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Clifton High School (New Jersey)

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Clifton High School
Location
Map
Main: 333 Colfax Avenue
Annex: 290 Brighton Road
Clifton, NJ 07013
Information
TypePublic high school
School districtClifton Public Schools
CEEB code310245
PrincipalAnthony Orlando
Vice principalsPeter J. Cumba (South)
Patrica DeLotto (Main Office)
Michael Doktor (Central)
Luis Ros (North)
Susan Schnepf (Annex)
Laura Zagorski (East)
Faculty228.5 FTEs[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment3,156 (as of 2014-15)[1]
Student to teacher ratio13.8:1[1]
Color(s)  Maroon and
  Gray[2]
AthleticsBig North Conference
MascotClifton Mustang
Team nameMustangs[2]
WebsiteHS website
Annex website

Clifton High School (CHS) is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades from the city of Clifton in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Clifton Public Schools. It has the largest student body in a single facility amongst high schools in New Jersey; Elizabeth High School had more students, but its students have been spread over multiple campuses.[3] An additional overflow site, the Clifton High School Annex, was constructed at a cost of $17 million and opened in September 2009 to accommodate 540 of the school year's 850 incoming freshmen to alleviate overcrowding.[4]

As of the 2014-15 school year, the school had an enrollment of 3,156 students and 228.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.8:1. There were 1,466 students (46.5% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 295 (9.3% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]

Awards, recognition and rankings

The school was the 239th-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.[5] The school had been ranked 274th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 259th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[6] The magazine ranked the school 223rd in 2008 out of 316 schools.[7] The school was ranked 280th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[8]

Campus

Clifton High School is divided into four wings; North, Central, South and East. Between the South and East wings, the William F. Shershin Memorial Technology and Media Center provides students access to many books, music, movies and computers with internet access.

Due to overcrowding, a walkway that runs alongside the four wings was added. There is also an annex building which now contains ASPIRE students. Originally, it had both freshmen students and ASPIRE students in the building.

Activities

Athletics

The Clifton High School Mustangs[2] compete in over 50 sport programs as part of the Big North Conference, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[9] With 2,370 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2015-16 school year as North I, Group IV for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 1,290 to 2,568 students in that grade range.[10] For the 2009-10 season, the school competed in the North Jersey Tri-County Conference, an interim conference established to facilitate realignment.[11] Prior to the reorganization, the school had participated in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) an athletic conference of twenty high schools located in Bergen County and Passaic County.[12]

Interscholastic athletics offered at the school include:[2]

  • Fall sports include boys' and girls' cross country, girls' gymnastics, football, girls' Volleyball, girls' tennis, boys' and girls' soccer, and marching band.[13]
  • Winter sports include hockey, boys' and girls' indoor track, wrestling, basketball, swimming, and bowling.
  • Spring sports include baseball, boys' volleyball, boys' and girls' outdoor track, boys' and girls' lacrosse, boys' tennis, softball, and golf.

The boys' baseball team won the North I Group IV state sectional championships in 1960 and 1961.[14]

The boys' bowling team won the state championships in 1970, 1980, 2000 and 2002. The four state team titles are tied for third most of all high schools in the state.[15]

The boys' wrestling team won the North I Group IV state sectional title in 1984, 1986 and 2014.[16]

The boys' cross country team won the NNJIL for eight years in a row (1998–2006) and the girls' team won for three years (2004–2007).[citation needed]

The Mustangs won the North I, Group IV football state sectional championship in 2006, defeating Eastside High School 26-0.[17][18]

The 2007 girls' softball team won the North I, Group IV Softball sectional championship with a 10–0 win over top-seeded Bloomfield High School.[19][20] The team moved on to win the Group IV state championship defeating North Hunterdon High School and then Toms River High School East in the final game, both by a score of 2–0.[21]

