Absegami High School
Absegami High School | |
---|---|
Location | |
Information | |
Type | Public |
Established | 1972 |
School district | Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District |
Principal | Jeri-Lynn Vernon |
Faculty | 119.8 (on FTE basis)[1] |
Grades | 9–12 |
Enrollment | 1,537[1] (as of 2013-14) |
Student to teacher ratio | 12.8:1[1] |
Color(s) | Brown and Vegas Gold[2] |
Athletics conference | Cape-Atlantic League |
Nickname | Braves[2] |
GEHRHSD | Absegami High School Cedar Creek High School Oakcrest High School |
Community served | Galloway Township |
Website | School website |
Absegami High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades in Galloway Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, one of three secondary schools operating as part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District. The student body comes from Galloway Township.[3]
As of the 2013-14 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,537 students and 119.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.8:1. There were 521 students (33.9% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 180 (11.7% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]
Oakcrest High School and Cedar Creek High School are Absegami's sister schools. Absegami and Oakcrest shared the same buildings during the period from the creation of Absegami High School in 1972 to the construction of a separate campus for Absegami in 1982. In a referendum held on September 25, 2007, voters approved by a 3,176 – 1,719 margin a plan to construct a third high school in the district, to be located in Egg Harbor City, which would help alleviate overcrowding in the two existing schools and serve students from Egg Harbor City and Mullica Township. Construction started in Fall 2008 and was completed in Summer 2010 at a total project cost of $80 million (of which $59.9 million was related to construction costs), with the new facility opening that September.[4]
The school has a variety of programs designed for a diverse student body, including 'special needs', a "High School-to-Work" program, college preparatory, Advanced Placement (AP), and performing arts. The school offers 13 courses through which students earn college credits by taking AP examinations, and 89% of students planned to go on to college.[5]
Awards, recognition and rankings
The school was the 164th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology.[6] The school had been ranked 260th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 238th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[7] The magazine ranked the school 230th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[8] The school was ranked 231st in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[9]
Programs
The school's mission statement objective is to "provide each student the educational opportunity and support that will enable him or her to develop the skills necessary to function politically, economically, and socially as a responsible and contributing citizen in a democratic society."[10] To accomplish this goal, Absegami provides a diverse range of classes designed to help students reach their full potential during their future careers in mathematics, art, wood technology, humanities, and science.
Athletics
The Absegami High School Braves[2] compete in the Atlantic Division of the Cape-Atlantic League, an athletic conference consisting of both parochial and public high schools located in Atlantic County, Cape May County, Cumberland County, and Gloucester County, that operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[11] With 1,164 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2014-15 school year as South Jersey, Group IV for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 1,084 to 1,845 students in that grade range.[12]
School colors are brown and Vegas gold. Sports offered at the school include Tennis (women), Lacrosse (men), Lacrosse (women), Baseball, Track and Field Winter (men), Tennis (men), Track and Field Winter (women), Swimming (women), Golf (men), Swimming (men), Field Hockey, Soccer (women), Football, Soccer (men), Cross Country (women), Softball, Volleyball (women), Basketball (men), Wrestling (men), Track and Field Spring (women), Basketball (women), Track and Field Spring (men) and Cross Country (men).[2]
Teams that have won notable championships include:
- Football: Absegami beat Cherokee High School 27-26 to win the 2006 South Jersey Group IV championship.[13][14]
- Boys Cross-Country: 1985, 86, 87, 90, 94, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, and 2005
- Girls Cross-Country: 1994 and 1999
- Boys Soccer: 1977, 2001, 2002 and 2003
- Girls Basketball: Group IV state title in 2005 (vs. Montclair High School) and 2006 (vs. Bayonne High School).[15]
- Marching Band: Tournament Of Bands: Chapter 1 Champions 1991 (Group 2), 1998-2005 (Group 3).[16] NJ State Champions 1991, 98, 99, 2000, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 13. Atlantic Coast Group III Champions 1998, 2002. USSBA Central Jersey Regional Champions 2006, 2007, 2010. USSBA New Jersey State Champions 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011,2013 and 2014. Absegami was recognized as the USSBA Group IV National Champions for 2006, for its program titled "Through the Eyes of Children".Also, Absegami Marching Braves won the title of group lV AA national champions 2013 with their show, "New World Symphony" as well as Group IVA New Jersey State Champions and had the first undefeated season in history.[17]
- Boys Wrestling: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004
Administration
The principal is Jeri-Lynn Vernon.[18]
Controversy
Absegami employs a school resource officer, who is a member of the area's police force permanently assigned to a particular school. In March–April 2005, it was revealed that Absegami's then resource officer, Eric Allen, had sex with a 17-year-old female student in his patrol car three times over the course of a month.[19][20] Allen was dismissed from his position and found guilty of official misconduct.
