Ridgefield High School (Connecticut)
| Ridgefield High School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
700 N Salem Rd New England , , 06877 | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Superintendent | Karen Baldwin |
| Head teacher | Stacey Gross |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Age range | 14-18 |
| Enrollment | 1772 (2010) |
| Color(s) | Orange and Black |
| Mascot | Tiger |
| Rivals | Wilton, CT Darien, CT New Canaan, CT |
| Website | rhs |
Ridgefield High School is a four-year public high school located on North Salem Road in Ridgefield, Connecticut. It was ranked 119th in Newsweek's 2015 list of the top 1600 high schools in America and #226 in U.S. News & World Report's 2012 list of the top 4813 high schools.[1] The school mascot is the Tiger.
RHS has undergone massive and costly renovations in the past 5 years.[when?] Ridgefield High boasts many new facilities, including the two-story-high, glass-enclosed student center and the all marble Student Life Office. (SLO) The Ridgefield Community has also added a new turf field next to the high school stadium.
Students
Enrollment in the school has risen in past years.[2]
Academic achievement
341 students took 754 advanced placement (AP) exams in May 2006, with 92.2 percent of exams with scores of 3 or higher. In the eight years up through the 2005-2006 school year, the number of students taking AP exams has tripled.[3]
The school's dropout rate has remained consistent over the years at 1 percent. Daily attendance has been similarly steady at 95 percent.[3]
District Reference Group A
For the purpose of comparison with the achievement levels of similar schools, the state Department of Education classifies schools and communities in "District Reference Groups", defined as "districts whose students' families are similar in education, income, occupation and need, and that have roughly similar enrollment".[4] Ridgefield is one of eight school districts in District Reference Group A (the others are Darien, Easton, New Canaan, Redding, Weston, Westport, and Wilton).[5]
Curriculum
In recent years a number of computer-related subjects have been added to the curriculum, including computer art, computer music, engineering (Project Lead the Way), digital design studio, and Advanced Placement Computer Science. However, the latter is only available in alternating years.[2]
Athletics
About 65 percent of the student body participates in at least one interscholastic athletic activity.[3] Ridgefield High is a member of the FCIAC Athletic conference. Each year RHS sends many students to play a variety of sports at the collegiate level.
Notable alumni
- Jared Bernstein, economist[6]
- Nathan Bruckenthal, U.S. Coast Guardsman and posthumous Bronze Star recipient[7]
- John H. Frey (1981), member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
- Bill Lawrence, writer/producer for shows such as Spin City and Scrubs
- Curt Onalfo, MLS player and coach
- Erland van Lidth de Jeude, actor, Olympic wrestler and computer scientist
- Chris Winnes, NHL player
- Mark Salzman, writer
Notes
- ^ http://www.newsweek.com/high-schools/americas-top-high-schools-2015
- ^ a b [1] Ridgefield High School "Strategic School Profile 2005-2006", Connecticut Department of Education, "Supplemental School Information" section, page 6
- ^ a b c [2] Ridgefield High School "Strategic School Profile 2005-2006", Connecticut Department of Education, "Evidence of Sustained Improvement in Student Accomplishments" section, page 6
- ^ [3] state "Strategic School Profile 2005-2006" for Wilton High School. Retrieved March 25, 2007.
- ^ [4] Web page titled "Find a Community: By Educational Reference Group (DRG)" at the "Discovery 2007 / An initiative of the William Caspar Graustein Fund" Web site. Retrieved March 25, 2007.
- ^ Reid, Macklin (2011-05-01). "Jared Bernstein, RHS graduate, is leaving Obama administration". The Ridgefield Press. Hersam Acorn Newspapers. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
- ^ O'Donnell, Michelle (May 8, 2004). "Long Island Native, Killed in Iraq, Is Buried in Arlington". The New York Times.
External links
- Ridgefield High School Web page at Great Schools Web site
- Ridgefield High School "Strategic School Profile 2005-2006," Connecticut Department of Education