Oakcrest High School

Oakcrest High School
Address
1824 Dennis Foreman Drive Mays Landing , Atlantic County , New Jersey 08330 United States
Coordinates	39°27′05″N74°40′47″W / 39.451345°N 74.679689°W / 39.451345; -74.679689
Information
Type	Public high school
Established	September 1960
School district	Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District
NCES School ID	340606000124 [1]
Principal	Michael McGhee
Faculty	88.8 FTEs [1]
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	914 (as of 2022–23) [1]
Student to teacher ratio	10.3:1 [1]
Color(s)	Royal blue   gray [2]
Athletics conference	Cape-Atlantic League (general) West Jersey Football League (football)
Team name	Falcons [2]
GEHRHSD	Absegami High School Cedar Creek High School Oakcrest High School
Community served	Hamilton Township
Website	www.gehrhsd.net/o/ohs

Oakcrest High School is a comprehensive four-year public high school located in Hamilton Township, in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The school is part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District, which includes three secondary schools that serve students from Egg Harbor City, Galloway Township, Hamilton Township and Mullica Township, together with students from Port Republic and Washington Township (in Burlington County) who attend as part of sending/receiving relationships. ^{[3] [4]}

The school serves students from Hamilton Township, though students from elsewhere in the district are eligible to apply to attend magnet programs hosted at Oakcrest. ^[5] With the opening of Cedar Creek High School in Egg Harbor City in 2010, students from Mullica Township, Port Republic and Washington Township no longer attend Oakcrest High School. ^{[6] [7]}

As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 914 students and 88.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.3:1. There were 436 students (47.7% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 120 (13.1% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch. ^[1]

History

The district was established with the passage of a referendum in January 1957 by the five constituent municipalities of Egg Harbor City, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway Township, Hamilton Township and Mullica Township by a 5-1 margin that allocated $1.7 million (equivalent to $17.7 million in 2022) for the construction of what would become Oakcrest High School. ^[8] The school, initially named Egg Harbor Regional High School opened in September 1960, with 150 students from Hamilton Township shifted out of Vineland High School. ^[9]

The school was renamed as Oakcrest High School. ^[10] The school name was chosen based on its site on the crest of a hill amid oak trees. ^[11]

Awards, recognition and rankings

The school was the 197th-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 247th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 244th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed. ^[13] The magazine ranked the school 254th in 2008 out of 316 schools. ^[14] The school was ranked 232nd in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state. ^[15] Schooldigger.com ranked the school as 254th out of 376 public high schools statewide in its 2010 rankings (an increase of 5 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). ^[16]

The school has a variety of programs, including Special Needs, a "High School-to-Work" program, College Preparatory, Advanced Placement (AP), and Performing Arts training.

For the 2005-06 school year, Oakcrest High School was recognized with the "Best Practices Award" by the New Jersey Department of Education for its "A Proactive Approach to Guidance and Career Services" Career Education program. ^[17]

Oakcrest's Academic Challenge Team was successful at the Buena Regional High School and Egg Harbor Township High School competitions in spring 2006, the team finished first overall at the Gateway Toyota Academic Challenge at Monsignor Donovan High School in Toms River by defeating perennial competitor East Brunswick High School in the final round.

In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post , the school was ranked 66th in New Jersey and 1,918th nationwide. ^[18]

Athletics

The Oakcrest High School Falcons ^[2] compete in the Atlantic Division of the Cape-Atlantic League, an athletic conference that includes public and private high schools located in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Gloucester counties, operating under the aegis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). ^[19] With 577 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2022–24 school years as Group II South for most athletic competition purposes. ^[20] The football team competes in the United Division of the 94-team West Jersey Football League superconference ^{[21] [22]} and was classified by the NJSIAA as Group II South for football for 2022–2024, which included schools with 480 to 674 students. ^[23] School colors are royal blue and gray to represent the location in Pine Barrens. ^[24]

The school offers many sports to its students including football, fall cheerleading, field hockey, soccer, tennis, basketball, winter cheerleading, lacrosse, wrestling, crew, track and field, cross country running, track indoor, powerlifting, volleyball, softball, golf, swim/dive and baseball. ^[2]

The wrestling team won the South Jersey Group III state sectional championship in 1992 and 1993. ^[25]

