The Pennington School
Encyclopedia
The Pennington School is a selective, independent, coeducational college preparatory school for students in grades 6 through 12, located in Pennington, New Jersey
, a small community midway between New York City and Philadelphia in the northeastern United States.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 485 students and 89.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 5.4.
Pennington is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools
, the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools
, the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools
, and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church
.
The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Commission on Secondary Schools since 1930.
as the Methodist Episcopal Male Seminary, a college preparatory school for boys, in order to secure “the education of the physical, the training of the mental, and the grounding of the soul in character.” Pennington officially became a coeducational institution, The Pennington Seminary and Female Collegiate Institute, in the fall of 1854. The School was empowered by the New Jersey Legislature to confer the degrees of Mistress of English Literature and Mistress of Liberal Arts upon young women who had finished their course of study. However, in March 1910, Pennington would again become a school for boys, reverting to the name Pennington Seminary. During the 1920s the school's name evolved to its present form, sometimes with the addition of "for Boys." It was not until 1972 that Pennington once again became a coeducational institution. In 1975, the Center for Learning, one of the nation's leading secondary school programs for children with language-based learning disabilities, was created within the school.
, the Ranney School
, the Purnell School
, Stuart Country Day School
, Wardlaw-Hartridge School
, Timothy Christian School
, Princeton Day School
, and Saddle River Day School
. In addition. Pennington competes regularly against The Peddie School, the Hun School of Princeton
, and Lawrenceville School
.
Pennington Football competes in the Independence League, which is a league consisting of small schools from Pennsylvania and New Jersey; including Bristol, Academy of the New Church, Lower Moreland, Jenkintown, and Springfield Township.
The current Head Coach is Jerry "Chief" Eure, who graduated from Pennington in 1975 and went on to play for the University of Wyoming Cowboys. He was inducted into the Pennington School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996, the Hall's inaugural class.
In 2009, the Red Raiders were led by North Carolina State recruit Dontae Johnson to a 6–3 record and Independence League Championship, outscoring opponents a combined 205–168.
In recent season The Pennington School has sent multiple players to both Division I FBS and FCS schools; including Boston College
, University of Maryland
, North Carolina State, Indiana University
The College of William and Mary, Towson
, and New Hampshire
.
1-0. The team has sent recent players to Division I and Division III soccer programs.
Boys – 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010 Patriot Conference Champions
Recent Pennington track participants have gone on to compete at the Division I and Division III level at The University of Texas, Lafayette
, West Point, McDaniel
, St. Lawrence, Wheaton
, TCNJ, and Dickinson
.
The SOURCE Institute will provides supervision of the intramural program, strength and conditioning services to all varsity athletes on a team by team basis, and assessment and program design to any member of the Pennington community interested in a more intelligent approach to strength, conditioning, and wellness. As part of their programming services, the Institute will create and implement effective speed and strength training programs specific to the demands of each sport and position as well as the strengths and challenges of each athlete.
The SOURCE Institute will provide each and every student, student-athlete, and community member with the opportunity to fulfill his or her physical potential. Most importantly, the SOURCE Institute addresses each individual on the structural, chemical (nutritional), and psychological levels, leading to personal empowerment and a preparedness to better serve others. The program is led by August Leming.
Pennington, New Jersey
Pennington is a Borough in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 2,585.Pennington was established as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 31, 1890, from portions of Hopewell Township, based on the results of...
, a small community midway between New York City and Philadelphia in the northeastern United States.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 485 students and 89.1 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 5.4.
Pennington is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools
National Association of Independent Schools
The National Association of Independent Schools is a U.S.-based membership organization for private, nonprofit, K-12 schools. Founded in 1963, NAIS represents independent schools and associations in the United States, including day, boarding, and day/boarding schools; elementary and secondary...
, the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools
New Jersey Association of Independent Schools
The New Jersey Association of Independent Schools serves independent elementary and secondary schools throughout the state of New Jersey. The Association consists of 70 member schools with a total enrollment of approximately 26,000 students...
, the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools
Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools
The Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools is a voluntary, non-profit consortium of independent schools in the Delaware Valley area of the USA. With headquarters in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, the Association currently has 134 members located throughout eastern Pennsylvania, northern...
, and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
.
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 1930.
History
The Pennington School was founded in 1838 during the Second Great AwakeningSecond Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening was a Christian revival movement during the early 19th century in the United States. The movement began around 1800, had begun to gain momentum by 1820, and was in decline by 1870. The Second Great Awakening expressed Arminian theology, by which every person could be...
as the Methodist Episcopal Male Seminary, a college preparatory school for boys, in order to secure “the education of the physical, the training of the mental, and the grounding of the soul in character.” Pennington officially became a coeducational institution, The Pennington Seminary and Female Collegiate Institute, in the fall of 1854. The School was empowered by the New Jersey Legislature to confer the degrees of Mistress of English Literature and Mistress of Liberal Arts upon young women who had finished their course of study. However, in March 1910, Pennington would again become a school for boys, reverting to the name Pennington Seminary. During the 1920s the school's name evolved to its present form, sometimes with the addition of "for Boys." It was not until 1972 that Pennington once again became a coeducational institution. In 1975, the Center for Learning, one of the nation's leading secondary school programs for children with language-based learning disabilities, was created within the school.
