Paulsboro High School
Paulsboro High School is a comprehensive community six-year public high school that serves students in seventh through twelfth grade from Paulsboro, in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States, operating as the lone secondary school of the Paulsboro Public Schools.
Paulsboro High School | |
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Location | |
Paulsboro High School Paulsboro High School Paulsboro High School | |
United States | |
Coordinates | 39.837032°N 75.243921°W |
Information | |
Type | Public high school |
NCES School ID | 3412720[1] |
Principal | Paul Morina |
Faculty | 31.1 FTEs[1] |
Enrollment | 322 (as of 2018–19)[1] |
Student to teacher ratio | 10.4:1[1] |
Color(s) | Red and white[2] |
Athletics conference | Colonial Conference |
Team name | Red Raiders[2] |
Rival | Woodbury High School; West Deptford High School |
Website | School website |
As of the 2018–19 school year, the school had an enrollment of 322 students and 31.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.4:1. There were 256 students (79.5% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and none eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]
Students in grades 9-12 from Greenwich Township attend Paulsboro High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Greenwich Township School District.[3][4]
Awards, recognition and rankings
The school was the 309th-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.[5] The school had been ranked 278th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 265th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[6] The magazine ranked the school 277th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[7] The school was ranked 264th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[8]
Athletics
The Paulsboro High School Red Raiders[2] compete as a member school in the Colonial Conference, which is composed of small schools whose enrollments generally do not exceed between 750-800 students for grades 9-12, and operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[9] With 263 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2015-16 school year as South Jersey, Group I for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 78 to 478 students in that grade range.[10] The football team competes in the Memorial Division of the 95-team West Jersey Football League superconference[11] and was classified by the NJSIAA as South Jersey Group I for football for 2017-18.[12]
The football team won the South Jersey Group I state sectional championship in 1979, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1992-1997, 2000-2002, 2005, 2006 and 2014.[13] In 2016, the team won the 18th sectional title in program history, defeating Salem High School by a score of 29-26 in the South Jersey Group I state sectional tournament final.[14] The team won the program's 19th overall championship, its third title in four seasons and finished the year with a 10-2 record, defeating Penns Grove High School by a score of 34-24 in the playoff final of the South Jersey Group I state sectional tournament.[15][16]
The boys' basketball team won the Group I state championship in 1996, defeating Science Park High School in the final game of the tournament.[17]
Wrestling dynasty
The wrestling team won the South Jersey Group I state sectional championship every year from 1980 to 2007 and from 2009 to 2014, and won the Group I state championship from 1983-2007 and 2009-2011; the 34 sectional titles, 28 group championships and the 25 consecutive group titles are the most of any school in the state.[18]
1,000 wins
On February 2, 2011, Paulsboro became just the third high school in history to accumulate 1,000 wins.[19] It joined Granite City High School (Granite City, Illinois) and Vacaville High School (Vacaville, California) in the 1,000-win club.[20] Head coach Paul Morina, who is still the coach as of the 2016–17 season, reached his 606th victory as coach with a win against Haddonfield Memorial High School in January 2015, breaking the South Jersey record; From the time he became coach in 2016 until he set the win record, Morina had won 28 sectional titles and went on to win 25 group championships.[21]
37-year conference unbeaten streak
Paulsboro High School's wrestling team had a streak of 307 consecutive victories against Colonial Conference opponents. The streak started in 1971 when Haddon Township High School had handed them their last conference loss. It would be nearly four decades until Collingswood High School was responsible for halting the streak on January 16, 2008, with a 28–22 decision over the Red Raiders.[22] Paulsboro had won 25 consecutive state championships in Group I until 2008 when they lost early in the state tournament. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, that streak was the longest in the entire nation at the time, and only three other teams have won more state championships overall than Paulsboro.[23]
'The Streak'
Paulsboro High School owns the New Jersey state record for consecutive football victories with 63 running from 1992 and until September 26, 1998, when they lost to longtime rival Woodbury High School by a score of 14-13. The 63 consecutive wins is still the state record, surpassing the next closest streak in South Jersey by 20 games, and besting the previous state record holder by nine.[24][25][26]
Controversy
Principal Lucia Pollino was suspended after an incident in which three students were allegedly strip searched while on a senior trip to Walt Disney World in April 2007. A lawsuit has been filed by an attorney representing one of the students asking for $250,000 in damages related to the incident.[27] Superintendent of Schools Frank Scambia said that Pollino would be reassigned to become director of assessments, a position for which she would be compensated with the same salary she had received as principal. The district reached a settlement with Pollino after she sued the district, charging that she had been the victim of gender discrimination in that she had never approved the strip search.[28]
Popular culture
A special premiere of the 2004 Kevin Smith film Jersey Girl was held at the school, which had been the location of several scenes in the film. A street leading out of the school was named Kevin Smith Way.[29]
Administration
The principal is Paul Morina.[30]
Notable alumni
- Willie Lee "Flipper" Anderson Jr. (born 1965, class of 1983), former professional wide receiver who set the NFL record of most receiving yards in a game, with 336 yards [31]
- John J. Burzichelli (born 1954, class of 1972), politician, mayor of Paulsboro and member of the New Jersey General Assembly.[32]
- Russell Carter (born 1985, class of 2003), a First Team All-Big East basketball player at Notre Dame in 2006-2007.[33]
- Julién Davenport (born 1995), offensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins.[34]
- Gerald Hodges (born 1991, class of 2009), former NFL linebacker.[35]
- Isaac Redman (born 1984, class of 2003), running back who played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers.[36]
- Kevin Ross (born 1962, class of 1980), secondary coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who played cornerback and safety in the NFL for 14 seasons.[37]
- Larry Sharpe (born 1951), retired professional wrestler, manager and trainer.[38]
- Alex Silvestro (born 1988, class of 2007), defensive end who played in the NFL for the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens.[39]
- Edwin H. Simmons (born 1921, class of 1938), highly decorated United States Marine Corps officer.[40]
References
- School data for Paulsboro High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.
