Dumont High School
Dumont High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grade from Dumont, in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, operating as the lone secondary school of the Dumont Public Schools.
Dumont High School | |
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Address | |
101 New Milford Avenue , , 07628 United States | |
Coordinates | 40.944418°N 73.996689°W |
Information | |
Type | Public comprehensive High school |
Established | 1932 |
School district | Dumont Public Schools |
NCES School ID | 3403990[1] |
Principal | James Wichmann |
Faculty | 68.2 FTEs[1] |
Grades | 9-12 |
Enrollment | 802 (as of 2018–19)[1] |
Student to teacher ratio | 11.8:1[1] |
Color(s) | Brown Orange White[2] |
Athletics conference | Big North Conference |
Rivals | Bergenfield High School |
Yearbook | Reveries |
Website | www |
The current Dumont High School opened in 1932. The original high school was founded in 1918 and located at what is now the Dumont Municipal Building. In 1961, construction on the current building yielded a new gymnasium, a library, over 20 classrooms, and a cafeteria. Another addition was added to the school in 2007. A state-of-the-art media center, modern science labs, and an elevator were part of the new construction. The school operates under the authority of the New Jersey Department of Education and has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1939.[3]
As of the 2018–19 school year, the school had an enrollment of 802 students and 68.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.8:1. There were 52 students (6.5% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 17 (2.1% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]
Awards, recognition and rankings
The school was the 101st-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.[4] The school had been ranked 118th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 106th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[5] The magazine ranked the school 162nd in 2008 out of 316 schools.[6] The school was ranked 174th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[7] Schooldigger.com ranked the school 179th out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (an increase of 10 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (78.0%) and language arts literacy (95.0%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[8]
Extracurricular activities
Athletics
The Dumont High School Huskies[2] compete in the Big North Conference, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[9][10] With 611 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group II for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 486 to 758 students in that grade range.[11] The school had previously been part of the Bergen County Scholastic League (BCSL) American Conference, made up of private and public high schools located in Bergen County and Hudson County.[12] Group II North for football for 2018–2020.[13] The school colors are brown, orange and white.[2] The head of the athletic department is Michael Oppido.
The school participates in joint boys / girls swimming teams with New Milford High School as the host school / lead agency. Dumont and Bergenfield High School participate in a co-op ice hockey team with Fair Lawn High School as the host school. These co-op programs operate under agreements scheduled to expire at the end of the 2023–24 school year.[14]
The boys cross country team won the Group III state championship in 1971.[15]
In 1984, the football team won its first ever North I, Section II state sectional title defeating a Hawthorne High School team that had entered the game undefeated by a score of 23–20 in the championship game to finish the season with a 9-2 record.[16][17][18] In the 71st annual "Turkey Bowl" game on Thanksgiving Day in 2019, Dumont beat Tenafly High School by a score of 7-6 to win its sixth consecutive game in the rivalry and bring the overall series to 56-31-3 in favor of Tenafly.[19]
The girls volleyball team won the Group II state championship in 1996, defeating New Milford High School in the final match of the tournament.[20]
In fall 1998, the boys soccer team won the school's first ever Bergen County Tournament soccer game, beating Hackensack High School in penalty kicks, before losing to Bergen Catholic High School in the quarter finals. The team was named the Small School (Group 1 & 2) Team of the Year by The Bergen Record, finishing the year 18-3-2, setting the school record for wins in a season.
The 1999 boys indoor track team won the Bergen County Indoor Relays championship.[21]
The baseball team won the 2002 North I, Group II state sectional championship, defeating Hoboken High School 4–3 in the tournament final.[22] In 2008, the baseball team won the BCSL American League Championship for the first time since 1988, defeating rival River Dell Regional High School by a score of 5–4 in nine innings. John O'Rourke allowed no earned runs over eight scoreless innings (8 IP, 4 R, 0 ER, 8 H, 6 K, BB). They finished the year at an overall record of 17–6, losing in the opening round of the North I, Group II State Tournament to Mahwah, 8–3.[23]
Prior to the 2008–09 school year, the district completed renovations of the majority of DHS athletic facilities. The project included the installation of a state-of-the-art six-lane track, artificial FieldTurf playing surface and lights at the high school. In addition, a new baseball and soccer field were installed at Honiss School, while a new softball and soccer field were installed at Selzer School.
