Voorhees High School

Voorhees High School is a four-year public high school located in Lebanon Township, New Jersey, named for Foster McGowan Voorhees, the 30th Governor of New Jersey. It is one of two high schools in the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades from six municipalities in northern Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1977.[4]

Voorhees High School
Address
256 High Bridge-Califon Road

Glen Gardner, New Jersey
,
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
,
New Jersey
08826

United States
Coordinates40.696585°N 74.886744°W / 40.696585; -74.886744
Information
TypePublic high school
Established1975[1]
School districtNorth Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District
NCES School ID3411610[2]
PrincipalRonald Peterson
Faculty83.1 FTEs[2]
Grades9-12
Enrollment982 (as of 2018–19)[2]
Student to teacher ratio11.8:1[2]
Color(s)  Cardinal and
  gold[3]
Athletics conferenceSkyland Conference
Team nameVikings[3]
AccreditationMiddle States Association of Colleges and Schools[4]
Websitewww.nhvweb.net/VHS

Students come from the sending districts of Califon, Glen Gardner, Hampton Borough, High Bridge, Lebanon Township and Tewksbury.[5]

As of the 2018–19 school year, the school had an enrollment of 982 students and 83.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.8:1. There were 31 students (3.2% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 9 (0.9% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[2]

Awards, recognition and rankings

In 2015, Voorhees High School was one of 15 schools in New Jersey, and one of nine public schools, recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in the exemplary high performing category by the United States Department of Education.[6][7]

In its listing of "America's Best High Schools 2016", the school was ranked 233rd out of 500 best high schools in the country; it was ranked 38th among all high schools in New Jersey and 21st among the state's non-magnet schools.[8]

In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post, the school was ranked 24th in New Jersey and 830th nationwide.[9] In Newsweek's May 22, 2007, issue, ranking the country's top high schools, Voorhees High School was listed in 1118th place, the 36th-highest ranked school in New Jersey.[10]

The school was the 43rd-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 48th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 59th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[12] The magazine ranked the school 41st in 2008 out of 316 schools.[13] The school was ranked 30th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state.[14]

Schooldigger.com ranked the school tied for 83rd out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (a decrease of 40 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (88.1%) and language arts literacy (97.0%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[15]

The school was the Consumer Bowl 2006 and 2007 state champion, a program that evaluates the skills of students as informed consumers.[16]

Athletics

Voorhees High School Vikings[3] compete in the Skyland Conference, which is composed of public and parochial high schools in Hunterdon County, Somerset County and Warren County in west central New Jersey. The conference operates under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[17] With 778 students in grades 10–12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2015–16 school year as North II, Group III for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 778 to 1,062 students in that grade range.[18] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group III North for football for 2018–2020.[19]

The district approved a plan in 2010 for construction of an $850,000 artificial turf field to be mainly be used for football. Voorhees' football team was unable to use its grass field between 2008 and 2009 when glass shards and other debris was found in the turf.[20]

The wrestling team won the Central Jersey Group II state sectional championship in 1981–1983, 1995, 1996 and 1998; the Central Jersey Group III title in 1983, 1985-1989 and 1991; the North Jersey II Group II title in 2004 and 2013; and the North Jersey II Group III title in 2015 and 2018. The team won the state Group II title in 1982 and 1995, and the Group III title in 1985 and 1987. The program's 15 sectional titles are the seventh-most of any public high school in the state.[21]

The boys' cross country team won the Group II state championship in 1981-1983, 2015 and 2016.[22] The team won the 2015 Group II state championship, the team's first state title since 1983.[23]

The 1984 softball team won the Group III state championship in 1984, defeating Ramsey High School by a score of 3-0 on a three-run home run in the fourth inning of the tournament final at Mercer County Park.[24][25] NJ.com / The Star-Ledger ranked Voorhees as their number-one softball team in the state in 1984.[26] The team won the 1998 Central Jersey Group II state sectional championship, defeating Raritan High School by a score of 1–0 in the first round and Manasquan High School by 4–1 in the semifinals, before defeating Carteret High School by a score of 8–2 in the tournament final. They lost 1–0 to a nationally ranked Audubon High School team in extra innings on a controversial call at the plate to end their playoff run in the Group II championship.