- Paulsboro High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 31, 2016.
- Paulsboro Public Schools 2016 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 30, 2017. "The district schools serve just under 1,200 students including high school students from Greenwich Township."
- Paciolla, Christina. "Slash in school aid to Greenwich Township prompts tax hike", Gloucester County Times, March 25, 2010. Accessed January 25, 2011. "The cost of sending over 100 township students to Paulsboro High School also increased to $2,500 per pupil."
- 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 3, 2012.
- Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed February 6, 2011.
- "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
- 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.
- Divisions, West Jersey Football League. Accessed September 25, 2017.
- NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2017-2018 Archived 2017-09-26 at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, finalized August 2, 2017. Accessed September 25, 2017.
- Goldberg, Jeff. NJSIAA Football Playoff Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 9, 2015.
- Chando, Matt. "Extra points made the difference for Paulsboro in 29-26 win", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 3, 2016. Accessed December 11, 2016. "The Paulsboro and Salem football teams were evenly matched squads in the NJSIAA/Sports Care Institute.com South Jersey, Group 1 final Saturday at Rowan University. In fact, each team scored four touchdowns in the Red Raiders' 29-26 victory, which clinched Paulsboro's 18th sectional title in program history."
- Consentino, Matt. "Dehron Holloway sparks Paulsboro to third SJG1 title in 4 years", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 2, 2017. Accessed December 6, 2017. "Holloway scored three touchdowns and led an outstanding defensive effort with three interceptions as the top-seeded Red Raiders knocked off second-seeded Penns Grove, 34-24, in the NJSIAA South Jersey, Group 1 final. Paulsboro captured its third championship in the last four years and 19th overall.... The Red Raiders (10-2) held one of the most explosive offenses in South Jersey – which came into the game averaging more than 46 points per game – to just 18 points, all in the second half."
- "Football - 2017 NJSIAA South, Group 1 Playoffs", NJ.com. Accessed December 6, 2017.
- Public Past State Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 16, 2017.
- History of the NJSIAA Team Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 16, 2017.
- Atansia, Phil. "Phil Anastasia: Paulsboro High claims 1,000th victory in wrestling", The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 3, 2011. Accessed December 6, 2017. "The Red Raiders are the first high school team in the East and just the third in the country to win 1,000 matches. Granite City, Ill., was the first, and Vacaville, Calif., accomplished the feat on Jan. 22."
- Evans, Bill. "Isn't it Grand?", NJ.com, August 22, 2013. Accessed December 4, 2016. "The Red Raiders defeated the Hawks, 59-6, to win the 1,000th match in the storied history of Paulsboro wrestling, making them just the third high school wrestling team in the country to achieve the feat. Granite City, Ill. and Vacaville, Calif. previously reached the milestone."
- McGurk, Tom. "Paulsboro wrestling coach becomes all-time wins leader in S.J. history", Courier-Post, January 28, 2015. Accessed December 6, 2017. "When he took his first head coaching job in 1986, the Paulsboro alum not only replaced his mentor, he took the reins from a legend who built this small Gloucester County town into the mecca of South Jersey wrestling.... Morina was crowned the all-time winningest wrestling coach in South Jersey history Wednesday night with win No. 606 coming in a 47-14 triumph over Haddonfield. Under Morina, Paulsboro has won 110 of 115 playoff matches (with one tie) en route to 28 sectional and 25 state titles."
- Paulsboro streak ends - Courier Post Online. Accessed January 17, 2008.
- Yahoo! News - "300 Wins in a Row for High School Wrestling Team. Accessed October 17, 2007.
