Ocean Township High School

Ocean Township High School (OTHS) is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in the Oakhurst section of Ocean Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, operating as the lone secondary school the Ocean Township School District. OTHS serves residents of all neighborhoods within Ocean Township, including Oakhurst, Wanamassa, Wayside and West Allenhurst.[4]

Ocean Township High School
Address
550 West Park Avenue

Ocean Township
,
Monmouth County
,
New Jersey
07755

United States
Coordinates40.268294°N 74.030285°W / 40.268294; -74.030285
Information
TypePublic high school
Established1965
School districtOcean Township School District
NCES School ID3412060[1]
PrincipalDawn Kaszuba
Faculty108.6 FTEs[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,070 (as of 2018–19)[1]
Student to teacher ratio9.9:1[1]
Color(s)  Red
  white and
  royal blue[2]
Athletics conferenceShore Conference[3]
Team nameSpartans[2]
Websiteocean.k12.nj.us/high_school/

As of the 2018–19 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,070 students and 108.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.9:1. There were 247 students (23.1% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 47 (4.4% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]

As of the 2013-14 school year there were 18 Advanced Placement (AP) courses offered.[5] In conjunction with Monmouth University, Ocean Township High School offers a dual credit program called MODEL to AP students. The school's average graduation rate for the past two years is 99% and 97% of students go on to post secondary education.

The school's Family and Consumer Science kitchens, for culinary instruction, were remodeled in 2005. Over 93% of Ocean's teachers are at or above intermediate skill levels in the use of technology.

History

The school opened in 1965, serving grades 7-11. The Ocean Township seniors completed their final year at Asbury Park High School, which all Ocean Township public school students attended prior to the construction of OTHS. Thus OTHS graduated its first class in 1967. Gradually, the 7th and 8th grade students were moved to other schools. Beginning in the 1975-76 school year, with the opening of the then 7-9 Ocean Township Intermediate School, the school only served 10-12, with the freshman class returning to OTHS for the 1978-79 school year.

At the end of the 2016-17 school year, Loch Arbour left the Ocean Township district after getting approval from the New Jersey Department of Education and following the overwhelming passage of a referendum. With 14 public school students and school property taxes of $2 million, Loch Arbour had been paying an average of $143,000 per pupil,[6] while Ocean Township taxpayers only paid approximately $16,000 per pupil.[6] The Loch Arbour cost per student was significantly reduced under new sending/receiving relationships established with the West Long Branch Public Schools for PreK-8 and Shore Regional High School for 9-12, under which Loch Arbour pays tuition to each district based on the number of students.[7] Ocean Township opposed the changes as the subsidy funded approximately 20 staff positions.[6]

Awards, recognition and rankings

In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post, the school was ranked 55th in New Jersey and 1,637th nationwide.[8] In Newsweek's May 22, 2007 issue, ranking the country's top high schools, Ocean Township High School was listed in 838th place, the 21st-highest ranked school in New Jersey.[9]

In its 2013 report on "America's Best High Schools", The Daily Beast ranked the school 856th in the nation among participating public high schools and 64th among schools in New Jersey.[10]

The school was the 84th-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 95th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 64th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[12] The magazine ranked the school 97th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[13] The school was ranked 69th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[14] Schooldigger.com ranked the school tied for 148th out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (a decrease of 31 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (83.8%) and language arts literacy (93.7%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[15]

Extracurricular activities

The school's extra-curricular programs provide invaluable learning experiences and life-lessons for students. A heavy emphasis on sportsmanship and scholarship is a primary focus at OTHS with students and teachers working together to further student's interest. Many clubs also provide public service projects.

Many clubs and sports are offered to students, allowing them to look further into what interests them most.

