St. Patrick High School (New Jersey)

St. Patrick High School Academy was a co-educational four-year Catholic high school in Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States. The school operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.[4] The school was founded as a vocational school in 1863 as part of Saint Patrick's Parish in Elizabeth, making it the oldest parochial high school in New Jersey.[5]

Not to be confused with Saint Patrick School (New Jersey).
St. Patrick High School Academy
St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, NJ
Address
221 Court Street

Elizabeth
,
NJ
07206
Coordinates40.652373°N 74.186799°W / 40.652373; -74.186799
Information
TypePrivate, Coeducational
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Established1863
StatusClosed
ClosedJune 2012
OversightArchdiocese of Newark
PrincipalJoseph Picaro
ChaplainRev. Dennis Kaelin
Faculty16.8[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment210 [1] (2009-10)
Student to teacher ratio12.5:1[1]
CampusUrban
Color(s)     Green and
     White[2]
Athletics conferenceUnion County Interscholastic Athletic Conference
SportsBasketball, Baseball, Girls Basketball, Track, Cross Country, Volleyball, Soccer
NicknameFighting Celtics
Team nameCeltics
RivalSt. Anthony, St. Benedict's
AccreditationMiddle States Association of Colleges and Schools[3]
NewspaperThe Celtic Pride
YearbookThe Celtic Cross
Tuition$5,000 +
Dean of StudentsChris Chavannes
Admissions DirectorRich Biddulph
Athletic DirectorRobert "Red" Migliore
St. Patrick Academy in Elizabeth, New Jersey

St. Patrick High School had been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools since 1992.[3]

History

As of the 2009–10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 210 students and 16.8 faculty members (on an FTE basis), resulting in a student–teacher ratio of 12.5:1.[1]

The school was closed in June 2012 by the Newark Archdiocese in the face of increasing costs and declining enrollment.[6]

The Patrick School

Administrators and parents affiliated with the defunct school opened an independent non-denominational school located on Morris Avenue in Elizabeth called "The Patrick School" in September 2012.[7][8]

St. Patrick rectory in Elizabeth, NJ

Following the closing of St. Patrick High School, faculty and staff led to the creation of The Patrick School, an independent private school that retains a connection to St. Patrick High School. In January 2018, NBA star Kyrie Irving, an alum of St. Patrick, donated a new gym to The Patrick School.[9]

St. Patrick church steeples in Elizabeth, NJ

Athletics

The Patrick School Celtics / Lady Celtics competed in basketball under the auspices of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.[2] St. Patrick High School's athletic program was most noted for a storied boys basketball program that has produced numerous college and professional level players. For nearly 20 years, under the direction of head coach Kevin Boyle, the team captured multiple NJSIAA sectional and state titles as well as five NJSIAA Tournament of Champions titles (1998, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009). They have gained recognition from multiple national media outlets and have been a staple in many national rankings, including the ESPN RISE Fab 50, USA Today Super 25, and the Max Preps Top 25.

In 2000, the boys basketball team won the Parochial North B sectional title with a 77–56 win over Paterson Catholic High School in the tournament final.[10]

In 2003, the boys basketball team won the Non-Public, North B sectional title with a 76–64 win against Paterson Catholic.[11] The team advanced to take the Parochial Group B State championship with an 86–56 win against Cardinal McCarrick High School.[12] The team took the title in the 2003 Boys Basketball Tournament of Champions, defeating Camden Catholic High School in the tournament final.[13]

The team won the Non-Public, North B sectional title in 2005 with a 77–62 win against Paterson Catholic.[14] The team fell short in the final game of the 2005 Boys Basketball Tournament of Champions, falling 63-60 to Seton Hall Preparatory School.[15]

The team took the 2006 Non-Public Group B State Championship with an 83–57 win against Wildwood Catholic High School.[16] The team won the 2006 Tournament of Champions with a 61–54 win against Linden High School.[17] The team ended the season ranked 11th in the nation by USA Today in its final 2006 rankings.[18]

