Ridge High School
Encyclopedia
Ridge High School is a four-year public high school
serving students from Bernards Township
in Somerset County
, New Jersey
, United States, operating as part of the Bernards Township School District
. Ridge High School opened in September 1961, ending a relationship under which students from the district had been sent to Bernardsville High School dating back to 1948.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,721 students and 110 classroom teachers (on an FTE
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 15.65.
Ridge High School was the 12th best public high school in 2010 as rated by the New Jersey Monthly
magazine, and was the 194th best high school in the United States as rated by Newsweek
, being the top-rated comprehensive high school in New Jersey, beating out other high schools rated higher on the New Jersey Monthly
magazine.
Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education
, the highest award an American school can receive. During the 2009-10 school year, Ridge High School was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence for a second time.
In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post
, the school was ranked 3rd in New Jersey and 220th nationwide. Ridge High School was ranked 194th, the second-highest in New Jersey, in Newsweek
magazine's 2010 rankings of America's Best High Schools. The school was ranked 175th in Newsweek
's 2009 ranking of the top 1,500 high schools in the United States and was the third-ranked school in New Jersey, with 3.132 AP tests taken in 2008 per graduating senior and 50% of all graduating seniors passing at least one AP exam; The school was ranked 136th nationwide in 2008. The school was listed in 98th place, the second-highest ranked school in New Jersey in Newsweek
's 2007 list of the Top 1,200 Public High Schools in the United States. The school was listed in 116th place, the second-highest ranked school in New Jersey, in the 2006 issue. Ridge High School was ranked as Number 91 in Newsweek's 2005 survey, third-highest in the state for that year.
The school was the 12th-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 24th in 2008 out of 316 schools. Before that, the school was ranked 11th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state.
Ridge High School competes in the Skyland Conference
, which includes public and parochial high schools covering Hunterdon County
, Somerset County
and Warren County
in Central Jersey
. The conference operates under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
(NJSIAA).
An undefeated 2003 season led the girls' soccer team to take the #3 national ranking with a 22-0 record. The girls soccer team won the Group III state championship in 2003 with a 3-0 win over Colts Neck High School
and the Group II title in 1996 over West Morris Mendham High School
.
In 2007, the girls' cross country team finished #3 in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions, and finished #6 in the Northeast Nike Team Regional Championships
. The next year, the team finished #2 in the Meet of Champions and won the Section 2 Group 4 Championships and the Group 4 Championships.
The boy's cross country team finished #4 in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions in 2006. The stellar team finished #6 in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions in 2010.
The ice hockey varsity team participated in the Public division A state championship in 2008, winning 5-0 over Watchung Hills Regional High School
.
The boy's varsity ski team won the 2009 New Jersey Interscholastic Ski Racing Association (NJISRA) overall State Championship.
The school's Marching Band program has won competitions, including as high as 2nd Place at the USSBA Northern States Championships in 2005 and 2009, 3rd Place in 2008, and 4th place in 2007. On October 2, 2010, the band went to the 2010 Yamaha Cup at the New Meadowlands Stadium
and came in first place.
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....
serving students from Bernards Township
Bernards Township, New Jersey
-History:Bernards Township was originally formed by Royal Charter in 1760 as Bernardston Township from remaining portions of Northern precinct. It was incorporated as Bernards Township as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798...
in Somerset County
Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In 2010, the population was 323,444. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Somerville....
, 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 Bernards Township School District
Bernards Township School District
The Bernards Township School District is a comprehensive community public school district, serving students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade from Bernards Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States....
. Ridge High School opened in September 1961, ending a relationship under which students from the district had been sent to Bernardsville High School dating back to 1948.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,721 students and 110 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 15.65.
Ridge High School was the 12th best public high school in 2010 as rated by the 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, and was the 194th best high school in the United States as rated by Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
, being the top-rated comprehensive high school in New Jersey, beating out other high schools rated higher on the 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.
Awards and recognition
During the 1986-87 school year, Ridge High School was awarded the Blue Ribbon SchoolBlue Ribbon Schools Program
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...
Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
, the highest award an American school can receive. During the 2009-10 school year, Ridge High School was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence for a second time.
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 3rd in New Jersey and 220th nationwide. Ridge High School was ranked 194th, the second-highest in New Jersey, in Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
magazine's 2010 rankings of America's Best High Schools. The school was ranked 175th in Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
's 2009 ranking of the top 1,500 high schools in the United States and was the third-ranked school in New Jersey, with 3.132 AP tests taken in 2008 per graduating senior and 50% of all graduating seniors passing at least one AP exam; The school was ranked 136th nationwide in 2008. The school was listed in 98th place, the second-highest ranked school in New Jersey in Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
's 2007 list of the Top 1,200 Public High Schools in the United States. The school was listed in 116th place, the second-highest ranked school in New Jersey, in the 2006 issue. Ridge High School was ranked as Number 91 in Newsweek's 2005 survey, third-highest in the state for that year.
The school was the 12th-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 24th in 2008 out of 316 schools. Before that, the school was ranked 11th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state.
Athletics
Sports offered at Ridge include; volleyball, baseball, hockey, football, fencing, basketball, cross country, soccer, gymnastics, cheerleading, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, ski racing, softball, swimming, tennis, track, and wrestling.Ridge High School competes in the Skyland Conference
Skyland Conference
The Skyland Conference is a New Jersey high school sports association under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association . The conference is made up of nineteen public and parochial high schools covering Hunterdon County, Somerset County and Warren County in west...