The 2007 boys' soccer team, under the direction of Coach Joe Vespignani, won the North I, Group IV state sectional championship with a 1-0 win over defending Group IV state champion West Orange High School in the tournament final.[22][23] In the state semi-final, Clifton defeated Columbia High School by an identical 1–0 score. The spectacular goal was scored by Manuel Caicedo with a brilliant Bicycle Kick from the penalty spot. Manny Caicedo was named Passaic County Player of the Year and Second Team All State. The team moved on to share the Group IV state championship with a 1-1 tie against Manalapan High School.[24][25]

The 2008 boys' soccer team repeated as the North I, Group IV state sectional champion with a 3–2 overtime win against North Bergen High School.[26] In the state semi-final, Clifton defeated Elizabeth High School 2–1 in overtime in a match-up of the two largest high schools in the state, before falling in the state final to Rancocas Valley Regional High School by a score of 2–0.[27]

The 2009 boys' soccer team completed a threepeat as the North I, Group IV state sectional champion with a 3–0 win over Livingston High School.[28] In the state semi-final, Clifton defeated Ridge High School 1–0 in double overtime, before falling in the state final to Toms River High School South by a score of 1–0, a goal was the only goal allowed through the five games of the state tournament, in a season in which Clifton had a record of 19–6–1, including 16 shutouts.[29] The team averaged 20 wins a season over the three-year period. In Coach Vespignani's eight years at the helm, the team is a combined 149–36–7.

The Clifton boys' soccer team won the Passaic County Championship for nine consecutive years, from 1997 to 2005, before their streak was ended by Wayne Valley, which had lost to Clifton in the tournament finals in both 2004 and 2005 before defeating Clifton in both 2006 and 2007.[30]

The girls' soccer team at Clifton, under Coach Dan Chilowicz, shared the Passaic County Championship title with Wayne Valley High School in 2007 with a deadlocked score of 0–0. The girls' team, led by Stan Lembryk, was declared county co-champion again in 2009 after a 1–1 tie with Wayne Hills High School.[31]

Clubs

Clifton High School has over 60 clubs. In its auditoriums, many plays and dance performances are held, many occurring annually. The Chemistry II "Dream Team" members came in second out of 127 schools in the state science competition in 2011.[32]

Band

The Clifton High School Mustang Marching Band, "The Showband of the Northeast", is modeled after the fast-paced, high-stepping, Big-10 bands, under the leadership of band director Robert D. Morgan from 1972 through 2013–14 and was run by Cody Holody, from 2014–15. The band is currently under the direction of Bryan Stepneski, a Clifton Mustang Band alumnus.[33] The group forms the letters "C-H-S", similar to the script "O-H-I-O" of The Ohio State University Marching Band. The marching band unravels from a tight block, following one another, forming the school's initials in cursive. The band is showcased in many venues within the city of Clifton. It appears annually in the North Jersey Band Festival, (formally known as the Clifton Band Festival, or Herald News Band Festival) the West Milford Military Tattoo, all Clifton High School football games, and city parades. The Clifton High School Mustang Band has traveled extensively across the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Canada. The Clifton High School Mustang Marching Band won first place in "Best in Parade" during the 2007 and 2008 Columbus Day Parade in New York City, second place in the 2009 Columbus Day Parade, and first place again in 2010. They won first place in the Columbus Day Parade in 2014. In 2016, the band won second place in the Columbus Day Parade once again. Among the other activities in Clifton High School, the city of Clifton placed the marching band on its list of the most recognized activities in the city of Clifton.

Starting in the 2014-2015 school year, two jazz bands were implemented.

