Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
Encyclopedia
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School is a comprehensive
regional four-year public high school
in Union County
, New Jersey
, which serves students in Grades 9 through 12 from the Township of Scotch Plains
and the Borough of Fanwood
, operating as part of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District
. The facility is located in Scotch Plains. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Commission on Secondary Schools since 1932.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,444 students and 91 classroom teachers (on an FTE
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 15.87.
In order to qualify for graduation, students must complete 120 credits of course work. Over 80% of students participated in clubs, athletics, service organizations, and music programs in 2008. In the class of 2008, there were ten National Merit Commended Students. In the class of 2003, 21 students were named Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar
s. There were 289 Advanced Placement (AP) examinations administered in 21 subject areas; 71% of the students received a score of 3 or better giving them exemption from certain required courses at various colleges and universities. 98% of the class of 2003 was enrolled in the college preparatory course of study. A total of $2,407,154 in scholarship money was awarded to graduates for their academic achievements.
, the school was ranked 42nd in New Jersey and 1,349th nationwide.
The school was the 62nd-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 69th in 2008 out of 316 schools.
Scotch Plains-Fanwood is also home to the Repertory Theatre program, which in the past few years has put on such shows as Footloose
, Les Misérables
, West Side Story, 42nd Street
, Once Upon a Mattress
, Urinetown
, Guys and Dolls
, Curtains, and Hairspray
, garnering a number of Rising Star Award nominations from the Paper Mill Playhouse, including one win for Outstanding Student Orchestra, for 42nd Street in 2006.
When not competing, the Moonglowers play old time big band swing songs for various community events and organizations. From community concerts to retirement homes, the moonglowers play songs from the golden age of jazz for those who remember them. Since 2007, the Moonglowers have also headlined the Susan G. Komen for the Cure
race in New York City in early September.
and The Lord of the Rings
movies. They competed in the USSBA NJ State finals, and won with a score of 86.6. They also competed in the USSBA All State finals, and won second place, with a score of 90.1.
The 2007-2008 Marching band's show was entitled "Quest: Visions of a Dream" with selection from Zorro
and Man of La Mancha
. The SPF Raider Marching Band competed at the USSBA Yamaha Cup in Giant's Stadium and took second place. At the USSBA New Jersey State Finals, the Marching Band took first place for the second year in a row while also receiving the award for best percussion for the third year in a row. Moving on to the All-Eastern Finals in Allentown, P.A., the band received the award for second place as well as caption awards for best percussion.
The 2008-09 show was entitled "Destiny: Past, Present, And Future", marking the first year that the band is competing in USSBA Group VI Open, the most prestigious of all USSBA groups. It also included large props, actors, and narration. At the 2008 All Eastern Finals, SPF took 7th place with an historic score of 94.375.
The 2010-11 show, entitled "Generation Millennium", had selections of music from Walt Disney World's Epcot fireworks show, entitled IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. The band competed in the USSBA NJ State Finals in Union, NJ and were named state champions of Group 6A. At the All-Eastern Finals in Allentown, PA, the band received 3rd place but received the caption awards for best colorguard and best music.
, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
.
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...
regional 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....
in Union County
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
, 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...
, which serves students in Grades 9 through 12 from the Township of Scotch Plains
Scotch Plains, New Jersey
Scotch Plains is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the township population increased to a record high of 23,510.-History:...
and the Borough of Fanwood
Fanwood, New Jersey
Fanwood is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,318.Fanwood was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on October 2, 1895, from portions of Fanwood Township , based on the results of a...
, operating as part of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District
Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District
The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District is a regional public school district serving students from two communities in Union County, New Jersey, United States. The district serves students in Prekindergarten through twelfth grade, who come from the Township of Scotch Plains and the...
. The facility is located in Scotch Plains. 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 1932.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,444 students and 91 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 15.87.
