Colonia High School

Last updated

Colonia High School
Address
Colonia High School
180 East Street

Woodbridge Township
,
Middlesex County
,
New Jersey
07067

United States
Coordinates 40°35′31″N74°19′15″W / 40.59194°N 74.32083°W / 40.59194; -74.32083
Information
Type Public high school
School district Woodbridge Township School District
NCES School ID341812003668 [1]
PrincipalChristopher Chiera
Faculty124.0 FTEs [1]
Grades 9th-12th
Enrollment1,359 (as of 2023–24) [1]
Student to teacher ratio11.0:1 [1]
Color(s)  Blue and
  Gold [2]
Athletics conference Greater Middlesex Conference (general)
Big Central Football Conference (football)
MascotThe Patriot
Team namePatriots [2]
Accreditation Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools [3]
NewspaperThe Declaration [4]
YearbookThe Arch
Website www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us/o/chs

Colonia High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades in the Colonia section of Woodbridge Township in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It operates as part of the Woodbridge Township School District, along with two other high schools, John F. Kennedy Memorial High School and Woodbridge High School. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1973; [3] In Fall 2018, the school's accreditation status was extended for seven years, through July 2026. [5] [6]

Contents

As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,359 students and 124.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.0:1. There were 400 students (29.4% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 105 (7.7% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch. [1]

In 2022, Woodbridge investigated an apparent cluster of more than 100 brain tumor patients who were Colonia High School employees or students since its construction in 1967. [7] [8] [9] State health officials found that the tumors were somewhat more prevalent than expected, but no radiation hazards were detected in or around the school. [10] However, Edyta Komorek, a scientist and mother conducted her own testing. She revealed that "The analysis came back with PCBs above federal and state standards as well as pesticides that were banned in 1988. [11] "

Awards, recognition and rankings

The school was the 127th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology. [12] The school had been ranked 182nd in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 192nd in 2010 out of 322 schools listed. [13] The magazine ranked the school 188th in 2008 out of 316 schools. [14] The school was ranked 208th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state. [15] Schooldigger.com ranked the school tied for 93rd out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (an increase of 61 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (86.2%) and language arts literacy (97.6%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA). [16]

Athletics

The Colonia High School Patriots [2] compete in the Greater Middlesex Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools located in the greater Middlesex County area and operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). [17] With 1,023 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group III for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 761 to 1,058 students in that grade range. [18] The football team competes in Division 4 of the Big Central Football Conference, which includes 60 public and private high schools in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, Union and Warren counties, which are broken down into 10 divisions by size and location. [19] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group IV North for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 893 to 1,315 students. [20] In the 07–08 school year, Colonia High School introduced three new sports: volleyball (boys and girls), ice hockey and swimming.

The school has operated as the host school / lead agency for a cooperative ice hockey program with John F. Kennedy Memorial High School and Woodbridge High School, under an agreement scheduled to expire at the end of the 2023–24 school year. [21]

The girls bowling team won the overall state championship in 1981. [22]

The boys' bowling team won the overall state championship in 1984 and won the Group II title in 2012. [23]

Dagmara Wozniak was the state sabre champion in 2005. [24]

The boys basketball team won the 1985 Central Jersey, Group III Sectional Championship beating Franklin High School 53-51 in the finals. [25] The team won the 2007 North II, Group III state sectional championship, edging Union Hill High School 84–83 in the tournament final. [26] In 2008, the Patriots won 61-57 in the state semifinals against Rahway High School, the seventh-ranked team in the state, [27] before losing 59-39 to Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in the North II Group III finals to finish their basketball season with a record of 22–7. [28] In 2018, the team won the 2018 North II, Group III state sectional championship, with a 57-33 victory over West Morris Central High School. [29] In 2022, the team won the North II Group III sectional championship, defeating South Plainfield High School by a score of 56-52 in double overtime in the finals. The Patriots finished the season 25-5 and their second sectional title since 2019 in their third straight appearance in the sectional championship. [30] The 2022-23 team finished with record of 22-9 and won their second straight sectional title against Henry Snyder High School in the North II Group III sectional final by a score of 64-51. [31]

In 2015, the football team finished the season with an 11–1 record and went to the North II, Group III state sectional championship before losing to Phillipsburg High School in overtime by a score of 28–21 in the tournament final. [32]

