Washington Township High School | |
---|---|
Address | |
![]() | |
519 Hurffville-Crosskeys Road , , 08080 United States | |
Coordinates | 39°44′28″N75°04′40″W / 39.741073°N 75.077862°W |
Information | |
Type | Public high school |
Motto | "Together With Pride" [1] |
Established | 1966 |
NCES School ID | 341707002640 [2] |
Executive principal | Raymond F. Anderson |
Faculty | 173.2 FTEs [2] |
Grades | 9-12 |
Enrollment | 2,075 (as of 2022–23) [2] |
Student to teacher ratio | 12.0:1 [2] |
Color(s) | Red white and blue [3] |
Athletics conference | Olympic Conference (general) West Jersey Football League (football) |
Team name | Minutemen; Minutemaids [3] |
Publication | Pieces (literary magazine) [4] |
Newspaper | The Patriot [5] |
Yearbook | Musket [6] |
Website | www |
Washington Township High School is a four-year public high school located in Washington Township, in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The school serves students in ninth through twelfth grades as the lone secondary school of the Washington Township Public School District. It is one of the largest public high schools in South Jersey. The school building itself is just over a quarter of a mile long. It is located at 509, 519 and 529 Hurffville-Cross Keys Road.
As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,075 students and 173.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.0:1. There were 288 students (13.9% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 92 (4.4% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch. [2]
Washington Township High School is the home of the Republic Bank Performing Arts Center, known until 2022 as the Investors Bank Performing Arts Center, a 2,500-seat performing arts center located at the center of the school. Most of the school's concerts and events are held there, and many notables have performed in this center, including the Barenaked Ladies, Tony Bennett, Wayne Brady, George Carlin, David Copperfield, Bill Cosby, B. B. King, Barry Manilow, Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Jessica Simpson, Lewis Black, Pete Davidson, and "Weird Al" Yankovic. [7]
The school was the 149th-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. [8] The school had been ranked 165th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 175th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed. [9] The magazine ranked the school 149th in 2008 out of 316 schools. [10] The school was ranked 150th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state. [11]
Construction on what is now the 11–12 wing of the high school began in 1962. WTHS opened in September 1963, serving grades 6–9 while parts of the building were still under construction. Each successive year, all of the grades incremented by 1 (1964 was 7–10, 1965 was 8–11 and 1966 was 9–12) In 1966 the first High School Class of WTHS graduated. In the early 1970s, the school became overcrowded (a problem that would plague the school on and off through 1998). In the fall of 1968, the 7th grade was sent to the new Birches Elementary School, occupying 1/2 of that facility. For the 1969/70 school year, the 7th grade returned to WTHS which operated an AM and PM session, staggered over 4 lunch periods. The 9th through 12th grades taking the morning session and the 7th and 8th grades, the afternoon. In the 1970–71 school year, the 7th grade was sent to Wedgewood Middle School and WTHS operated a traditional single session. In the 1971–1972 school year, the 7th and 8th were sent to Wedgewood Middle School and the school operated split sessions with grades 11–12 attending from 7:30 AM to noon and grades 9–10 attending 12:30 PM to 5:00 PM. For 1972–73 it was back to split sessions in the high school with grades 10–12 taking the morning shift. As a result, a two-story addition was opened in September 1973 to the right side of the building, as well as an additional gym and a new library. The school continued to serve students in grade 7–12 until the 1979–1980 school year. As a result of this overcrowding and moving of grades, the Class of 1975 was the youngest class as 7th graders, then again the youngest class as 8th graders, then again the youngest class as 9th graders, and finally, with split sessions, the youngest class in their session, as 10th graders.
In the late 1970s, construction on what would be the township's first middle school began. In September 1980, WTMS opened, serving 7th and 8th graders. Because of its location right next to WTHS (at the time, what is now the location of the Core was just a parking lot), the two schools would often share facilities.