The 2007 boys basketball team won the North B state sectional championship with a 62–46 win against St. Anthony High School.[19] The team moved on to win the Non-Public Group B State Championship with an 85–56 victory against Wildwood Catholic.[20] The team won the 2007 Boys Basketball Tournament of Champions for the second consecutive year with an 85–61 win over Bloomfield Tech High School; Corey Fisher (Villanova University) broke the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions final record by scoring 32 points.[21] The team was ranked second in the nation by USA Today in its final rankings for 2007, falling just short of the top spot in the newspaper's calculations.[22]

Coming on the heels of his team's second consecutive Tournament of Champions win, boys basketball head coach Kevin Boyle was selected as the 2007 Coach of the Year by USA Today. Through the 2007 season, Boyle had coached the team to a 407–120 record in his 19 seasons with the team, including a 58–6 record in the 2006 and 2007 seasons.[23]

In 2009, the boys basketball team captured its third NJSIAA Tournament of Champions Title in four years, beating Science Park High School 73–57. Along the way winning the Non-Public B North Sectional title beating Paterson Catholic 79–54, and the Non-Public B state title defeating Trenton Catholic Academy 76–62. Finishing one of the most successful seasons in the school's illustrious basketball history with a record of 30–3. Ranked #3 nationally in the ESPN Rise Fab 50 and #4 nationally in the USA Today Super 25.

In 2010, the NJSIAA executive committee banned St. Patrick's boys basketball team from competing in the 2010 state tournament and suspended head coach Kevin Boyle for three games after it had come to light that the team had violated state regulations when Boyle had attended and been involved in unsanctioned off-season workouts. Guidelines stipulate that coaches are not allowed to be involved in basketball related activities prior to Thanksgiving Day, which according to the NJSIAA is the official start of the basketball season. These sessions were intentionally video taped by a former state police officer hired by the NJSIAA. St. Patrick's argued that taping these events violated the players' constitutional rights, and were therefore unlawful evidence. Despite being unable to defend their 2009 Tournament of Champions title, the team had finished 26-3 including winning the MaxPreps Holiday Classic in San Diego.[24]