Notable alumni
- Tabitha D'umo (born 1973), hip hop choreographer.[21]
- Meaghan Jarensky, Miss New York USA 2005.[citation needed]
- Rodney Jerkins (born 1977), producer, hip hop mogul.[22]
- Mushond Lee (born 1967), actor who appeared on The Cosby Show and in the film Lean on Me.[23]
- Erica Skroski (born 1994), soccer player who plays as a defender for Sky Blue FC in the NWSL.[24]
References
- ^ a b c d School Data for Absegami High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 11, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Absegami High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 30, 2015.
- ^ Absegami High School 2014 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 23, 2015. "A most positive and strong relationship exists with the Galloway Township School District which sends students to Absegami High School thus providing a seamless transition into ninth grade."
- ^ Cedar Creek High School, Learning by Design Outstanding Project 2011. Accessed July 10, 2011.
- ^ Absegami High School 2013 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed October 30, 2015. "Our high school boasts an extensive AP Program including thirteen courses in English, social studies, math, science and world language."
- ^ Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
- ^ Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed September 12, 2012.
- ^ Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed January 31, 2011.
- ^ "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
- ^ "Absegami Website". Absegami High School. Archived from the original on 6 January 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ League Memberships – 2015-2016, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed February 11, 2016.
- ^ 2014-2015 Public Schools Group Classification: ShopRite Cup–Basketball–Baseball–Softball for South Jersey, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, as of July 8, 2014. Accessed November 26, 2014.
- ^ 2006 Football Tournament - South, Group IV, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 5, 2006.
- ^ Goldberg, Jeff. NJSIAA Football Playoff Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 19, 2015.
- ^ NJSIAA Group Basketball Past Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed February 11, 2016.
- ^ Tournament of Bands - Chapter One History, Tournament of Bands. Accessed July 5, 2007.
- ^ USSBA National Championship Titles, United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) press release dated November 14, 2006. Accessed January 31, 2011.
- ^ Administration, Absegami High School. Accessed May 1, 2016.
- ^ 6abc.com: Cop Admits Affair with School Girl, WPVI-TV, May 20, 2005.
- ^ Cop Working In High School Arrested On Sex Charges, WCAU, April 7, 2005.
- ^ Cronick, Scott. "Everyone has a story: Galloway woman choreographs 'Rockin' Eve'", The Press of Atlantic City, December 30, 2009. Accessed January 31, 2011. "The Absegami High School graduate and Los Angeles resident can be seen on Fox's 'So You Think You Can Dance,' where she and her husband earned an Emmy nomination this year for outstanding choreography on the show and choreographed a number for the Emmys that was performed live."
- ^ Jackson, Vincent. "(RODNEY) JERKIN'S JOURNEY / HOW HOMETOWN MUSICIAN GOT TO THE GRAMMY AWARDS", The Press of Atlantic City, February 21, 1999. Accessed January 31, 2011. "Six years ago, record producer Rodney Jerkins, 15, was an Absegami High School sophomore trying to sell cassettes of his Christian rap album. Now, Jerkins is the producer of the No. 1 pop song in the country, has his own record label and has been asked to work with Michael Jackson."
- ^ Toner, Noreen. "SMITHVILLE'S OWN LEE BROTHERS FIND HOLLYWOOD SUCCESS", The Press of Atlantic City, October 7, 1992. Accessed January 31, 2011. "When you reach for your TV book this evening, check the 8 p.m. listing for today's episode of 'Beverly Hills, 90210.' You may recognize the name of someone you know. Namely, that of Mushond Lee, a 1989 Absegami High School graduate who grew up in Smithville."
- ^ Capoferri, Carmen. "N.J. pro soccer team drafts 'Jersey Girl' Erica Skroski", The Press of Atlantic City, January 16, 2016. Accessed April 27, 2016. "The New Jersey-based team Sky Blue FC chose Skroski, a Galloway Township native and standout defender for the Scarlet Knights, with the 23rd overall pick during the National Women’s Soccer League draft in Baltimore on Friday.... Sky Blue FC plays its home games at Rutgers' Yurcak Field, where the 2012 Absegami High School graduate already experienced a great deal of success."
External links
- Absegami High School website
- Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District
- School Performance Report for Absegami High School, New Jersey Department of Education
- School Data for the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District, National Center for Education Statistics
- Absegami Alumni Web Site
- South Jersey Sports: Absegami HS