Athletics

The Ocean Township High School Spartans[2] compete in Division B North of the Shore Conference, an athletic conference comprised of private and public high schools in Monmouth and Ocean counties along the Jersey Shore.[3][16] The conference operates under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[17] With 820 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.[18] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group III South for football for 2018–2020.[19]

The school participates as the host school / lead agency in a joint ice hockey team with Monmouth Regional High School and Shore Regional High School. The co-op program operates under agreements scheduled to expire at the end of the 2023–24 school year.[20]

The field hockey team won the Central Jersey Group III state sectional championship in 1980, 1985, 1997 and 2001.[21]

The 1980 boys' tennis team won the Group III state championship, defeating Moorestown High School 3​1⁄2-1​1⁄2 and Millburn High School 4-1.[22][23]

The 1985 baseball team finished the season with a 24-6 record after defeating Montville Township High School in the championship game by a score of 3-0 to win the Group III state title in a game played at Princeton University.[24][25][26]

The girls cross country running team won the Group III state championship in 1992 and 1993.[27]

The football team won the Central Jersey Group III state sectional championships in 1993, 2000 and 2005.[28] After losing all four of its previous state finals, the 1993 team finished the season with an 11-0 record after winning the Central Jersey Group III state sectional title in front of more than 6,000 spectators with a 20-12 victory against a Long Branch High School team that came undefeated into the championship game.[29] As the tournament's seventh seed, Ocean Township High School defeated Nottingham High School (Hamilton High School North) by a score of 41-20 in the 2005 Central Jersey Group III sectional final.[30]

The softball team won the Group III state title in 1993, defeating Ramsey High School by a score of 5-3 in the championship game to finish the season with a record of 25-4.[31][32]

The boys' soccer team won the Group III state championship in 1996 (defeating Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in the tournament final) and 2018 (vs. Millburn High School).[33] The 1996 team finished the season with a 16-6 record after defeating Scotch Plains-Fanwood by a score of 2-0 in the Group III championship game.[34] In 2018, the team won the Shore Conference Tournament with a 1-0 overtime win against Christian Brothers Academy and won the program's second Group III title by a score of 1-0 against Millburn in the championship game to finish the season 21-3-1.[34][35]

The wrestling team won the Central Jersey Group III state sectional championship 2004-2008, 2012, 2019 and 2020.[36]

The boys' bowling team won the Group II state championship in 2011.[37]

Administration

The school's principal is Dawn Kaszuba. Her core administration team includes two assistant principals.[38]