Notable alumni

References
  1. Data for St. Patrick High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed October 23, 2011.
  2. Patrick School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 26, 2018.
  3. Saint Patrick High School Archived 2008-02-13 at the Wayback Machine, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Accessed July 25, 2007.
  4. Catholic Secondary Schools: Union County Archived 2003-02-02 at Archive.today, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Accessed July 25, 2007.
  5. Welcome to Saint Patrick High School Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, St. Patrick High School. Accessed July 25, 2007.
  6. Strunsky, Steve (2012-02-27). "Financial constraints force closure of St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth". Nj.com. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  7. Stanmyre, Matthew. "Recently closed St. Patrick High closing in on new location", The Star-Ledger, July 20, 2012. Accessed April 9, 2013. "The Archdiocese of Newark — which had provided oversight for St. Patrick — decided to close the school June 30 because of dwindling enrollment and serious financial struggles.The Patrick School will re-open in the fall as a private school out of the Archdiocese's oversight. The new school has commitments from about 150 students, Picaro said."
  8. Araton, Harvey. "A Faith Is Tested, and Then Renewed", The New York Times, February 27, 2013. Accessed April 9, 2013. "To mark the one-year anniversary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark’s announcement that it would close St. Patrick — forcing it to soldier on as the nondenominational, grades 7-to-12 Patrick School — Picaro’s beloved boys basketball team will begin state tournament play on Friday, a triumph in itself."
  9. Schneider, Jeremy. "Kyrie Irving funds Patrick School gym renovation: Once a Celtic, always a Celtic", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, January 7, 2018. Accessed July 26, 2018. "The program finally got a gym when it moved to a new building in Hillside in 2016, but it still needed serious work. Boston Celtics star Kyrie Irving, one of the program's most prominent graduates, made sure the work got done. Irving paid to have Patrick School's gym renovated and build the team a new locker room, lounge and weight room."
  10. Parochial Sectional - Parochial North B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 25, 2007.
  11. 2003 Boys Basketball - Non-Public, North B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 25, 2007.
  12. 2003 Boys Basketball - Parochial Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 25, 2007.
  13. 2003 Boys Basketball - Tournament of Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 25, 2007.
  14. 2005 Boys Basketball - Non-Public, North B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 25, 2007.
  15. 2005 Boys Basketball - Tournament of Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 25, 2007.
  16. 2006 Boys Basketball - Non-Public Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 25, 2007.
  17. 2006 Boys Basketball - T of C, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 25, 2007.
  18. Lawlor, Christopher. "Final Super 25 boys' basketball rankings", USA Today, March 27, 2006.
  19. 2007 Boys Basketball - North B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 25, 2007.
  20. 2007 Boys Basketball - Non-Public Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 25, 2007.
  21. 2007 Boys Basketball - Tournament of Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 25, 2007.
  22. Lawlor, Christopher. "Super 25: Virginia's Oak Hill Academy finishes on top", USA Today. Accessed July 25, 2007.
  23. "Love leads way on 2007 All-USA boys hoops team", USA Today. Accessed July 25, 2007.
  24. Idec, Keith. "NJSIAA bans St. Pat's, clears Paterson Catholic's obstacle", The Record (New Jersey), February 12, 2012. Accessed January 7, 2012. "The NJSIAA’s executive committee voted, 27-0, Friday during a meeting in Robbinsville in favor of the recommendation made by its controversies committee to ban national power St. Patrick’s from its boys basketball tournament next month. The NJSIAA also suspended Celtics coach Kevin Boyle for three games for conducting organized workouts prior to the official start of the season."
  25. Joe Álvarez, Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed September 14, 2019. "High School St. Patrick High School (Elizabeth)".
  26. Schneider, Jeremy. "NBA Draft 2016: N.J.'s DeAndre' Bembry drafted 21st by Atlanta Hawks", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 23, 2016. Accessed July 26, 2018. "Former Patrick School star DeAndre' Bembry, a standout at Saint Joseph's, was drafted 21st overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2016 NBA Draft on Thursday night, becoming the second Garden State native selected on the night."
  27. Grant Billmeier Archived 2011-07-09 at the Wayback Machine, Seton Hall University. Accessed September 16, 2007. "Attended Pennington School as a freshman, averaging 15 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks... Chosen to the All-Prep First Team... Transferred to St. Patrick’s after his freshman year."
  28. Goodman, Jeff. "Heralded recruit struggles with expectations", USA Today, November 16, 2005. Accessed November 30, 2007.
  29. "Made In Jersey: Samuel Dalembert", The Star-Ledger, March 4, 2007. Accessed August 1, 2007. "St. Patrick's: Dalembert averaged 13 points and 14 rebounds as a 1999 senior All-State selection for coach Kevin Boyle in Elizabeth. He started playing basketball as a high school sophomore."