Despite a new rather large school to house 7th and 8th graders, and more room in the high school, the township was exploding in population at the time, and both WTHS and WTMS were overcrowded only a few years after the middle school opened. In the mid-1980s, planning for yet another new middle school was underway. This time, however, because WT's elementary schools also faced overcrowding, the school district went ahead and built two schools, which would enroll grades 6 through 8, thus relieving all the elementary schools in the district from 6th graders (they also were relieved of all kindergarteners, thanks to an addition at Grenloch Terrace Early Childhood Center). In fall of 1989, Chestnut Ridge Middle School and Orchard Valley Middle School opened for grades 6–8. The former WTMS became part of the high school complex, renamed as the 9/10 Building (as it served mostly students in 9th and 10th grade), while the original HS was also renamed as the 11/12 Building.
The transition wasn't smooth, however. Both CRMS and OVMS weren't finished in time for the new school year. As a result, the newly formed WTHS complex started its first month with split sessions. High school students would have class starting early in the day, while all middle school students would have class in the late afternoon/early evening. During this time period, the high school students also had to share their lockers with the temp middle school students.
The 9/10 building has H-Hall, I-Pod, J-Hall, K-Pod, and L-Pod. The "Pods" are large hallways with bathrooms in the center. The classrooms are arranged around the pods like a courtyard. There were lockers in the center of each pod, but they have since been removed due to the addition of the lockers in the core.
I-Pod: Originally called "A-Pod" before the 9/10 building was connected to the 11/12 building. The flooring is Red in the classrooms. The Student Assistance office and speech therapists are located here. K-Pod: Originally called "C-Pod" before the 9/10 building was connected to the 11/12 building. The flooring is Yellow in the classrooms. The math and science department office is here. L-Pod: Originally called "C-Pod" before the 9/10 building was connected to the 11/12 building. The flooring is Green in the classrooms. The 9/10 executive principals office is here.
H-Hall: Originally called "D-Hall" before the 9/10 building was connected to the 11/12 building. The bathrooms, main office, principals offices, restriction room, and wood shops are here. The 9/10 Gym is also here. The old 9/10 cafeteria was converted to the "Auxiliary Gym". The new cafeterias are in the core. J-Hall: Originally called "E-Hall" before the 9/10 building was connected to the 11/12 building. The adaptive gym, orchestra room and nurses office is downstairs. Upstairs are classrooms. The original library was here until the core expansion. The old library was converted to the 9/10 adaptive gym.
Washington Township's population continued to grow, therefore, they needed to expand the high school yet again. Under a $50 million district wide improvement program, [12] a third building was to be built on the site between the 11/12 and 9/10 buildings. The Core building would physically connect the two existing buildings and would include a 2500-seat auditorium (known as the Investors Bank Performing Arts Center as of 2015, formerly known as Commerce Bank Arts Centre and the TD Bank Arts Centre), administrative and guidance offices, a new Media Center (library), new cafeteria (for 9–10 wing students) and more classrooms. Construction on the core building began in the summer of 1996. Parts of the building opened in 1998, and some classes were moved immediately from both the 11/12 and 9/10 buildings.
The entire building was completed before the 1998–1999 school year. WTHS was now one building for the first time since the 1988–1989 school year. The three parts of the building were renamed the 11/12 wing, core, and 9/10 wing, and hallways were renamed to integrate the building. Because the new building featured a new library, a united guidance office, and cafeteria for the 9/10 wing, the old libraries and guidance offices in each of the wings as well as the old 9/10 cafeteria were able to be renovated for other uses.
The Washington Township High School Minutemen/Minutemaids [3] compete in the Tri-County Conference, which is comprised of 23 public and private high schools located in the Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties, and operates under the aegis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). [13] With 1,572 student athletes in grades 9–12 as of the 2022–2023 school year, the school was classified by the NJSIAA 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. [14] The football team competes in the Continental Division of the 94-team West Jersey Football League superconference [15] [16] and was classified by the NJSIAA as Group V South for football for 2022–2024, which included schools with 1,315 to 2,466 students. [17]
The school was a part of the Olympic Conference from 1965 until 2021, when it transferred in the 2022–23 school year to the Tri-County Conference alongside the Salem County Career and Technical High School. The change was primarily for the school to face opponents who were closer geographically. [18]
The WTHS Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 1992 to honor outstanding WTHS athletes as well as residents of the township who have achieved success in athletics.