In order to qualify for graduation, students must complete 120 credits of course work. Over 80% of students participated in clubs, athletics, service organizations, and music programs in 2008. In the class of 2008, there were ten National Merit Commended Students. In the class of 2003, 21 students were named Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar
Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar
Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars are recognized as the highest achieving graduating high school students in or from New Jersey and are granted awards regardless of need.Students are selected on the basis of the following criteria:...
s. There were 289 Advanced Placement (AP) examinations administered in 21 subject areas; 71% of the students received a score of 3 or better giving them exemption from certain required courses at various colleges and universities. 98% of the class of 2003 was enrolled in the college preparatory course of study. A total of $2,407,154 in scholarship money was awarded to graduates for their academic achievements.
Awards and recognition
In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington PostThe 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 42nd in New Jersey and 1,349th nationwide.
The school was the 62nd-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 69th in 2008 out of 316 schools.
Publications
The school is host to an annually published literary magazine, Muse, which features poetry, stories and art by the students. The school's newspaper, The Fanscotian, was ranked by the GSSPA as the best newspaper in New Jersey. The school's yearbook, Culmen, has gained national recognition.Music
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School is host to an extensive music program. They include multiple choruses such as a Concert Choir and five auditioned groups. The band program consists of Freshman Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Lab band, the SPF marching band, and two Jazz bands: SPF Jazz band and the Moonglowers.Scotch Plains-Fanwood is also home to the Repertory Theatre program, which in the past few years has put on such shows as Footloose
Footloose (musical)
Footloose is a 1998 musical based on the 1984 film of the same name. The music is by Tom Snow , the lyrics by Dean Pitchford , and the book by Pitchford and Walter Bobbie.-Act 1:...
, Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
, West Side Story, 42nd Street
42nd Street (musical)
42nd Street is a musical with a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, lyrics by Al Dubin, and music by Harry Warren. The 1980 Broadway production, directed by an ailing Gower Champion and orchestrated by Philip J. Lang, won the Tony Award for Best Musical and became a long-running hit...
, Once Upon a Mattress
Once Upon a Mattress
Once Upon a Mattress is a musical comedy with music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer. It opened off-Broadway in May 1959, and then moved to Broadway...
, Urinetown
Urinetown
Urinetown: The Musical is a satirical comedy musical, with music by Mark Hollmann, lyrics by Hollmann and Greg Kotis, and book by Kotis. It satirizes the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and municipal politics...
, Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure", two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most notably...
, Curtains, and Hairspray
Hairspray
Hairspray may refer to:* Hair spray, a personal grooming product* Hairspray , a film by John Waters** Hairspray , the film's soundtrack album* Hairspray , a stage musical based on the original film...
, garnering a number of Rising Star Award nominations from the Paper Mill Playhouse, including one win for Outstanding Student Orchestra, for 42nd Street in 2006.
SPF Moonglowers
SPF's top level ("A") jazz band is known as the Moonglowers, which are the oldest continuously operated high school jazz band in the state of New Jersey. It was formed in 1942 to play contemporary big-band songs during lunch periods and the senior prom. Beginning in 1979, the Moonglowers started competing in the New Jersey International Association of Jazz Education (Now the NJAJE) jazz band circuit. Since then, the Moonglowers have won a McDonald's National Jazz Band title, and 10 New Jersey State titles. Since 2007, when the NJIAJE reformed into the New Jersey Association for Jazz Education, the Moonglowers have competed in division II. Notably, in 2007, both the Moonglowers and SPF Jazz, SPF's second tier ("B") jazz band, competed together at the New Jersey State Final festival, and SPF Jazz took first place. This is the only time in the 21 year competition history of the school that SPF Jazz scored higher than the Moonglowers in competitions.When not competing, the Moonglowers play old time big band swing songs for various community events and organizations. From community concerts to retirement homes, the moonglowers play songs from the golden age of jazz for those who remember them. Since 2007, the Moonglowers have also headlined the Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Susan G. Komen for the Cure, formerly known as The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, often referred to as simply Komen, is the most widely known, largest and best-funded breast cancer organization in the US....
race in New York City in early September.
