Oakcrest High School
Encyclopedia
Oakcrest High School is a comprehensive
four-year public high school
located in Hamilton Township
, in Atlantic County
, New Jersey
, operating as part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District
. The school name was chosen based on its site on the crest of a hill amid oak trees. The school serves students from Hamilton Township and Mullica Township
, and the sending districts of the City of Port Republic
and Washington Township
(in Burlington County
).
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,737 students and 124 classroom teachers (on a FTE
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.01.
The school was the 244th-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 254th in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 232nd in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.
The school has a variety of programs, including Special Needs, a "High School-to-Work" program, College Preparatory, Advanced Placement (AP), and Performing Arts training.
for its "A Proactive Approach to Guidance and Career Services" Career Education program.
Oakcrest's Academic Challenge Team was successful at the Buena Regional High School
and Egg Harbor Township High School
competitions in spring 2006, the team finished first overall at the Gateway Toyota Academic Challenge at Monsignor Donovan High School
in Toms River
by defeating perennial competitor East Brunswick High School
in the final round.
In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post
, the school was ranked 66th in New Jersey and 1,918th nationwide.
, an athletic conference consisting of both parochial and public high schools located in Atlantic County
, Cape May County
, Cumberland County
, and Gloucester County
, operating under the aegis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
.
The school offers many sports to its students including Football
, Fall Cheerleading
, Field hockey
, Soccer, Tennis
, Basketball
, Winter Cheerleading
, Lacrosse
, Wrestling
, Crew
, Track and Field
, Cross country running
, Powerlifting
and Baseball
, the Festival of States in St. Petersburg, Florida
, and a tour in Europe including Switzerland
, France
, and Germany
.
The school's marching band was Tournament of Bands
Chapter One Champions in 1977 and 1988 (Group 2) and 1983-1987 (Group 1). The marching band was 1977 Atlantic Coast Champion in Group 2
Comprehensive high school
Comprehensive 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...
four-year public high school
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....
located in Hamilton Township
Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey
Hamilton Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 26,503...
, in Atlantic County
Atlantic County, New Jersey
-National protected areas:* Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge * Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River -Demographics:...
, 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...
, operating as part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District
Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District
The Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District is a regional public high school district serving students in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States...
. The school name was chosen based on its site on the crest of a hill amid oak trees. The school serves students from Hamilton Township and Mullica Township
Mullica Township, New Jersey
Mullica Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 6,147....
, and the sending districts of the City of Port Republic
Port Republic, New Jersey
Port Republic is a city located in Atlantic County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 1,115....
and Washington Township
Washington Township, Burlington County, New Jersey
Washington Township is a Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 621....
(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...
).
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,737 students and 124 classroom teachers (on a 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 14.01.
The school was the 244th-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 254th in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 232nd in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.
The school has a variety of programs, including Special Needs, a "High School-to-Work" program, College Preparatory, Advanced Placement (AP), and Performing Arts training.
Awards and recognition
For the 2005-06 school year, Oakcrest High School was recognized with the "Best Practices Award" by the New Jersey Department of EducationNew Jersey Department of Education
The New Jersey Department of Education administers state and federal aid programs affecting more than 1.4 million public and non-public elementary and secondary school children in the state of New Jersey. The department is headquartered in Trenton.The Department is responsible for ensuring that...
for its "A Proactive Approach to Guidance and Career Services" Career Education program.
Oakcrest's Academic Challenge Team was successful at the Buena Regional High School
Buena Regional High School
Buena Regional High School is a comprehensive regional public high school founded in 1971 to serve students in grades 9 - 12 from five communities in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Buena Regional School District. Municipalities served by the district are Buena...
and Egg Harbor Township High School
Egg Harbor Township High School
Egg Harbor Township High School is a comprehensive community public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grade from Egg Harbor Township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Egg Harbor Township Schools....
competitions in spring 2006, the team finished first overall at the Gateway Toyota Academic Challenge at Monsignor Donovan High School
Monsignor Donovan High School
Monsignor Donovan High School is the only Roman Catholic High School in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States, and operates under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. Located in the coastal community of Toms River Township, the school originally opened in 1962 as St. Joseph...
in Toms River
Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Toms River Township and is the county seat of Ocean County, New Jersey. It is part of a larger Toms River Township...
by defeating perennial competitor East Brunswick High School
East Brunswick High School
East Brunswick High School is a comprehensive public high school serving students in grades 10 through 12 in East Brunswick Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, operating as part of East Brunswick Public Schools. The school was recognized by the Blue Ribbon Schools Program in the 1990-91...
in the final round.
