Jonathan Dayton High School is an American four-year
comprehensiveComprehensive 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 schoolHigh 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....
in
Springfield TownshipTownship of Springfield is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population increased to a record high of 15,817....
, in
Union CountyUnion County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
,
New JerseyNew 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...
, operating as part of the
Springfield Public SchoolsThe Springfield Public Schools is a comprehensive community public school district serving students in Kindergarten through 12th grade from Springfield Township, in Union County, New Jersey, United States....
. The school is named after
Jonathan DaytonJonathan Dayton was an American politician from the U.S. state of New Jersey. He was the youngest person to sign the United States Constitution and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, serving as the fourth Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and later the U.S. Senate...
, a signer of the
United States ConstitutionThe Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 597 students and 44 classroom teachers (on an
FTEFull-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 13.57.
Awards and recognition
In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by
The Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, the school was ranked 60th in New Jersey and 1,732nd nationwide. The school was the 991st-ranked public high school in the United States out of over 26,000 schools in the country, 29th in the state of New Jersey, in
NewsweekNewsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
magazine's "America's Top High Schools 2010" edition.
The school was the 40th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 322 schools statewide, in
New Jersey MonthlyNew 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 32nd in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 44th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state.
Middle States Commission on Secondary SchoolsThe Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit association dedicated to educational excellence and improvement through peer evaluation and accreditation...
granted AFG (Accreditation For Growth) accreditation to Jonathan Dayton School in 2008.
Curriculum
Jonathan Dayton offers Advanced Placement (AP) classes in the humanities (
AP English Language and CompositionAdvanced Placement English Language and Composition is a course and examination offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program....
,
AP Art HistoryAP Art History is a course offered in high school through the Advanced Placement Program that gives college level material at the high school level. This class is operated by College Board...
,
AP Studio ArtAP Studio Art is a series of Advanced Placement Courses divided into three different categories: AP Studio Art Drawing, AP Studio Art 2D, and AP Studio Art 3D.-The portfolio:...
,
AP Music TheoryAdvanced Placement Music Theory is a course and examination offered in the United States by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program to high school students who wish to earn credit for a college level music theory course.-The course:Some of the material covered in the course...
,
AP United States HistoryAdvanced Placement United States History is a course and examination offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program...
,
AP European HistoryAdvanced Placement European History is a course and examination offered by the College Board through the Advanced Placement Program...
, and
AP PsychologyThe Advanced Placement Psychology course and corresponding exam is part of the College Board's Advanced Placement Program. This course is tailored for students interested in the field of psychology and as an opportunity to earn placement credit or exemption from a college-level psychology course...
, sciences (
AP ChemistryAdvanced Placement Chemistry is a course and examination offered by the College Board as a part of the Advanced Placement Program to give American and Canadian high school students the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and earn college-level credit.-The course:AP Chemistry is a course...
,
AP PhysicsAP Physics defines three categories of high school physics courses: A, B, and C. Category A refers to general introductory physics courses that are not mathematically rigorous...
, and
AP BiologyIn the United States, Advanced Placement Biology , is a course and examination offered by the College Board to high school students as an opportunity to earn placement credit for a college-level biology course....
), and (AP Calculus BC and
AP StatisticsAdvanced Placement Statistics is a college-level high school statistics course offered in the United States through the College Board's Advanced Placement program...
) and
AP Computer ScienceAdvanced Placement Computer Science is the name of two distinct Advanced Placement courses and examinations offered by the College Board to high school students as an opportunity to earn college credit for a college-level computer science course...
. The independent study or "Gifted and Talented" program allows students to explore a personal interest and create a year-long project based on that interest. All students have laptops.
Clubs
Model United NationsModel United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about current events, topics in international relations, diplomacy and the United Nations agenda....
(MUN) |
Junior State of America The Junior State of America is an American non-partisan student-run youth organization. It is also the largest high school student-run organization in the country...
