Pennsauken High School

Pennsauken High School
Address
800 Hylton Road Pennsauken Township , Camden County , New Jersey 08110 United States
Coordinates	39°59′17″N75°01′44″W / 39.988014°N 75.028871°W / 39.988014; -75.028871
Information
Type	Public high school
Established	September 1959
School district	Pennsauken Public Schools
NCES School ID	341287001610 [1]
Principal	Richard Bonkowski
Faculty	103.0 FTEs [1]
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	1,530 (as of 2022–23) [1]
Student to teacher ratio	14.9:1 [1]
Color(s)	Scarlet and   Columbia Blue [2]
Athletics conference	Burlington County Scholastic League (general) West Jersey Football League (football)
Team name	Indians [2]
Website	high.pennsauken.net

Pennsauken High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school in Pennsauken Township, Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as the lone secondary school of the Pennsauken Public Schools.

As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,530 students and 103.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.9:1. There were 505 students (33.0% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 56 (3.7% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch. ^[1]

History

Constructed at a planned cost of $3.5 million (equivalent to $38 million in 2023) ^[3] the school opened in September 1959 with students in ninth and tenth grades. ^[4] Prior to the completion of the high school, Pennsauken students had been sent to schools outside the township at Merchantville High School. ^{[5] [6]}

Students from Merchantville had attended the high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship that began in 1972, when the borough's high school was closed. In 1992 Merchantville considered severing its send-receive relationship with Pennsauken School District so Merchantville could send them to Haddonfield Memorial High School instead, on the grounds that Merchantville saw Pennsauken High as outdated and Haddonfield Memorial as having superior facilities. Merchantville officials publicly stated in the 1980s and 1990s that they felt Pennsauken High had too many students and was too large. John Ellis, the New Jersey State Commissioner of Education, blocked Merchantville leaving the partnership on the grounds that it would cause more white students to leave Pennsauken High and turn Pennsauken High into a majority minority school. The Pennsauken District sought to recommit to ties with Merchantville. ^[7]

In the wake of a 2015 decision by the New Jersey Department of Education, Merchantville students began attending Haddon Heights Junior/Senior High School starting in the 2015–2016 school year, as part of a transition that was fully in place in the 2018–2019 school year. ^{[8] [9]} Merchantville School District leaders argued that their decision to switch was due to low Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) rates at Pennsauken High. Dissatisfaction with Pennsauken High had, in the 2010s, created a campaign to have Merchantville borough merged into Cherry Hill, which would have also taken students from the borough area out of the Pennsauken High attendance zone. ^[10]

Awards, recognition and rankings

The school was the 298th-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 310th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 298th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed. ^[12] The magazine ranked the school 290th in 2008 out of 316 schools. ^[13] The school was ranked 292nd in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state. ^[14]

Athletics

The Pennsauken High School Indians ^[2] participate in the Burlington County Scholastic League, ^[15] which is comprised of public and private high schools located in Burlington County and operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). ^[16] With 944 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. ^[17] The football team competes in the Liberty Division of the 94-team West Jersey Football League superconference ^{[18] [19]} and was classified by the NJSIAA as Group IV South for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 890 to 1,298 students. ^[20]

The football team won the South Jersey Group IV state sectional championships in 1980, 1984, 1986 and 2011. ^[21] In 1980, the team finished the season with a 10-1 record after winning the South Jersey Group IV state sectional championship with a 14-0 victory against Willingboro High School. ^[22] The 1986 team finished with an 11-0 record after earning the South Jersey Group IV title with a 27-0 win against Cherokee High School in the tournament final. ^[23] The 1986 team finished the season with an 11-0 record and was ranked 15th in the nation by USA Today after winning the South Jersey Group IV state sectional title with a 29-6 win against previously unbeaten Toms River High School South in front of 5,000 spectators in Toms River. ^{[24] [25]}

The girls bowling team was the 1994 overall state champion. ^[26]

The girls track team won the indoor track Group IV state championship in 2000. ^[27]

The boys' basketball team won the Central, Group IV state sectional championship in 2004 with an 83-59 victory in the championship game against Steinert High School. ^[28]

The boys track team won the Group III spring / outdoor track state championship in 2016 and 2021. ^[29]

The boys' track team won the Group III state indoor relay championship in 2018 (as co-champion). ^[30]

Marching band

The school's marching band was Tournament of Bands Chapter One Champions in 1982 (Group 3) and 1985–1987 (Group 4). ^[31] The band won the New Jersey state championships in 2008 Group 3 open, with the highest score of every band there.