In 2020, John Poznanski won the individual NJSIAA state wrestling championship in the 182-pound weight class. [33]

In the 2021–22 and 2022-23 hockey seasons, the co-op hockey team won the GMC Kolodney Cup championships, marking the school's first Kolodey Cup titles. [34] The 2022-23 team had one of the best seasons the program has ever had, finishing the season with an overall record of 19-1-1, with their only lost coming in the NJSIAA Group C state championship game against Governor Livingston High School that went into quadruple-overtime, the longest high school hockey championship game ever played in New Jersey. [35] [36]

Publications

Colonia High School's official student newspaper is The Declaration. [4]

The Arch is Colonia High School's annual yearbook. In addition to the physical yearbook, the yearbook club has developed an interactive digital yearbook.

Administration

The school's principal is Christopher Chiera. His core administration team includes two vice principals and the athletic director. [37]

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 School data for Colonia High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Colonia High School Archived April 17, 2022, at the Wayback Machine , New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Colonia High School Archived February 2, 2022, at the Wayback Machine , Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed February 1, 2022.
  4. 1 2 The Declaration, Colonia High School. Accessed December 21, 2023.
  5. ↑ MSA-CESS Fall 2018 Accreditation Actions, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools, Fall 2018. Accessed December 18, 2024.
  6. ↑ Colonia High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed December 18, 2024.
  7. ↑ Baker, Meg. "Former Woodbridge, N.J. resident says 65 people who either attended or worked at Colonia High School have had rare brain tumors" Archived April 17, 2022, at the Wayback Machine , CBS News , March 30, 2022. Accessed April 15, 2022.
  8. ↑ Stanmyre, Matthew. "A mystery in Colonia" Archived April 12, 2022, at the Wayback Machine , The Star-Ledger, April 8, 2022. Accessed April 15, 2022.
  9. ↑ Lans, Chantee. "Is there a possible link between Colonia High School and brain cancer?" Archived April 17, 2022, at the Wayback Machine , ABC News , April 16, 2022. Accessed April 17, 2022.
  10. ↑ Stanmyre, Matthew. "Woodbridge school brain cancer cluster investigation finds 'no radiological hazards'", The Star-Ledger, May 26, 2022. Accessed June 3, 2022.
  11. ↑ Battle • •, Pat (October 20, 2022). "Cancer-Causing Toxins Found in New Tests at NJ School, Mom Says, Raising Concerns". NBC New York. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  12. ↑ Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014" Archived March 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine , New Jersey Monthly , September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
  13. ↑ Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical" Archived March 13, 2015, at the Wayback Machine , New Jersey Monthly , August 16, 2012. Accessed September 7, 2012.
  14. ↑ Staff. "2010 Top High Schools" Archived February 22, 2015, at the Wayback Machine , New Jersey Monthly , August 16, 2010. Accessed March 26, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank" Archived December 7, 2014, at the Wayback Machine , New Jersey Monthly , September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
  16. ↑ New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2010-2011 [ permanent dead link ], Schooldigger.com. Accessed March 2, 2012.
  17. ↑ League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021 Archived October 25, 2020, at the Wayback Machine , New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  18. ↑ NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020 Archived February 27, 2021, at the Wayback Machine , New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  19. ↑ Kinney, Mike. "Big Central revises 2020 football schedule for its shortened inaugural season" Archived April 19, 2021, at the Wayback Machine , NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 12, 2020. Accessed April 18, 2021. "The newly formed Big Central Football Conference has released a revised 2020 schedule for its inaugural season.... the BCFC is comprised of schools from Middlesex, Union, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties."
  20. ↑ NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
  21. ↑ NJSIAA Winter Cooperative Sports Programs Archived January 10, 2021, at the Wayback Machine , New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