(JSA) |
Student Council |
| Italian Club |
French Club |
Spanish Club |
| Kiwanis Key Club Key Club International is the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It is a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others. Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International family of service-leadership programs...
|
Alternatives Club |
Ski/Snowboard Club |
| Math League |
Science League |
Medical Careers Club |
| Newspaper (The Dawg Print) |
Literary Magazine (Jargon) |
Yearbook (Operated by Mrs. Chomko, English teacher) |
| Spring Musical |
Fall Drama |
Pep Band |
Mock TrialA Mock Trial is an act or imitation trial. It is similar to a moot court, but mock trials simulate lower-court trials, while moot court simulates appellate court hearings. Attorneys preparing for a real trial might use a mock trial consisting of volunteers as role players to test theories or...
Team |
Quiz Bowl |
Bulldog Banger Student Section |
| Foreign Language Honor Society |
Mixed Choir |
Art Club |
| Peer Leadership |
Peer Mediation |
Prom Committee |
| REBEL |
Volunteer Club |
Environmental Club |
| Student-Principal Advisory Committee (SPAC) |
Book Club |
National Honor Society The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
(NHS) |
Publications
Jonathan Dayton is home to three publications, The Dawg Print, Jargon, and the yearbook. The former is the school's newspaper, which is released tri-yearly. Jargon is Jonathan Dayton's Literary Magazine, which displays the school's body of creative writing. Jargons content can be submitted through the school's creative writing classes, or of the writer's own accord.
Athletics
Jonathan Dayton High School competes in the
Union County Interscholastic Athletic ConferenceThe Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference is a New Jersey high school sports association operating under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association...
, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the
New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic AssociationThe 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:...
. Prior to the 2010 realignment, the school had participated in the
Mountain Valley ConferenceThe Mountain Valley Conference was a New Jersey high school sports association under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association . The conference consisted of sixteen public and parochial high schools covering Union County and Essex County in northern New Jersey...
. Sports offered at Jonathan Dayton High School include:
- Fall Sports: Football (Varsity, JV & Frosh), Soccer (Boys', Varsity & JV), Soccer (Girls', Varsity & JV), Cross Country (Boys & Girls, Varsity), Volleyball (Varsity & JV), Gymnastics (Varsity), Cheerleading (Varsity) and Tennis (Girls' Varsity & JV).
- Winter Sports: Bowling (Co-ed JV, Varsity) Basketball (Boys' Varsity, JV & Frosh), Basketball (Girls' Varsity & JV), Indoor Track (Boys’ & Girls’ Varsity), Swimming (Co-ed, Varsity), Ice Hockey (Co-ed Varsity & JV), Cheerleading (Varsity & JV) and Wrestling (co-op with David Brearley High School
David Brearley High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Kenilworth in Union County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Kenilworth Public Schools...
).
- Spring Sports: - Baseball (Varsity & JV), Softball (Varsity & JV), Spring Track (Boys' & Girls, Varsity & JV), Tennis (Boys' Varsity & JV) and Golf (Co-ed Varsity)
The boys tennis team won the 2007 North II, Group I state sectional championship with a 4-1 win against
Ridgefield Memorial High SchoolRidgefield Memorial High School is a comprehensive, four-year public high school located in Ridgefield, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Ridgefield School District....
. The team moved on to win the 2007 NJSIAA Group I State Championship, defeating
Pennsville Memorial High SchoolPennsville Memorial High School is comprehensive community public high school in Pennsville Township, in Salem County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Pennsville School District....
4-1 in the final matches.
The wrestling team, operated in combination with
David Brearley High SchoolDavid Brearley High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Kenilworth in Union County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Kenilworth Public Schools...
, won the 2006 and 2007 Central Jersey Group I Sectional Title defeating
Roselle Park High SchoolRoselle Park High School is a four-year public high school located in Roselle Park, in Union County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Roselle Park School District. Starting as of 2007, Roselle Park High School serves grades 9-12...
39-20 in 2006 and 46-10 in 2007. In 2008 the wrestling team won the North 2 Group 2 Sectional Title defeating South Plainfield High School by a score of 34-23 at
South Plainfield High SchoolSouth Plainfield High School is a four-year, co-ed public high school located in South Plainfield, New Jersey, United States. It is the sole high school in the South Plainfield Public Schools...
