Highland Park High School (Highland Park, New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
Highland Park High School (HPHS), is a four-year comprehensive public high school, part of the Highland Park Public Schools
system, that serves student in grades nine through twelve from the borough of Highland Park
, in Middlesex County
, New Jersey
, United States. The school was established in 1926 as a junior high school, serving up to grade 10. Until HPHS became a senior high school in 1937, students from Highland Park finished their education at either New Brunswick High School
or Metuchen High School
.
As of the 2008-09 school year, the school had an enrollment of 388 students and 37.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.4.
The school is well known for its high academic standards and achievements. Students continually score well on standardized and SAT tests and many go on to attend well-known institutions of higher education.
The original school building was designed by architect Alexander Merchant and built in the 1920s. Later additions are the Science and Math wing in 1958; the English wing in 1968; the library and arts wing in the 1980s; and the cafeteria and a connected middle school (grades 6, 7, and 8) in 1996. Student population peaked in the 1960s, with a population in the 900s. The school now has a very diverse student population of about 450.
magazine's September 2008 cover story on the state's Top Public High Schools. The school was ranked 31st in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state.
In 2008, two students were National Merit Finalists, twelve were National Merit Commended Scholars, and eleven were Bloustein Distinguished Scholars.
In 2007, six students were National Merit Finalists, eleven students were National Merit Commended Scholars, eleven students were Bloustein Distinguished Scholars. Almost ten percent of the graduating class went on to Ivy League
schools.
In 2006, HPHS students were recognized for Advanced Placement Awards
. One student qualified for the National AP Scholar Award. 16 students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award. 13 students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award. 15 students qualified for the AP Scholar Award.
In 2005, a team of three HPHS students were recognized as First Place National Finalists in the 13th Annual Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards science competition for their innovative design of a satellite-based earthquake and tsunami detection/prediction system.
and Model Congress Program, Dead Center (literary magazine), and the Albadome (yearbook). The HPHS academic teams compete in many all-state competitions such as Science League, Math League, and the News 12
-sponsored NJ Challenge. These teams excel, having won top-10 plaques in past years.
The Community Teen Center also contributes to the school's extracurricular list, recently initiating many successful and interesting clubs and groups such as a robotics and philosophy club. The Philosophy Club is in close contact with Rutgers University, the state university of New Jersey, which offers one of the highest ranked philosophy majors in the country. The Philosophy Club is visited by guest speakers and aims at providing a thought provoking, challenging, and analytical environment for students at Highland Park High School to advance their perspectives on a myriad of philosophical topics and controversies essential to their day to day lives.
(of WNYC in New York City) is the local host for NPR
's Morning Edition
and Bob Sommer (KALW-FM in San Francisco). Jim Axelrod (CBS News
) was also on the air at WVHP at one point. Willie Paszamant (actor Willie Garson
of Sex and The City
) had a morning show at WVHP.
Blue division in most of its sports, and competes in the Blue division in football. Its main sports rival is Metuchen High School
.
HPHS is well known for the performance of its football
team, under the leadership of only four coaches during the program's entire history. Starting with Bus Lepine, then Jay Dakelman, the football team was led by its former all-state quarterback Joe Policastro (class of 1959),the team is now led by head coach Richard McGlynn . L.J. Smith, now with the Baltimore Ravens, was a star of both the HPHS football and basketball teams in the 1990s.
HPHS is also known for its long time success in track and field and baseball, with more recent successes in Boys' and Girls' soccer, Girls' Basketball, Girls' Tennis, there is also a cheer leading and dance team that performs and football and basketball games. HPHS is also home to an Ultimate Frisbee
team, the Enforcers, although the team is not affiliated with the school's varsity sports program.
The Highland Park Football team are currently four time gold division champions (2006,2007,2008,2009).
The Boys Varsity Soccer team, under the direction of Keith Roig, won seven consecutive Gold Division titles before moving up to the Blue Division in the 2006/2007 season.
The girls basketball team won the 2007 Central, Group I championship, topping Dunellen High School
, 50-35 in the final.
The girl's tennis team went undefeated in the 2010 spring season.
The boy's tennis team won the New Jersey Group 1 championship for the first time in history in 2011.
Highland Park Public Schools
The Highland Park Public Schools are a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade from Highland Park, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States....
system, that serves student in grades nine through twelve from the borough of Highland Park
Highland Park, New Jersey
Highland Park is a borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 13,982....
, in Middlesex County
Middlesex County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 750,162 people, 265,815 households, and 190,855 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,422 people per square mile . There were 273,637 housing units at an average density of 884 per square mile...
, 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. The school was established in 1926 as a junior high school, serving up to grade 10. Until HPHS became a senior high school in 1937, students from Highland Park finished their education at either New Brunswick High School
New Brunswick High School
New Brunswick High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in New Brunswick, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the New Brunswick Public Schools....
or Metuchen High School
Metuchen High School
Metuchen High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Metuchen in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Metuchen School District...
.
As of the 2008-09 school year, the school had an enrollment of 388 students and 37.4 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 10.4.
