Edison High School (New Jersey)

Edison High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Edison, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. The school serves students of many diverse cultures, and is part of the Edison Township Public Schools. The other high school in the district is J. P. Stevens High School. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools.[4]

Edison High School
Address
Edison High School
Edison High School
Edison High School
50 Boulevard of the Eagles

Edison
,
NJ
08817

United States
Coordinates40.51633°N 74.3891°W / 40.51633; -74.3891
Information
TypePublic high school
MottoNothing Less Than Excellence
Established1955
School districtEdison Township Public Schools
NCES School ID3404500[1]
PrincipalCharles K. Ross Sr.
Asst. principalsJoseph Ferrara
Nicole Kesselman
Aurora Loufek
Faculty158.8 FTEs[1]
Grades9th-12th
Enrollment2,028 (as of 2018–19)[1]
Student to teacher ratio12.8:1[1]
Color(s)     Scarlet and
     Vegas Gold[2]
Athletics conferenceGreater Middlesex Conference
MascotEdgar the Eagle[3]
Team nameEagles[2]
AccreditationMiddle States Association of Colleges and Schools[4]
NewspaperThe Eagle's Eye[5]
YearbookTalon
WebsiteSchool website

Most of the Edison High School students come from either Herbert Hoover Middle School or Thomas Jefferson Middle School, though some come from Woodrow Wilson Middle School.

As of the 2018–19 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,028 students and 158.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.8:1. There were 296 students (14.6% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 44 (2.2% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]

Awards, recognition and rankings

The school was the 135th-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.[6] The school had been ranked 174th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 169th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[7] The magazine ranked the school 177th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[8] The school was ranked 155th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[9]

Curriculum

Edison High School students are required to take four years of English, four years of math, three years of science, three years of history (one of world and two of U.S.) and at least two years of a foreign language (selected from Latin, French, Spanish, Mandarin, and starting in 2008, Hindi). In addition, attendance at health and physical education classes are required every year. Starting with the Class of 2008, one year of "Career Education and Consumer, Family and Life Skills" such as Foods or Technology Fundamentals is required as well as a year from the "Visual Performing Arts" such as Chorus, Band, Visual Arts, Clothing for Fashion, and Architectural Drawing. EHS has an Honors college preparatory track that features several Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

Extracurricular activities

Mr. EHS

Every year, the Student Council hosts Mr. EHS, a beauty pageant, talent show and fund raiser that also searches for the very special and outstanding male who attends Edison High. A month prior to the performance, contestants were required to individually raise money for the affiliated charity such as the Simpson-Baber Foundation for the Autistic (2006) or Buddy Ball (2005). Whichever contestant raises the most money was immediately awarded "Most Charitable." In addition, each year Mr. EHS finalizes with announcements of the winner, Mr. Congeniality, and the amount of money the show raised (approx. $3–5000 per show).

Choir

Edison High School is often recognized for its fine music department. The A cappella Choir and Chamber Singers, for example, have been awarded first place superior ratings in national competitions for over 40 years, 19 under its director, Kenneth Brown.

EHS offers nine different choirs:

  1. Concert Choir is the entry-level choir. This choir is open to anyone, regardless of experience or talent level and no audition is required. Concert Choir performs at the annual winter and spring concerts, as well as various community performances throughout the school year.
  2. A Cappella Choir is an audition only mixed choir. The size of this choir usually ranges from about forty to eighty members. In addition to performing at many different events during the school year, the A Cappella Choir competes nationally each spring in Festivals of Music. The choir includes the Chambers Singers too.
  3. Jazz Choir is a smaller mixed choir whose members are taken from the best of the A Cappella Choir. Their repertoire comprises jazz music and they too compete each year in the spring. This choir meets one day per week after school.
  4. Treble Choir is an advanced all female audition only ensemble. This choir meets Wednesday after school and competes nationally each spring with the other competing choirs. Concert choir students are allowed to audition to be in this choir.
  5. Men's Ensemble is an advanced all-male, audition-only choir. The group meets after school one day a week and also competes nationally.
  6. Chambers Singers is the most advanced ensemble in the choral department. Members are accepted by audition only and the size of the group ranges from ten to twenty students. The group performs at many events throughout the school year and competes nationally each spring. The repertoire of this group includes a wide assortment of musical styles.
  7. The Barbershop Quartet is an all-male group composed of four of the best male singers in the choral program. They compete nationally each year. This group meets one day per week after school.
  8. The Beautyshop Quartet is an all-female group made up of four of the best female singers in the choral program. They compete nationally each year. This group meets one day per week after school.

Band

The band programs in Edison High School are outstanding and also ranked highly in their divisions, with the band placing first in many competitions. Also has different kinds of bands.

Several bands exist at Edison High School:

Director of Bands - Marc DeNicuolo; Assistant Director - Valentine Kuntz

Concert Band: All incoming freshmen are placed in the concert band to help them develop their skills and technique.