The boys' basketball team won the South Jersey Group II state sectional championship in 1969.[ citation needed ]
The field hockey team won the South Jersey Group III state sectional championship in 1977. [19] The 1977 team finished the season with a 14–1–4 record after winning the Group III title with a 1–0 overtime victory against Phillipsburg High School in the championship game. [20]
The softball team won the Group IV state championship in 1985 (vs. Westfield High School), 2002 (vs. West Milford High School), 2013 (vs. Watchung Hills Regional High School) and 2015 (vs. Bridgewater-Raritan High School). [21] The 1985 team won the Group IV state title with a 1–0 victory against Westfield in the championship game. [22] The team finished the 2015 season with a record of 31–1 after winning the Group IV title with a 1–0 one-hitter victory against Bridgewater-Raritan in the championship game. [23] [24] NJ.com / The Star-Ledger ranked Washington Township as their number-one softball team in the state in 2015. [25]
The football team won the South Jersey Group IV state sectional championships in 1987, 1992 and 1995. [26] The 1995 team finished the season with a 10–1 record after winning the South Jersey Group IV sectional title with a 19–7 defeat of Shawnee High School in the championship game. [27]
The boys' wrestling team won the South Jersey Group IV state sectional championship in 1998, 2000 and 2010. [28]
The girls' track team won the Group IV indoor relay state championship in 1999. The boys team won the Group IV indoor relay title in 2009. [29]
The golf team won the New Jersey Group IV state championship in 1999.[ citation needed ]
The girls spring track team was Group IV co-champion in 2000. [30]
The boys' cross country team captured the program's first ever South Jersey Group IV sectional crown in fall 2005. [31]
The baseball team won the 2007 NJSIAA Group IV state championship, defeating Steinert High School 9–3 in the semifinals and Randolph High School 15–7 in the group final. [32] [33]
In 2007, the boys' soccer team won the South Jersey Group IV state sectional championship with a 1–0 win over Lenape High School in the tournament final. [34]
The ice hockey team was back-to-back champions of the South Jersey High School Ice Hockey League.
The 07-08 boys' track team had the nation's top time in the 4x800 with a time of 8:06.95.[ citation needed ]
The 2009 boy's outdoor track team won the large high school division in the 4x800 at the Penn Relays. [35]
The 08-09 girls' varsity lacrosse team won the South Jersey Group IV championship, beating division rivals Cherokee High School by a score of 10–9 in the section final to take the program's first state sectional. [36] The 10–11 girls varsity lacrosse team went undefeated (8–0) as the Olympic Conference champions and won the South Jersey Group IV Championships, beating division rival Lenape High School by a score of 14–7 in the sectional final. [37]
The boys bowling team won the Group IV state championship in 2010 and 2020, winning the state Tournament of Champions both of those years. The program is one of only three schools that have won the Tournament of Champions two or more times. [38] [39]
The 10–11 girls' basketball team won the South Jersey Group IV state sectional title as the 11th seed, knocking off top-seeded division rival Cherry Hill High School East (who entered the game with a 26–1 record) in the sectional final by a 46–43 score. [40] The 11–12 girls' basketball team won the Olympic Conference and the South Jersey Group IV state sectional title, beating Toms River East High School in the sectional final by a score of 55–24, after starting the game on a 23-point run and leading 26–2 at the half. [41] The 12–13 girls' basketball team won the Olympic Conference and their third consecutive South Jersey Group IV state sectional title, beating division rival Williamstown High School in the sectional final by a score of 50–38, sealing the victory with a 20–6 run after Williamstown had pulled ahead by two points in the fourth quarter. [42]
The girls' bowling team won the Group IV state championship in 2011. [43]
The Minutemen boys' soccer team won the Group IV state championships in 2014 (against runner-up Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in the finals), 2015 (vs. West Orange High School) and 2018 (vs. Morris Knolls High School). [44] The program earned their first title in program history in 2014 with a 1–0 win against Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. [45] The team repeated in 2015 by defeating West Orange High School by a score of 1–0 in the championship game. [46] The team won the program's third Group IV title and finished the season with a 24–1 record after defeating Morris Knolls in the 2018 championship game. [47]
Washington Township has 57 clubs and activities (as of April 15, 2024). [48] These include:
The Washington Township High School Orchestra is under the direction of Lisa Sebastiani. Previously it had been under the direction of Mr. Ian Hoblitzell, Mr. John Brennan, Mrs. Norma Meyers, and other directors. On April 22, 2011, the Orchestra participated and played at Carnegie Hall in the National Invitational Band and Orchestra Festival.
