Weequahic High School
Encyclopedia
Weequahic High School is a public high school in Newark
in Essex County, New Jersey
. The school is operated by the Newark Public Schools
and is located at 279 Chancellor Avenue.
As of the 2008-09 school year, the school had an enrollment of 824 students and 59.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.9.
The school was the 310th-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 305th in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 308th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.
The high school is home to the New Deal era mural "Enlightenment of Man" painted by Michael Lenson who was director of New Jersey mural activities for the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration
(WPA).
The Weequahic section of Newark, which is the neighborhood sending students to the high school, was described as it was in the thirties and early forties of the twentieth century by Weequahic alumnus Philip Roth
in The Plot Against America
.
Weequahic High School has an active alumni association that raises scholarship monies for the students.
A documentary film, Heart of Stone
(2009), is about Ron Stone, the recently deceased principal of the high school and his efforts to work with students and further the mission of the high school. This documentary was presented at the Sundance Film Festival
and has been shown in selected venues.
.
The boys basketball team won its first State Group IV Championship in 1962 and repeated as State Champions in 1966, 1967, 1973 and 2001. The 1967 team was the number one ranked team in the country. The 2002 Boys Basketball won the North II, Group III state sectional championship, edging West Side High School
in the tournament final.
The 2006 football team won the Group 2 Central Division State Championship, the first ever for Weequahic and the first in Newark since 1975. Coach Altariq White was named state Coach of the Year and Amara Kamara
was selected as the state Defensive Player of the Year.
Lester Fine was the coach of the basketball team in the sixties coaching many winning teams.His most successful season was 1966-67 when his team was 26-0 and captured the New Jersey State Championship in its Group. Some of his players went on to play in the National Basketball Association
such as Alvin Attles.
Additionally, the school's marching band is regarded as one of the best in the conference, as their shows include dancing and singing while playing their instruments.
In 2009 the Thanksgiving game called the soul bowl returns the last thanksgiving game was in 1988 and Shabbaz won 14-8, the game is expected 5,000 10,000 fans.
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
in Essex County, New Jersey
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...
. The school is operated by the Newark Public Schools
Newark Public Schools
Newark Public Schools is a comprehensive community public school district that serves the entire city of Newark, New Jersey. The district is one of 31 Abbott Districts statewide....
and is located at 279 Chancellor Avenue.
As of the 2008-09 school year, the school had an enrollment of 824 students and 59.4 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 13.9.
The school was the 310th-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 305th in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 308th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.
History
Construction of the high school was completed in 1932 and classes began in September 1933. Max Herzberg was the first Principal and remained as the leader of the high school for 18 years until his retirement in 1951.The high school is home to the New Deal era mural "Enlightenment of Man" painted by Michael Lenson who was director of New Jersey mural activities for the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
(WPA).
The Weequahic section of Newark, which is the neighborhood sending students to the high school, was described as it was in the thirties and early forties of the twentieth century by Weequahic alumnus Philip Roth
Philip Roth
Philip Milton Roth is an American novelist. He gained fame with the 1959 novella Goodbye, Columbus, an irreverent and humorous portrait of Jewish-American life that earned him a National Book Award...
in The Plot Against America
The Plot Against America
The Plot Against America is a novel by Philip Roth published in 2004. It is an alternate history in which Franklin Delano Roosevelt is defeated in the presidential election of 1940 by Charles Lindbergh.-Plot introduction:...
.
Weequahic High School has an active alumni association that raises scholarship monies for the students.
A documentary film, Heart of Stone
Heart of Stone (documentary film)
Heart of Stone is a 2009 documentary film about Weequahic High School in Newark, New Jersey, the United States, directed by Beth Toni Kruvant, with Zach Braff serving as executive producer...
(2009), is about Ron Stone, the recently deceased principal of the high school and his efforts to work with students and further the mission of the high school. This documentary was presented at the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
and has been shown in selected venues.
Athletics
The school's athletic teams are called the Indians and its colors are orange and brown. The school competes in the Hills Division of the Iron Hills ConferenceIron Hills Conference
The Iron Hills Conference was an athletic conference of twenty high schools located in Essex County, Morris County and Union County in New Jersey. The Iron division is often regarded as one of the most competitive in the state....
.
The boys basketball team won its first State Group IV Championship in 1962 and repeated as State Champions in 1966, 1967, 1973 and 2001. The 1967 team was the number one ranked team in the country. The 2002 Boys Basketball won the North II, Group III state sectional championship, edging West Side High School
West Side High School (New Jersey)
West Side High School is a four-year public high school in Newark, in Essex County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as part of the Newark Public Schools....
in the tournament final.
