Camden High School (New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
Camden High School is a four-year comprehensive community public high school
that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from the city of Camden
, New Jersey
, United States. The school is part of the Camden City Public Schools
, which is classified as an Abbott District
. The school, established in 1891, celebrated its centennial in 1991. The school was originally known as the Camden Manual Training and High School, admitting its first class of 48 boys in 1891, with girls entering the school three years later. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Commission on Secondary Schools since 1929.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,016 students and 107 classroom teachers (on an FTE
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.50.
The school was the 322nd and lowest 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 316th in 2008 as the lowest out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 314th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.
In 2003, Bonsall Family School, Camden High School, and East Camden Middle School were identified as three of the seven "persistently dangerous" high schools in New Jersey.
, an athletic conference consisting of public and private high schools located in Burlington County
, Camden County
and Gloucester County
. The Olympic Conference operates under the aegis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
(NJSIAA). Previously, the athletic teams at Camden High School were called/known as the "Purple Avalanche," a fitting name for the large football teams (60 or more players) on the sideline at the start of their games in the 1960s and 1970s. The school and their crosstown rival, Woodrow Wilson High School
, still play the traditional Thanksgiving Day football game each year. The Thanksgiving Day game in 1979 was suspended after rival gangs started shooting at each other, resulting in at least 14 injuries and dozens of arrests.
The boys' basketball team went undefeated in both 1959 and 1960, winning state championships each year. The team won a total of seven state championships in the 1970s and 1980s. USA Today
ranked the 1986 team as number one nationwide. Curtis Walls, Lee Wall, Louis Banks, Sean Turner, Larry Cohen, Reggie Lawrence, Kevin Smith, Dennis Brown, Davis Nieves, and Vic Carstarphen all played on this team.
The 2000 boys basketball team won the South Jersey Group III state championship as the seventh-seeded team, with an 89–64 win against top seed Lakewood High School
, as Dajuan Wagner
topped all scorers with 43 points. Camden High went on to win the State Group III title against Malcolm X Shabazz High School
. From there they moved on to the Tournament of Champions
, which pits each state champion against each other to determine one overall champion. Camden defeated Seton Hall Preparatory School
in the championship game.
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....
that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from the city of Camden
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, 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...
, United States. The school is part of the Camden City Public Schools
Camden City Public Schools
Camden City Public Schools is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade from the city of Camden, New Jersey, United States...
, which is classified as an Abbott District
Abbott District
Abbott districts are school districts in New Jersey that are provided remedies to ensure that their students receive public education in accordance with New Jersey’s state constitution. They were created in 1985 as a result of the first ruling of Abbott v. Burke, a case filed by the Education Law...
. The school, established in 1891, celebrated its centennial in 1991. The school was originally known as the Camden Manual Training and High School, admitting its first class of 48 boys in 1891, with girls entering the school three years later. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
The 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...
Commission on Secondary Schools since 1929.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,016 students and 107 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 9.50.
The school was the 322nd and lowest 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 316th in 2008 as the lowest out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 314th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.
In 2003, Bonsall Family School, Camden High School, and East Camden Middle School were identified as three of the seven "persistently dangerous" high schools in New Jersey.
Athletics
The Camden High School Golden Panthers compete in the Olympic ConferenceOlympic Conference
The Olympic Conference is an athletic conference consisting of public and private high schools located in Burlington County, Camden County and Gloucester County, New Jersey. The Olympic Conference operates under the aegis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.-Participating...
, an athletic conference consisting of public and private high schools located in Burlington County
Burlington County, New Jersey
There were 154,371 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had...
, 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...
and Gloucester County
Gloucester County, New Jersey
Gloucester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 288,288. Its county seat is Woodbury....
. The Olympic Conference operates under the aegis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
The 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:...
(NJSIAA). Previously, the athletic teams at Camden High School were called/known as the "Purple Avalanche," a fitting name for the large football teams (60 or more players) on the sideline at the start of their games in the 1960s and 1970s. The school and their crosstown rival, 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....
, still play the traditional Thanksgiving Day football game each year. The Thanksgiving Day game in 1979 was suspended after rival gangs started shooting at each other, resulting in at least 14 injuries and dozens of arrests.
The boys' basketball team went undefeated in both 1959 and 1960, winning state championships each year. The team won a total of seven state championships in the 1970s and 1980s. USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
ranked the 1986 team as number one nationwide. Curtis Walls, Lee Wall, Louis Banks, Sean Turner, Larry Cohen, Reggie Lawrence, Kevin Smith, Dennis Brown, Davis Nieves, and Vic Carstarphen all played on this team.
The 2000 boys basketball team won the South Jersey Group III state championship as the seventh-seeded team, with an 89–64 win against top seed Lakewood High School
Lakewood High School (New Jersey)
Lakewood High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school in Lakewood Township, Ocean County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Lakewood School District....