In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The 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 66th in New Jersey and 1,918th nationwide.
Athletics
The Oakcrest High School Falcons compete in the Atlantic Division of the Cape-Atlantic LeagueCape-Atlantic League
The Cape-Atlantic League is an athletic conference consisting of both parochial and public high schools located in Atlantic County, Cape May County, Cumberland County, and Gloucester County, New Jersey. The Cape-Atlantic League operates under the aegis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic...
, an athletic conference consisting of both parochial and public high schools located in Atlantic County
Atlantic County, New Jersey
-National protected areas:* Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge * Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River -Demographics:...
, Cape May County
Cape May County, New Jersey
-Climate:Being the southernmost point in New Jersey, Cape May has fairly mild wintertime temperatures. Contrary to that, the summertime has lower temperatures than most places in the state, making the county a popular place to escape the heat. It is in zone 7a/7b, which is the same as parts of...
, Cumberland County
Cumberland County, New Jersey
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population is 156,898. Its county seat is Bridgeton. Cumberland County is named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland....
, 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....
, operating 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:...
.
The school offers many sports to its students including Football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, Fall Cheerleading
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
, Field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
, Soccer, Tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, Basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, Winter Cheerleading
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
, Lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
, Wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
, Crew
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
, Track and Field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, Cross country running
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, Powerlifting
Powerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
and Baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
Marching band
Also worthy of acclaim is the high school's marching band, the Oakcrest Marching Ambassadors, who in the 2005-06 school year took a record 37 first place trophies including a grand championship in the Cavalcade of Bands Liberty conference. The band has performed in numerous venues including the Miss America Parade in Atlantic CityAtlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
, the Festival of States in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, and a tour in Europe including Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The school's marching band was Tournament of Bands
Tournament of Bands
The Tournament of Bands is one of the largest competitive band organizations in the United States and is one of several major circuits in the mid-Atlantic states . TOB was founded in 1972 by the National Judges Association and currently has 439 member bands...
Chapter One Champions in 1977 and 1988 (Group 2) and 1983-1987 (Group 1). The marching band was 1977 Atlantic Coast Champion in Group 2
Administration
Core members of the school's administration are:- Anthony Mongelluzzo, Principal
- Jackie Fresne, Vice Principal
- Rodney James, Vice Principal
- Mike McGhee, Vice Principal
Notable alumni
- Cory BirdCory BirdCory James Bird is a former American football safety in the National Football League for the Indianapolis Colts from 2001–2004. Bird played college football at Virginia Tech and was drafted in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft.Bird was known for his ability to make open field tackles in...
(born 1978), class of 1997, former safety for the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
. - Darren DrozdovDarren DrozdovDarren Drozdov, is an essayist, former NFL player and retired professional wrestler who competed in the World Wrestling Federation in 1998 and 1999 under the ring names Puke and Droz....
(born 1969), former NFL player for the Denver BroncosDenver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and wrestler in the then WWF now WWE. - James Jenkins, class of 1994, played professional football for the CFL Toronto ArgonautsToronto ArgonautsThe Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
in 2000-01. - Day Deborah LipfordDay GardnerDay Deborah Rica Lipford, now known as Dr. Day Gardner, is a former Miss Atlantic City, who served as Miss Delaware 1976 and made history by becoming the first African American contestant to place as a top ten semi-finalist at the Miss America pageant.She was President and Director of Lipford...
, crowned Miss DelawareMiss DelawareThe Miss Delaware competition is the pageant that selects the representative of Delaware in the Miss America pageant. The event takes place annually in the month of June and is currently held in the state capital of Dover, Delaware at the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino...
1976, she became the first black woman to place as a semi finalist in the Miss America Pageant. - Cathy RushCathy RushCathy Rush was the head women's basketball coach at Immaculata from 1972-1977. She led Immaculata to three consecutive AIAW national titles from 1972-1974. She led the Mighty Macs to six consecutive final four appearances in her six seasons with the school, attaining a 149-15 record. Rush was...
(born c. 1946), former head women's basketball coach at Immaculata UniversityImmaculata UniversityImmaculata University is a Catholic University on King Road in East Whiteland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.-History:Immaculata was founded as Villa Maria College, a women's college in 1920. It was the first Catholic college for women in the Philadelphia area...
who led the team to three consecutive AIAWAssociation for Intercollegiate Athletics for WomenThe Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women was founded in 1971 to govern collegiate women's athletics in the United States and to administer national championships. It evolved out of the Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women . The association was one of the biggest...
national titles from 1972-1974.
External links
- Oakcrest High School website
- Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District
- data for the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District, 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: Oakcrest HS