New Providence High School
New Providence High School is a comprehensive public high school in the borough of New Providence, in Union County, New Jersey, United States, operating as the lone secondary school in the New Providence School District, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades. New Providence High School opened on September 8, 1958 with its first graduating class on June 23, 1960. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools since 1965.[4] The school opened on September 8, 1958, and had its first graduating class of seniors in June 1960.[3]
New Providence High School | |
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Location | |
New Providence High School New Providence High School New Providence High School | |
United States | |
Coordinates | 40.699914°N 74.409548°W |
Information | |
Type | Public |
Motto | "Home of Champions" |
Established | 1958 |
School district | New Providence School District |
NCES School ID | 3411310[1] |
Principal | Lauren Zirpoli |
Faculty | 58.8 FTEs[1] |
Grades | 9−12 |
Enrollment | 625 (as of 2018–19)[1] |
Student to teacher ratio | 10.6:1[1] |
Color(s) | Green and white[2][3] |
Athletics conference | Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference |
Team name | Pioneers[2] |
Website | School website |
As of the 2018–19 school year, the school had an enrollment of 625 students and 58.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.6:1. There were 11 students (1.8% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 7 (1.1% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]
New Providence High School provides opportunities to earn college credits through Advanced Placement courses and through the Middle College Program in partnership with Fairleigh Dickinson University.
The school's principal is Lauren Zirpoli.[5]
Awards, recognition and rankings
The school was the 13th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2016 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology.[6] The school had been ranked first in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 5th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[7] New Providence High School took over the top spot in New Jersey Monthly magazine's 2012 listing of top New Jersey public high schools, knocking off Millburn High School, which had held the top spot in the magazine's 2010 and 2008 rankings and dropped to fifth place. The magazine cited changes at New Providence that included better performance on the math portion of the HSPA, reductions in class size and reprioritization of teaching positions and assignments in the wake of reductions in state aid that saw the district receive less than half as much aid in the 2011−12 school year as it did the previous year.[8] The magazine ranked the school 17th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[9] Schooldigger.com ranked the school tied for 40th out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (an increase of 8 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (93.1%) and language arts literacy (98.0%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[10]
In the 2016 "Ranking America's School Districts" issue by Niche.com, the district was ranked 10th in New Jersey and 81st nationwide.
In its 2013 report on "America's Best High Schools", The Daily Beast ranked the school 157th in the nation among participating public high schools and 10th overall (and fourth of non-magnet schools) among schools in New Jersey.[11] The school was ranked 224th in the nation and 19th in New Jersey on the list of "America's Best High Schools 2012" prepared by The Daily Beast / Newsweek, with rankings based primarily on graduation rate, matriculation rate for college and number of Advanced Placement / International Baccalaureate courses taken per student, with lesser factors based on average scores on the SAT / ACT, average AP/IB scores and the number of AP/IB courses available to students.[12]
Athletics
The New Providence High School Pioneers[2] compete in the Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[13] With 514 students in grades 10−12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2015−16 school year as Central Jersey, Group II for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 498 to 750 students in that grade range.[14] Prior to the realignment that took place in 2010, the school had participated in the Mountain Valley Conference.[15] NPHS's teams have won multiple state championships in sports such as track & field, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, tennis, golf, swimming, and wrestling.