The girls outdoor track and field team won the Group III state championships in 1997. ^[26]

The boys track team won the Group III indoor relay championships in 2011, 2012 and 2013 ^[27]

The boys outdoor track and field team won the Group IV state championships in 2011 and the Group III title in 2012. ^[28]

Administration

Michael McGhee is the principal. His administration includes two assistant principals and five departmental supervisors ^[29]

Notable alumni

See also: Category:Oakcrest High School alumni

• Brandon Bell (born 1995, class of 2013), linebacker for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team. ^[30]
• Colin Bell (born 1981, class of 1999), member of the New Jersey Senate who represented the 2nd Legislative District. ^{[31] [32]}
• Johnny Berchtold, actor ^[33]
• Cory Bird (born 1978, class of 1996), American football safety who played in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts. ^[34]
• Darhyl Camper (born 1990, class of 2008), singer-songwriter and record producer. ^[35]
• Carmen Cincotti (born 1992, class of 2011), competitive eater. ^[36]
• Darren Drozdov (born 1969), former NFL player for the Denver Broncos and wrestler in the then WWF (now WWE). ^[37]
• Ronnie Faisst (born 1977, class of 1995), professional freestyle motocross and snow bikecross rider. ^[38]
• Day Gardner, crowned Miss Delaware 1976, she became the first black woman to place as a semi-finalist in the Miss America Pageant. ^[39]
• Cheryl Hamilton (born 1949/50), gymnastics judge ^[40]
• Shameka Marshall (born 1983, class of 2001), long jumper who won the gold medal at the 2007 NACAC Championships in Athletics. ^[41]
• Cathy Rush (born 1947), former women's basketball program head coach at Immaculata University who led the team to three consecutive AIAW national titles from 1972-1974. ^[42]
• Cody Stashak (born 1994), professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. ^[43]

Notable faculty

• Doug Colman (born 1973), former NFL linebacker who began his coaching career at Oakcrest. ^[44]
• Bill Manlove (born 1933), College Football Hall of Fame head coach who coached the Oakcrest team in 1965 and 1966. ^[45]