The Washington Township High School Wind Ensemble has been participating at the New Jersey State Gala at Rutgers University.
The Washington Township High School Minutemen Marching Band is a regionally and nationally recognized band. Under the direction of James Beyer, the band grew to over 225 members in 1997, the same year they achieved a 94.40 at the ACC Championships, [50] a school record that still stands today. Later that season they participated in the 1998 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California and became the first band to be decorated in 5,000 live flowers and seeds, creating the first ever "Marching Musical Float". Designed by Todd Marcocci, this unique concept and design approach received tremendous support from all major media around the world. [51] The band has also participated in the 1995 and 1997 Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, invited to play for Governors Kean and Florio and President Reagan, the 2004 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida, the 2005 Holiday Bowl in San Diego, California and the 2008 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida. [52] Since its inception in 1973, the band has placed in the top 10 at the Tournament of Bands (TOB) Atlantic Coast Championships 16 times, and was Chapter One Champions for 16 straight years from 1985 to 2000, winning the Group 3 title from 1985 to 1987 and the Group 4 titles the subsequent 13 years. [53]
In recent years the band has undergone many changes, including becoming a separate ensemble (no longer a required part of the concert band program) and a director change, Casey Corigliano in 2003. In 2004, the Minutemen band became the first South Jersey band to compete in a Bands of America (BOA) Regional at Rutgers University, part of the nation's top marching circuit. The show was titled "The Odyssey". [54] The band competes in class IV-A of the United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA). The Minutemen host a home show every year titled Preview of Champions.
In the 2009–10 school year, the Minutemen band was named the 2009 USSBA Northern States Group 3A Champion. This was the band's first championship of any kind since the 16-year Chapter Championship streak was broken in 2001. The band was also named the 2010 Cotton Bowl Music Festival Grand Champion while participating in the Cotton Bowl Classic festivities in Dallas, Texas. By being named grand champion, the band had the honor of playing their show "Journey of Man" during pre-game in front of 78,000 fans. [55] The WTHS Drumline also received first place and won the honor to play their cadence to bring all of the bands onto the field for the mass half time show at the 2010 Cotton Bowl.
Other recent bowl games include the 2012 BCS National Championship Game in New Orleans and the 2013 Alamo Bowl in San Antonio. The Minutemen placed 2nd place in field competition and parade competition. They also received the 2013 Alamo Bowl Spirit Award. This award is presented to the school who best embodies the definition of sportsmanship by positively representing their school and showing an overall enthusiasm for music and performance at the Alamo Bowl.
The Minutemen participated in the 2016 Liberty Bowl. [56] They placed 1st in Class AA in Field Show competition capturing best marching, percussion, effect, and colorguard. They were also named the 2016 Liberty Bowl Grand Champion. They achieved this from getting the highest score in field and parade competitions. Their field show was titled "Into Darkness" featuring the music of Hector Berlioz Symphonie Fantasique.
In 2017, Calvin Spencer became band director. Under his direction, the band won numerous first place Tournament of Bands regional competitions, second place at TOB States and Atlantic Coast Championships, and first at Tournament of Bands Region 1 Group 4A. The band traveled to New Orleans for the 2018 Sugar Bowl. They placed 2nd in Class AA in Field Show. Their field show was titled "Yuletide Fantasy" an original composition by Calvin Spencer featuring Christmas music.
The school's executive principal is Raymond F. Anderson, who took over in December 2022. [57] His core administration team includes an executive assistant principal and five assistant principals. [58] Previous principals have included Jonathon Strout and Rosemarie Farrow.
Deptford Township High School is a four-year comprehensive community public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades, located in Deptford Township, in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is the sole secondary school of Deptford Township Schools.