Administration

Core members of the school's administration include:[34]

  • Anthony Orlando – Principals chosen in June 2013 to succeed the principal whose contract was not renewed by the Board of Education.[35]
  • Peter J. Cumba – Vice Principal (South Wing)
  • Patrica DeLotto – Vice Principal (Main Office)
  • Michael Doktor – Vice Principal (Central Wing)
  • Luis Ros – Vice Principal (North Wing)
  • Susan Schnepf – Vice Principal (Annex)
  • Laura Zagorski – Vice Principal (East Wing)

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ a b c d School data for Clifton High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 12, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Clifton High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 25, 2015.
  3. ^ Alex, Patricia. "Clifton High's 'mosh pit' -- Thousands of teens converge in hallway gridlock", The Record (Bergen County), December 6, 2006. Accessed December 8, 2015. "Clifton High School, circa 1962, is the largest single high school in the state. Only Elizabeth High School has more students, but they are spread out over five campuses."
  4. ^ Gicas, Tony. "Clifton High annex nearly ready", The Record (Bergen County), July 14, 2009. Accessed August 21, 2014. "The Clifton High School annex building, a lightning rod for controversy since its approval in 2004, is complete and almost ready to be occupied.... The $17 million school at 290 Brighton Road, in the renovated former Mayer Textile building, will hold about 540 of the total 850 freshmen expected to be enrolled for classes in September."
  5. ^ Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
  6. ^ Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed August 27, 2012.
  7. ^ Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed March 17, 2011.
  8. ^ "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
  9. ^ League Memberships – 2015-2016, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 8, 2015.
  10. ^ General Public School Classifications 2015-2016, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, as of December 15, 2015. Accessed December 12, 2016.
  11. ^ New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association League Memberships – 2009-2010, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 24, 2011. Accessed November 24, 2014.
  12. ^ Home Page, Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 9, 2009. Accessed November 24, 2014.
  13. ^ Home Page, Clifton High School Mustang Marching Band. Accessed August 27, 2012.
  14. ^ History of the NJSIAA Baseball Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 25, 2015.
  15. ^ History of NJSIAA Boys Bowling Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 8, 2015.
  16. ^ History of the NJSIAA Team Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 8, 2015.
  17. ^ 2006 Football Tournament – North I, Group IV, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 4, 2006.
  18. ^ Goldberg, Jeff. NJSIAA Football Playoff Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 19, 2015.
  19. ^ 2007 Softball – North I, Group IV, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 12, 2007.
  20. ^ Zagoria, Adam. "Grand Sam puts the fight in Clifton", Herald News, June 1, 2007. Accessed December 8, 2015. "Sam Litchfield didn't use any of her tae kwon do maneuvers on the softball field at Pulaski Park, but she certainly helped deliver the knockout blow to Bloomfield in the North 1, Group 4 final. Litchfield, a black belt in the martial art and the right fielder for Clifton, went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and also made an eye-popping running grab in the outfield to lead the No. 2-seeded Mustangs to an emphatic 10–0 victory over the No. 1 Bengals in five innings before an estimated 750 fans."
  21. ^ 2007 Softball - Public Semis/Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 12, 2007.
  22. ^ 2007 Boys Soccer – North I, Group IV, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 13, 2007.
  23. ^ Bondy, Stefan. "Clifton earns 'dirty' win -- Thrives in rain and mud to end seven-year drought", Herald News, November 10, 2007. Accessed December 8, 2015.
  24. ^ 2007 Boys Soccer - Public Semis/Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 24, 2007.