SPF Raider Marching Band
The 2006-07 Marching band's show was entitled "Mystic Journey" with selections from Harry PotterHarry Potter
Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
and The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter...
movies. They competed in the USSBA NJ State finals, and won with a score of 86.6. They also competed in the USSBA All State finals, and won second place, with a score of 90.1.
The 2007-2008 Marching band's show was entitled "Quest: Visions of a Dream" with selection from Zorro
Zorro
Zorro is a fictional character created in 1919 by New York-based pulp writer Johnston McCulley. The character has been featured in numerous books, films, television series, and other media....
and Man of La Mancha
Man of La Mancha
Man of La Mancha is a musical with a book by Dale Wasserman, lyrics by Joe Darion and music by Mitch Leigh. It is adapted from Wasserman's non-musical 1959 teleplay I, Don Quixote, which was in turn inspired by Miguel de Cervantes's seventeenth century masterpiece Don Quixote...
. The SPF Raider Marching Band competed at the USSBA Yamaha Cup in Giant's Stadium and took second place. At the USSBA New Jersey State Finals, the Marching Band took first place for the second year in a row while also receiving the award for best percussion for the third year in a row. Moving on to the All-Eastern Finals in Allentown, P.A., the band received the award for second place as well as caption awards for best percussion.
The 2008-09 show was entitled "Destiny: Past, Present, And Future", marking the first year that the band is competing in USSBA Group VI Open, the most prestigious of all USSBA groups. It also included large props, actors, and narration. At the 2008 All Eastern Finals, SPF took 7th place with an historic score of 94.375.
The 2010-11 show, entitled "Generation Millennium", had selections of music from Walt Disney World's Epcot fireworks show, entitled IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. The band competed in the USSBA NJ State Finals in Union, NJ and were named state champions of Group 6A. At the All-Eastern Finals in Allentown, PA, the band received 3rd place but received the caption awards for best colorguard and best music.
Athletics
The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Raiders compete in the Union County Interscholastic Athletic ConferenceUnion County Interscholastic Athletic Conference
The Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference is a New Jersey high school sports association operating under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association...
, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by 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:...
.
Government & public service
- Carol BellamyCarol BellamyCarol Bellamy has been Director of the Peace Corps, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund , and President and CEO of World Learning. In April, 2009, Bellamy was appointed as Chair of the International Baccalaureate Board of Governors...
(born 1942, class of 1959), was appointed Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in 1995 and was re-appointed in 1999. Prior to her UNICEF appointment, Ms. Bellamy served as the Director of the Peace Corps beginning in 1993. She served five years in the New York State Senate. In 1978, she was the first women to be named President of the New York City Council. - Donald DiFrancescoDonald DiFrancescoDonald Thomas DiFrancesco was the 51st Governor of New Jersey from 2001 to 2002 by virtue of his status as President of the New Jersey Senate, the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature....
(born 1944, class of 1962), elected to the New Jersey General AssemblyNew Jersey General AssemblyThe New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
in 1976 and moved to the New Jersey SenateNew Jersey SenateThe New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
in 1979, serving as the Senate President for 10 years and as Acting Governor of New Jersey for 11 months. - Linda StenderLinda StenderLinda Stender is an American Democratic Party politician who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2002, where she represents the 22nd legislative district. She ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New Jersey's 7th District, in 2006 and...
(born 1951), member of the New Jersey General AssemblyNew Jersey General AssemblyThe New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
for the 22nd district who was formerly the Mayor of Fanwood.
Sports
- Derrick CaracterDerrick CaracterDerrick Caracter is a power forward–center for the Los Angeles Lakers.Caracter grew up in Fanwood, New Jersey. He played high school basketball at St. Patrick High School as a freshman, and attended Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School as a sophomore, to team with fellow SPF native, and subsequent...