The softball team won the Group III state championship in 1984 against Ramsey High School.[27]

The field hockey team won the Central Jersey Group II state sectional championship in 1993 and 1996, won the North II Group II title in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2016, and won the North II Group II title in 2006.[28] The field hockey team won the 2002 North II, Group II sectional championship, edging Madison High School 3–2 in the final game.[29] The 2006 team won the North II, Group III tournament with a 1–0 win over Ocean Township High School.[30]

The 1995 Voorhees football team won the Central Jersey Group II state championship.[31] Voorhees High School's football team competes in an annual Milk Can Game against rival North Hunterdon High School. After the conclusion of the game, a golden milk can is awarded to the winner, which earns bragging rights and ownership of the can until the next year's game. The 36th annual Milk Can Game was played in November 2011, with Voorhees winning at home by a score of 13–7 to end a five-year streak by North Hunterdon.[32] With a 14–7 win in 2018, North Hunterdon had won seven consecutive games in the series and holds an overall record of 30–12–1 in the 43 Milk Can games played between the two schools.[33] NJ.com called the Milk Can "maybe the most famous trophy in New Jersey football" and listed the rivalry in the fifth spot on their 2007 list "Ranking the 31 fiercest rivalries in N.J. HS football".[34]

The girls cross country team won the Group III state title in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2006-2009, and won the Group II championship 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2017. The team's 11 group titles are the third-most of any school in the state.[35]The girls cross country team won the Meet of Champions in 1990, 2007, 2008 and 2012; the program's four state team titles are tied for third-most in the state.[36]

The girls track team won the Group III indoor track state title in 2001 and 2012.[37]

The girls' track team won the Group II indoor relay championship in 2001.[38]

The girls' basketball team won the 2000 Central, Group II title over Delaware Valley Regional High School, 62–42.[39]

The boys fencing team won the overall state championship in 1986, 1994 and 2005.[40] The team won in 2005 when they defeated Ramapo High School 14–13 in the tournament final.[41]

The girls fencing team won the overall state championship in 1996 and was epee team winner in 2004 and 2010.[42]