References

1. School data for Oakcrest High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
2. Oakcrest High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
3. Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District 2016 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 6, 2017. "The Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District serves the communities of Galloway Township, Hamilton Township, Egg Harbor City, Mullica Township and participates in receiving relationships with Port Republic and Washington Township. The geographic area of the district is the largest in the state, covering 324 square miles. The student body of each of the district's three comprehensive high schools, Absegami High School, Cedar Creek High School, and Oakcrest High School, reflects the socioeconomic and ethnic diversity of this geographic area."
4. Oakcrest High School Class of 2018 Profile, Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District. Accessed January 26, 2020. "The Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District is comprised of Egg Harbor City, Galloway, Hamilton and Mullica Townships. It is the largest school district, in area, in the state of New Jersey. It also serves students from Green Bank and Port Republic. The district operates three comprehensive high schools: Absegami, Cedar Creek and Oakcrest."
5. Oakcrest High School 2016-17 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 18, 2018. "We are the home school for students who reside in Hamilton Township and students who reside in Egg Harbor City, Mullica Township, and Port Republic and Galloway Township are eligible to apply for either of our two magnet programs (Biomedical Sciences and Air Force JROTC in Aerospace Science and Leadership)."
6. Policy 5120 Assignment of Pupils Archived October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine , Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District. Accessed October 27, 2014. "Pupils shall attend the school located in the attendance area of their residence. The attendance areas for the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District shall be as follows: 1. Pupils who reside in Egg Harbor City shall attend Cedar Creek High School. 2. Pupils who reside in Galloway Township shall attend Absegami High School. 3. Pupils who reside in Hamilton Township shall attend Oakcrest High School 4. Pupils who reside in Mullica Township shall attend Cedar Creek High School 5. Pupils who reside in Port Republic and Washington Township shall attend Cedar Creek High School."
7. Oakcrest High School 2010 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education, backed up by the Internet Archive as of June 14, 2012. Accessed October 30, 2014. "Oakcrest is a comprehensive high school located in Mays Landing that provides a secondary school education to four sending districts including Greenbank, Hamilton Township, Mullica Township, and Port Republic."
8. "Regional High Approved in Egg Harbor", Courier-Post , January 31, 1957. Accessed March 8, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Formation of a Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School was approved by five communities in the area last night, 2,603 to 529 in a public referendum.... Approval of the referendum clears the way for construction of a proposed 30-room school to be built at an approximate cost of $1,700,000."
9. "6900 Pupils Start Here Tomorrow", The Daily Journal , September 6, 1960. Accessed March 8, 2022. "Cumberland County schools will officially begin the 1960-61 academic year tomorrow, with an estimated 6900 pupils anticipated for the Vineland system. Overlapping sessions at Memorial Junior High School and Vineland High will continue this year because of overcrowded conditions, A. L. Donley, superintendent of schools, announced. Donley predicted a total enrollment increase of 183 students despite the loss of 150 pupils from Hamilton Township, who will enter the new Egg Harbor Regional High School."
10. "NJSIAA Adds 22 New Schools, Regroup 39", Asbury Park Press , October 31, 1960. Accessed March 8, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The following two schools have submitted a change of name: Egg Harbor becomes Oakcrest High School (Egg Harbor)."
11. History of Oakcrest, Oakcrest High School, backed up by the Internet Archive as of June 18, 2009. Accessed March 8, 2022.
12. Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly , September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
13. Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly , August 16, 2012. Accessed September 12, 2012.
14. Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly , August 16, 2010. Accessed February 1, 2011.
15. "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", 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 2009-2010, Schooldigger.com. Accessed February 16, 2012.
17. Best Practices Award recipient for 2005-06, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed October 23, 2006.
18. Mathews, Jay. "The High School Challenge 2011: Oakcrest High School", The Washington Post . Accessed September 11, 2011.
19. League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
20. NJSIAA General Classifications - Public Schools 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
21. Oakcrest Falcons, West Jersey Football League. Accessed May 1, 2023.
22. Home Page, West Jersey Football League. Accessed May 1, 2023. "The WJFL is a 94-school super conference that stretches from Princeton to Wildwood encompassing schools from the Colonial Valley Conference, the Burlington County Scholastic League, the Olympic Conference, the Tri-County Conference, the Colonial Conference, and the Cape Atlantic League. The WJFL is made up of sixteen divisions with divisional alignments based on school size, geography and a strength-of-program component."
23. NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2022–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
24. About, Oakcrest High School. Accessed December 20, 2022. "School colors are Royal Blue and Grey which were selected to represent our location in the Pine Barrens. Our mascot is the Falcon."
25. NJSIAA Wrestling Team Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
26. NJSIAA Spring Track Summary of Group Titles Girls, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
27. History of the NJSIAA Indoor Relay Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