  30. Martin, Douglas. "John J. Fay Jr., 76, Ombudsman For the Elderly of New Jersey", The New York Times, October 29, 2003. Accessed July 7, 2010.
  31. "The 2 Coreys are set for reality show". Philadelphia Daily News. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved August 30, 2007.
  32. Hedges, Chris. "Public Lives; McGreevey's Chief of Staff Prefers Off-Stage Politics", The New York Times, April 15, 2003. Accessed September 14, 2019. "Mr. Fox, a small man who bristles with nervous energy, was the son of a well-known high school basketball coach, Edward Fox, known as Buzzy, who guided the St. Patrick's team in Elizabeth to many division and state championships. Mr. Fox was expected to hit the court. There was the issue of his height.".
  33. Collings, Buddy. "Austin Rivers, Michael Gilchrist: Boys game to bring out stars, TV cameras", Orlando Sentinel, January 13, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2011. "Sure, the final score matters, particularly with St. Patrick (8-0) in the hunt for a mythical national championship. But the show is going to be all about Winter Park guard Austin Rivers and St. Patrick small forward Michael Gilchrist."
  34. Fagan, Kate (April 9, 2014). "UMass' Derrick Gordon says he's gay". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  35. Ruben Guillandeaux, La Salle Explorers men's basketball. Accessed September 14, 2019. "High School: Led St. Patrick['s to New Jersey State Championship"
  36. Staff. "Al Harrington retires after 16 seasons", ESPN.com, March 19, 2015. Accessed March 19, 2015. "Harrington, who jumped from St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, New Jersey, straight to the NBA, averaged 13.5 points and 5.6 rebounds in a 16-year career that included stops with seven teams, including two stints with the Pacers (1998 to 2004 and part of the 2006-07 season), Hawks, Warriors, Knicks, Nuggets, Magic and Wizards."
  37. Shaheen Holloway, Saint Peter's Peacocks basketball. Accessed September 14, 2019. "The Queens, NY native was a McDonald's All-American who played at St. Patrick's High School in Elizabeth, NJ."
  38. Orr, Conor. "NBA Draft 2011: Kyrie Irving, St. Patrick alum, is a No. 1 prospect thanks to keen work ethic, talent", The Star-Ledger, June 23, 2011. Accessed October 23, 2011. "Before his player-of-the-year banner hung inside the hollowed-out church where he played, there were nights when Kyrie Irving didn’t have anyone to practice against. The bouncing ball echoed through St. Patrick High School’s worn cream-and-green walls, through the narrow hallway past the principal’s office, around the picture of Pope John Paul II and out onto Court Street. Surrounding him was little else but the three retired jerseys of the players he’d transferred there to be like — Shaheen Holloway, Al Harrington, Samuel Dalembert."
  39. Orr, Conor. "North Carolina's Dexter Strickland, a former St. Patrick star, puts his ego aside", The Star-Ledger, March 25, 2011. Accessed October 23, 2011.
  40. Rubin, Roger. "NCAA Tournament: Brooklyn native Dakari Johnson showing NBA potential with Kentucky", New York Daily News, April 4, 2014. Accessed September 14, 2019. "'There aren't many guys in the NBA that can score inside, but in that game you could see how he can,' said Kevin Boyle, Johnson's high school coach at St. Patrick (N.J.) and at Montverde Academy (Fla.)."
  41. Riley, Nadia. "Big man providing leadership", The Daily Targum, February 19, 2004. Accessed June 20, 2008. "During his senior year at St. Patrick's High School in Elizabeth, Lamizana averaged 13.1 points and 12.1 rebounds per game, leading one of the top high school programs in the country to a 25-6 season, the Parochial B Championship, and its record fifth consecutive Union County Tournament Title."
  42. Rosenfeld, Josh. "NJ Boys Basketball: St. Pat's Alum Named Academic All-America", The Star-Ledger, February 28, 2010. Accessed October 23, 2011. "Yves Mekongo, a key member of St. Patrick’s Tournament of Champions winner in 2006, was one of five players selected as first team Academic All-America by the College Sports Information Directors of America."
  43. Guzda, Henry P. "James P. Mitchell: social conscience of the Cabinet", Monthly Labor Review, August 1991. Accessed June 20, 2008.
  44. Fitzsimmons, Brian. Celtic Pride: How Coach Kevin Boyle Took St. Patrick to the Top of High School Basketball, p. 3, iUniverse, 2011. ISBN 1462063705. Accessed March 12, 2012. "Thomas Mitchell, a member of the St. Patrick class of 1910, played Uncle Billy in It's a Wonderful Life and Scarlet's father in Gone with the Wind."
  45. Player Bio: Mike Nardi, CSTV. Accessed June 20, 2008.
  46. Jordan, Jason. "Kentucky signee Nick Richards calls becoming McDonald's All American a dream come true", USA Today High School Sports, January 25, 2017. Accessed November 17, 2018. "The Patrick School (Elizabeth, N.J.) center Nick Richards doesn’t have the typical story that accompanies being a five-star recruit."
  47. Luicci, Tom. "Former St. Patrick star Jeff Robinson transferring to Seton Hall", The Star-Ledger, January 14, 2009. Accessed October 23, 2014. "Jeff Robinson is coming home in part because of what he calls 'family issues' but also because of a selfish reason, one he openly admits to: The former star at St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth simply wants to play more."
  48. Miech, Rob. "UNLV’s Quintrell Thomas can’t wait to get back on court", Las Vegas Sun, October 31, 2009. Accessed September 14, 2019. "UNLV assistant coach Lew Hill keeps telling Quintrell Thomas he should have just come to Las Vegas out of Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick High."
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