  22. ↑ History of NJSIAA Girls Bowling Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  23. ↑ History of NJSIAA Boys Bowling Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed August 1, 2022.
  24. ↑ NJSIAA History of Girls Fencing Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed April 1, 2022.
  25. ↑ Taylor, Ferdinanda. "Colonia rallies to nip Franklin" Archived April 11, 2022, at the Wayback Machine , Courier News , March 9, 1985. Accessed April 11, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Robert Haines hit two clutch free throws in the waning seconds last night to propel Colonia High to a 53 -51 victory over Franklin Township in the Central Jersey Group 3 boys basketball final."
  26. ↑ 2007 Boys Basketball - North II, Group III Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine , New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 25, 2007.
  27. ↑ Haley, John. "Hall leads Pats to state stunner" Archived April 11, 2022, at the Wayback Machine , Home News Tribune , March 2, 2008. Accessed April 11, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "You can analyze a basketball game to death, especially one like Saturday night when Rahway and Colonia battled toe-to-toe despite contrasting styles in the NJSIAA North 2 Group III Boys Basketball Tournament semifinals. But the bottom line is, when there is a special player on the floor who can play one step ahead of everyone else, most times he is the difference. That was the clearly the case here as Colonia's 6-foot-l senior point guard Brandon Hall single-handedly controlled the game as the fourth-seeded Patriots upset top-seeded Rahway 61-57 before a sold-out gym of 650 in Rahway.... Rahway, ranked No. 2 by the HNT and 7th in the state, ended the season at 22-2."
  28. ↑ Haley, John. "Champs Fall; Dougher scores 26 points to lead Scotch Plains-Fanwood" Archived April 11, 2022, at the Wayback Machine , Home News Tribune , March 5, 2008. Accessed April 11, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "When the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School boys basketball team emptied its bench in the closing minutes of Tuesday's NJSIAA North 2 Group III championship game against Colonia, it looked like just a normal substitution pattern used by head coach Danny Doherty. Using superior depth, superior defense, a superior shooting touch and the play of a superior player named Bryan Dougher, the third-seeded Raiders rolled to a 59-39 decision over the defending champions at Plainfield High School to capture the school's first sectional crown since the 1959-60 season."
  29. ↑ Knego, Lauren. "Boys Basketball: Colonia wins North 2 Group III title" Archived October 22, 2020, at the Wayback Machine , Courier News , March 5, 2019. Accessed December 1, 2020. "Since losing Luke Valeriano to an injury in the second quarter of the North 2 Group III quarterfinals against Snyder on Feb. 28, fourth-seeded Colonia (24-4) has dominated its competition. On Tuesday night, third-seeded West Morris became the latest victim as the Patriots won its first sectional title since 2015 with a 57-33 victory."
  30. ↑ Kinney, Mike. Archived October 22, 2020, at the Wayback Machine , NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 9, 2022. Accessed May 3, 2023. "No. 12 Colonia survives gritty rally effort by South Plainfield to win N2G3 crown"
  31. ↑ Epstein, Craig. "Boys Basketball: Colonia repeats as N2G3 champs, defeats Snyder 64-51 (PHOTOS)", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 27, 2023. Accessed September 19, 2023. "Although the calendar changed, the result remained the same as fourth-seeded Colonia rolled by sixth-seeded Snyder 64-51 to capture its second straight North Jersey, Group 3 Tournament championship in Colonia. The victory also marked the Patriots’ third title in the last four years."
  32. ↑ Hinkel, Tom. "Phillipsburg football team works overtime to defeat Colonia for second straight sectional title" Archived April 12, 2015, at the Wayback Machine , The Express-Times , December 6, 2014. Accessed December 13, 2016. "Guarino scored on a 1-yard sneak in overtime and the defense then came up with a big stand as the Stateliners held on for a dramatic 28-21 victory over Colonia in the NJSIAA North 2 Group 4 title game at Rutgers University's High Point Solutions Stadium.... Colonia (11-1), which also enjoyed an outstanding season, rallied from a 21-6 halftime deficit to send the game into overtime."
  33. ↑ Nichols, Lori M. Archived September 14, 2021, at the Wayback Machine , NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, January 28, 2021. Accessed September 14, 2021. "‘Poz’ latest N.J. star in NCAA wrestling rankings. Jan. 28 edition includes 24 others."