The Learning Center
The Center for Learning, founded in 1975, provides a program of academic support for intellectually capable students with language-based learning disabilities. In addition to preparing students for college-level study in the future, the program’s objectives are twofold. A central goal is to identify each student’s educational difficulties and to address them through individually tailored academic supports and accommodations. A second goal is to help the student to access and participate in the school’s college preparatory curriculum.Athletics
The Pennington School competes in the Patriot Conference, which includes the Gill St. Bernard's SchoolGill St. Bernard's School
Gill St. Bernard's School is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational day school located in the Gladstone area of Peapack-Gladstone, New Jersey, United States, serving students in primary through twelfth grade...
, the Ranney School
Ranney School
Ranney School is a coeducational, nonsectarian, private day school located in Tinton Falls, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, serving students in Beginners through twelfth grade. It was founded in 1960 by educator Russell G...
, the Purnell School
Purnell School
The Purnell School is a private all-girls boarding high school located in Pottersville, within Bedminster Township, New Jersey, about an hour west of New York City, and two hours north of Philadelphia....
, Stuart Country Day School
Stuart Country Day School
Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart is an independent all-girls Catholic country day school located in Princeton Township, New Jersey, that serves students from pre-school through grade 12...
, Wardlaw-Hartridge School
Wardlaw-Hartridge School
The Wardlaw-Hartridge School is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational day school located in Edison, New Jersey, United States, serving students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. It is commonly referred to as Wardlaw or W-H...
, Timothy Christian School
Timothy Christian School
Timothy Christian School is a private, coeducational school in Elmhurst, Illinois. It was founded in Chicago as a school for the children of Dutch immigrants in the area...
, Princeton Day School
Princeton Day School
Princeton Day School is a private coeducational day school located in Princeton Township, New Jersey, serving students in grades pre kindergarten - 12. The largest division is the Upper School , with an enrollment of approximately 400...
, and Saddle River Day School
Saddle River Day School
Saddle River Day School is a non-discriminatory, coeducational, college-preparatory independent day school, located in Saddle River, in Bergen County, New Jersey...
. In addition. Pennington competes regularly against The Peddie School, the Hun School of Princeton
Hun School of Princeton
The Hun School of Princeton is a private, coeducational, secondary boarding school located in Princeton Township, New Jersey, United States. The school has a Princeton, New Jersey mailing address. The school serves students from grades 6 through high school. Currently, the headmaster is Jonathan...
, and Lawrenceville School
Lawrenceville School
The Lawrenceville School is a coeducational, independent preparatory boarding school for grades 9–12 located on in the historic community of Lawrenceville, in Lawrence Township, New Jersey, U.S., five miles southwest of Princeton....
.
Football
The Pennington School is home to one of the country's longest football programs. The first season was 1877, and the 2009 season marked Pennington's 130th anniversary. Coach Harold Poore and Coach Bill Long are two of the most legendary coaches in school history. One of the most memorable seasons in prep school football history occurred in the 1960s when Coach Poore produced a football squad that was undefeated, untied and unscored upon.Pennington Football competes in the Independence League, which is a league consisting of small schools from Pennsylvania and New Jersey; including Bristol, Academy of the New Church, Lower Moreland, Jenkintown, and Springfield Township.
The current Head Coach is Jerry "Chief" Eure, who graduated from Pennington in 1975 and went on to play for the University of Wyoming Cowboys. He was inducted into the Pennington School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996, the Hall's inaugural class.
In 2009, the Red Raiders were led by North Carolina State recruit Dontae Johnson to a 6–3 record and Independence League Championship, outscoring opponents a combined 205–168.
In recent season The Pennington School has sent multiple players to both Division I FBS and FCS schools; including Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
, North Carolina State, Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
The College of William and Mary, Towson
Towson
-Places:In the United States:*Towson, Maryland, an unincorporated community in Maryland**Towson Center, an arena in Towson, Maryland**Towson Town Center, a shopping mall in Towson, Maryland*Fort Towson, Oklahoma, a community in Oklahoma...
, and New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
.
Varsity hockey
Pennington’s Ice Hockey tradition dates back to 1996–97, when a group of students were successful in starting a team. The Red Raiders play in the competitive Independent Hockey League, in which they were league champions in 2009. Traditions include an annual game against the rival Hopewell Bulldogs, in which many fans from both teams come to support. The team is led by head coach Ryan Bailey, who comes to Pennington after coaching at Northwood School in Lake Placid, NY. Bailey also plays an active role in USA Hockey select camps. Prior to his time in Lake Placid, Bailey played and was team captain at Hamilton College.Girls Soccer
Pennington's Girls Soccer team has established itself as perennial powerhouse and one of the top high school soccer programs in the nation. In 2008 the Pennington Girl's Soccer Team finished the season with an undefeated record of 18-0, and were ranked as the consensus #1 team in the United States according to ESPN RISE and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. During that season they captured their 6th consecutive NJSIAA Prep A State Title and their 2nd consecutive Mercer County Tournament Championship, and won their seventh straight Prep A title in the 2009 season. Over the past few seasons, Pennington has sent numerous student-athletes to play at college level at both the Division I and Division III level.Boys soccer
Captured the 2009 Prep B State tournament. The team competed in the 2010 Prep A State tournament and lost to the top ten nationally ranked team, Saint Benedict's Preparatory SchoolSaint Benedict's Preparatory School
Saint Benedict's Preparatory School is a college preparatory school in Newark, New Jersey, United States. It is an all-boys, secondary school located on a urban campus serving students in the seventh through twelfth grades...