. The team was a finalist in the Group I state championship before losing to
Paulsboro High SchoolPaulsboro High School is a comprehensive community six-year public high school that serves students in seventh through twelfth grade from Paulsboro, in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Paulsboro Public Schools....
at the Ritacco Center in Toms River in 2007 and a Group II state finalist in 2008, losing to
Long Branch High SchoolLong Branch High School is a comprehensive, four-year community public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades in the city of Long Branch, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Long Branch Public Schools. LBPS, one of 31 special-needs...
by a score of 30-27.
The 2007 boys varsity golf team had an impressive season winning the MVC by 45 strokes and coming 3rd in the Union County Tournament.
The 2007-2008 boys varsity basketball team posted a 16-9 record going into the second round of states. They won the Pepe/Levee Holiday tournament, and have received the Sportsmanship award for the season.
The 2007-2008 spring track and field team placed third in the Valley Division at the Mountain Valley Conference and first at the Mountain Valley Conference Relays in the Valley Division and the girls placed fourth.
The 2008 Boys Tennis Team won the North II, Group I state sectional championship with a 3-2 win in the tournament final over
Ridgefield Memorial High SchoolRidgefield Memorial High School is a comprehensive, four-year public high school located in Ridgefield, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Ridgefield School District....
.
The Boys Tennis Team has won the North II Group I state sectional championship in four consecutive years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and the Mountain Valley Conference in 2008 and 2009. The Boys Tennis Team has won the Group I State Championship in three consecutive years 2007, 2008, 2009 and four times overall including a state championship in 2000.
The 2007, 2008, and 2009 Boys Tennis teams had four players who started all three of the championship seasons: Jonathan Friedman, Jordan Gelband, Colin Greten, and Daniel Karlin.
They have also had the only female football player in NJ for the year 2007-2008, Cynthia Ibe.
Demographics
As of the 2006 - 2007 school year:
Males: 47%
Females: 53%
Total Teachers = 46
Teacher - Student Ratio = 1:12 (NJ Average = 1:14)
| Ethnicity |
Dayton |
NJ Average |
| American Indian |
1% |
n/a |
| Asian |
4% |
7% |
| Hispanic |
8% |
20% |
| Black |
6% |
19% |
| White |
81% |
54% |
District statistics
|
Springfield |
NJ Average |
| Number of Schools Managed |
5 |
7 |
| Number of Students Managed |
2,083 |
4,365 |
| Total Revenue |
$20,926,000 |
$37,600,000 |
| Total Expenditure |
$19,855,000 |
$37,564,000 |
| Revenue Per Student |
$10,046 |
$9,222 |
| Expenditure Per Student |
$9,532 |
$9,423 |
| Graduation Rate |
~98% |
98% |
Administration
Core members of the school's administration are:
- Elizabeth Cresci, Principal
- Ron Slate, Assistant Principal
Notable alumni
- Curt Merz
Curtis Carl Merz is a former college and professional American football guard who played seven seasons in the American Football League from 1962–1968...
(born 1938), guard who played for the Kansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
- Jeffrey Ross
Jeff Ross is an American stand-up comedian, insult comic, actor, director and author.-Early life:...
(born 1965), comedian (born Jeffrey Ross Lifschultz).
- Joe Schaffernoth
Joseph Arthur Schaffernoth is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for three seasons. The right-handed pitcher appeared in 74 games, all but one as a relief pitcher, for the Chicago Cubs from 1959 to 1961 and the Cleveland Indians in 1961...
(born 1937), pitcher who played on the Chicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
- Kevin Scholla
Kevin Scholla is an American news and sports anchor for KYW Newsradio in Philadelphia. Scholla joined the KYW staff in 2005. He has been a broadcast journalist for more than a decade....
(born c. 1974), News/Sports Anchor CBS Radio
- James Yee
James J. Yee is an American former United States Army chaplain with the rank of captain...
(born c. 1968), United States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
chaplainTraditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
.
External links