  34. ↑ Frezza, Harry. Archived June 10, 2023, at the Wayback Machine , mycentraljersey.com , February 18, 2022. Accessed September 18, 2023. "Ice Hockey: Woodbridge-Colonia-JFK wins first Kolodney Cup"
  35. ↑ Hugel, Donovan. "Boys Ice Hockey: 3 stars of the game from No. 19 Governor Livingston-New Providence’s quadruple-OT Public C championship win" Archived March 7, 2023, at the Wayback Machine , NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 6, 2023. Accessed September 19, 2023
  36. ↑ Bobal, Brian. "Ice Hockey: Final Top 30 for the 2022-23 season", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 9, 2023. Accessed September 19, 2023. "16-Gov. Livingston-New Providence (16-5-4) The Highlanders maintained their status as the top dog in Public C after topping Woodbridge-Colonia-Iselin Kennedy, 5-4, in four overtimes thanks to Jeremy Siksnius. It was the longest game state final game ever and one of the longest in state history overall."
  37. ↑ Staff, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed October 14, 2024.
  38. ↑ Hunt, Todderick. "Breaking: N.J.'s top defender Antonio Alfano transferring from Rahway to Colonia for senior year" Archived December 5, 2019, at the Wayback Machine , NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 23, 2018. Accessed November 13, 2019. "Top defensive end Antonio Alfano will transfer once again after moving to Rahway from Bergen Catholic last fall. This time, he'll go to Colonia (N.J.) following a change of residence from Rahway to Avenel -- a move that gains him no athletic advantage."
  39. ↑ Carino, Jerry. "Rutgers basketball adds Jordan Derkack, guard transfer and Woodbridge native", Asbury Park Press , April 16, 2024. Accessed October 14, 2024. "Jordan, who starred at Colonia High School, was named Northeast Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year as a Merrimack sophomore this past season."
  40. ↑ Zane, J. Peder. "In Person; Telling Stories, Going Farther" Archived August 8, 2019, at the Wayback Machine , The New York Times , July 9, 1995. Accessed August 7, 2019. "Speaking before that recent performance, Mr. Gorka, a trim man with untrimmed hair who grew up in Colonia, explained that 'I'm From New Jersey' is not simply a joke.... This passion for folk and bluegrass music isolated him a bit from his friends at Colonia High School, but when he started performing at school and at parties, it provided him with a satisfying way to reach people."
  41. ↑ Tom Higgins [usurped] , database Football. Accessed November 14, 2007.
  42. ↑ Stewart Krentzman Video | Interviews Archived February 12, 2015, at the Wayback Machine , OVGuide. Accessed September 7, 2012. "Krentzman graduated from Colonia High School (1969) in Colonia, New Jersey and from Fairleigh Dickinson University."
  43. ↑ via Associated Press. "High schools to honor paralyzed Rutgers player Eric LeGrand" Archived October 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine , USA Today , October 22, 2010. Accessed March 28, 2011. "High school players around the state will pay tribute to the Rutgers University junior defensive tackle who was paralyzed from the neck down during a kickoff against Army last Saturday. Their helmets will feature Eric LeGrand's No. 52 in Rutgers' scarlet color. The idea came from LeGrand's alma mater, Colonia High School."
  44. ↑ Kerkhoff, Blair. "Kickoff Classic Notebook" Archived October 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine , Kansas City Star , August 28, 1993. Accessed August 7, 2019. "Mason grew up in Woodbridge, NJ, and graduated from nearby Colonia High."
  45. ↑ Jazlyn Moya Archived July 9, 2021, at the Wayback Machine , Monmouth Hawks. Accessed July 8, 2021. "High School: Colonia; Hometown: Avenel, NJ"
  46. ↑ Finley, Bill. "Freshman May Give Penn a Lift It Needs" Archived December 1, 2016, at the Wayback Machine , The New York Times , November 14, 2008. Accessed December 4, 2016. "After playing two years at Colonia High School in his North Jersey hometown, Rosen transferred to St. Benedict's, a Newark prep school that is a perennial power under Coach Dan Hurley."
  47. ↑ Chang, Kathy. "Young fencer enjoys living on the edge: Woodbridge resident hoping for a spot on 2008 Olympic team" Archived April 17, 2022, at the Wayback Machine , Woodbridge Sentinel, August 16, 2006. Accessed August 10, 2017. "Wozniak graduated from Colonia High School in June. She heads to St. John's University in Queens, N.Y., this fall on a full athletic scholarship."
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