Also, the school's marching band won state championships, Chapter One championships, and Atlantic Coast Class A championships in 2011 with their show titled "Side Show". ^[32]

Pennsauken Indoor Drumline Ensemble won in 2015 at a Winter Guard International Regional in Open Class with a score of 98.5. In 2017 Pennsauken Indoor Guard went to WGI Championships for the first time in over a decade to Dayton, Ohio. They received 6th place out of 64 other color guards from around the world in their Independent A class. ^[33]

Administration

The school's principal is Richard Bonkowski. His administration team includes three assistant principals. ^[34]

Notable alumni

See also: Category:Pennsauken High School alumni

• Suzanne Cloud (born 1951), jazz singer, writer and teacher ^[35]
• Al Fisher (born 1986), basketball player for Kent State University; was named 2008 MAC Player of the Year ^[36]
• David Griggs (1967–1995), San Diego Chargers - played Super Bowl 1994. ^[37]
• Dwight Hicks (born 1956), retired San Francisco 49ers - Super Bowl winner. ^{[37] [38]}
• Greg Mark (born 1967), former defensive end and linebacker who played in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins ^[39]
• Todd McNair (born 1965), USC Trojans football coach and former NFL running back for the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Oilers ^[40]
• George Norcross (born 1956), businessman and political leader ^[41]
• Delia Parr, author of historical fiction ^[42]
• Allen Payne (born 1968), actor ^[43]
• Steven M. Petrillo (born 1958, class of 1976), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1994 to 1996 ^[44]
• Stephen M. Sweeney (born 1959), politician ^[45]
• John Taylor (born 1962), wide receiver who played in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers. ^[37]
• Keith Taylor (born 1964), retired NFL. ^[37]
• Ethan Van Sciver (born 1974, class of 1992), comics artist and social media personality ^[46]
• William Wesley (born 1964), NBA consultant for Creative Artists Agency ^[47]
• Darrell Wilson (born 1958), American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the Wagner Seahawks football team ^[48]

