Memorial High School (West New York, New Jersey)

Memorial High School
Address
5501 Park Avenue West New York , Hudson County , New Jersey 07093 United States
Coordinates	40°47′00″N74°00′44″W / 40.7832°N 74.0121°W / 40.7832; -74.0121
Information
Type	Public high school
Established	September 1926
School district	West New York School District
NCES School ID	341758002938 [1]
Principal	Brian Cooney
Faculty	146.0 FTEs [1]
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	2,251 (as of 2022–23) [1]
Student to teacher ratio	15.4:1 [1]
Color(s)	Black   Orange and   white [2]
Athletics conference	Hudson County Interscholastic League (general) North Jersey Super Football Conference (football)
Team name	Tigers [2]
Rival	North Bergen High School
Website	mhs-1.wnyschools.net

Memorial High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school in West New York, in Hudson County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades. The school is the lone secondary school of the West New York School District, an Abbott district ^[3] that serves all of West New York. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1970; the school's accreditation expires in December 2021. ^[4]

As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,251 students and 146.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 15.4:1. There were 1,524 students (67.7% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 281 (12.5% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch. ^[1]

History

Memorial High School was established in September 1926. ^[5]

In 2005, the New Jersey Schools Development Authority determined that the Memorial High School building was equipped to hold 918 students, making the school 882 students over capacity. In January 2012, the NJSDA forwarded the West New York Board of Education's application for the purchase of St. Joseph of the Palisades Elementary School to Vatican City, with which West New York hopes to turn into a "freshman/sophomore academy" to house between 700 and 800 of the high school's students. Upon the anticipated papal approval of the purchase of the school, which belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, the SDA will make a final decision on development plans. ^[6]

In March 2012, the portion of 56th Street in front of the school was dedicated as Rebeka Verea Way, in tribute to Rebeka Verea, who died in a car accident ^[7] in North Bergen the night of her graduation in 2005. Though she graduated from Cliffside Park High School, her father runs a medical practice based in West New York, and is the chief medical officer at North Hudson Community Action Corporation, which is also based in West New York. ^[8]

Awards, recognition and rankings

In 2011, the College Board recognized Memorial High School as the 2011 winner of its "AP District of the Year Award" in the small schools category, in recognition of the district's efforts to expand the scope of Advanced Placement courses offered in the school and the improved results of those taking AP exams, with the school offering about 10 different AP courses after it started its first AP class in the 1980s. ^{[9] [10]}

The school was the 280th-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. ^[11] The school had been ranked 307th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 273rd in 2010 out of 322 schools listed. ^[12] The magazine ranked the school 282nd in 2008 out of 316 schools. ^[13] The school was ranked 261st in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state. ^[14] Schooldigger.com ranked the school 204th out of 376 public high schools statewide in its 2010 rankings (a decrease of 42 positions from the 2009 rank) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the language arts literacy and mathematics components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA). ^[15]

Athletics

Students using the athletic field at Memorial Park

The Memorial High School Tigers ^[2] compete in the Hudson County Interscholastic League (HCIAA), which is comprised of public and private high schools in Hudson County, and was established following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. ^[16] With 1,502 students in grades 10–12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group IV for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 1,060 to 5,049 students in that grade range. ^[17] The football team competes in the Ivy Red division of the North Jersey Super Football Conference, which includes 112 schools competing in 20 divisions, making it the nation's biggest football-only high school sports league. ^{[18] [19]} The football team is one of the 12 programs assigned to the two Ivy divisions starting in 2020, which are intended to allow weaker programs ineligible for playoff participation to compete primarily against each other. ^[20] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group V North for football for 2022–2024, which included schools with 1,313 to 5,304 students. ^[21]

The boys' basketball team won the Group IV state championship in 1939 (defeating Bloomfield High School in the tournament final) and 1942 (vs. Asbury Park High School), and won the Group III title in 1966 (vs. Sterling High School). ^[22] The 1933 team won the Group IV state title with a 50–33 win against Bloomfield in the championship game played before a crowd of 4,000. ^[23] In 2002, the team won the North I Group IV state title, defeating Hackensack High School 65–62. ^[24]