Notable alumni

References
  1. School data for Ocean Township High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.
  2. Ocean Township High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  3. Shore Conference Realignment for 2018-2019 and 2019-2020, Shore Conference. Accessed November 15, 2020.
  4. Spoto, MaryAnn. "N.J. appeals court sides with Ocean Twp. against Loch Arbour in school funding dispute", The Star-Ledger, July 14, 2011. Accessed October 17, 2011.
  5. Ocean Township High School 2013-14 School Performance Report, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 28, 2014."
  6. Radel, Dan. "State OKs Loch Arbour's request to leave Ocean's schools", Asbury Park Press, January 9, 2017. Accessed September 15, 2020. "The state's acting Commissioner of Education Kimberly Harrington agreed to allow the village to leave Ocean schools. Fernicola said they want to leave because of the significant difference in school taxes for his town's students. He said Loch Arbour paid over $2 million last year to send 16 students to Ocean schools. That comes out to about $125,000 per pupil. He said Ocean taxpayers only pay $16,000 per pupil."
  7. Radel, Dan. "Loch Arbour votes to leave Ocean Twp. schools", Asbury Park Press, April 4, 2017. Accessed August 1, 2018. "Village voters have decided by an overwhelming margin to leave the Ocean Township School District and forge a (cheaper) different path. The tally Tuesday was 93 in favor to 4 opposed, according to the unofficial results from the Office of the Monmouth County Clerk.... The village's per-pupil education cost for Ocean Township now totals about $143,000, according to Mayor Paul Fernicola. He said the village will instead send students to West Long Branch and Shore Regional High School on a per-pupil tuition rate, not yet determined, that is substantially less than the current tab."
  8. Mathews, Jay. "The High School Challenge 2011: Ocean Township High School", The Washington Post. Accessed September 10, 2011.
  9. "The Top of the Class: The complete list of the 1,200 top U.S. schools" Archived May 23, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Newsweek, May 22, 2007. Accessed May 24, 2007.
  10. Streib, Lauren. "America's Best High Schools" Archived July 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, The Daily Beast, May 6, 2013. Accessed May 9, 2013.
  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 December 2, 2012.
  13. Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed April 6, 2011.
  14. "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
  15. New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2010-2011, Schooldigger.com. Accessed March 5, 2012.
  16. Member Schools, Shore Conference. Accessed November 15, 2020.
  17. League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  18. NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  19. NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2018–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, finalized August 2019. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  20. NJSIAA Winter Cooperative Sports Programs, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
  21. History of NJSIAA Field Hockey Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  22. History of Boys' Team Tennis Championship Tournament, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  23. "Ocean net team takes Group III championship", Asbury Park Press, May 25, 1980. Accessed January 3, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "The Ocean Township High School tennis team whipped Moorestown, 3 1/2-1 1/2, and Millburn, 4-1 yesterday to capture its first NJSIAA Group III championship at Princeton University. 'This was a tremendous team victory,' said Ocean coach Stan Friedman, whose unbeaten team raised its record to 23-0."
  24. NJSIAA Baseball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  25. "Flannelly a 'natural' at Ocean", Asbury Park Press, June 18, 1985. Accessed December 8, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "He's Tim Flannelly, freshman third baseman for the Group III state championship Ocean Township High School baseball team.... 'I had known about him since he played in Little League,' said Ocean coach Dave Enderly Saturday afternoon at Princeton University as behind him Flannelly and other members of the Ocean baseball team celebrated their title-clinching 3-0 victory over Montville."
  26. Edelson, Stephen. "Ocean captures Group III title", Asbury Park Press, June 16, 1985. Accessed December 24, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "They were treading where no Spartan had ever gone before, this 1985 edition of the Ocean Township baseball squad, when they stepped onto Princeton University's Strubing Field for yesterday's NJSIAA Group III final.... It was a familiar position for the Spartans (24-6), riding the right arm of senior pitcher Ted Feindt to roll past the Mustangs, 3-0, in Feindt's third NJSIAA tournament victory and his second shutout."
  27. NJSIAA Girls Cross Country State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  28. NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  29. Graham, Tony. "Ocean's title wave; Big Red Spartans wear a state crown; Record crowd of 6,200 sees Ocean outlast Long Branch In battle of unbeaten teams.", Asbury Park Press', December 5, 1993. Accessed January 28, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Ending the season the way it began, with Conti the nucleus of Ocean's multi-dimensional attack, the Big Red Spartans stopped Long Branch 20-12 in yesterday's New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Central Jersey Group III championship battle of the unbeatens. 'It's the best feeling in the world,' Eddie Conti said after Ocean (11-0) won its first sectional football crown before an estimated record crowd of 6,200 at Carelli field.... Under his father, coach George Conti, Ocean was participating in the state playoffs for the eighth time in 11 years but had been 0-4 in championship games."
