Highland Regional High School
Encyclopedia
Highland Regional High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Blackwood
, New Jersey
. Its mascot is the Tartan
.
The school is part of the Black Horse Pike Regional School District
, a regional public high school
district serving students in grades 9 through 12 from three communities in Camden County
, New Jersey
. The sending municipalities are Bellmawr
, Gloucester Township
, and Runnemede
.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had 1,133 students and 66 classroom teachers (on an FTE
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 17.17.
The school was the 252nd-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 269th in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 224th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.
The school is accredited by the New Jersey Department of Education
.
, has 249 students enrolled whereas the largest one, Williamstown, has 1,343 students.
Historically Highland Regional's most successful athletic program has been the wrestling program, winning numerous state championships in a show of dominance that lasted until the late nineties. Ralph E. Ross was the head coach during this period of time and became the winningest high school wrestling coach in South Jersey history. The program produced one of the greatest wrestlers in New Jersey history, Joe Melchiore. Joe lost only three matches his entire career, all during his freshman year. He was a three-time state champion in high school and a four-time All-American selection in college. He also represented the United States of America in the World Championships where he placed 7th. Both Melchiore and Ross were inducted into the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1990. In the auxiliary gym of the high school, an entire wall is devoted to the past and present accomplishments of the wrestling team.
In 2004, the girls basketball team won the South, Group III state sectional championship, their first in Group III, with an 82-45 win against Woodrow Wilson High School
.
competitions since the turn of the millennium. The marching band won the Chapter One Championship in 2005, led by Jeff Dolan, the first such championship in the band's history. The band successfully defended their Chapter One Championship in 2006, and were the 2002 Atlantic Coast Invitational Champion in Group 1.
The school's indoor color guard was the Tournament Indoor Association Scholastic Novice champions in 2006 and the Scholastic Intermediate A champions in 2007.
The school's indoor drumline was the Tournament Indoor Association Scholastic Open champions in 2001 and the Scholastic A champions in 2005.
over separation of church and state
. The case was heard by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled against the school district in a 9-4 decision.
Blackwood, New Jersey
Blackwood is a census-designated place located within Gloucester Township, in Camden County, New Jersey. As of the 2000 United States Census, the section population was 4,692...
, 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...
. Its mascot is the Tartan
Tartan
Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland. Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns...
.
The school is part of the Black Horse Pike Regional School District
Black Horse Pike Regional School District
The Black Horse Pike Regional School District is a regional public high school district serving students in grades 9 through 12 from three communities in Camden County, New Jersey...
, a regional 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....
district serving students in grades 9 through 12 from three communities in Camden County
Camden County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census the population of Camden County was 60.28% Non-Hispanic white, 18.45% Non-Hispanic black, 1.12% Hispanic blacks, 0.17% Non-Hispanic Native American, 0.15% Hispanic Native Americans, 5.07% Non-Hispanic Asian, and 0.14% non-Hispanics reporting some other race...
, 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...
. The sending municipalities are Bellmawr
Bellmawr, New Jersey
-Local government:Bellmawr is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a mayor and a borough council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office...
, Gloucester Township
Gloucester Township, New Jersey
Gloucester Township is a Township in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 64,634...
, and Runnemede
Runnemede, New Jersey
Runnemede is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population is 8,533.Runnemede was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 23, 1926, from portions of the now-defunct Centre Township, based on the...
.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had 1,133 students and 66 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 17.17.
The school was the 252nd-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 269th in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 224th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.
The school is accredited by the New Jersey Department of Education
New Jersey Department of Education
The New Jersey Department of Education administers state and federal aid programs affecting more than 1.4 million public and non-public elementary and secondary school children in the state of New Jersey. The department is headquartered in Trenton.The Department is responsible for ensuring that...
.
Athletics
Highland Regional High School competes in the Tri-County Conference, which is composed of schools whose enrollments vary greatly for grades 9-12. The smallest one, Clayton High SchoolClayton Middle/High School
Clayton Middle/High School are a comprehensive community middle school / public high school that serves students in seventh through twelfth grades from Clayton, in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Clayton Public Schools....
, has 249 students enrolled whereas the largest one, Williamstown, has 1,343 students.
Historically Highland Regional's most successful athletic program has been the wrestling program, winning numerous state championships in a show of dominance that lasted until the late nineties. Ralph E. Ross was the head coach during this period of time and became the winningest high school wrestling coach in South Jersey history. The program produced one of the greatest wrestlers in New Jersey history, Joe Melchiore. Joe lost only three matches his entire career, all during his freshman year. He was a three-time state champion in high school and a four-time All-American selection in college. He also represented the United States of America in the World Championships where he placed 7th. Both Melchiore and Ross were inducted into the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1990. In the auxiliary gym of the high school, an entire wall is devoted to the past and present accomplishments of the wrestling team.
In 2004, the girls basketball team won the South, Group III state sectional championship, their first in Group III, with an 82-45 win against Woodrow Wilson High School
Woodrow Wilson High School (New Jersey)
Woodrow Wilson High School is a four-year public high school in Camden, in Camden County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as part of the Camden City Public Schools....
.
Marching band
The Highland Regional Marching Band has had success in the Tournament of BandsTournament of Bands
The Tournament of Bands is one of the largest competitive band organizations in the United States and is one of several major circuits in the mid-Atlantic states . TOB was founded in 1972 by the National Judges Association and currently has 439 member bands...
competitions since the turn of the millennium. The marching band won the Chapter One Championship in 2005, led by Jeff Dolan, the first such championship in the band's history. The band successfully defended their Chapter One Championship in 2006, and were the 2002 Atlantic Coast Invitational Champion in Group 1.
The school's indoor color guard was the Tournament Indoor Association Scholastic Novice champions in 2006 and the Scholastic Intermediate A champions in 2007.
The school's indoor drumline was the Tournament Indoor Association Scholastic Open champions in 2001 and the Scholastic A champions in 2005.
School prayer case
In 1993, Highland Regional High School students voted to allow a prayer before their graduation ceremony. The school district was quickly sued by a graduating senior with the support of the American Civil Liberties Union of New JerseyAmerican Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey
The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit civil rights organization in Newark, New Jersey and an affiliate of the national American Civil Liberties Union...
over separation of church and state
Separation of church and state
The concept of the separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state....
. The case was heard by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled against the school district in a 9-4 decision.
Administration
Core members of the school's administration are:- Beth Petitte, Principal
- Kasha Giddins, Assistant Principal
- Thomas Storer, Assistant Principal
- Ronald Strauss, Assistant Principal
Notable alumni
- Ryan Buchter, drafted by Washington NationalsWashington NationalsThe Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
in 2005. - Mike MurphyMike Murphy (baseball)Michael Jerome Murphy was an American Major League Baseball catcher. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals during the season and the Philadelphia Athletics during the season.-References:...
, signed by Richmond Roosters in 2004.
External links
- Highland Regional High School official site
- Highland sports news coverage
- Data for Highland Regional High School, 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...
- Highland Music Webpage