, as Dajuan Wagner
Dajuan Wagner
Dajuan Marquett Wagner is an American former professional basketball player.Wagner is the son of former University of Louisville and NBA player Milt Wagner...
topped all scorers with 43 points. Camden High went on to win the State Group III title against Malcolm X Shabazz High School
Malcolm X Shabazz High School
Malcolm X Shabazz High School is a four-year public high school in Newark, New Jersey, as part of the Newark Public Schools. The school was formerly named South Side High School, but was renamed in 1972....
. From there they moved on to the Tournament of Champions
Tournament of Champions (NJSIAA)
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Tournament of Champions is the sports tournament for New Jersey high schools that determines which high school will be crowned as the #1 overall team in the state for each sport...
, which pits each state champion against each other to determine one overall champion. Camden defeated Seton Hall Preparatory School
Seton Hall Preparatory School
Seton Hall Preparatory School, generally called Seton Hall Prep, is a Roman Catholic boys' high school located in the suburban community of West Orange in Essex County, New Jersey, operating under the supervision of the Archdiocese of Newark...
in the championship game.
Notable alumni
- Cindy BirdsongCindy BirdsongCynthia Ann "Cindy" Birdsong , better known by her stage name, Cindy Birdsong, is an American singer, most famous for singing with the legendary soul groups Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles and The Supremes.-Early life:...
(born 1969), replaced Florence BallardFlorence BallardFlorence Glenda Ballard Chapman was an American singer and a founding member of the Motown group The Supremes. From 1963 until 1967, Ballard sang on 16 Top 40 hit Supremes' singles, ten of which hit number-one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1967, Motown CEO Berry Gordy decided to remove Ballard from...
in The SupremesThe SupremesThe Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
. - John BrownJohn Brown (football player)John C. Brown is a former American football tackle who played 10 seasons for two National Football League teams: the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played tackle at Syracuse University alongside Ernie Davis. He experienced a great deal of discrimination.Brown played high school...
(born 1939) former American football tackle who played 10 seasons for two NFL teams. - Angelo ErrichettiAngelo ErrichettiAngelo Joseph Errichetti is an American Democratic Party politician who served as Mayor of Camden, New Jersey, and in the New Jersey State Senate before being indicted during Abscam.-Biography:...
(born 1928, former Mayor of Camden and New Jersey State Senator. - George HegaminGeorge HegaminGeorge Russell Hegamin is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers....
(born 1973), former offensive lineman in the NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. - Leon Huff (born 1942), part of the Gamble and HuffGamble and HuffKenneth Gamble and Leon A. Huff are an American songwriting and record production team who have written and produced over 170 gold and platinum records. They were pioneers of Philadelphia soul and the in-house creative team for the Philadelphia International record label...
songwriting team for Philadelphia International RecordsPhiladelphia International RecordsPhiladelphia International Records is a record label founded by writer-producers, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in 1971. It was famous for showcasing the sub-genre of Philadelphia soul music and released a string of worldwide hits during the decade.-History:...
. - Robert S. MacAlisterRobert S. MacAlisterNot to be confused with James G. McAllister, Los Angeles City Council member 1928–33Robert Stuart MacAlister , who went by Robert S. MacAlister, was an oil-well-supplies salesman and a member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council between 1934 and 1939.-Biography:MacAlister was born on May...
, Los Angeles, California, City Council member, 1934–39 - Aaron McCargo, Jr.Aaron McCargo, Jr.Aaron McCargo, Jr. is an American chef from Camden, New Jersey. He is best known as the winner of the fourth season of the Food Network's reality television show, The Next Food Network Star....
(born c. 1971), television chef. - Jim Perry (born 1933), former Canadian and American television host; was a former basketball player in the early 1950s.
- Derrick RamseyDerrick RamseyDerrick Ramsey is a former professional American football player who played tight end for nine seasons for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, New England Patriots, and Detroit Lions....
(born 1956), NFL player who played tight end for nine seasons for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, New England Patriots, and Detroit Lions. - Art StillArt StillArthur Barry Still is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills...
(born 1955), second overall player taken in NFL draft 1978, played for Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills and was selected for the Pro BowlPro BowlIn professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
four times. - Billy ThompsonBilly Thompson (basketball)William Stansbury Thompson is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA...
(born 1963), former small forward for the Miami HeatMiami HeatThe Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
and Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. - Dajuan WagnerDajuan WagnerDajuan Marquett Wagner is an American former professional basketball player.Wagner is the son of former University of Louisville and NBA player Milt Wagner...
(born 1983), NBA basketball player and winner of the 2001 Naismith Prep Player of the Year AwardNaismith Prep Player of the Year AwardThe Naismith Prep Player of the Year award, named for Canadian basketball inventor James Naismith, is given annually by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to high school basketball's top male and female player...
. - Milt WagnerMilt WagnerMilton "Milt" Wagner is a retired American basketball player in the NBA.Wagner played high school basketball at Camden High School....
(born 1963), former point guard for the Miami HeatMiami HeatThe Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
and Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, and father of DaJuan Wagner.
External links
- Camden High School
- Camden City Public Schools
- Data for the Camden City Public Schools, 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...
- South Jersey Sports: Camden HS