The school participates in a joint ice hockey program with Governor Livingston High School as the host school / lead agency, under an agreement that expires at the end of the 2017−18 school year.[16]
The NJSIAA recognized Delsea as Group I winner of the ShopRite Cup for 2010−11, awarded for first-place finishes in girls' soccer, football and girls' basketball; tied for third in boys' tennis and fourth place girls' indoor group track & field, plus bonus points for having no disqualifications for the fall, winter and spring seasons.[17]
The boys' basketball team won the Group I state championship in 1965, (defeating Wildwood High School in the tournament final) 1999, (vs. Highland Park High School) and 2019 (vs. Burlington City High School[18] The girls' team won the Group I title in 2010 (vs. Florence Township Memorial High School) and 2011 (vs. Haddon Township High School).[19]
The Pioneers have had three state wrestling champions: John Ferrara (1969), Rich Billitz (1976) and Donnie DeFilippis (1999, who came in second twice before winning the title). On March 13, 2012 DeFilippis was inducted into the Region 3 Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in High School and on the Division 1 level in college.[20] The wrestling team won the North II Group I state sectional championship in 1983, 1992 and 1994, and won the Central Jersey Group I title in 2005.[21]
The football team won the North II Group II state sectional championship in 1974 and 1976, and won the North II Group I title in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 2010.[22] Head football coach Frank Bottone finished the 2006 season with his 300th career victory, the fourth coach in New Jersey history to achieve that milestone. The only coach in New Providence's school history since the football program began in 1963, Bottone compiled a record of 334−125−7 in his 46 seasons before he retired after the 2010 season.[23] His teams won 15 conference championships and eight state sectional championships, including an undefeated season in 1989 when the Pioneers went 11−0 with 9 shutouts, cumulatively outscoring their opponents 234−20. The two teams that scored against the Pioneers that season were Middlesex High School (43−13) and David Brearley High School of Kennilworth (35−7); none of the scores were against their first string defense. The following year, Anthony Pignio represented NPHS in the North vs. South All star game, where he won MVP honors. Other stand-outs include Ted Blackwell who set the New Jersey High School record for points in a season with 254 points.[24] Bottone called it a career at the end of the 2010 season, his 49th season overall in New Providence. The Pioneers went 10–1 en route to the North II, Group I state championship with a 21–8 victory against Lincoln High School of Jersey City.[23]
The baseball team won the Group II state championship in 1990 (defeating Hightstown High School in the final game of the tournament) and 1998 (vs. Middlesex High School).[25] Former head baseball coach Tom Beck was inducted into the NJSIAA Hall of Fame in 2007. He won numerous Mountain Valley Conference championships along with two state sectional titles and a Group I state championship in 1998.[26] In 1990, after winning their state sectional and North Jersey championships, Beck's team came up just short in the Group I state championship, losing 1−0 despite pitcher Ernie Schmidt throwing a no-hitter, and allowing no walks in the contest. Schmidt had a perfect game until the 6th inning when a passed ball on a dropped third strike led to a run scored without any hits.[27]
The boys' soccer team won the 2003 NJSIAA North II Group I sectional championship with a 1–0 win over David Brearley High School.[28] In 2007 the boys soccer team won the 2007 NJSIAA Central Group I Sectional Championship with a 3–2 win in over time against Metuchen High School.[29] Alex Pellas scored the winning goal with around 4 minutes to go in the first overtime. The 2007 boys soccer team also won the Mountain Valley Conference. They went undefeated in their conference and finished with an 18–3–1 record. They lost to Arthur P. Schalick High School in the Group I semi-finals 2-0.
The girls' soccer team has won the Group I state championship four times: in 2000 (as co-champion in with Haddon Township High School), 2003 (as co-champion with Glen Rock High School), 2010 (vs. Pennsville Memorial High School) and 2011 (vs. Haddon Township High School).[30] In 2004 they won the Central Jersey Group I sectional championship and MVC conference. In 2010, the girls' soccer team defeated Pennsville by s 1-0 score in the tournament final for the Group I state title.[31] In 2011, the team repeated as Group I champion with a 4-0 win in the tournament final against Haddon Township.[32]
The 2007 girls' tennis team won the Central Jersey, Group I state sectional championship with a 5−0 win over Bound Brook High School in the tournament final.[33] The team moved on to win the Group I state championship with a 3−2 win over County Prep High School in the semifinals and Pennsville Memorial High School in the finals by a 3−2 score.[34] The 2008 girls tennis team won the North II, Group I state sectional championship with a 4−1 win over County Prep High School.[35] They went on to successfully defend their Group 1 state championship crown by defeating Pennsville Memorial High School in the semifinals and Leonia High School in the finals, both by a score of 3−2.[36][37]
The boys' tennis team won the Group I state championship in 1990 (vs. Haddonfield High School), 2010 (vs. Pitman High School), 2012 and 2013 (vs. Highland Park High School both years) and 2014 (vs. Pitman).[38] The 1990 team won the program's first Group I state title, defeating Haddonfield High School. The team won the Group I state championship in 2010 with a 4–1 win over South Jersey champs Pitman High School. In 2012 the boys' team defeated reigning champs Highland Park by 3–2 in the Group I state championship. From there, the boys went on to win three consecutive Group I state championships (2012, 2013, 2014) beating Highland Park again 3–2 in 2013 and overcoming Pitman 3–2 in 2014.[39] This dynasty became the first team in school history to win three consecutive Group I state championships. Between 2010 to 2014, the boys tennis team also won the most consecutive state sectional championships, five in a row, beating Jonathan Dayton High School each time.