Notable alumni

See also

References
  1. North Hunterdon Regional High School NHRHS Alumni Class Reunion, North Hunterdon Regional High School. Accessed April 18, 2012. "In 1975, Voorhees High School was founded as a four-year public high school located in Glen Gardner Borough."
  2. School data for Voorhees High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.
  3. Voorhees High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  4. Voorhees High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed March 17, 2020.
  5. Voorhees High School 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 3, 2016. "Voorhees High School has consistently ranked among the top high schools in New Jersey and was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2015. With an enrollment of 1,095 students in grades 9-12, the school serves the communities of Califon, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Lebanon Township, and Tewksbury Township."
  6. 2015 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Private, National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Accessed November 14, 2016.
  7. Mueller, Mark. "Which N.J. schools were named National Blue Ribbon schools?", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 29, 2015. Accessed November 14, 2016. "Fifteen New Jersey schools have been recognized by the federal government as National Blue Ribbon Schools, a designation that celebrates excellence in academics or progress in closing the achievement gap among groups of students.... Each of the 15 New Jersey schools was chosen for the 'exemplary high performing' category, which weighs state or national tests, high school graduation rates and the performance of subgroups of students, such as those who are economically disadvantaged."
  8. Staff. "America's Best High Schools 2016", Newsweek. Accessed November 11, 2016.
  9. Mathews, Jay. "The High School Challenge 2011: Voorhees High School", The Washington Post. Accessed August 2, 2011.
  10. "The Top of the Class: The complete list of the 1,200 top U.S. schools", Newsweek, May 22, 2007. Accessed May 24, 2007.
  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 September 7, 2012.
  13. Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed February 11, 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 1, 2012.
  16. Voorhees High School Wins 2007 State Consumer Bowl Competition, New Jersey Attorney General press release dated May 22, 2007. Accessed February 27, 2008. "Voorhees High School in Glen Gardner, Hunterdon County, is the State Champion in the 11th Annual New Jersey Consumer Bowl, a quiz show-style competition that encourages students to become well-informed consumers."
  17. League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  18. General Public School Classifications 2015-2016, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, as of July 8, 2014. Accessed October 7, 2014.
  19. NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2018–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, finalized August 2019. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  20. Robbins, Gene. "Board endorses an $850,000 artificial turf field at Voorhees High School", Hunterdon County Democrat, January 15, 2010. Accessed January 26, 2010. "In 2008, Voorhees High School had to stop using its football field in mid-season when glass, pottery and pipe shards and other debris were found in the turf, presumably from topsoil used in resodding the field that summer."
  21. NJSIAA Wrestling Team Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2020.
  22. NJSIAA Boys Cross Country State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  23. Lambert, Jim. "Boys Cross-Country: Recap of the Group 2 Championship race", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 14, 2015. Accessed December 14, 2015. "Voorhees avenged its loss last year by winning its first state title since 1983 and Joe Dragon became the first boys from High Point to win a state XC title in Saturday's Group 2 race at Holmdel Park."
  24. History of the NJSIAA Softball Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2020.
  25. Kuzbyt, Tom. "Three-run homer beats Ramsey", The Record, June 10, 1984. Accessed January 4, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "One swing of the bat shattered Ramsey High School's hopes of a New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association Group 3 softball championship yesterday at Mercer County Park. With two outs, two runners on, and a 2-0 count on winning pitcher Michele Smith in the fourth inning, Ramsey sophomore Cathy Kaminski threw a pitch down the middle and Smith smacked it for a three-run homer to give Voorhees a 3-1 win and the state title."
  26. "Softball: Every No. 1 team in the state from 1979 to 2015", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 21, 2015, updated August 24, 2019. Accessed January 4, 2021. "Following are the teams that finished as the NJ.com No. 1 softball team in the state with year and record.... 1984: Voorhees (24-1)"
  27. NJSIAA Softball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2020.
  28. History of NJSIAA Field Hockey Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  29. 2002 Field Hockey Tournament - North II, Group II, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 14, 2007.
  30. 2006 Field Hockey Tournament - North II, Group III, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 14, 2007.
  31. NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  32. Loigu, Andy. "Voorhees High School upsets North Hunterdon in Milk Can Game", Lehigh Valley Live, November 19, 2011. Accessed November 19, 2011. "The seniors for Voorhees High School walked off Rich Degnan Field as winners of The Milk Can for the first time in their rivalry game against North Hunterdon on Friday evening after a 13–7 win over North Hunterdon. However, North Hunterdon has won the can for the last five years."
  33. Frezza, Harry. "NJ football: North Hunterdon continues dominance in Milk Can game", Courier News, October 27, 2018. Accessed February 17, 2019. "The 43rd edition of the Milk Can game between North Hunterdon and Voorhees on Friday night promised to be extremely tight.... A pick six on the first play of the night and a game-turning punt return by senior birthday boy Griffin Honthy were vital in the Lions’ 14-7 triumph at Singley Field. North Hunterdon's lead in the series is 30-12-1 after beating the Vikings (4-5) for the seventh straight time."
  34. Stypulkoski, Matt. "Ranking the 31 fiercest rivalries in N.J. HS football", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 27, 2017, updated May 15, 2019. Accessed December 1, 2020. "5-North Hunterdon vs. Voorhees... This rivalry was born in 1975 when Voorhees High School opened, populated by six of North Hunterdon's 12 districts.... The winner of the Milk Can Game gets bragging rights and maybe the most famous trophy in New Jersey football. All-time series: North Hunterdon leads 27-12-1"
  35. NJSIAA Girls Cross Country State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  36. NJSIAA Girls Cross-Country Meet Of Champions Winners (1972-2019), New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  37. NJSIAA Indoor Group Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2020.
  38. History of the NJSIAA Indoor Relay Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2020.
  39. Public Sectionals - Central, Group II, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 14, 2007.
  40. NJSIAA History of Boys Fencing Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2020.
  41. 2005 Fencing - Boys Fencing, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 14, 2007.
  42. NJSIAA History of Girls Fencing Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2020.
  43. Laniawe, Vanessa. "1999 Voorhees valedictorian is now a cable TV star", Hunterdon Review, January 27, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2011. "Alison Haislip, 29-year-old gamer, tech-lover, actress, expert zombie-slayer and card-carrying member of The Lord of the Rings fan club, is best known for her appearances on G4TV, a national cable station based in Los Angeles. She often co-hosts G4's Attack of the Show, available on Comcast. The Tewksbury native was valedictorian of Voorhees High School's class of 1999."
  44. Brett 'gank' Jungblut Professional Poker Player Bio, Gankowns.com. Accessed February 11, 2011.
  45. Hall of Fame Archived May 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed August 26, 2008.
  46. Frezza, Harry Jr. "Cloud has gold", Courier News (New Jersey), October 2, 2000. Accessed February 11, 2011. "Smith, one of the key players on the U.S. gold-medal-winning Olympic softball team in Sydney, Australia, still is the girl from Califon, the 1985 graduate of Voorhees High School in Lebanon Township."
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