References

1. School data for Pennsauken High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
2. Pennsauken High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
3. "Pennsauken School Job to Start In Sept.", Courier-Post , May 10, 1957. Accessed March 12, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Work on the new $3.5 million Pennsauken High School is expected to start in September, according to a report by John W. Whitecar, of the board of education. Whitecar, chairman of the new buildings committee, said the board should be ready to go to the State Board of Education in July for approval of plans for the school."
4. Collie, Eleanor E. "New Pennsauken High School; Best in Area, Pupils Say", Courier-Post , September 18, 1959. Accessed March 12, 2022, via Newspapers.com.
5. Neville, James N. "Work Starts In Nov. on High School", Courier-Post , October 8, 1957. Accessed March 12, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Ground will be broken for the new Pennsauken High School around Thanksgiving Day, a candidate for the Township Committee revealed Monday night.... 'It cost $110 for sending pupils to Merchantville and other high schools, compared with more than $400 today.'"
6. "Pennsauken High classes of 1962-'65 to share reunion", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 22, 2018, updated January 30, 2019. Accessed March 12, 2022. "Pennsauken joined the ranks of towns to have its own high school in 1959. Prior to that, local students would have attended Merchantville High School."
7. Florio, Gwen. "Looking Beyond The School Decision Time To Make Up, Officials Say, After A Decade Of Fussing.", The Philadelphia Inquirer , September 21, 1992. Accessed July 10, 2008. "Ever since its own high school closed in 1972, the Borough of Merchantville has been sending its public school students to Pennsauken High School." - Clipping from page S1 and from page S6 from Newspapers.com
8. Merchantville School District 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 1, 2016. "In the Spring of 2015, Merchantville School won a ruling to start a send/receive relationship with Haddon Heights. We continue to work closely with Haddon Heights High School to ensure that our students are well prepared to meet their expectations. We will continue to phase in one grade level at a time into Haddon Heights High School until all high school students are enrolled for the 2018-2019 school year."
9. Romalino, Carly Q. "Merchantville students head to Haddon Heights", Courier-Post , April 14, 2015. Accessed June 1, 2016. "An administrative law judge in March ruled in favor of Merchantville's request to end its student send-receive agreement with Pennsauken High School.... Hespe's signature, issued Friday, severs the relationship and allows for Merchantville to establish a five-year sending-receiving agreement with Haddon Heights School District."
10. Colimore, Edward. "Merchantville board votes to send students to Haddon Heights High", Philadelphia Inquirer , January 14, 2012. Accessed April 15, 2021.
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 September 11, 2012.
13. Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly , August 16, 2010. Accessed February 2, 2011.
14. "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly , September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
15. Member Schools, Burlington County Scholastic League. Accessed June 2, 2017.
16. League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
17. NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
18. Pennsauken Indians, West Jersey Football League. Accessed May 1, 2023.
19. 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."
20. NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
21. NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
22. Anastasia, Phil. "Pennsauken defense tops Willingboro", Courier-Post , December 7, 1980. Accessed January 26, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "A relentless defense led Pennsauken to a 14-0 victory over Willingboro in the championship game of the South Jersey Group 4 football tournament. The win secured the first sectional title for Pennsauken, the No. 1 team in the Top Ten Poll, and improved the Indians' record to 10-1."
23. Benevento, Don. "Issue settled as Pennsauken thumps Cherokee", Courier-Post , December 2, 1984. Accessed February 2, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The football teams from Pennsauken and Cherokee high schools spent an entire season playing in each other's shadow.... And Pennsauken scored a one-sided 27-0 victory over the Chiefs to capture the South Jersey Group 4 championship.... The victory enabled Pennsauken, the No. 1-ranked team in the Top 10 Poll, to finish its season at 11-0, marking coach Vince McAneney's first undefeated season in his 15-year career at the school."
24. Viggiano, Bob. "No. 1 Pennsauken wins to finish undefeated; Rips Toms River South 29-6 as McNair scores 3", The Record , December 7, 1986. Accessed January 14, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "With a crowd of close to 5,000 crammed into Detwiler Stadium here, Pennsauken, the top-ranked team in South Jersey, put the finishing touches on its fantastic season by thoroughly whipping previously unbeaten Toms River South, 29-6, in the South Jersey Group 4 championship game."
25. "Year-by-year final football rankings", USA Today , June 20, 200. Accessed January 30, 2021.