The New Providence High School Marching Band has won USSBA New Jersey state championships in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2016.[40] The band has won USSBA Northern States/All States Championships in Allentown, PA, in 2002, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2016. The school's marching band won the USBands Group VI A national championship in 2015 with their program Beethoven 5[41] and once again in 2016 with their program Cityscape.[42]
Notable alumni
- Ted Blackwell, set the single-season scoring record in New Jersey High School football with 254 points in 1976, which has since been broken.[24]
- Andrew Fastow (born 1961), former Enron executive[43]
- Michael Hawley (born 1962), Artificial Intelligence researcher, concert pianist and author of Bhutan: A Visual Odyssey Across the Last Himalayan Kingdom, which at 5'x7' and 133 lbs became the largest book ever published.
- Syd Kitson (born 1958), guard who played four years in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys.[44]
- Tom McCarthy (born 1966), actor, screenwriter and director.[45]
- Rat Skates (born 1961 as Lee Kundrat), filmmaker, writer and musician most notable for being a founding member and the original drummer of the thrash metal band, Overkill.[46][47][48][49]
- D. D. Verni (born 1961), bass player and founding member of the thrash metal band, Overkill.[50]
References
- School data for New Providence High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.
- New Providence High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 11, 2015.
- About NPHS: General Information , New Providence High School, updated August 4, 2016. Accessed December 28, 2016. "School Nickname: The Pioneers; School Colors: Green and White"
- New Providence High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools. Accessed June 17, 2011.
- Home Page, New Providence High School. Accessed December 28, 2019.
- Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
- Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed September 12, 2012.
- Schlager, Ken; Staab, Amanda. "Education 2012: Top New Jersey High Schools; Just in time for back-to-school, we present our 2012 list of the best public high schools in New Jersey.", New Jersey Monthly, August 13, 2012. Accessed September 12, 2012.
- Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed April 8, 2011.
- New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2010-2011, Schooldigger.com. Accessed February 26, 2012.
- Streib, Lauren. "America's Best High Schools" Archived 2013-05-08 at the Wayback Machine, The Daily Beast, May 6, 2013. Accessed May 8, 2013.
- Staff. "America's Best High Schools 2012" Archived 2012-05-21 at the Wayback Machine, The Daily Beast / Newsweek, May 20, 2012. Accessed May 23, 2012.
- League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2019-2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed April 29, 2020.
- General Public School Classifications 2015-2016, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, as of December 15, 2015. Accessed December 12, 2016.
- Home Page, Mountain Valley Conference, backed up by the Internet Archive, as of February 17, 2009. Accessed November 20, 2014.
- NJSIAA 2017 - 2019 Co-Operative Sports Programs, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed February 12, 2018.
- Eighth Annual ShopRite Cup 2010‐2011 Final Standings, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 8, 2017.
- https://www.tapinto.net/towns/new-providence/articles/new-providence-boys-basketball-wins-group-1-championship-defeating-burlington-city-66-56
- Public Past State Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 3, 2017.
- New Jersey Wrestling Champions Archived 2012-04-21 at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Wrestling News. Accessed September 9, 2011.
- History of the NJSIAA Team Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 3, 2017.
- Goldberg, Jeff. NJSIAA Football Playoff Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 19, 2015.
- Rosenfeld, Josh. "NJ Football: Frank Bottone of New Providence is state Coach of the Year", The Star-Ledger, December 17, 2010. Accessed June 17, 2011. "Winning six NJSIAA playoff titles and compiling a 334−125-7 record, the fourth-highest victory total in state history, certainly entitle Bottone to a claim as one of the greatest coaches in state history."
- Staff. "State/South Jersey Football Records", Courier-Post, August 9, 2007. Accessed April 8, 2011.