Symphonic Band:The Symphonic Band is open to all sophomore, juniors and seniors who wish to further develop their skills and musical knowledge. This band plays more difficult than the Concert Band.

Wind Ensemble:The Wind Ensemble is by audition only and is directed by Marc Denicuolo. The Wind Ensemble plays challenging music and competes in the Region II Concert Band Festival in March every year. In 2005 the Ensemble was ranked 2nd overall in the state for its performance of Yiddish dances. In 2006 the Wind Ensemble received 3rd place in region II and was invited to participate in the New Jersey Concert Band Gala. The Wind Ensemble performs at other festivals as well as on the band's annual spring trip.

Jazz Ensemble: The Jazz Ensemble is the bands' most selective group accepting 16-21 of the school's top jazz musicians. The ensemble plays difficult music and participates in various jazz competitions throughout New Jersey.

Jazz Band: The Jazz Band is open for students to learn how to play the style of jazz. This band rehearses once a week every Wednesday.

Indoor Percussion Ensemble: The Indoor Percussion Ensemble is composed of our drummers and pit percussionists. They go to many different indoor competitions and goes to wildwood every year for the final championships.

Marching Band: The Eagle Marching Band performs at all varsity football games. The Eagle Marching band took home two state titles in 2002 and 2003 for their shows the rise and fall of rome and medusa which they performed in group IV open. Now in USSBA Group III Open competitions. The Marching Band was undefeated and took home title of first place group III Open at state championships and Northern States Championships in 2006 with their show entitled: Breaking Boundaries: The Saga of the Berlin Wall. In 2007, the Eagle Marching Band took 2nd place at NJ States, 5th place at Northern States and 6th place at Nationals in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2013, they took first place in State as well as National Championships, with their program "Playback". In 2014, they took first place in State as well as National Championships, with their program "The Grind", and they became the first school in the Edison district to win National championships back to back. In 2018, Edison took home all three banners for USSBA Group IV Open competition. They won 1st place in state, regional, and national competitions.

Drama

In March 2005, the drama department performed its production of Crazy for You, a Gershwin musical based on the original Girl Crazy. Crazy for You was directed by Mr. Harris with Mr. McCaffrey as the technical director and Anthony DiDia as Music Director.

In the dump Spring of 2006, the school presented a production of Barnum, a show that featured a sideshow before the actual musical began. The play was directed by Mr. Harris, with production by Mr. McCaffrey and Music Direction by Anthony DiDIa. Tom Lombardi was the lighting designer for Barnum.

In March 2007, EHS Drama put on a production of Cabaret starring several new additions to the EHS Drama team. The show incorporated songs of both the original and the revival versions. The cast and crew did not receive any Rising Star Award nominations from the Paper Mill Playhouse despite the fantastic two-week run the show had. However, the Kit Kat Girls received honorable mention for their role. The show was directed by Mr. Harris and co-directed by Mrs. Troy, with production by Mr. McCaffrey aided by Mr. Scarpa, and Music Direction by Anthony DiDia.

In March 2008, EHS Drama presented a production of Beauty and the Beast, was directed by Kathi Troy and Brian Harris, with production by John Scarpa and Music Direction by Anthony DiDia.

In March 2009, EHS Drama presented the production of Bye Bye Birdie, a comedy musical. This production was directed by Staci Almquist with Music Direction by Nicholas Kaminski.

In March 2010, EHS Drama presented Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Kathi Tory and Music Directed by Nicholas Kaminski. The production also featured an original orchestration by Nicholas Kaminski.

In January 2011, the EHS Improv Troupe's Jordan Cohen and Michael Fernandes came in 4th place in the state in the STANJ Theater Competition at Rutgers University, marking the first official award for EHS Theater.

In March 2011, EHS Drama presented Hairspray as its spring musical, directed by Kathi Troy and choreographed by Danielle Andriano, with music direction by Nicholas Kaminski.

In December 2011, EHS Drama presented The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) as its Fall play. This was EHS's first ever straight play.

In January 2012, the EHS Improv Troupe's Jordan Cohen and Michael Fernandes moved up from their position as 4th in the state in the STANJ Theater Competition and became first in the state. At the same competition the cast of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) competed in the "Scenes" category using their Romeo & Juliet scene and came in fourth in the state. These were both great achievements for the EHS Drama Club.

In April 2012, EHS Drama presented Wedding Singer as its Spring musical, directed by Kathi Troy.

In April 2013, EHS Drama presented Spamalot as its Spring musical, directed by Kathi Troy and Music Directed by Nicholas Kaminski.

In 2014, EHS Drama presented All Shook Up as its Spring musical, directed by Nicole Singer.