The school is well known for its high academic standards and achievements. Students continually score well on standardized and SAT tests and many go on to attend well-known institutions of higher education.
The original school building was designed by architect Alexander Merchant and built in the 1920s. Later additions are the Science and Math wing in 1958; the English wing in 1968; the library and arts wing in the 1980s; and the cafeteria and a connected middle school (grades 6, 7, and 8) in 1996. Student population peaked in the 1960s, with a population in the 900s. The school now has a very diverse student population of about 450.
Awards and recognition
The school was the 33rd-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 316 schools statewide, in New Jersey MonthlyNew 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 2008 cover story on the state's Top Public High Schools. The school was ranked 31st in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state.
In 2008, two students were National Merit Finalists, twelve were National Merit Commended Scholars, and eleven were Bloustein Distinguished Scholars.
In 2007, six students were National Merit Finalists, eleven students were National Merit Commended Scholars, eleven students were Bloustein Distinguished Scholars. Almost ten percent of the graduating class went on to Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
schools.
In 2006, HPHS students were recognized for Advanced Placement Awards
Advanced Placement Awards
The College Board offers several awards to select students who take Advanced Placement exams.The term "award" is perhaps misleading, as no benefit is awarded to the recipient except the title itself.-AP Scholar Designations:...
. One student qualified for the National AP Scholar Award. 16 students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award. 13 students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award. 15 students qualified for the AP Scholar Award.
In 2005, a team of three HPHS students were recognized as First Place National Finalists in the 13th Annual Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards science competition for their innovative design of a satellite-based earthquake and tsunami detection/prediction system.
Extracurricular activities
Extracurricular programs at HPHS include multiple instrumental music programs, drama club and tech crew, SAGA (the Straight and Gay Alliance), The Highland Fling (school newspaper), a Model United NationsModel United Nations
Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda....
and Model Congress Program, Dead Center (literary magazine), and the Albadome (yearbook). The HPHS academic teams compete in many all-state competitions such as Science League, Math League, and the News 12
News 12 Networks
News 12 Networks comprises seven regional cable news television channels in the New York metropolitan area. The channels offer local news 24-hours a day and reach approximately 3.8 million television households in the tri-state area...
-sponsored NJ Challenge. These teams excel, having won top-10 plaques in past years.
The Community Teen Center also contributes to the school's extracurricular list, recently initiating many successful and interesting clubs and groups such as a robotics and philosophy club. The Philosophy Club is in close contact with Rutgers University, the state university of New Jersey, which offers one of the highest ranked philosophy majors in the country. The Philosophy Club is visited by guest speakers and aims at providing a thought provoking, challenging, and analytical environment for students at Highland Park High School to advance their perspectives on a myriad of philosophical topics and controversies essential to their day to day lives.
WVHP-FM
The school at one time had a ten watt FM radio station, that broadcast from 6AM to 8AM and 5PM to 10:30PM Monday through Friday. Several radio personalities got their start there, among them Ken Friedman (WFMU-FM General Manager), Soterios JohnsonSoterios Johnson
Soterios Johnson is the local host of NPR's Morning Edition on New York City's public radio station, WNYC.A New Jersey native, Johnson worked at WKCR while earning his undergraduate degree from Columbia University, in American history in 1990....
(of WNYC in New York City) is the local host for NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
's Morning Edition
Morning Edition
Morning Edition is an American radio news program produced and distributed by National Public Radio . It airs weekday mornings and runs for two hours, and many stations repeat one or both hours. The show feeds live from 05:00 to 09:00 ET, with feeds and updates as required until noon...
and Bob Sommer (KALW-FM in San Francisco). Jim Axelrod (CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
) was also on the air at WVHP at one point. Willie Paszamant (actor Willie Garson
Willie Garson
Willie Garson is an American character actor. He has appeared in over 50 movies, usually playing minor roles...
of Sex and The City
Sex and the City
Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
) had a morning show at WVHP.
Athletics
The school's mascot is the Owl. The colors of HPHS and their various sports teams are maroon and white. Highland Park High School competes in the Greater Middlesex ConferenceGreater Middlesex Conference
The Greater Middlesex Conference is an athletic conference comprising 33 public and private high schools located in the greater Middlesex County, New Jersey area. The league operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.-Gold Division:-Blue...
Blue division in most of its sports, and competes in the Blue division in football. Its main sports rival is Metuchen High School
Metuchen High School
Metuchen High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Metuchen in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Metuchen School District...
.
HPHS is well known for the performance of its football
American football
American 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...
team, under the leadership of only four coaches during the program's entire history. Starting with Bus Lepine, then Jay Dakelman, the football team was led by its former all-state quarterback Joe Policastro (class of 1959),the team is now led by head coach Richard McGlynn . L.J. Smith, now with the Baltimore Ravens, was a star of both the HPHS football and basketball teams in the 1990s.
HPHS is also known for its long time success in track and field and baseball, with more recent successes in Boys' and Girls' soccer, Girls' Basketball, Girls' Tennis, there is also a cheer leading and dance team that performs and football and basketball games. HPHS is also home to an Ultimate Frisbee
Ultimate (sport)
Ultimate is a sport played with a 175 gram flying disc. The object of the game is to score points by passing the disc to a player in the opposing end zone, similar to an end zone in American football or rugby...
team, the Enforcers, although the team is not affiliated with the school's varsity sports program.