1-0. The team has sent recent players to Division I and Division III soccer programs.
Swimming
The boys team placed 1st at the 2010 N.J. Prep Patriot Championship Meet, 4th at Mercer County Tournament, and won their second NJSIAA “B” State Tournament. The girls team won the Patriot Championship, placed 2nd at MCT’s and won their 9th consecutive NJSIAA “B” State Championship. Recent Pennington swimmers have gone on to compete at Division I and Division III colleges and universities.Boys basketball
Captured the 2009 and 2010 Mercer County Tournament Championship and the 2010 Prep B State ChampionshipSpring track
Girls – 2008 Patriot Conference Champions and 2008 Prep B State ChampionsBoys – 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010 Patriot Conference Champions
Recent Pennington track participants have gone on to compete at the Division I and Division III level at The University of Texas, Lafayette
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
, West Point, McDaniel
McDaniel
McDaniel may refer to:People:*Barry McDaniel, opera singer *Clint McDaniel, basketball player*David McDaniel, science fiction writer*Hattie McDaniel, actress*Henry Dickerson McDaniel, politician*James McDaniel, actor...
, St. Lawrence, Wheaton
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)
Wheaton College is a four-year, private liberal arts college with an approximate student body of 1,550. Wheaton's residential campus is located in Norton, Massachusetts, between Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 1834 as a female seminary, it is one of the oldest...
, TCNJ, and Dickinson
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University is a private university founded as a junior college in 1942. It now has several campuses located in New Jersey, Canada, and the United Kingdom.-Description:...
.
The SOURCE Institute for Human Performance
In 2008, The Pennington School entered into an arrangement with the SOURCE Institute for Human Performance. All students, student-athletes, faculty, and coaches have access to the Institute’s outstanding team of coaches. The SOURCE Institute is a strength and conditioning company that emphasizes personal development and wellness through physical activity, self-awareness, and athletic performance.The SOURCE Institute will provides supervision of the intramural program, strength and conditioning services to all varsity athletes on a team by team basis, and assessment and program design to any member of the Pennington community interested in a more intelligent approach to strength, conditioning, and wellness. As part of their programming services, the Institute will create and implement effective speed and strength training programs specific to the demands of each sport and position as well as the strengths and challenges of each athlete.
The SOURCE Institute will provide each and every student, student-athlete, and community member with the opportunity to fulfill his or her physical potential. Most importantly, the SOURCE Institute addresses each individual on the structural, chemical (nutritional), and psychological levels, leading to personal empowerment and a preparedness to better serve others. The program is led by August Leming.
Notable alumni
- Rudy BoschwitzRudy BoschwitzRudolph Ely "Rudy" Boschwitz is a former Independent-Republican United States Senator from Minnesota. He served in the Senate from December 1978 to January 1991, in the 96th, 97th, 98th, 99th, 100th, and 101st congresses. He was then defeated by Paul Wellstone.-Life and career:Boschwitz was born...
(born 1930, class of 1947): United States Senator, former chairman National Republican Senatorial Committee. - Stephen CraneStephen CraneStephen Crane was an American novelist, short story writer, poet and journalist. Prolific throughout his short life, he wrote notable works in the Realist tradition as well as early examples of American Naturalism and Impressionism...
(1871-1900, class of 1887): Writer (never graduated). - John Franklin FortJohn Franklin FortJohn Franklin Fort was an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 33rd Governor of New Jersey, from 1908–1911. His uncle, George Franklin Fort, was a Democratic Governor of New Jersey from 1851–1854....
(1852–1920), 33rd Governor of New JerseyGovernor of New JerseyThe Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
, from 1908-1911. - Shane Henderson (2004), lead singer from the band ValenciaValencia (band)Valencia is an alternative rock/punk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are currently on hiatus.-History:Valencia met by playing local shows together around the tri-state area in separate bands. George Ciukurescu and JD Perry grew up together; attending elementary school, high school, and...
- William MastrosimoneWilliam MastrosimoneWilliam Mastrosimone is an American playwright and screenwriter from Trenton, New Jersey. He attended high school at The Pennington School and received a graduate degree in playwrighting from Mason Gross School of the Arts, a part of Rutgers University....
(1966), Playwright. - James Fowler Rusling (Valedictorian, Class of 1852) Brigadier general in the American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, author of "Men and Things I Saw in the Civil War Days", "Across America", and "European Days and Ways".
External links
- The Pennington School website
- History of The Pennington School
- Data for The Pennington 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...