The boys track team won the Group IV spring / outdoor track state championship in 1957. ^[25]

The boys' track team won the Group III indoor relay state championship in 1974. ^[26]

The boys cross country running team won the Group IV state championship in 1978. ^[27]

The boys' baseball team won the Group IV state title in 1988 against Madison Central High School in the title game. ^[28] In 2001, the team made it to the finals of the North I Group IV state tournament, falling to rival North Bergen High School by a score of 4–3 in the final game. ^[29]

School clubs

Clubs and extracurricular program include:

• M.O.M.S. (My Outreach Mission) ^[30]
• School Band
• Future Business Leaders Of America (FBLA)
• National Honors Society
• School Chorus ^{[30] [31]}
• Football
• Boys/Girls Basketball Softball
• Boys/Girls Soccer
• Boys/Girls Volleyball
• Boys/Girls Tennis
• Boys/Girls Cross Country
• Boys/Girls Indoor And Outdoor Track
• Cheerleading
• Boys/Girls Bowling
• Color Guard
• Boys/Girls Swimming
• Tiger Gaming Alliance
• Chorus
• Tiger TV
• Band/Marching Band
• Gay Straight Alliance
• Art/Photography Spanish Club Orchestra
• Academic Bowl
• Audio/Visual - Video Club
• Literature Club
• National Honor Society
• Chess Club
• Choraliers
• Italian Club
• Spanish Club
• Math Club
• The Memo
• Nova
• TIGS
• Peer Club
• Student Council
• Yearbook Staff
• Academic Bowl
• Youth Alive
• Baking Club
• Video Club ^[31]
• Student Council ^[30]
• Together In Greatness (TIGs) ^[32]

Administration

The school's principal is Brian Cooney. His core administration team includes the school's four assistant principals. ^[33]

Notable alumni

See also: Category:Memorial High School (West New York, New Jersey) alumni

• George Alvarez, actor known for his work on the soap operas General Hospital , Port Charles and Guiding Light ^[34]
• Jose Arango (born 1937), politician who represented the 33rd Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1984 to 1986 ^[35]
• Warren Boroson (1935–2023), financial journalist, author and playwright ^[36]
• Sebastian Capozucchi (born 1995), professional footballer who plays as a defender for USL League One club Chattanooga Red Wolves ^[37]
• Frank Cumiskey (1912–2004), Olympic silver medal-winning, five-time United States All-Around champion gymnast ^[38]
• Vincent J. Dellay (1907–1999), represented New Jersey's 14th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1957 to 1959 ^[39]
• Alan Gewirth (1912–2004, class of 1930), philosopher, a professor of philosophy at the University of Chicago and author of Reason and Morality ^[40]
• John Mahnken (1922–2000), former professional basketball player ^{[41] [42]}
• April Jeanette Mendez (born 1987, class of 2005), retired professional wrestler who worked for WWE under the ring name AJ Lee ^[43]
• Nelson J. Perez (born 1961), prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who serves as the 10th archbishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia ^[44]
• Gene Prebola (1938–2021), football tight end who played for the Oakland Raiders and the Denver Broncos ^[45]
• Louis Romano (1930–2020), politician who represented the 33rd Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1992 to 2000 ^[46]
• Nicholas Sacco (born 1946), politician, who has served as mayor of North Bergen and in the New Jersey Senate, where he represents the New Jersey's 32nd legislative district ^[47]
• Albio Sires (born 1951), Member of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey's 8th congressional district ^[48]
• John Skevin (1927–1993), politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature ^[49]
• Jack Stephans (1939–2020, class of 1957), head football coach at Jersey City State College, William Paterson University and Fordham University ^{[50] [51]}
• Isabel Toledo (1960-2019), fashion designer ^[52]
• Anthony P. Vainieri (born 1928), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from the 32nd Legislative District from 1984 to 1986 ^[53]
• Silverio Vega (born 1956), former mayor of West New York, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly and on the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders ^[54]
• Armando Vilaseca, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Education ^[55]
• Jacqueline Walker (born 1941), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1984 to 1986 ^[56]
• Warren Wolf (1927–2019), Memorial High School football player and assistant coach, longtime Brick Township High School football coach, and politician ^[57]