  25. ^ Bondy, Stefan. "Clifton rallies, captures share of State crown", Herald News, November 17, 2007. Accessed December 8, 2015. "The Mustangs had plenty of reasons to celebrate their 1-1 tie with Manapalan in Friday's Group 4 boys soccer final. Few expected them to be in this position, raising a trophy for their first State title in 13 years (albeit as co-champions)."
  26. ^ Staff. "Clifton 3, North Bergen 2", The Star-Ledger, November 13, 2008. Accessed June 21, 2011. "Milton Gutierrez scored with three minutes remaining in the second overtime period to secure Clifton's 2–1 victory over North Bergen and the NJSIAA/MAC Testing North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 championship yesterday in North Bergen."
  27. ^ Staff. "Red Devils fulfill season of promise, Ryan Finley scored both goals to give Rancocas Valley the state Group 4 crown.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 22, 2008. Accessed June 21, 2011. "With Ryan Finley scoring both goals, Rancocas Valley beat Clifton, 2–0, last night at the College of New Jersey for the state Group 4 championship. Ranked No. 1 in South Jersey since the preseason, Rancocas Valley won its second state title after earning a co-championship in Group 4 in 2004."
  28. ^ Staff. "Boys Soccer - 2009 NJSIAA Tournament - North 1, Group 4 - Round 4 - Game 1 - Boys Soccer", The Star-Ledger, November 13, 2009. Accessed June 21, 2011. "Victor Manosalvas, a senior midfielder, scored twice and junior midfielder Oscar Gonzalez also scored as Clifton won its third consecutive NJSIAA/Investors Savings Bank North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 championship with a 3–0 victory over Livingston yesterday in Clifton."
  29. ^ Karn, Jeff. "Toms River South 1, Clifton 0", The Star-Ledger, November 20, 2009. Accessed June 21, 2011. "Chrashewsky scored the winning goal with 24:55 on the clock in the second half and O'Neill made 10 saves to lead Toms River South to a 1–0 victory over Clifton in the final of the NJSIAA/Investors Savings Bank Group 4 final in front of 500 at The College of New Jersey in Ewing.... On the other hand, Clifton (19–6–1) entered the group final having posted 16 shutouts, including all four of state playoff games... Clifton was appearing in its third straight Group 4 final after tying Manalapan, 1–1, in 2007 and dropping a 2–0 decision to Rancocas Valley a year ago."
  30. ^ Schutta, Gregory. "Clifton, Wayne Valley advance to Passaic County final", The Record (Bergen County), October 17, 2010. Accessed June 21, 2011. "It will be the first time the two teams meet in the final since playing each other in four straight from 2004 through 2007. Wayne Valley won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007, ending Clifton's streak of nine straight County titles."
  31. ^ Stamboulian, Rich. "Wayne Hills shares Passaic County title with Clifton", Wayne Today, October 29, 2009. Accessed June 21, 2011. "In a result that seemingly pleased no one, Wayne Hills and Clifton battled to a 1-1 overtime tie in Saturday's Passaic County final and were declared Co-Champions. It was the sixth time in tournament history that the championship game went to overtime with two of those ending in ties. Clifton was a part of two of those games having tied Wayne Hills in a scoreless battle at Hawthorne in 2003 and having tied Wayne Valley in 2007."
  32. ^ Gicas, Tony. "CHS chemistry 'dream team' makes district proud ", Clifton Journal, May 27, 2011. Accessed December 8, 2015. "Led by Vetri Velan and Kevin Lorenc, this year's valedictorian and salutatorian, the Chemistry II team fought its way to the number two overall ranking in the state amongst 127 schools."
  33. ^ Staff. "Mustang Band orientation scheduled for June 6", Clifton Journal, June 3, 2011. Accessed June 20, 2011. "The Mustang Marching Band performs at all high school football games as well as at various parades and special events. Known as the Showband of the Northeast and The Pride of Clifton, the band will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2013."
  34. ^ Administration, Clifton High School. Accessed October 25, 2015.
  35. ^ Gicas, Tony. "Clifton High School principal officially removed", Clifton Journal, June 28, 2013. Accessed July 2, 2013. "Although many students and residents converged on the Board of Education's administration building last Wednesday evening to plead for the reappointment of Clifton High School's former principal. As his replacement, Superintendent Richard Tardalo put forward elementary School 17 Principal Anthony Orlando, a Clifton native who graduated through the school system and has worked in the district as an administrator for several years."
