Hackensack High School
Encyclopedia
Hackensack High School is a four-year comprehensive
public high school
located in Hackensack
, New Jersey
, United States, operating as part of the Hackensack Public Schools
. Hackensack High School serves students from the Bergen County, New Jersey
communities of Hackensack, South Hackensack
, Maywood
, and Rochelle Park
.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,711 students and 122 classroom teachers (on an FTE
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.02.
The school was the 198th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 322 schools statewide, in New Jersey Monthly
magazine's September 2010 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 184th in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 203rd in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.
, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
. Hackensack had been a founding member of the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League
. Hackensack High and Ridgewood High School
are the only founding members of the NNJIL to remain in the league, though Hackensack was the only school to remain continuously in the league. Since the 1912 visit of Halley's Comet, Hackensack's athletic teams have been known as the Comets ("Colts" before 1912).
On February 6, 1925, the Hackensack Comets Boys Basketball team won 39-35 against the Passaic High School
, ending that school's 159-game winning streak. The ball commemorating this feat still remains in the trophy case in the gym named for that team's captain, Howard Bollerman, Sr. (later principal of Hackensack High School).
The football team won the North I Group IV state sectional championships in 1992-1996, 1999 and 2000. The HHS homecoming
football
game has been held annually on Thanksgiving Day
against rival Teaneck High School
since 1931, alternating each year with each school as host.
Vince Lombardi
was offered $6,000 to coach football at Hackensack High School, but couldn't get out of his contract with neighboring St. Cecilia's in Englewood, New Jersey
. Hackensack turned to Tom DellaTorre to coach the football team, he responded by winning 13 championships. DellaTorre later served as the schools athletic director. Upon his retirement in the early 1980s the football field was renamed "Tom DellaTorre Athletic Field".
The school won a share of the 2010 Group IV outdoor track and field title after East Brunswick High School
tied Hackensack in the final event, marking the program's first state title since 1971, when they shared a Group IV title after a tie with Henry Snyder High School
.
of Hackensack High School was written by W. Demarest and B. Pratt of the Class of 1918. It is to the tune of the alma mater of New York University
, "Palisades" (used by permission).
"OLD HACKENSACK"
Comprehensive high school
Comprehensive high schools are the most common form of public high schools in the United States and are meant to serve the needs of all students, as compared to the common practice in other nations in which examinations are used to sort students into different high schools for different populations...
public high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in Hackensack
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States, operating as part of the Hackensack Public Schools
Hackensack Public Schools
The Hackensack Public Schools are a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade from the City of Hackensack, in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States....
. Hackensack High School serves students from the Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
communities of Hackensack, South Hackensack
South Hackensack, New Jersey
South Hackensack Township is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 2,378....
, Maywood
Maywood, New Jersey
Maywood is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 9,555.Maywood was incorporated as a borough on June 29, 1894, from portions of Midland Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day, at the height of the...
, and Rochelle Park
Rochelle Park, New Jersey
Rochelle Park is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 5,530....
.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,711 students and 122 classroom teachers (on an FTE
Full-time equivalent
Full-time equivalent , is a unit to measure employed persons or students in a way that makes them comparable although they may work or study a different number of hours per week. FTE is often used to measure a worker's involvement in a project, or to track cost reductions in an organization...
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.02.
The school was the 198th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 322 schools statewide, in New Jersey Monthly
New Jersey Monthly
New Jersey Monthly is a monthly glossy publication featuring issues of possible interest to residents of the United States state of New Jersey...
magazine's September 2010 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 184th in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 203rd in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.
History
Hackensack High School was founded in 1894 and graduated its first class on February 1, 1898. The cornerstone for its present location at First and Beech Streets in Hackensack was laid on December 2, 1916. The building was dedicated in 1918. By 1920, twenty-two Bergen County towns sent their students to Hackensack High School. New wings were built in the 50's. The 1966 expansion of Hackensack High School encompassed neighboring Beech Street School and extended a two-story bridge over First Street and in 1967 the Beech Street elementary school became the "east wing" of the high school as it stands today.Sports
The Hackensack High School Comets now compete in the Big North ConferenceBig North Conference
The Big North Conference is a high school athletic conference in New Jersey. It is one of six North Jersey "super athletic conferences" created by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association in 2009...
, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association is an association of hundreds of New Jersey high schools that regulates high school athletics and holds tournaments and crowns champions in high school sports.-State championships:...
. Hackensack had been a founding member of the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League
Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League
The Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League, abbreviated NNJIL, was a former athletic conference located in Bergen County, Passaic County and Essex County, New Jersey...
. Hackensack High and Ridgewood High School
Ridgewood High School (New Jersey)
Ridgewood High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students from Ridgewood, in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Ridgewood Public Schools....
are the only founding members of the NNJIL to remain in the league, though Hackensack was the only school to remain continuously in the league. Since the 1912 visit of Halley's Comet, Hackensack's athletic teams have been known as the Comets ("Colts" before 1912).
On February 6, 1925, the Hackensack Comets Boys Basketball team won 39-35 against the Passaic High School
Passaic High School
Passaic High School is a four-year community public high school, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades from Passaic, in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Passaic City School District...
, ending that school's 159-game winning streak. The ball commemorating this feat still remains in the trophy case in the gym named for that team's captain, Howard Bollerman, Sr. (later principal of Hackensack High School).
The football team won the North I Group IV state sectional championships in 1992-1996, 1999 and 2000. The HHS homecoming
Homecoming
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...
football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
game has been held annually on Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
against rival Teaneck High School
Teaneck High School
Teaneck High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school, which is part of the Teaneck Public Schools district in Teaneck, New Jersey, United States...
since 1931, alternating each year with each school as host.
Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
was offered $6,000 to coach football at Hackensack High School, but couldn't get out of his contract with neighboring St. Cecilia's in Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood is a city located in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 27,147.Englewood was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township and the remaining portions of...
. Hackensack turned to Tom DellaTorre to coach the football team, he responded by winning 13 championships. DellaTorre later served as the schools athletic director. Upon his retirement in the early 1980s the football field was renamed "Tom DellaTorre Athletic Field".
The school won a share of the 2010 Group IV outdoor track and field title after East Brunswick High School
East Brunswick High School
East Brunswick High School is a comprehensive public high school serving students in grades 10 through 12 in East Brunswick Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, operating as part of East Brunswick Public Schools. The school was recognized by the Blue Ribbon Schools Program in the 1990-91...
tied Hackensack in the final event, marking the program's first state title since 1971, when they shared a Group IV title after a tie with Henry Snyder High School
Henry Snyder High School
Henry Snyder High School is a four-year performing arts public high school located in the Greenville section of Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Jersey City Public Schools...
.
School song
The alma materAlma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
of Hackensack High School was written by W. Demarest and B. Pratt of the Class of 1918. It is to the tune of the alma mater of New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, "Palisades" (used by permission).
"OLD HACKENSACK"
- Oh Hackensack, dear Alma Mater,
- For thee we raise the gold and blue,
- And strive to lift thy banner higher
- In each and everything we do.
- And when we bring up to thy altar
- Trophies from football, field, and track,
- We'll mingle many hearts and voices
- in praise of Hackensack.
- But high school friendships all must sever
- And fade as does the dying day,
- And comrades all must come to parting
- As out in life we wend our way.
- Whatever fate may hold in secret
- May we turn our memories back,
- Renew once more our old devotion
- For thee, dear Hackensack.
Administration
Core members of the school's administration are:- James Montesano, Principal
- Celso King, Assistant Principal, Grade 11
- Patricia Aquino, Assistant Principal, Grade 10
- Anibal Galiana, Assistant Principal, Grade 11
- Mark Johnson, Assistant Principal, Grade 12
- Gordon Whiting, Assistant Principal for HASS and Student Activities
Notable alumni
- Hector Luis BustamanteHector Luis Bustamante-Early life:He was born Héctor Luis Bustamante Durango in Medellín, Colombia to Dagoberto Bustamante and Aracelly Durango. Bustamante and his family moved to the United States when he was 12. Bustamante was an allumni of the 1989 Governor's School of New Jersey as an art scholar...