The Highland Park Football team are currently four time gold division champions (2006,2007,2008,2009).
The Boys Varsity Soccer team, under the direction of Keith Roig, won seven consecutive Gold Division titles before moving up to the Blue Division in the 2006/2007 season.
The girls basketball team won the 2007 Central, Group I championship, topping Dunellen High School
Dunellen High School
Dunellen High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Dunellen in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Dunellen Public Schools....
, 50-35 in the final.
The girl's tennis team went undefeated in the 2010 spring season.
The boy's tennis team won the New Jersey Group 1 championship for the first time in history in 2011.
Notable alumni
- Jim AxelrodJim AxelrodJim Axelrod is a National Correspondent for CBS News, and reports for the CBS Evening News and other CBS News programs.Axelrod was one of CBS News' embedded correspondents in Iraq and was the first TV reporter to broadcast live from Saddam International Airport after its takeover by American...
, class of 1981, White House correspondent for CBS NewsCBS NewsCBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
. - Wheeler Winston DixonWheeler Winston DixonWheeler Winston Dixon is best known as a writer of film history, theory and criticism. He is the author of numerous books on film, as well as a professor who has taught at Rutgers University, New Brunswick; The New School in New York; and the University of Amsterdam, Holland. He received his Ph.D....
, filmmaker, critic, and author. - Willie GarsonWillie GarsonWillie Garson is an American character actor. He has appeared in over 50 movies, usually playing minor roles...
(born 1964, as Willie Paszamant), class of 1982, actor best known for his appearances on Sex and The CitySex and the CitySex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes... - Alan GuthAlan GuthAlan Harvey Guth is an American theoretical physicist and cosmologist. Guth has researched elementary particle theory...
, Physicist - Michael JacobsMichael JacobsMichael Jacobs is a writer and producer whose work has appeared on Broadway, Off Broadway, television and film. He is the creator/producer of several popular television series including Boy Meets World, Dinosaurs, Charles in Charge and My Two Dads...
, Class of 1973. Broadway playwright and award-winning creator of many television series such as Boy Meets WorldBoy Meets WorldBoy Meets World is an American comedy-drama series that chronicles the events and everyday life lessons of Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, a kid from suburban Philadelphia who grows up from a young boy to a married man. The show aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000 on ABC, part of the...
, DinosaurDinosaurDinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
s and Charles in ChargeCharles in ChargeCharles in Charge is an American sitcom series which starred Scott Baio as Charles, a 19-year-old student at the fictional Copeland College in New Jersey, who worked as a live-in babysitter in exchange for room and board...
. - Soterios JohnsonSoterios JohnsonSoterios Johnson is the local host of NPR's Morning Edition on New York City's public radio station, WNYC.A New Jersey native, Johnson worked at WKCR while earning his undergraduate degree from Columbia University, in American history in 1990....
, local host of NPRNPRNPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
's Morning EditionMorning EditionMorning Edition is an American radio news program produced and distributed by National Public Radio . It airs weekday mornings and runs for two hours, and many stations repeat one or both hours. The show feeds live from 05:00 to 09:00 ET, with feeds and updates as required until noon...
on WNYCWNYCWNYC is a set of call letters shared by a pair of co-owned, non-profit, public radio stations located in New York City.WNYC broadcasts on the AM band at 820 kHz, and WNYC-FM is at 93.9 MHz. Both stations are members of National Public Radio and carry distinct, but similar news/talk programs...
. - L. J. Smith (born 1980), tight endTight endThe tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
who currently plays for the Baltimore RavensBaltimore RavensThe Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
. - Justin Louis, afternoon drive host at New Jersey's WOBMWOBM-FMWOBM-FM is an adult contemporary music formatted radio station known as "Ocean County's Hometown Station" broadcasting in Central New Jersey. Its variety of music stretches from artists such as Celine Dion to Billy Joel and Faith Hill. The station is owned by Townsquare Media, and is part of the...
, "92.7 WOBM". - Robert "Bob" Bernstein, class of 1974, former Universal Music Co. president, current co-owner of "Little Dogg" Records. Also participated in music creation for the soundtrack of Brokeback MountainBrokeback MountainBrokeback Mountain is a 2005 romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee. It is a film adaptation of the 1997 short story of the same name by Annie Proulx with the screenplay written by Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry...
, which produced a Grammy award. - Eli Yamin, Jazz Artist, works with Wynton Marsalis at Lincoln Center
- Michael Karol, class of 1971; author of nine books, including bestsellers The ABC Movie of the Week Companion [See the ABC Movie of the Week Wikipedia page], Lucy A to Z: The Lucille Ball Encyclopedia, and The Lucy Book of Lists.
Administration
Core members of the school's administration are:- Frederick Williams, Principal
- Michael Lassiter, Assistant Principal
External links
- Highland Park High School official web pages
- Highland Park Public Schools
- Data for the Highland Park 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...