In 2009, the girls varsity bowling team were the Bergen County Scholastic League American League Champions for the first time in Dumont's history. The bowling team is coached by Marc Ferrara.
In 2009, the baseball team repeated as BCSL American League champs by defeating River Dell Regional High School 8–0, winning their 11th league title in school history.
In 2010, the Dumont Huskies captured their third straight BSCL American Championship title by defeating Tenafly High School, 8–1. The 2009-10 Dumont boys baseball team, under the direction of head coach Jason Cannici, finished with an overall of record of 20-7 and finished first in the BCSL American at a record of 15–3. They advanced to the semifinals of the North 1, Group 2 State Tournament losing 1–0 to North Warren Regional High School, with the only run of the game scoring on a suicide squeeze.[24]
Music
Dumont High School has been known for its music department. The Dumont High School Marching Band has been performing at the North Jersey High School Band Festival for over 30 years, as one of the largest marching bands in Bergen County. In the past the band has played half-time shows for the New York Jets at Giants Stadium. The concert band and chorus perform music of the highest level and have performed throughout the United States and Canada. At music festivals, throughout the United States, the band has received superior ratings as has the chorus. The concert band and marching band are well known throughout the Eastern United States. The music department has always had an outstanding jazz program which encourages and teaches jazz improvisation. In 2017, the Dumont High School Marching Band was nominated by Senator Cory Booker to represent the state of New Jersey in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington D.C. At this time the band was Under the direction of Ms. Deanna Loertscher.
Theatre and arts
The Dumont High School proudly produces four productions a year with their Youth Theatre actors. In the fall is the straight play, winter is the London Play, spring is the musical and late spring is the student written and produced One Acts. Such shows included Godspell, Grease, Anything Goes, Matchmaker, Romeo and Juliet, Little Shop of Horrors, Midsummer Night's Dream, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, The Two Month Rule, Seussical the Musical, Beauty and the Beast, and Shrek the Musical.
NJDFL
Dumont High School is a member of the New Jersey Drama and Forensics League. The students have the opportunity to compete against other high schools in pair pieces, scenes, monologues, improvisation, speeches and storytelling. Dumont won the championship in 2002, taking home the inaugural Looby Cup.[25] Dumont High School took home the Looby Cup once again in 2010 after accumulating a total of 256 points at a championship tournament at Raritan High School. The team won by a margin of 63 points over second-place finisher Mainland Regional High School. Dumont High School kept the Looby Cup at home after winning the state championships for a second straight time in 2011. Dumont won the team sweepstakes with a total of 235 points, only 5 points more than second-place finisher Absegami High School.[26][27]
Administration
The school's principal is James Wichmann. His administration team includes two assistant principals.[28]
Notable alumni
- John Battaglia (1955-2018), convicted murderer who was executed by the state of Texas for killing his two daughters in 2001 in an act of revenge against his estranged wife.[29]
- Rich Edson (born c. 1981), Fox News Channel correspondent.[30]
- Sean Lissemore (born 1986), defensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers.[31]
- Jerry Palmieri (born 1958), football strength and conditioning coach, most recently on Tom Coughlin's staff for the New York Giants.[32]
- Geoff Rickly (born 1979), lead singer of the band Thursday.
References
- School data for Dumont High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.
- Dumont High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- Dumont High School Archived June 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed November 19, 2007.
- 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 December 1, 2012.
- Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed June 12, 2011.
- "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
- School Overview; Click on "Rankings" for 2003-11 HSPA results, Schooldigger.com. Accessed March 7, 2012.
- League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- School Info, Big North Conference. Accessed August 19, 2011.
- NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- League Memberships – 2009-2010, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 24, 2011. Accessed November 19, 2014.
- NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2018–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, finalized August 2019. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- NJSIAA Winter Cooperative Sports Programs, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
- NJSIAA Boys Cross Country State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- Mills, Ed. "Where are they now? Kevin McMullan of Dumont", The Record, June 29, 2010. Accessed August 19, 2011. "Then he made a 20-yard field goal with four seconds remaining to lift Dumont past the Braves, 29-28, in the North 1, Group 2 semifinals. In the title game against previously unbeaten Hawthorne, he scored two touchdowns and had 16 points overall, including a field goal and an extra-point kick, as the Huskies defeated the Bears, 23-20, to win the sectional title."
- Fox, Ron. "White unable to save Hawthorne", The Record, December 2, 1984. Accessed January 10, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "But despite the 195-pound senior tailback gaining 223 yards in 25 carries, catching two passes for 35 yards, and scoring three touchdowns and a two-point conversion, Hawthorne's unbeaten season was erased. Dumont took the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Group 2, North Section 1 football title, 23- 20, thanks to six Hawthorne turnovers."
- "Dumont over Tenafly - Football recap", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 28, 2019. Accessed November 18, 2020. "Dumont won its sixth Thanksgiving game in a row over Tenafly in a 7-6 final in Tenafly.... Tenafly (3-6) would have opportunities late, but the Huskies would get multiple stops, including an interception from Matthew Stewart to pull out a win in the 71st edition of the 'Turkey Bowl'. Dumont has evened its record for the third consecutive season, and Tenafly’s all-time series advantage is cut to 56-31-3."
- NJSIAA Girls Volleyball Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- Schwartz, Paul. "Hackensack Dominates; Dumont Surprises", The Record, January 29, 1999. Accessed December 27, 2020.
- 2002 Baseball - North I, Group II, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 4, 2007.
- Dumont wins league title: It's a long story, NorthJerseySports.com. Accessed May 18, 2008.
- Staff. "North Warren High roundup", Warren Reporter, June 2, 2010. Accessed June 12, 2011. "NWHS 1, Dumont 0 — Winning pitcher Nick Macaione's suicide-squeeze bunt in the seventh inning produced the only run the Pats needed May 25 as they nipped the fifth-seeded visitors (20-7) from Bergen County in the sectional semifinals."
- The History of "The Looby Cup" Archived July 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Drama and Forensics league. Accessed May 25, 2008.
- state championship Tournament, Raritan H. S. 2-26-11 Archived August 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, North Jersey Drama and Forensics League. Accessed June 12, 2011.
- Staff. "Absegami takes second in statewide forensics" Archived July 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine,Shore News Today, March 4, 2011. Accessed June 12, 2011.
- Home page, Dumont High School. Accessed May 28, 2020.
- Pence, Irene. No, Daddy, Don't!: A Father's Murderous Act of Revenge, p. 21. Pinnacle Books, 2012. ISBN 9780786032372. Accessed February 6, 2018. "They lived in Dumont, New Jersey, a town of 20,000 in the upper northeast corner of the state, where John Jr. attended Dumont High School."
- Staff "Cheryl Cappiello and Rich Edson", The New York Times, July 20, 2008. Accessed May 28, 2020. "Ms. Cappiello and Mr. Edson met in 1995 as members of the Dumont High School marching band. She was starting her senior year; he was a freshman."
- Waldrop, Melinda. "W&M's DT Sean Lissemore: Run fast, hit hard", Daily Press (Virginia), October 1, 2009. Accessed June 12, 2011. "Athletes who competed against William and Mary defensive tackle Sean Lissemore at Dumont High in Dumont, N.J., didn't always have to imagine. Lissemore, a linebacker on his high school team, a wrestler and, yes, a shot putter, also ran the 100 and 200 meters, with his best time of 11.2 seconds in the 100 mere slivers from his school's record of 10.9."
- Vrentas, Jenny. "NY Giants putting trust in strength and conditioning coach Jerry Palmieri for quick turnaround against Denver Broncos", The Star-Ledger, November 24, 2009. Accessed November 29, 2017. "But if there's a person Giants coach Tom Coughlin trusts to have his team physically ready, it's Palmieri, who grew up in Dumont and has been with Coughlin at every coaching stop since Boston College in 1993.... He was 'just a guy' on the Dumont High School football team, but the players want to hear stories from the ring — like how his eye was gushing blood coming out of a clench in that 1979 Golden Gloves fight."