Elizabeth High School
Encyclopedia
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. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Commission on Secondary Schools since 1978.
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.
The school was 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. The school was ranked 287th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.
With over 5,279 students, Elizabeth High School had been the largest high school in the nation in terms of population. 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.
Elizabeth High School was composed of the following eight houses (or campuses), plus an administration building, and an indoor sports center:
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.
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.
Williams Field, which holds the school's football field and outdoor track and field, is adjacent to the Thomas A. Edison Academy.
In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post
, the school was ranked 2nd in New Jersey and 177th nationwide.
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.
, a high school sports league under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
(NJSIAA). The conference consists of public high schools in Essex County
, Hudson County
and Union County
.
The football team won the 2006 North II, Group IV sectional championship, defeating Phillipsburg High School, 14-9. The team also took the 1999 North II, Group IV sectional championship with a 26-14 win over Montclair High School.
The boys basketball team won the 2003 North II, Group IV title, topping Linden High School
77-72 in the final.
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.
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....
located in Elizabeth
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
, in Union County
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
, 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, as part of the Elizabeth Public Schools
Elizabeth Public Schools
Elizabeth Public Schools is a public school district headquartered in Elizabeth, in Union County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in prekindergarten through 12th grade. The district is one of 31 Abbott Districts statewide...
from 1979 to 2009. After that year the school and its more than 5,000 students was split into separate houses
House system
The house system is a traditional feature of British schools, and schools in the Commonwealth. Historically, it was associated with established public schools, where a 'house' refers to a boarding house or dormitory of a boarding school...
, each operating as an independent school with its own principal and subject of focus, including one which has retained the Elizabeth High School name. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit association dedicated to educational excellence and improvement through peer evaluation and accreditation...
Commission on Secondary Schools since 1978.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 623 students and 50 classroom teachers (on an 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 12.46.
The school was the 294th-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 302nd in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 287th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.
With over 5,279 students, Elizabeth High School had been the largest high school in the nation in terms of population. 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.
Houses
- 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
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.
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.
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.
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.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 Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, the school was ranked 2nd in New Jersey and 177th nationwide.
Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy
Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy integrates a curriculum with the philosophies of the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID
Advancement Via Individual Determination
Advancement Via Individual Determination is an American college-readiness system designed to increase the number of students who enroll in four-year colleges, focusing on students in the academic middle. The formula is to raise expectations of students...
) 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.
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
Athletics
The Elizabeth High School Minutemen compete in the Watchung ConferenceWatchung Conference
The Watchung Conference was a high school sports association under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association . The conference consisted of eleven public high schools covering Essex County, Hudson County and Union County in northern New Jersey. In 2009, the...
, a high school sports league under the jurisdiction 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:...
(NJSIAA). The conference consists of public high schools in Essex County
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
, Hudson County
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
and Union County
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
.
The football team won the 2006 North II, Group IV sectional championship, defeating Phillipsburg High School, 14-9. The team also took the 1999 North II, Group IV sectional championship with a 26-14 win over Montclair High School.
The boys basketball team won the 2003 North II, Group IV title, topping Linden High School
Linden High School (New Jersey)
Linden High School is a comprehensive community public high school located in Linden in Union County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Linden Public Schools...
77-72 in the final.
The Elizabeth High School girls rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
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.
| 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) |
Notable alumni
- Todd BowlesTodd BowlesTodd Robert Bowles is a retired American football safety who played eight seasons in the National Football League, mainly for the Washington Redskins. He started in Super Bowl XXII....
(born 1963), former NFL Defensive Back with the Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
and San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. Currently, the Defensive Back Coach of the Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. - Rodney CarterRodney CarterRodney Carl Carter is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League. He played three seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers ....
(born 1964), former NFL Running backRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
/3rd Down Receiver with the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. - Al CatanhoAl CatanhoAlcides Catanho is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the New England Patriots and the Washington Redskins. He played high school football at Elizabeth High School and college football at Rutgers University.-References:Married Kara Catanho and has a daughter...
(born 1972), former linebackerLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
in the NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
and the Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. - Chris GatlingChris GatlingChris Raymond Gatling is a retired American professional basketball player, having played for numerous NBA teams from 1991 to 2002...
(born 1967), former professional basketball player for numerous NBA teams from 1991 to 2002. - Horace JenkinsHorace JenkinsHorace Jenkins is an American professional basketball player, formerly of the NBA and currently with Italian Lega Basket team Climamio Bologna....
(born 1974), former player in the NBA. - Jerome MurphyJerome MurphyJerome Murphy is an American football cornerback. He played college football at South Florida. He was drafted as the first pick in the third round of the 2010 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams.-Early years:...
(born 1987), is an current NFL American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
cornerbackCornerbackA cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
who played college football at the University of South FloridaUniversity of South FloridaThe University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
and was drafted as the first pick in the third round by the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis RamsThe St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. - Luther WrightLuther WrightLuther A. Wright Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player, in the center position.-Basketball career:...
(born 1971), former player in the NBA for the Utah JazzUtah JazzThe Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
.
External links
- Elizabeth High School
- Data for the Elizabeth Public Schools, 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...