References

1. School data for Memorial High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
2. Memorial High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
3. Abbott School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 15, 2016.
4. West New York Memorial High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed February 12, 2022.
5. School Profile 2021-2022, Memorial High School. Accessed April 27, 2022. "The school opened in 1926 and is educationally committed to maximizing all students’ potential for success in an ever-changing world."
6. Pope, Gennarose. "WNY can't buy school unless it gets approval from the Vatican", The Union City Reporter . January 24, 2012. Accessed January 28, 2012.
7. "Community". Year in Photos: The Hudson Reporter . p. 17
8. Pope, Gennarose. "Lessons from a tragedy; Street in front of WNY high school renamed for teen killed in accident", The Hudson Reporter , March 25, 2012. Accessed April 27, 2022. "A procession of Memorial High School students, town officials, marching band members, and friends of the Verea family marched slowly toward 56th Street, in advance of the street being renamed Rebeka Verea Way."
9. Sanabria, Santo. "'District of the year'; Memorial High School Advanced Placement students rank high nationally", The Hudson Reporter , May 29, 2011. Accessed August 2, 2012. "The College Board 'AP District of the Year Award' in the small schools category was given to Memorial High for expanding their enrollment of students in the program as well as improving advanced placement scores."
10. AP in a District: West New York School District, NJ, College Board. Accessed August 2, 2012.
11. Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly , September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
12. Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly , August 16, 2012. Accessed December 2, 2012.
13. "2010 Top High Schools". New Jersey Monthly . August 16, 2010.
14. "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank". New Jersey Monthly. September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
15. "New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2009-2010" ^{[ permanent dead link ]}. Schooldigger.com. Accessed December 31, 2011.
16. League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 30, 2020.
17. NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
18. Cooper, Darren. "Here's what we know about the new Super Football Conference 2020 schedule", The Record , July 23, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2021. "The Super Football Conference (SFC) is a 112-team group, the largest high school football-only conference in America, and is comprised of teams from five different counties."
19. Cooper, Darren. "NJ football: Super Football Conference revised schedules for 2020 regular season", The Record , July 23, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2021. "The Super Football Conference has 112 teams that will play across 20 divisions."
20. Cooper, Darren. "Super Football Conference creating 'Ivy Division' for struggling programs", The Record , May 1, 2019. Accessed March 24, 2021. "Seeking to restore participation and enthusiasm to high school football programs that have struggled to compete consistently, the Super Football Conference announced plans to start a 12-team 'Ivy Division' in the 2020 season. Teams that compete in the 'Ivy Division' will play exclusively against each other and won't participate in the NJISAA football playoffs.... Twelve schools from Bergen, Hudson, Essex and Morris counties have applied to compete in the Ivy Division: Bergen Tech, Cliffside Park, Dickinson, Fair Lawn, Ferris, Memorial, Dover, Dwight-Morrow, Fort Lee, Glen Ridge, Marist and Tenafly."
21. NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2022–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
22. Boys Basketball Championship History: 1919–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated March 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
23. "State Title Taken by West New York; Memorial Defeats Bloomfield Five, 50-33--Lodi, Hoffman and St. Peter's Win", The New York Times , March 19, 1939. Accessed January 20, 2021. "Memorial High School of West New York won its first group IV State basketball championship when it scored a 50-to-33 victory over Bloomfield High School before 4,000 spectators tonight."