In March 2015, EHS Drama presented Urinetown as its Spring musical, directed by Nicole Singer, Music Directed by Chris Curcio, and choreographed by Lyle Dungee.

In December 2018, EHS Drama presented It's A Wonderful Life as its Winter play, directed by Maureen O'Connor.

In March 2019, EHS Drama presented Curtains as its Spring musical, directed by Maureen O'Connor.

Athletics

The Edison High School Eagles[2] compete in the Greater Middlesex Conference, made up of public and private high schools located in the Middlesex County area and operating under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[10] With 1,427 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2015-16 school year as Central Jersey, Group IV for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 1,082 to 2,349 students in that grade range.[11]

Baseball

The Eagles won the GMC Red Division championship and won the 2007 Baseball - North II, Group IV state sectional championship with a 10-4 win versus Westfield High School.[12]

Football

The football team won the Central Jersey Group IV state sectional championship in 1976 and 1991.[13]

Notable alumni

Administration

Core members of the school's administration are:[23]

  • Charles K. Ross Sr., Principal
  • Joseph Ferrara, Assistant Principal
  • Nicole Kesselman, Assistant Principal
  • Aurora Loufek, Assistant Principal

References
  1. School data for Edison High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.
  2. Edison High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed April 4, 2016.
  3. Edison High School Student-Parent Handbook 2013-14, Edison High School. Accessed April 4, 2016.
  4. Edison High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed December 24, 2019.
  5. Home Page, The Eagle's Eye. Accessed December 24, 2019. "The Eagle’s Eye is a newspaper created and published by the student body of Edison High School in Edison, New Jersey."
  6. Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
  7. Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed September 7, 2012.
  8. Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed March 10, 2011.
  9. "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
  10. League & Conference Affiliations 2016-2017 Archived 2012-11-09 at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 10, 2017.
  11. General Public School Classifications 2015-2016, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, as of December 15, 2015. Accessed December 12, 2016.
  12. 2007 Baseball - North II, Group IV, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 20, 2007.
  13. Goldberg, Jeff. NJSIAA Football Playoff Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 19, 2015.
  14. Ambassador Gayleatha B. Brown Biography Archived 2009-06-08 at the Wayback Machine, United States Ambassador to the Republic of Benin. Accessed September 29, 2007. "She was educated in the Red Jacket Elementary School, Matewan Elementary and High Schools in Mingo County, West Virginia; and Edison Township High School, Edison, New Jersey."
  15. Michael Campbell, Pro-Football-Reference.com. Accessed May 1, 2020. "Born: August 12, 1989 (Age: 30-263d) in Edison, NJ... High School: Edison (NJ)"
  16. Staff. "Upshaw Denies Misusing Players Union Funds", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, September 12, 1988. Accessed June 21, 2011. "For the fifth straight year, Lee Haney of Atlanta has won the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding title, and for the third consecutive time Rich Gaspari of Edison, N.J., placed second."
  17. Hurley-Schubert. "Middlesex County cartoonist's pets inspire comic strip", Home News Tribune, July 21, 2003. Accessed June 21, 2011. "McDonnell a 1974 Edison High School graduate started his career as a magazine illustrator He always drew a little dog somewhere in the background..."
  18. Staff. "Actor And Edison High School Alumn Found Dead In L.A.", Home News Tribune, March 10, 2004. Accessed June 21, 2011. "Pastorelli was born in New Brunswick and graduated from Edison High School."
  19. Tufaro, Greg; McGurk, Tom; Falk, Steven; Havsy, Jane; Newman, Josh; Stapleton, Art. From the field to the booth: These New Jersey athletes became sports broadcasters", The Record (Bergen County), October 18, 2019. Accessed October 20, 2019. "Walter Perez - The former All-State football player at Edison, from which he graduated as Walter Percy, is a reporter and anchor for Channel 6 Action News in Philadelphia (ABC affiliate)."
  20. Zach Perez, William Paterson Pioneers. Accessed October 10, 2019. "Hometown: Edison, N.J... as a captain and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player as a junior at Rutgers Prep… Won a Greater Middlesex County title at Edison H.S. during his freshman campaign"
  21. "Susan Sarandon Headlines Cape May NJ State Film Festival" Archived 2007-04-29 at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey State Film Festival. Accessed May 3, 2007. "Sarandon, a graduate of New Jersey's Edison High School, headlines the 2nd annual film festival in Cape May."
  22. Staff. "Rick Stromoski, 77' EHS Alumni, Presentation & Fundraiser", TAPinto.net, November 27, 2014. Accessed April 4, 2016. "Rick Stromoski, a 1977 Edison H.S. Alumni and award winning cartoonist will do a power point presentation illustrating his career from his roots in Edison to present day providing lots of laughs and some drawings as well."
  23. 2019-2020 Student-Parent Handbook, Edison High School. Accessed December 24, 2019.
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