(b. 1972, Class of 1990), actor. - Chet ForteChet ForteFulvio Chester "Chet" Forte, Jr. was an American television director and sports radio talk show host.-Early life:...
(1935–1996, Class of 1953), television sports pioneer. - Mike FratelloMike FratelloMichael Robert "Mike" Fratello is an American color analyst and a professional basketball coach. He previously coached the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA, and is currently the head coach of the Ukraine national basketball team.-Background:Fratello was born in...
(born 1947, Class of 1965), former NBA coach who starred at Hackensack High School as a student and who returned for his first job as an assistant coach after graduating from college. - Matt Golombek (b. 1954, Class of 1972), Principal Scientist at the Jet Propulsion LaboratoryJet Propulsion LaboratoryJet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The facility is headquartered in the city of Pasadena on the border of La Cañada Flintridge and Pasadena...
; Pasadena, CA. Mars Exploration. - Chet HanulakChet HanulakChet Hanulak is a former professional American football player who played running back for four seasons for the Cleveland Browns....
(born 1933, Class of 1950), former Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
running back. - Jimmy HowesJimmy HowesJimmy Howes is a radio disc jockey and talk show host, stand-up comic. New York City On-Air Radio Host under dozens of different synonyms. Morning Show Host on Jukebox Radio, New York City, Mid-Day host with WVNJ, Program Director and a morning show host of WGHT...
(Class of 1979), radio morning show host, comedian, Marconi Award-winning program director. - Stan PitulaStan PitulaStanley Pitula, Jr. was an American professional baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, he appeared in 23 Major League Baseball games for the Cleveland Indians during the 1957 season...
(1931-1965), pitcher who played for the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. - Gene SaksGene SaksGene Saks is an American stage and film director.-Life and career:Saks was born in New York City, the son of Beatrix and Morris J. Saks...
(born 1921, Class of 1939), Broadway / Hollywood director. - Robert SchmertzRobert SchmertzRobert Schmertz was an American developer and sports franchise owner. He was owner or part-owner of two NBA franchises; the Portland Trail Blazers from 1970 through 1972, and the Boston Celtics from 1972 until 1975...
(1926-75), sports owner whose teams included the Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail BlazersThe Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
and the Boston CelticsBoston CelticsThe Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
. - Theodore TrautweinTheodore TrautweinTheodore Walter Trautwein was an American judge from New Jersey who presided over issues related to release of reporter's notes that arose from the 1978 murder trial of "Dr...
(1920–2000), judge who sentenced a reporter from The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
to 40 days in jail in the "Dr. X" trial of Mario JascalevichMario JascalevichThe "Dr. X" killings were a series of suspicious deaths, by curare poisoning, in 1966 at a Bergen County, New Jersey hospital. A newspaper investigation during the mid-1960s led to the indictment of an Argentina-born physician, Mario Enrique Jascalevich , in 1976...
. - Alex Vincent (born 1981 as Alex Vincent LoScialpo, Class of 1999), actor who played Andy Barclay in the film Child's Play and its sequel Child's Play 2Child's Play 2Child's Play 2 is a 1990 American horror film, the sequel to Child's Play, written by Don Mancini and directed by John Lafia . It was released on November 9, 1990. Veteran actors Gerrit Graham and Emmy and BAFTA-winner Jenny Agutter, star as Andy's foster parents...
. - Walter G. WinneWalter G. Winnealign="right"|Walter Griffen Winne was an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey...
(1889–1972, Class of 1906), U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey from 1922 to 1928.
External links
- Hackensack High School website
- Hackensack Public Schools
- Hackensack Public Schools, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...