The 2006 football team won the Group 2 Central Division State Championship, the first ever for Weequahic and the first in Newark since 1975. Coach Altariq White was named state Coach of the Year and Amara Kamara
Amara Kamara
Amara Kamara is a Liberian gridiron football linebacker for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. A 2007 graduate of Newark Tech High School, he competed athletically at Weequahic High School in Newark, New Jersey...
was selected as the state Defensive Player of the Year.
Lester Fine was the coach of the basketball team in the sixties coaching many winning teams.His most successful season was 1966-67 when his team was 26-0 and captured the New Jersey State Championship in its Group. Some of his players went on to play in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
such as Alvin Attles.
Additionally, the school's marching band is regarded as one of the best in the conference, as their shows include dancing and singing while playing their instruments.
In 2009 the Thanksgiving game called the soul bowl returns the last thanksgiving game was in 1988 and Shabbaz won 14-8, the game is expected 5,000 10,000 fans.
Extracurricular activities
The high school newspaper is The Calumet, the literary magazine is Ergo, and the yearbook is called The Legend. The school's student governing body is the Orange and Brown Association (OBA).Administration
Core members of the school's administration are:- John Tonero, Principal
- Liz Hayden, Vice Principal
- Ronald Morse, Vice Principal
- Terrance Polnitz, Vice Principal
Notable alumni
- Al AttlesAl AttlesAlvin A. "Al" Attles Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player and coach. He is a graduate of Weequahic High School in Newark and North Carolina A&T State University...
(born 1936), former NBA basketball player. - Al "Bubba" BakerAl BakerAl "Bubba" Baker is a former professional American football defensive lineman in the NFL. He went to three Pro Bowls during his career. He was named 1978 Defensive Rookie of the Year....
(born 1956), former NFL defensive lineman. - Susan BordoSusan BordoSusan Bordo is a modern feminist philosopher known for her contributions to the field of contemporary cultural studies, particularly in the area of “body studies.”-Overview:...
(born 1947), a feminist philosopher. - Sid Dorfman 1937
- Allen GarfieldAllen GarfieldAllen Garfield, born and sometimes credited as Allen Goorwitz , is an American film and television actor.-Biography:...
(born 1939), actor. - Jerry GreenspanJerry GreenspanGerald Greenspan is a retired American basketball player.Greenspan, who was 6' 5", played forward.-College:In college he played at the University of Maryland...
(born 1941), NBA basketball player. - Amara KamaraAmara KamaraAmara Kamara is a Liberian gridiron football linebacker for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. A 2007 graduate of Newark Tech High School, he competed athletically at Weequahic High School in Newark, New Jersey...
(born 1988), starting 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...
for the Temple Owls footballTemple Owls footballThe Temple Owls football team participates in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference...
team. - Dennis Layton (born 1948), former NBA player (1971–1978).
- Dana Lewis, first round draft pick by the Philadelphia 76ersPhiladelphia 76ersThe Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
in the 1971 NBA Draft1971 NBA DraftThe 1971 NBA Draft was the 25th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on March 29, 1971 before the 1971–72 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
. - Sherry OrtnerSherry OrtnerSherry Beth Ortner is an American cultural anthropologist and has been Distinguished Professor of Anthropology at UCLA since 2004.-Biography:...
(born 1941), cultural anthropologist. - Richie RobertsRichie RobertsRichard M. "Richie" Roberts is a former detective, Essex County Prosecutor and is currently a defense attorney. He is most widely recognized for the arrest, prosecution and later defense of Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas....
(born 1929), played by Russell CroweRussell CroweRussell Ira Crowe is a New Zealander Australian actor , film producer and musician. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a...
in the 2007 film American Gangster. - Philip RothPhilip RothPhilip Milton Roth is an American novelist. He gained fame with the 1959 novella Goodbye, Columbus, an irreverent and humorous portrait of Jewish-American life that earned him a National Book Award...
(born 1933), author, whose works — notably Portnoy's ComplaintPortnoy's ComplaintPortnoy's Complaint is the American novel that turned its author Philip Roth into a major celebrity, sparking a storm of controversy over its explicit and candid treatment of sexuality, including detailed depictions of masturbation using various props including a piece of liver...
— have mentioned the school. - David ShapiroDavid Shapiro (poet)David Shapiro is an American poet, literary critic, and art historian. He has written some twenty volumes of poetry, literary, and art criticism...
(born 1947), a poet and art historian
External links
- Weequahic High School
- Data for the Newark 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...
- 12/17/06 Newark Star-Ledger Article
- Alumni Assn. Main Page
- Famous Alumni