24. 2002 Boys Basketball - North I, Group IV, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed April 23, 2007.
25. NJSIAA Spring Track Summary of Group Titles Boys, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2021.
26. History of the NJSIAA Indoor Relay Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
27. NJSIAA Boys Cross Country State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 1, 2022.
28. Baseball Championship History: 1959–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
29. 2001 NJSIAA Baseball - North I, Group IV, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed April 23, 2007.
30. Cannao, Scott (2004). "Welcome to Memorial High School". Memorial High School. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
31. Student Handbook 2022-2023, Memorial High School. Accessed January 17, 2023.
32. Rosero, Jessica. "WNY celebrates national Red Ribbon Week", The Hudson Reporter , November 1, 2005. Accessed February 13, 2013. "TIGers are members of the nationwide Together In Greatness (TIGs) Program, which was brought to Memorial High School about seven years ago. The program now boasts about 50 members from the high school working on community service projects throughout the year." Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
33. Contact Us, Memorial High School. Accessed January 17, 2023.
34. McConnell, Elizabeth. "Man of the cloth: West New Yorker digs into role on daytime drama", The Hudson Reporter , May 7, 2000. Accessed August 29, 2019. "Alvarez, who grew up in West New York after his family emigrated here from Cuba in the late 1950s, wasn’t heading toward a life on screen when he graduated from Memorial High School."
35. Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, Volume 202, Part 2, E. J. Mullin, 1987. Accessed January 26, 2024. "Jose O. Arango, Rep., West New York - Mr. Arango is one of the few immigrants who have ever won seats in the New Jersey Legislature. He was born in Havana, Cuba, on Oct. 11, 1957. He attended grade school in Oviedo, Spain, and is a graduate of Memorial High School, West New York."
36. Cullen, Deanna. "A lifetime of secure investments". The Union City Reporter. December 12, 2010, page 3. Accessed June 23, 2011. "Boroson grew up on Boulevard East in West New York, back when the town comprised embroidery factories and Irish Catholic, German, and Italian residents. He first attended P.S. No. 6 and then Memorial High School. At that time, he said, there were two graduations, January and June, and he graduated in January of 1952."
37. Sebastian Capozucchi, MaxPreps. Accessed May 11, 2021. "Memorial High School West New YorkNJ"
38. Cumiskey, Frank. "Gymnastics History; A Personal Review", p. 40. USGF Gymnastics, September / October 1981. Accessed January 26, 2024. "Frank J. Cumiskey, a native of West New York, New Jersey, became interested in gymnastics while in grammar school. By the time he was in high school, Cumiskey had won numerous state championships for Memorial High School."
39. Vincent John Dellay, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress . Accessed August 16, 2007.
40. "Alan Gewirth, 1912-2004, rational ethicist who challenged Golden Rule", University of Chicago, May 17, 2004. Accessed December 12, 2020. "Gewirth graduated from Memorial High School in West New York in January 1930 as valedictorian of his class and editor of its yearbook, and also wrote the senior play, in which he also played the lead role."
41. via Associated Press, "Memorial Quintet Triumphs in Final; West New York Team Defeats La Salle M.A., 44-36, for Tournament Honors", The New York Times , March 30, 1941. Accessed June 23, 2011. "Memorial, sparked by its towering 6-foot 6-inch center, John Mahnken, who scored 10 points, headed La Salle throughout."
42. John Mahnken profile, Basketball Reference. Accessed August 7, 2007.
43. Monday, Michael. "WrestleMania 29: Homecoming for Jersey's tiny 'Diva' AJ Lee", The Star-Ledger , April 3, 2013. Accessed December 22, 2013. "'It was one of the hardest things I could ever imagine to grow up (like that),' says Lee, a 2005 graduate of Memorial High School in West New York."
44. Gregory, George. "Friends reflect on Bishop-elect Nelson Perez before his ordination July 25", CatholicPhilly.com, July 18, 2012. Accessed April 27, 2022. "The bishop-elect attended P.S. Number 4 Elementary School and Memorial High School, both in West New York, N.J., and graduated from Montclair State College in Montclair, N.J., in 1984 with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology with a minor in philosophy."