, which includes public and parochial high schools covering Hunterdon County
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
, Somerset County
Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In 2010, the population was 323,444. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Somerville....
and Warren County
Warren County, New Jersey
Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 108,692. Its county seat is Belvidere...
in Central Jersey
Central Jersey
Central Jersey is a common designation for a region of the state of New Jersey in the United States of America. Trenton is considered the boundary between designated "North Jersey" and "South Jersey"...
. The conference operates 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).
An undefeated 2003 season led the girls' soccer team to take the #3 national ranking with a 22-0 record. The girls soccer team won the Group III state championship in 2003 with a 3-0 win over Colts Neck High School
Colts Neck High School
Colts Neck High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Colts Neck Township, New Jersey, operating as part of the Freehold Regional High School District. The school is located at the corner of County Route 537 and Five Points Road. The school serves students from all of...
and the Group II title in 1996 over West Morris Mendham High School
West Morris Mendham High School
West Morris Mendham High School is a four-year comprehensive regional public high school that serves students in ninth though twelfth grade as part of the West Morris Regional High School District. The school is located in Mendham Borough, New Jersey, United States...
.
In 2007, the girls' cross country team finished #3 in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions, and finished #6 in the Northeast Nike Team Regional Championships
Nike Team Nationals
Nike Cross Nationals is an invitational cross country meet that serves as the unofficial team national championship of United States high school cross country. It was designed to heighten competition between high school cross country teams nationwide...
. The next year, the team finished #2 in the Meet of Champions and won the Section 2 Group 4 Championships and the Group 4 Championships.
The boy's cross country team finished #4 in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions in 2006. The stellar team finished #6 in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions in 2010.
The ice hockey varsity team participated in the Public division A state championship in 2008, winning 5-0 over Watchung Hills Regional High School
Watchung Hills Regional High School
Watchung Hills Regional High School is a regional public high school and school district serving students in portions of Somerset and Morris Counties in New Jersey, United States. The high school is located next to Woodland School, in Warren Township...
.
The boy's varsity ski team won the 2009 New Jersey Interscholastic Ski Racing Association (NJISRA) overall State Championship.
Extracurricular activities
Ridge has a speech and debate team which has had members rank high in national competitions. They won the New Jersey state tournament each of eleven years from 2001 to 2011.The school's Marching Band program has won competitions, including as high as 2nd Place at the USSBA Northern States Championships in 2005 and 2009, 3rd Place in 2008, and 4th place in 2007. On October 2, 2010, the band went to the 2010 Yamaha Cup at the New Meadowlands Stadium
New Meadowlands Stadium
MetLife Stadium is a stadium in the New York City Metropolitan Area, part of the MetLife Sports Complex, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It is the home of the New York Giants and New York Jets of the National Football League and is adjacent to the site of the former Giants Stadium, which was home...
and came in first place.
Notable alumni
- Chris Daggett (born 1950, class of 1968), regional administrator of the United States Environmental Protection AgencyUnited States Environmental Protection AgencyThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental ProtectionNew Jersey Department of Environmental ProtectionThe New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is a government agency in the U.S. state of New Jersey that is responsible for managing the state's natural resources and addressing issues related to pollution...
, and independent candidate for Governor of New JerseyGovernor of New JerseyThe Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
in 2009New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009The New Jersey gubernatorial election of 2009 took place on November 3, 2009. Democratic Governor Jon Corzine was running for a second term and was being challenged by Republican Chris Christie, Independent Christopher Daggett and nine others, in addition to several write-in candidates...
. - Scott FischerScott FischerScott E. Fischer was an American climber and guide, and the first American to summit 27,940-foot Lhotse, fourth highest mountain in the world.-Career:...
(1955–96, class of 1973), climber and guide who was the first American to climb Lhotse, the fourth-highest mountain in the world. He died on May 11, 1996 in an attempt to climb Mount Everest in the 1996 Everest Disaster. - Jarryd GoldbergJarryd GoldbergJarryd Goldberg is an American soccer player.-College:Goldberg attended Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and played college soccer at Boston College and Boston University...
(born 1985, class of 2003), professional soccer player. - Tobin HeathTobin HeathTobin Powell Heath is an American soccer player, an Olympic Gold medalist, and a FIFA Women's World Cup Finalist. According to United States Soccer Federation, Heath is "perhaps the USA's most skillful player" and is "one of the team's best and most crafty dribblers"...
(born 1988, class of 2006), member of the United States women's national soccer teamUnited States women's national soccer teamThe United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
. - Stephen PagliucaStephen PagliucaStephen Pagliuca is a private equity investor, managing partner of Bain Capital, and co-owner of the Boston Celtics.In 2003, Pagliuca, along with Irving and Wyc Grousbeck, Robert Epstein, William P...
(born 1955, class of 1973), private equity investor, managing partner of Bain CapitalBain CapitalBain Capital LLC is a Boston-based private equity firm founded in 1984 by partners from the consulting firm Bain & Company. Originally conceived as an early-stage, growth-oriented investment fund, Bain Capital today manages approximately $65 billion in assets, and its strategies include private...
, co-owner of the Boston CelticsBoston CelticsThe Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
.
Administration
The members of the school's administration are:- Francis Howlett - Principal
- Gina Donlevie - Assistant Principal
- Kathleen Dusebout - Assistant Principal
- Scott Thompson - Assistant Principal
- Thomas Thorpe - Assistant Principal
External links
- Ridge High School
- Data for the Bernards Township 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...