Absegami High School
Encyclopedia
Absegami High School is a public high school
in Galloway Township
, Atlantic County
, New Jersey
, United States, operating as part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District
. The student body comes from Galloway Township.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,237 students and 150 classroom teachers (on a FTE
basis, for a student–teacher ratio of 14.91.
The school was the 238th-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 230th in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 231st in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.
Oakcrest High School
and Cedar Creek High School are Absegami's sister schools. Absegami and Oakcrest shared the same buildings between the creation of Absegami High School in 1972 and the construction of a separate campus for Absegami in 1982. In a referendum held on September 25, 2007, by a 3,176 – 1,719 margin, voters approved a plan to construct a third high school in the district, to be located in Egg Harbor City. What is now Cedar Creek High School was intended to 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.
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. As of the 2010 graduating class, the school offered 15 courses through which students earn college credits by taking AP examinations, and 89% of students planned to go on to college.
The Absegami High School Braves 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
, New Jersey
. The Cape-Atlantic League operates under the aegis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
.
Teams that have won notable championships include:
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Galloway Township
Galloway Township, New Jersey
Galloway Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 37,349...
, Atlantic County
Atlantic County, New Jersey
-National protected areas:* Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge * Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River -Demographics:...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States, operating as part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District
Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District
The Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District is a regional public high school district serving students in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States...
. The student body comes from Galloway Township.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,237 students and 150 classroom teachers (on a FTE
Full-time equivalent
Full-time equivalent , is a unit to measure employed persons or students in a way that makes them comparable although they may work or study a different number of hours per week. FTE is often used to measure a worker's involvement in a project, or to track cost reductions in an organization...
basis, for a student–teacher ratio of 14.91.
The school was the 238th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 322 schools statewide, in New Jersey Monthly
New Jersey Monthly
New Jersey Monthly is a monthly glossy publication featuring issues of possible interest to residents of the United States state of New Jersey...
magazine's September 2010 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 230th in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 231st in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.
Oakcrest High School
Oakcrest High School
Oakcrest High School is a comprehensive four-year public high school located in Hamilton Township, in Atlantic County, New Jersey, operating as part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District. The school name was chosen based on its site on the crest of a hill amid oak trees...
and Cedar Creek High School are Absegami's sister schools. Absegami and Oakcrest shared the same buildings between the creation of Absegami High School in 1972 and the construction of a separate campus for Absegami in 1982. In a referendum held on September 25, 2007, by a 3,176 – 1,719 margin, voters approved a plan to construct a third high school in the district, to be located in Egg Harbor City. What is now Cedar Creek High School was intended to 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.
The school has a variety of programs designed for a diverse student body, including 'special needs
Handicapped
Handicapped or handicap may refer to:*Handicapping, various methods of leveling a sport or game**Golf handicap, a sport-specific handicapping method**Go handicaps**Handicaps in shogi**Asian handicap, bookmakers technique to level odds...
', a "High School-to-Work" program, college preparatory, Advanced Placement (AP), and performing arts. As of the 2010 graduating class, the school offered 15 courses through which students earn college credits by taking AP examinations, and 89% of students planned to go on to college.
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." 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. There are also a large number of extracurricular activities and sports. There are some clubs, including an 'Asian Cultural Awareness Club'.Athletics
Cape-Atlantic League
The Cape-Atlantic League is an athletic conference consisting of both parochial and public high schools located in Atlantic County, Cape May County, Cumberland County, and Gloucester County, New Jersey. The Cape-Atlantic League operates under the aegis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic...
, an athletic conference consisting of both parochial and public high schools located in Atlantic County
Atlantic County, New Jersey
-National protected areas:* Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge * Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River -Demographics:...
, Cape May County
Cape May County, New Jersey
-Climate:Being the southernmost point in New Jersey, Cape May has fairly mild wintertime temperatures. Contrary to that, the summertime has lower temperatures than most places in the state, making the county a popular place to escape the heat. It is in zone 7a/7b, which is the same as parts of...
, Cumberland County
Cumberland County, New Jersey
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population is 156,898. Its county seat is Bridgeton. Cumberland County is named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland....
, and Gloucester County
Gloucester County, New Jersey
Gloucester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 288,288. Its county seat is Woodbury....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. The Cape-Atlantic League operates under the aegis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association is an association of hundreds of New Jersey high schools that regulates high school athletics and holds tournaments and crowns champions in high school sports.-State championships:...
.
Teams that have won notable championships include:
- Football: 1982, 1993, 2004, 2005, 2006. Absegami beat Cherokee High SchoolCherokee High School (New Jersey)Cherokee High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school, one of four high schools of the Lenape Regional High School District in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. The communities in the district are Evesham Township, Medford Lakes, Medford Township, Mount Laurel Township,...
27-26 to win the 2006 South Jersey Group IV championship. - 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: 2005, 2006
- Marching Band: Tournament Of Bands: Chapter 1 Champions 1991 (Group 2), 1998-2005 (Group 3). NJ State Champions 1991, 98, 99, 2000, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06. Atlantic Coast Group III Champions 1998, 2002. USSBA Central Jersey Regional Champions 2006, 2007, 2010. USSBA New Jersey State Champions 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010. Absegami was recognized as the USSBA Group IV National Champions for 2006, for its program titled "Through the Eyes of Children".
- Boys Wrestling: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004
- Drama & Forensics: 2006
Administration
Core members of the school's administration are:- Principal: Jeri Lynn Gatto
- Vice Principal: Brian Aron
- Vice Principal: Gregory Goodwin
- Vice Principal: Michael Wilbraham
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. Allen was dismissed from his position and found guilty of official misconduct.Notable alumni
- Tabitha D'umo (born 1973), hip hop choreographer.
- Meaghan JarenskyMeaghan JarenskyMeaghan Jarensky Castaldi is a beauty queen from The Bronx, New York who has competed in the Miss USA 2005 pageant.-Miss New York 2005:Jarensky won the Miss New York USA 2005 title in a state pageant held in 2004. It was her first attempt at the title, and she was crowned by outgoing titleholder...
, Miss New York USAMiss New York USAThe Miss New York USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of New York in the Miss USA pageant. Amber Collins is the reigning Miss New York USA 2011...
2005. - Rodney JerkinsRodney JerkinsRodney "Darkchild" Jerkins is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. Jerkins received two Grammy nominations in 2011.-Biography:...
(born 1977), producer, hip hop mogul. - Mushond LeeMushond LeeMushond Lee is an African American actor recognized from his recurring role as Jo-Jo Muhammad in NBC's soap opera Sunset Beach. He appeared regularly in season 7 of The Cosby Show. He has also starred in the film 2001 Maniacs as the character Malcom...
(born 1967), actor who appeared on The Cosby ShowThe Cosby ShowThe Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
and in the film Lean on MeLean on Me (film)Lean on Me is a 1989 dramatized biographical written by Michael Schiffer, directed by John G. Avildsen and starring Morgan Freeman. Lean on Me is loosely based on the story of Joe Louis Clark, a real life inner city high school principal in Paterson, New Jersey, whose school is at risk of being...
.
External links
- Absegami High School website
- Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District
- Data for the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
- Absegami Alumni Web Site
- South Jersey Sports: Absegami HS