(born 1988), former power forwardPower forward (basketball)Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
/centerCenter (basketball)The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
for the University of Louisville Cardinals basketball and then power forwardPower forward (basketball)Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
/centerCenter (basketball)The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
for University of Texas-El Paso UTEP basketballUTEP Miners men's basketballThe UTEP Miners basketball team is an NCAA Division I men's college basketball team competing in the Conference USA. Home games are played at Don Haskins Center, located on University of Texas at El Paso's campus in El Paso.-Don Haskins Center:...
team. Current member of the NBA's 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...
. Played at St. Patrick for his freshman, junior and parts of his senior year, and trained with SPFHS coach Frau Keyes for sophomore year while attending SPFHS. - Scott GoldblattScott GoldblattScott Goldblatt is an American swimmer who specializes in the freestyle.-Biography:Raised in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, Goldblatt first began swimming in the children’s pool at his local swim club, Willow Grove Swim Club in Scotch Plains...
(born 1979), swimmer who won a Gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics2004 Summer OlympicsThe 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens and a Silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics2000 Summer OlympicsThe Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney, Australia, with both medals earned in the 4 x 200 m Freestyle Relay. - Jeffrey HammondsJeffrey HammondsJeffrey Bryan Hammonds is a former Major League Baseball player. He attended Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in Scotch Plains, New Jersey and Stanford University in California before playing pro ball...
(born 1971), baseball Olympian, twelve years in major leagues including one all star appearance. - Nathan Jones (b. 1982), Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
cornerback, Rutgers academic All-American. - Renaldo NehemiahRenaldo NehemiahRenaldo Nehemiah is an American athlete who dominated the 110 m hurdle event from 1978 until 1981. He was the world record holder and the first man to run the high hurdles in under 13 seconds...
(born 1959), held 110 meter hurdles record for years, twice SuperstarsSuperstarsSuperstars is an all-around sports competition that pits elite athletes from different sports against one another in a series of athletic events resembling a decathlon....
Champion, San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
Wide Receiver. - Joe ScarpatiJoe ScarpatiJoseph Henry Scarpati, Jr. is a former professional American football safety in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and the New Orleans Saints. He was the holder to Tom Dempsey's record breaking 63-yard field goal...
(born 1943), holder for Tom DempseyTom DempseyThomas Dempsey is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints , Philadelphia Eagles , Los Angeles Rams , Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills . He attended high school at San Dieguito High School and played college football at Palomar College...
's record 63 yards (57.6 m) field goal in 1970. - Lance ThomasLance ThomasLance Thomas is a 6'8" former forward on the Duke University's men's basketball team. He is from Scotch Plains, New Jersey. He started at power forward for Duke's national champion 2010 team. Currently for the NBA D-League 2010-11 season, Thomas is playing for the Austin Toros.- High school...
(born 1988), power forwardPower forward (basketball)Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
/centerCenter (basketball)The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
for the Duke UniversityDuke UniversityDuke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
basketballBasketballBasketball 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...
team. Attended Scotch Plains before graduating from St. Benedict's in 2006.
Fine arts
- John B. RileyJohn B. RileyJohn Bernard Riley is an American jazz drummer, a music educator – at the collegiate and conservatory levels – and a music clinician...
(born 1955), jazz drummer who has recorded on over 40 albums and CDs with internationally renowned artists, winning two Grammy AwardGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s out of 14 nominations. - Marc ShaimanMarc ShaimanMarc Shaiman is an American composer, lyricist, arranger, and performer for films, television, and theatre. He is perhaps best known for writing the music and co-writing the lyrics for the Broadway musical version of the cult John Waters film Hairspray, for which Shaiman won Tony and Grammy...
(born 1959), Tony and Grammy winning composer, five time Academy Award-nominee. - David S. WareDavid S. WareDavid Spencer Ware , is an American jazz saxophonist.Ware grew up in Scotch Plains, New Jersey and graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. He attended the Berklee College of Music and worked in New York City as a cab driver for 14 years, later returning to Scotch Plains to live...
(born 1949), jazz musician.
External links
- Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
- Data for Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional High School, 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...