- History of the NJSIAA Baseball Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 3, 2017.
- History of the NJSIAA Baseball Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 23, 2012.
- Helfgot, Mike. "New scheme brought out best in Hudeen", The Star-Ledger, December 17, 2006. Accessed May 25, 2007. "Highlight reel: Frank Bottone became just the fourth coach in state history to win 300 games when New Providence beat Gov. Livingston, 17−14, on Thanksgiving weekend."
- 2003 NJSIAA Group 1 Boys' Soccer State Tournament - NJSIAA, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 29, 2007.
- 2007 Boys Soccer - Central, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 13, 2007.
- 2015 Soccer Championships Program, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, as of December 15, 2015. Accessed January 2, 2017.
- Chando, Matt. "Pennsville falls to New Providence in final", Gloucester County Times, November 21, 2010. Accessed June 17, 2011. "New Providence's Casey Trezza stuck a shot from 10 yards out inside the left post with 1:41 left in the game to break a 0-0 tie and clinch the NJSIAA girls soccer state Group I championship for the Pioneers (18-3)."
- Bevensee, Rich. "Haddon Township (0) at New Providence (4), NJSIAA Group Tournament, Final Round, Group 1 - Girls Soccer", NJ.com, November 19, 2011, updated August 23, 2013. Accessed October 11, 2015. "Saitta was cleared to play with a simple gel-pack bandage covering the gash that needed 60 stitches to close, and New Providence rose above the pressure of expectations with one of its finest offensive performances of the season, a 4-0 victory over Haddon Township for its second straight Group 1 state title."
- 2007 Girls Team Tennis - Central, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 25, 2007.
- 2007 Girls Team Tennis - Public Group Semis/Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 25, 2007.
- 2008 Girls Team Tennis - North II, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 23, 2008.
- 2008 Girls Team Tennis - Public Group Semis/Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 23, 2008.
- Dunleavy, Ryan. "New Providence repeats in Group I; B-R falls in semis", Home News Tribune, October 22, 2008. Accessed October 23, 2008.
- History of Boys' Team Tennis Championship Tournament, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 1, 2017.
- History of Boys Team Tennis Championship Tournament, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 11, 2015.
- "New Providence High School Marching Band Wins State Championship for Second Consecutive Year". TAPinto. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- "Congratulations to Our National Champions!" Archived 2016-02-01 at the Wayback Machine, USBands. Accessed January 24, 2016.
- "New Providence Marching Band Wins 2016 National Championships". TAPinto. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
- Iwata, Edward. "Fastow's fast track to infamy", USA Today. Accessed May 25, 2007. "The son of a buyer for a drugstore chain, Fastow was born 40 years ago in Washington and raised in Providence [sic], N.J. The popular Fastow played the trumpet in the New Providence High School Pioneers marching band and was active in student government."
- Syd Kitson Stats, Pro-Football-Reference.com. Accessed March 21, 2018.
- Stein, Ruthe. "A chat with 'Win Win' director Thomas McCarthy", San Francisco Chronicle, March 20, 2011. Accessed April 8, 2011. "With his new movie "Win Win," McCarthy has taken on a world he is familiar with, having been on the wrestling team at New Providence High School in New Jersey."
- Catino, Rich. "Rat Skates – Former Drummer for Overkill", Metal Asylum, March 17, 2008. Accessed July 27, 2019. "I would say “Born in the Basement” is my story about growing up in suburbia New Providence, going to high school, starting to make music, the beginnings of Overkill and then what happened when I left and why."
- Bienstock, Richard. Guitar World, ASIN: B000RPKQES
- Ernst, Rick. Get Thrashed- The Story of Thrash Metal ASIN: B001AR4K6C
- Trunk, Eddie. Q104.3 Friday night Rocks (Sept. 08)
- Blabbermouth (July 10, 2014). "Former OVERKILL Drummer RAT SKATES Uses HITLER And Holocaust Footage In Bizarre Anti-'Dictator' Video". BLABBERMOUTH.NET.
External links
- New Providence High School
- New Providence School District
- New Providence High School's 2015–16 School Performance Report from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the New Providence School District, National Center for Education Statistics
- Review of public schools
- New Providence High School profile provided by schooltree.org
- New Providence Athletic Foundation