Woodbridge High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Woodbridge Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as part of the Woodbridge Township School District. The high school is one of three in the district, together with Colonia High School and John F. Kennedy Memorial High School. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1928.
West Morris Mendham High School is home of the Minutemen, and is a four-year comprehensive regional public high school that serves students in ninth though twelfth grades as part of the West Morris Regional High School District. Established in 1970, the school is located in the heart of Mendham Borough, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Students who attend the school come from the Morris County municipalities of Chester Borough, Chester Township, Mendham Borough and Mendham Township.
Matawan Regional High School is a four-year regional public high school located in Aberdeen Township, United States, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as the lone secondary school of the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District. Serving students from Aberdeen Township and Matawan, it is one of Monmouth County's largest schools. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools since 1951. The school mascot is a husky.
Jackson Memorial High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades in Jackson Township, in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, opened in 1963 as part of the Jackson School District. It is the sister high school of Jackson Liberty High School, which opened in late summer 2006.
Lenape High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Medford Township in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is the oldest of the four high schools that comprise the Lenape Regional High School District, which serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Evesham Township, Medford Lakes, Medford Township, Mount Laurel Township, Shamong Township, Southampton Township, Tabernacle Township and Woodland Township. Since opening in 1958, the school has served students from Mount Laurel Township. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1963.
Newton High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades from Newton, in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as part of the Newton Public School District. Students from Andover Borough, and Andover and Green townships, attend the high school as part of sending/receiving relationships.
Montgomery High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in the Skillman section of Montgomery Township, in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as the lone secondary school of the Montgomery Township School District.
Williamstown High School is a four-year comprehensive community public high school located in the Williamstown section of Monroe Township in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as the lone secondary school of the Monroe Township Public Schools. The school was established in 1958.
Brick Memorial High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades in Brick Township in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as a part of the Brick Public Schools. The school opened in 1980 as the second of two secondary schools in the district, the other being Brick Township High School.
Monroe Township High School is a comprehensive four-year public high school located in Monroe Township, in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades part of the Monroe Township School District. The school serves students from Monroe Township and approximately 300 from Jamesburg who attend Monroe Township High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Jamesburg Public Schools that has been in place since 1980. The school's mascot is a falcon and the school colors are purple and Vegas gold. The motto is "Excellence is Our Expectation".
Kingsway Regional High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grade from five communities in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as part of the Kingsway Regional School District. The school serves students from East Greenwich Township, Logan Township, South Harrison Township, Swedesboro and Woolwich Township.
Brick Township High School is a four-year public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades in Brick Township in Ocean County, New Jersey, operating as part of the Brick Public Schools. The school is one of two secondary schools in the district, the other being Brick Memorial High School.
Westwood Regional High School is a four-year comprehensive regional public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Borough of Westwood and the Township of Washington, in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as the lone secondary school of the Westwood Regional School District. Beginning in the 2019–20 school year, students in eighth grade who had previously attended the then junior-senior high school began attending the new Westwood Middle School.
Allentown High School is a public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from three communities in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as part of the Upper Freehold Regional School District. The school serves students from Allentown Borough and Upper Freehold Township. Millstone Township sends students to the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1959.
Mount Olive High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grade from Mount Olive Township, in Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as the lone secondary school of the Mount Olive Township School District. The school is located in the Flanders section of the township.
Hillsborough High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Hillsborough Township in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as the lone secondary school of the Hillsborough Township School District. Students from Millstone also attend the school, after Millstone was integrated into the Hillsborough district, prior to which they had attended as part of a sending/receiving relationship.
Warren Hills Regional High School is a four-year public high school located on Jackson Valley Road in Washington Township in Warren County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as part of the Warren Hills Regional School District. The school offers a comprehensive education for students in ninth through twelfth grades. The student population includes students from Franklin Township, Mansfield Township, Oxford Township, Washington Borough and Washington Township. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 2014.
Egg Harbor Township High School is a comprehensive community public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Egg Harbor Township in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as the lone secondary school of the Egg Harbor Township Schools.
Clearview Regional High School is a regional public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades from Harrison Township and Mantua Township, two communities in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as part of the Clearview Regional High School District.