45. Gene Prebola Archived October 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine , Boston University Terriers football. Accessed September 8, 2014. "An outstanding all-around performer at Memorial High School, the West New York, New Jersey native came to Boston University in the fall of 1956."
46. Leir, Ronald. "Lou Romano WNY educator served 8 years in Assembly", The Jersey Journal , December 1, 2000. Accessed July 6, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Born in Jersey City Romano spent virtually all his life in West New York, attending School 4 and Memorial High School and eventually completing a doctoral degree in education at New York University."
47. Senator Nicholas J. Sacco, New Jersey Senate Democrats. Accessed August 29, 2019. "The senator was born in Jersey City Nov. 17, 1946. He attended public schools in Hudson County and graduated from Memorial High School in West New York."
48. Albio Sires, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress . Accessed September 25, 2007.
49. Sampson, Peter J. "John M. Skevin, 66; a force in N.J. politics", The Record , October 23, 1993. Accessed December 15, 2022. "Born June 14, 1927, to immigrant Croatian parents in West New York, Mr. Skevin was a two-sport, All-Hudson performer at Memorial High School, where he is a member of the school's Hall of Fame."
50. Moquin, Patrick. "Jack Stephans, ‘The Transparent Coach,’ Passes Away at 81", Fordham Observer , December 3, 2020. Accessed January 19, 2021. "Born in 1939 in Hoboken, New Jersey, Stephans grew up playing football and was known for his talent. He attended Memorial High School in West New York, New Jersey, where he was a Group IV All-State player and member of multiple undefeated teams across his four years."
51. Hague, Jim. "Weehawken coach welcomed Stephans inducted into Hudson Sports Hall of Fame", The Hudson Reporter , April 11, 2006. Accessed January 19, 2021. "Stephans was born in Hoboken and raised in West New York and attended Memorial High School (1953 through 1957).... After graduating from Memorial in 1957, Stephans first went to the University of South Carolina on a scholarship, but then transferred to Boston University, where he enjoyed a brilliant three-year career as a two-way performer as a center and linebacker."
52. Akkad, Nour. "Isabel Toledo: Michelle Obama's Inauguration Dress Designer", Huffington Post , February 20, 2009. Accessed August 29, 2019. "Born Isabel Izquierdo in Cuba where she lived until the age of 8, Toledo grew up in West New York and attended Memorial High School, where she met her husband, the artist Rubén Toledo."
53. Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, Volume 201, Part 2, p. 274. J.A. Fitzgerald., 1985. Accessed April 26, 2020. "Anthony P. Vainieri, Dem., North Bergen - Mr. Vainieri was born in McKees Rocks, Pa., on Feb. 15, 1928. After graduation from Memorial High School, West New York, he enlisted in the Navy."
54. Hudson County Freeholder - District 7: Silverio A. Vega Archived June 22, 2002, at archive.today , Hudson County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2008.
55. Hirsch, Corin. "Lunch Box Diaries; Vermonters recall their school cafeteria cuisine", Seven Days , August 31, 2011. Accessed August 2, 2012. "Armando Vilaseca - Vermont education commissioner; I came from Cuba in 1964 and moved to West New York, N.J., an immigrant area that from the 1960s until the 1980s had a huge Cuban immigrant population. My high school, Memorial High School, was probably 70 percent Cuban American..."
56. Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual, 1984, p. 251. Accessed November 18, 2017. "Jacqueline Walker, Dem., Matawan Assemblywoman Walker was born in Jersey City Nov. 7, 1941. She attended elementary school and Memorial High School in West New York."
57. Falk, Steven. "Warren Wolf, legendary Brick, Lakewood coach, dead at 92", Asbury Park Press , November 22, 2019. Accessed July 6, 2023. "Wolf, who was born in Jersey City on Aug. 1, 1927, grew up in West New York, Hudson County, and played football at Memorial High School in West New York."

External links

• Memorial High School
• West New York School District
• School Performance Report for Memorial High School , New Jersey Department of Education
• School Data for the West New York School District, National Center for Education Statistics