74.384843°W
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