- A compendium of epic battles over the years - Philly.com. "1998: The Woodbury football team snapped Paulsboro's state-record 63-game winning streak with a surprising 14-13 win on Sept. 26. The game wasn't decided until Paulsboro missed a 32-yard field-goal attempt - it was wide by inches - with four seconds left." Accessed February 17, 2008.
- South Jersey's Longest Unbeaten Streaks, Courier-Post. Accessed February 17, 2008.
- Strunsky, Steve. "IN BRIEF; Paulsboro High's Football Team Sets Winning-Streak Record", The New York Times, October 26, 1997. Accessed December 11, 2016. "But in his second career, as coach of his alma mater, Mr. Howard, 37, entered the New Jersey high school football record books last Saturday by leading the Red Raiders to their 55th straight win, over Haddon Heights, breaking Randolph High School's mark of 54 set in 1991."
- Davies, Kristy. "Paulsboro student plans lawsuit over strip search", Courier-Post, June 6, 2007. Accessed July 8, 2007. "The attorney representing a Paulsboro High School student who was allegedly strip-searched on a class trip to Florida sent notice to the high school, public school district and Board of Education on Tuesday he intends to file suit for $250,000 in damages."
- "Paulsboro High settles suit with principal over searches", Business Management Daily, December 26, 2007. Accessed December 6, 2017. "Paulsboro High School has settled a gender discrimination lawsuit with its former principal, Lucia Pollino, who was suspended for six months with pay in April 2007 over allegations she let students be strip-searched.The incident happened during a class trip to Walt Disney World, when two male teachers suspected four male students were using drugs and searched them.... Pollino sued, saying she did not authorize a strip-search and noting the two teachers who conducted the searches were not disciplined. The district settled by reassigning her to a position as director of assessments at the same salary she earned as principal."
- Gurney, Kaitlin. "Paulsboro names a street for director of 'Jersey Girl'", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 23, 2002. Accessed May 7, 2012. "With all the pomp that Paulsboro could provide to pay homage to Hollywood, a tiny street was christened Kevin Smith Way yesterday.... As the golden curtain sheathing the new street sign in front of Paulsboro High School was removed by the Jersey Girl director, actress Liv Tyler piped up in protest: 'It used to be called Tyler Way.'"
- "Paulsboro High School -". Paulsboro High School. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
- Carchidi, Sam. "Hodges leads Raiders over injury-riddled Herd", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 28, 2007. Accessed November 26, 2007. "On the second score, Hodges received a key downfield block from receiver Willie Little Flipper Anderson, whose father, Flipper Anderson, was a Paulsboro standout who later played in the NFL."
- Pensiero, Nicole (October 21, 1990). "Paulsboro Puts Its Pride On Line". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
Burzichelli, son of Paulsboro Mayor John D. Burzichelli, is one such believer. A 1972 graduate of Paulsboro High School, he knows his community well and is unflinching in his willingness to discuss the town's problems as well as its strengths.
- Russell Carter player profile - ND Archived 2009-01-06 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed October 18, 2007.
- Silva, Matt. "NFL Draft: Paulsboro's Davenport should hear his name", Detroit Free Press, April 27, 2017. September 28, 2017. "It's Julién Davenport. Davenport, a Paulsboro High School graduate in 2013, has seen his name spelled a couple of ways."
- Szafran, Wes. "Paulsboro High School product Gerald Hodges plans to stick with Penn State", The News of Cumberland County, July 26, 2012. Accessed September 3, 2012. "While it is expected that some of the players will take advantage of their opportunity to transfer schools without sitting out a season, Paulsboro High School graduate and senior linebacker Gerald Hodges doesn't plan on being one of those who jumps ship, according to his high school coach, Glenn Howard."
- Pittsburgh Steelers Sign Isaac Redman as Free Agent. Bowie State Athletics. Accessed August 13, 2009.
- Kevin Ross Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, database Football. Accessed November 26, 2007.
- Shyrock, Bob. "Bob Shryock: Paulsboro's 'Pretty Boy' Sharpe headed to wrestling hall of fame", South Jersey Times, December 5, 2014. Accessed August 15, 2016. "Larry Weil, A.K.A. 'Pretty Boy' Larry Sharpe, is headed to the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. The Paulsboro High School graduate, retired and living in Cape Coral on Florida's East Coast, will be enshrined in Tampa on Jan. 31."
- Chappelear, Scott. "Dream comes true for Silvestro", South Jersey Times, February 4, 2014. Accessed December 4, 2016. "Paulsboro High School graduate Isaac Redman played in the Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers in just his second year in the NFL last season. Fellow Red Raider Alex Silvestro may be a step ahead."
- Brigadier General (Retired) Edwin H. Simmons, United States Marine Corps. Accessed May 13, 2007. "Edwin Howard Simmons was born August 25, 1921, in Paulsboro, N.J., and graduated from high school there in 1938."