  36. ^ Fensom, Michale J. "Red Bulls sign Clifton native Jonathan Borrajo", The Star-Ledger, January 5, 2012. Accessed November 12, 2013. "Jonathan Borrajo, a former standout at Clifton High School, signed today with the Red Bulls, the team announced through a press release."
  37. ^ Staff. "Clifton's Karcz joining Red Bulls", The Record (Bergen County), July 3, 2007. Accessed July 28, 2007. "Clifton native Chris Karcz, who played at Rutgers, has been signed by the Red Bulls.... The midfielder/forward was a three-time All-Big East Conference selection at Rutgers and was a first-team All-American in his senior year at Clifton High School."
  38. ^ Lawlor, Christopher. "Women's Soccer: Former Clifton High School star Krzysik lands in Seattle", Clifton Journal, February 7, 2013. Accessed November 12, 2013. "She graduated from Clifton High in 2005, where she was selected twice Parade All-American. She collected 55 career goals with the Mustangs and helped them reach the Group 4 state championship match in 2001."
  39. ^ Ratish, Robert. "PHARMACY GRADUATE PLEDGES $5M SHOT IN ARM FOR RUTGERS -- SCHOOL TO BE RENAMED FOR FORMER CLIFTON MAN, The Record (Bergen County), December 16, 2001. Accessed May 13, 2007. "...graduated from Clifton High School when he was 16 years old..."
  40. ^ Biography: Ronald F. Maxwell - Narrator, Horses of Gettysburg. Accessed June 17, 2007. "Ronald F. Maxwell is the son of a World War II veteran and a French war bride. He grew up in New Jersey where he graduated from Clifton High School."
  41. ^ Doherty, Justin. What It Means to Be a Badger: Barry Alvarez and Wisconsin's Greatest Players, p. 69. Triumph Books, 2011. ISBN 9781617495373. Accessed September 29, 2016. "So I really didn't start until I was a sophomore at Clifton High School in Clifton, New Jersey."
  42. ^ Bergeron, Tom. "Clifton's Rossi does it again, scores for Italy in men's soccer", The Star-Ledger, August 10, 2008. Accessed June 21, 2011. "The U.S. team has dreamed of having Giuseppe Rossi in its international pool of players.... Rossi, who played at Clifton High School but was born in Italy, scored his second goal in two games to help Italy clinch a quarterfinal berth with a 3-0 victory over South Korea."
  43. ^ Moss, Linda. "Actor Jon Seda felt special connection to World War II hero John Basilone, in HBO's The Pacific", NewJerseyNewsroom.com, May 30, 2010. Accessed June 21, 2011. "Seda himself was especially moved by the reaction of Charles Tatum, who actually served with Basilone and was on Iwo Jima with him. Tatum, who is portrayed in The Pacific, visited the set of the miniseries when it was shooting in Los Angeles. Seda said that Tatum shook his hand and said, 'We're all in agreement: You're John.' The actor, a graduate of Clifton High School, was left speechless by Tatum's praise."
  44. ^ Eskenazi, Gerald. "Pro Football: Jets Turn Attention to Offense", The New York Times, March 13, 2002. Accessed June 21, 2011. "The Jets met yesterday with Bob Hallen of the Falcons, who was a second-round pick in 1998; will meet later this week with Chris Naeole, a first-round pick of the Saints in 1997; and Dave Szott, a 31-year-old who started 16 games last year with the Redskins. Szott, who played at Clifton High School in New Jersey, knows Jets General Manager Terry Bradway from their days together at Kansas City."
  45. ^ 1985-86 Wrestling USA Magazine's High School All-America Team, Wrestling USA Magazine, accessed February 20, 2007.
  46. ^ Gambuti, Steve. "Award Winning Author is a North Jersey Teacher", North Jersey Teacher, August 4, 2014. Accessed August 21, 2014. "[Q] Were you educated in the Clifton school system? [A] Indeed. I grew up in Clifton and am happy to still be teaching in district."
  47. ^ Cook, Michael. "Sir Ivan", Get Out! magazine, September 27, 2012. Accessed August 21, 2014. "I was born in Newark, went to Clifton High School and worked for 20 years in the family business, Trust Company Bank, 'The Bank with Heart,' which was headquartered in Jersey City and had 100 branches in the northern half of the state when it was sold to North Fork Bank (now Capital One)."

40°52′17″N 74°09′47″W / 40.871253°N 74.163167°W / 40.871253; -74.163167

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