28. NJSIAA Spring Track Summary of Group Titles Boys, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
29. Administration, Oakcrest High School. Accessed December 20, 2022.
30. James, Michael. "Oakcrest graduate Brandon Bell named captain at Penn State", The Press of Atlantic City , August 24, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2016. "Oakcrest High School graduate and Penn State University linebacker Brandon Bell was named defensive captain Tuesday for the Nittany Lions' upcoming season. Bell is a senior from Mays Landing who graduated from Oakcrest in 2013 and was a Press first-team All-Star."
31. "Bell Sworn In As New 2nd District Senator", New Jersey Senate Democrats, October 5, 2017. Accessed November 10, 2017. "Senator Colin Bell was sworn into the New Jersey State Senate today, where he will represent the people of the 2nd Legislative District... He grew up in Hamilton Township, where he attended Hamilton Township public schools and then graduated from Oakcrest High School."
32. DeRosier, John. "Colin Bell sworn in as senator, hoping to lead Democrats in November election", The Press of Atlantic City , October 5, 2017. Accessed November 10, 2017. "Bell graduated from Oakcrest High School in 1999 and received his bachelor's and law degrees from American University in Washington, D.C."
33. Fertsch, Cindy. "Local actor makes it on Netflix", Shore Local News, February 2, 2023. Accessed March 6, 2024. "That young man featured in the new Netflix family film, Dog Gone, is played by Mays Landing’s own Johnny Berchtold.... After graduating from Oakcrest High School, Berchtold pursued an education at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia."
34. Cory Bird Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine , Databasefootball.com. Accessed May 9, 2007.
35. Jackson, Vincent. "Former Mays Landing resident earned first Grammy Award statue in February", The Press of Atlantic City , March 3, 2019. Accessed July 22, 2020. "Darhyl 'DJ' Camper Jr., who has had multiple Grammy nominations over the years, has met many starry-eyed teenagers who want to have a career as a recording artist.... Camper, a 2008 Oakcrest High School graduate, chose to work with H.E.R. because their personalities meshed, and they caught a vibe when they decided to see how they would jell in the recording studio."
36. Weinberg, David. "Mays Landing competitive eater devours his competition", The Press of Atlantic City , July 10, 2017. Accessed July 18, 2017. "Mays Landing native Carmen Cincotti accomplished that gastric milestone last week at the annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island, New York, on Fourth of July. The 2011 Oakcrest High School graduate downed 62 wieners en route to a second-place finish."
37. McKee, Don. "10 Inquirer Grid Stars On South Jersey Roster", The Philadelphia Inquirer , June 15, 1987. Accessed May 7, 2008.
38. Bitzer, Hannah. "Mays Landing native Ronnie Faisst hoping to upgrade medal collection at X Games tonight", The Press of Atlantic City , June 30, 2012. Accessed September 2, 2019. "Mays Landing native and freestyle motocross star Ronnie Faisst hopes to grab something today that just barely eluded him at the last two Summer X Games - a silver or gold medal. Faisst, a 1993 graduate of Oakcrest High School, is happy with the bronze medals he won the last two years but is ready to do even better."
39. Fleming, Michael. "Miss America Finalist From Mullica Finds Success In Guam Discotheque", The Press of Atlantic City , November 15, 1990. Accessed September 2, 2019. "Lipford, who grew up in the Elwood section of Mullica Township, was a 1974 Miss Atlantic City and was Miss Delaware in 1976.... Lipford, a 1973 Oakcrest High School graduate who studied theater at the University of Delaware, also formed Headhunters, an employment service company..."
40. Zabitka, Matt. "Newark gymnastics judge prepares for Moscow meet", The Morning News , March 19, 1987. Accessed March 18, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "A gymnast at Oakcrest High School in Mays Landing, N.J., and later at Fairmont State College, West Virginia, Hamilton first became involved in judging in 1974 when she took a test to get her regional rating."
41. Frank, Reuben. "Marshall ready for big things at Olympic Trials", NBC Sports , June 23, 2012. Accessed September 2, 2019. "Marshall grew up in tiny Quinton Township in Salem County and graduated in 2001 from Oakcrest High School, where she won the New Jersey Meet of Champions titles in both the long jump and triple jump as a senior."
42. Lulgjuraj, Susan. "'The Mighty Macs,' based on Oakcrest High grad Cathy Rush, set for release today", The Press of Atlantic City , October 21, 2011. Accessed October 28, 2011. "Cathy Rush invited friends to her home in Ventnor a couple of years ago to watch an advance copy of the movie The Mighty Macs....Rush, a native of West Atlantic City in Egg Harbor Township, saw the filming of this movie.... 'My stomach dropped,' said Rush, a 1964 Oakcrest High School graduate. 'It was the most disconcerting thing because it was real.'"
43. McGarry, Michael. "Oakcrest grad Cody Stashak pitching his way up Minnesota Twins system", The Press of Atlantic City , April 9, 2017. Accessed July 21, 2019. "Stashak, 22, played the outfield and pitched at Oakcrest, a high school not typically regarded as a baseball power."
44. Narducci, Marc. "Colman rides fast track to NFL", The Philadelphia Inquirer , February 2, 2014. Accessed September 27, 2017. "Doug Colman has kept moving in the coaching profession, and the pace is quicker at each level.... Colman spent a year as an assistant coach at Oakcrest, then took over the Absegami program in 2003."
45. "Former Widener Football Coach Bill Manlove Elected to College Football Hall of Fame", Widener Pride football, May 24, 2011. Accessed September 27, 2017. "Manlove began his coaching career as an assistant at Gloucester City High School from 1957-59 before becoming head coach for five years. He moved to Oakcrest High School as head coach and was an assistant at Lafayette College from 1967-68 before taking the job at Widener."

External links

• Oakcrest School website
• Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District
• School Performance Report for Oakcrest High School , New Jersey Department of Education
• School Data for the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District, National Center for Education Statistics
• South Jersey Sports: Oakcrest HS