  30. 2005 Football - Central, Group III, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 18, 2011.
  31. NJSIAA Softball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  32. LogIudice, Daniel. "NJ softball: Greatest Jersey Shore high school teams ever", Asbury Park Press, May 28, 2020. Accessed December 9, 2020. "1993 Ocean Township (25-4) Behind a strong year by ace pitcher Nicole Siniscalco, Ocean Township won its first and only group championship with a 5-3 victory over Ramsey in the Group III championship game."
  33. NJSIAA History of Boys Soccer, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  34. LoGiudice, Daniel. "NJ boys soccer: 30 greatest Jersey Shore teams ever", Asbury Park Press, June 16, 2020. Accessed December 8, 2020. "1996 Ocean Township (16-6) - Ocean Township won its first ever group title when it upset defending-champion Scotch Plains-Fanwood, winners of five group finals, 2-0 in the Group III final."
  35. LoGiudice, Daniel. "NJ boys soccer: Ocean Township wins wild state final for second ever title", Asbury Park Press, November 18, 2018. Accessed December 9, 2020. "Their hearts might have skipped a beat, or maybe several, but the Spartans held on for a 1-0 victory over the Millers in the Group III final on Saturday at Kean University.... The Spartans (21-3-1) beat CBA in a thrilling overtime battle in this year’s SCT final, they edged Colts Neck in the Central Group III final this fall, and now they have a state title."
  36. NJSIAA Wrestling Team Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  37. History of NJSIAA Boys Bowling Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  38. Contact Us, Ocean Township High School. Accessed April 5, 2020.
  39. "Keep An Eye On: Michelle Davidson", Asbury Park Press, April 12, 1989. Accessed January 19, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Grade: Senior, Ocean Township High School."
  40. USF2000 – Summer Vacation Over for Hindman, Trent Hindman, August 12, 2012. Accessed October 25, 2015. "While Trent Hindman's senior year at Ocean Township High School doesn't begin until September 5th, his open-wheel education picks up after a six-week break this weekend at Mid-Ohio Sport Car Course, for Round 6 and 7 of the 2012 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda."
  41. Staff. "Shore's Robert Legato is special-effects wizard behind 'Hugo'", Asbury Park Press, February 26, 2012. Accessed March 5, 2012. "Many decades later, after growing up in Asbury Park, graduating from Ocean Township High School and studying film in Santa Barbara, Calif., Legato has become the magician."
  42. Liebermann, Oren. The Insulin Express: One Backpack, Five Continents, and the Diabetes Diagnosis That Changed Everything, p. 26. Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., 2017. ISBN 9781510718494. Accessed October 29, 2018. "I never went to a single Ocean Township High School Spartans game and I never paid any attention to the NHL, MLB, NASCAR, MLS, NFL, or any other league, with the recent exception of the NBA."
  43. Staff. "Susan Littenberg Nominated for Prestigious ACE Film Award", Atlantic Highlands Herald, January 30, 2011. Accessed October 17, 2011. "Highly acclaimed Hollywood film editor Susan Littenberg, who graduated from Ocean Township High School in 1985, has been nominated for an American Cinema Editors (ACE) Eddie Award, given to recognize excellence in film editing."
  44. "Ocean Township Students Gain Diplomas, Honors", Asbury Park Press, June 18, 1976, page B2. Accessed January 28, 2018.
  45. "Real World (cont.)", Asbury Park Press, June 14, 1992. Accessed October 30, 2018. "Nies talked about experimenting with drugs and dropping out of high school.... He was on the front page of the Asbury Park Press in 1990 after he was arrested and charged with participating in a football betting operation at Ocean Township High School. A few months later he was arrested again and charged with selling anabolic steroids at the school."
  46. Anderson, Teja. "People On The Move - John Nies" Archived October 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, LivingMedia, June 27, 2010. Accessed August 14, 2012. "John Nies grew up in Ocean Township with his two sisters Kim and Tara and younger brother Eric (yes, the guy from MTV's The Real World), his parents, mother Anna May, a pre-school teacher and father Jack who was one of the longest running referees in NBA history. John Attended Ocean Township High School after his experiences in private school were not so pleasant. 'I went to RBC for two semesters and I got abused and hazed on the bus.'"
  47. "3-star Ocean Township QB Kenny Pickett talks re-opening his recruitment", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 23, 2016, updated August 23, 2019. Accessed September 24, 2020. "Last Monday, Ocean Township (Oakhurst, N.J.) junior quarterback Kenny Pickett decommitted from the Temple Owls, re-opening his recruitment, as he garnered new opportunities following a string of dominant camp performances this spring."
  48. Radel, Dan. "Waters origins discovered by Ocean Twp. track star", Asbury Park Press, December 24, 2014. Accessed November 16, 2020. "As a pole vault star at Ocean Township High School, Adam Sarafian was used to setting records."
  49. Longsdorf, Amy. "'Dark Knight' producer was 'just a kid from Jersey'", Courier-Post, January 26, 2009. Accessed June 1, 2011. "By the time Uslan graduated from Ocean Township High School in 1969, he had amassed more than 30,000 books..."
  50. Staff. Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual, 1988, p. 245. Accessed September 3, 2016.
  51. Phil Villapiano Archived October 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, database Football. Accessed December 15, 2007.
  52. Neglia, Ashley V. "Mixing Media", New Jersey Monthly, June 9, 2008. Accessed July 22, 2008.
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