26. History of NJSIAA Girls Bowling Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
27. Girls Winter Track and Field Championship History: 1922-2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated November 2023. Accessed February 1, 2024.
28. 2004 Boys Basketball - Central, Group IV, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 6, 2007.
29. NJSIAA Spring Track Summary of Group Titles Boys, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
30. History of the NJSIAA Indoor Relay Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
31. Tournament of Bands - Chapter One History, Tournament of Bands. Accessed July 5, 2007.
32. Atlantic Coast Invitational/Class A Winners by Year, Tournament of Bands Information Archive. Accessed June 1, 2016.
33. "Champions Crowned in Six Classes at 40th Championship!", Winter Guard International, April 12, 2017. Accessed September 19, 2017.
34. Staff, Pennsauken High School. Accessed February 13, 2022.
35. "Health series planned by Voorhees resident", The Philadelphia Inquirer , October 5, 1986. Accessed April 11, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Jazz singer Suzanne Cloud of Collingswood recently released her first album, I Like It, which is also the name of the title cut.... Cloud, a former nurse, began her vocal career as the lead singer in the senior class musical at Pennsauken High School."
36. McCann, Sean. "Fisher's travels result in a Big Dance chance", Courier-Post , March 20, 2008. Accessed February 2, 2011. "When he left Pennsauken High School almost four years ago, Al Fisher seemed ticketed for college basketball success, and maybe even stardom."
37. All-Century Philly NFL Team, accessed April 22, 2007.
38. Benevento, Don. "Together again: Pennsauken coach, player enter Hall", Courier-Post , October 16, 2007. Accessed December 18, 2007. "One of those relationships exists between Vince McAneney, the legendary former football football coach at Pennsauken High School, and Dwight Hicks, one of the school's most accomplished players."
39. Callahan, Kevin. "College: Mark serves as honorary captain for U of Miami football opener; Former Pennsauken star Greg Mark still remembered fondly by the Hurricanes", South Jersey Sports Digest, September 7, 2017. "Greg Mark was the honorary captain at the University of Miami football opener on Saturday – 30 years after he helped the Hurricanes win the national title. When the former Pennsauken High School great strolled out for the coin toss at Hard Rock Stadium, Mark felt 'it' again."
40. Todd McNair, Running Backs Coach, University of Southern California Trojans football. Accessed September 11, 2012. "He prepped at Pennsauken (N.J.) High. Among his prep teammates were future NFL players John and Keith Taylor and David and Billy Griggs (the Griggs were his cousins)."
41. Volk, Steve. "George Norcross: The Man Who Destroyed Democracy; Underlings fear his wrath. Governors kowtow to his enormous political power. He might even have been prosecuted a decade ago if not for a bungled criminal investigation. But does all that make the new Inquirer owner, you know, a bad guy?", Philadelphia (magazine) , March 29, 2013. Accessed August 18, 2019. "Norcross said that he received a phone call in 2004 from then-governor Richard Codey telling him that he—George Norcross III, a private insurance executive—could steer $500,000 in public money any way he saw fit. Norcross chose Pennsauken High School, his alma mater, and the private Lawrenceville School that his daughter Lexie attended."
42. Nussbaum, Debra. "In Person; Some Build Castles. She Writes Novels.", The New York Times , June 15, 2003. Accessed April 23, 2012. "She married shortly after graduating from Pennsauken High School in 1965, and stayed home to raise her three children. "
43. Staff. "Football Rivalry Is A Time For Fun / Thanksgiving Is The Day Camden Comes Out To Play.", The Philadelphia Inquirer , November 24, 1995. Accessed February 2, 2011. "This year there was even a movie star Allen Payne who starred in Jason's Lyric and grew up in Pennsauken in the stands".
44. "South Jersey Legislative Districts", The Philadelphia Inquirer , June 1, 1993. Accessed April 20, 2020. "Steven M. Petrillo - Pennsauken; Age: 34; Occupation: Lawyer; Education: 1976, honors graduate, Pennsauken High School"
45. Senator Stephen M. Sweeney, Project Vote Smart. Accessed February 2, 2011.
46. Sinatra, Frank. "Homegrown Talent Van Sciver Draws Green Lantern, Batman, And More", All Around Pennsauken, May 8, 2015. Accessed February 13, 2022, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 12, 2022. "Ethan Van Sciver is a very talented artist at DC Comics with a career that spans 17 years.... He’s also a home grown talent, growing up in Merchantville and graduating from Pennsauken High School in 1992."
47. French, Alex. "Is this the most powerful man in sports?", GQ . Accessed February 22, 2009.
48. Darrell Wilson, Wagner Seahawks football. Accessed February 25, 2024. "A native of Camden, NJ where he starred at Pennsauken High School, Wilson is a 1981 graduate of the University of Connecticut, where he earned All-American honors."

External links

• School website
• Pennsauken Public Schools
• School Performance Report for Pennsauken High School , New Jersey Department of Education
• School Data for the Pennsauken Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
• South Jersey Sports: Pennsauken HS
• Online Alumni Community - for alumni by alumni