West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North
Encyclopedia
West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North, also known as WW-P North, is a four-year public comprehensive
high school
located in Plainsboro Township
in Middlesex County
, New Jersey
serving students in grades 9 through 12. The school is part of the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
, a school district
serving students from West Windsor Township
(in Mercer County
) and Plainsboro Township (in Middlesex County).
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,608 students and 118 classroom teachers (on an FTE
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.63.
West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North opened its doors in September 1997 and an addition was added in 2000. The first class to graduate was the Class of 2002. The facility covers 240000 square feet (22,296.7 m²) and contains all core facilities. The school is located on an 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) tract on Grovers Mill Road in Plainsboro, across from the West Windsor-Plainsboro Community Middle School and the Millstone River Upper Elementary School.
The school mascot is the Northern Knight, and the school colors are Royal Blue and Silver, as voted on by the original three graduating classes, the Classes of 2002, 2003, and 2004.
Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education
, the highest award an American school can receive.
The school was the 29th-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 19th in 2008 out of 316 schools.
In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post
, the school was ranked 18th in New Jersey and 708th nationwide.
North's Fed Challenge team was the New York Federal Reserve District Champion in both 2007 and 2010. Both years, the team advanced to the National Finals and placed 2nd.
North beat out rival team West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South
at the 2008 New Jersey state Science Olympiad
competition, earning North their first Science Olympiad state championship and thereby their first trip to Nationals. Held in Washington DC, the national competition hosted 60 teams from 48 states. North won 9th place as a team and brought home several individual medals in specific events.
North's Model United Nations team is also one of the most distinguished programs in the nation. At the end of the 2010-2011 school year it was ranked number 9 in the nation. It was also ranked number two in the Mid-Atlantic at the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year. The team has won repeatedly at Princeton Model UN, Ivy League Model United Nations and Johns Hopkins Model United Nations.
The school is also notable for its student-run radio station 107.9 FM - WWPH in Princeton Junction.
In 2009 Cornell, was selected as a winner of the 2009 Edyth May Sliffe Award for distinguished high school mathematics teaching, presented by the Mathematical Association of America
, one of 22 teachers throughout high schools in the United States and Canada to be selected for the award.
, which includes high schools from Mercer
, Middlesex
and Monmouth
Counties. The high school has a fierce rivalry with its counterpart school, West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South
that began when the two high schools began operating independently of each other in 2000.
In 2007, the boys soccer team won the Central Jersey Group III state championship with a 3-0 win over Red Bank Regional High School
in the tournament final. The boys soccer team, under the direction of coach Trevor Warner, repeated as Central Jersey Group III Champions when they beat Wall Township in the sectional final, finishing the season with a 19-2 record, the best in school history.
In 2008, they became the first Colonial Valley Conference Team to win back-to-back sectional finals. They beat Wall 2-1 at north.
In 2008, the Ultimate Frisbee club team (a sport not officially recognized by the school) finished 2nd in the UPA NJ High School Championships while also winning the Spirit Award for best sportsmanship
which was formerly the top team in New Jersey.
In 2009, the team followed up the successful 2008 campaign by finishing 3rd in the New Jersey Meet of Champions and 4th at Nike Nationals Northeast. Preceding these championship races, the team finished 1st at Manhattan College Invitational, 3rd at Shore Coaches Invitational, 1st at Briarwood Invitational and finished the season undefeated once again (14-0). The team has won 55 consecutive dual meets. The team is still considered to be a top team in the state of New Jersey as well as the Northeast Region.
In 2010, the boys cross-country team continued its success. Despite losing its number 1 runner, the Knights continued to have success. WW-P North finished 3rd at Shore Coaches (Championship Race); 9th at Eastern States Championship; won its 4th consecutive NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III Sectional Championship; won its 4th straight NJSIAA Group 3 Championship; 5th place at the New Jersey Meet of Champions; and 4th place at the Nike Cross Northeast Regional team.
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
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 Plainsboro Township
Plainsboro Township, New Jersey
Plainsboro Township is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 20,215.Plainsboro was incorporated as a township on May 6, 1919...
in Middlesex County
Middlesex County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 750,162 people, 265,815 households, and 190,855 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,422 people per square mile . There were 273,637 housing units at an average density of 884 per square mile...
, 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...
serving students in grades 9 through 12. The school is part of the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District is a regional school district in New Jersey, serving students from West Windsor Township and Plainsboro Township ....
, a school district
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
serving students from West Windsor Township
West Windsor Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of Census 2010, West Windsor had a population of 27,165. The median age was 39.6. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 54.9% White, 3.7% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 37.7% Asian, 1.0% some other race and 2.6% reporting two or more races...
(in Mercer County
Mercer County, New Jersey
As of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...
) and Plainsboro Township (in Middlesex County).
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,608 students and 118 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 13.63.
West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North opened its doors in September 1997 and an addition was added in 2000. The first class to graduate was the Class of 2002. The facility covers 240000 square feet (22,296.7 m²) and contains all core facilities. The school is located on an 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) tract on Grovers Mill Road in Plainsboro, across from the West Windsor-Plainsboro Community Middle School and the Millstone River Upper Elementary School.
The school mascot is the Northern Knight, and the school colors are Royal Blue and Silver, as voted on by the original three graduating classes, the Classes of 2002, 2003, and 2004.
Awards and recognition
During the 2006-07 school year, West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North was recognized with the Blue Ribbon SchoolBlue Ribbon Schools Program
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...
Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
, the highest award an American school can receive.
The school was the 29th-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 19th in 2008 out of 316 schools.
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 18th in New Jersey and 708th nationwide.
North's Fed Challenge team was the New York Federal Reserve District Champion in both 2007 and 2010. Both years, the team advanced to the National Finals and placed 2nd.
North beat out rival team West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South
West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South
West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Princeton Junction in Mercer County, New Jersey, serving students in Grades 9 through 12...
at the 2008 New Jersey state Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad is an American elementary, middle, or high school team competition which tests knowledge of various science topics and engineering ability. Over 6,200 teams from 49 U.S. states compete each year. Most teams compete in three levels of competition: regionals, states, and nationals...
competition, earning North their first Science Olympiad state championship and thereby their first trip to Nationals. Held in Washington DC, the national competition hosted 60 teams from 48 states. North won 9th place as a team and brought home several individual medals in specific events.
North's Model United Nations team is also one of the most distinguished programs in the nation. At the end of the 2010-2011 school year it was ranked number 9 in the nation. It was also ranked number two in the Mid-Atlantic at the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year. The team has won repeatedly at Princeton Model UN, Ivy League Model United Nations and Johns Hopkins Model United Nations.
The school is also notable for its student-run radio station 107.9 FM - WWPH in Princeton Junction.
Distinguished teachers
In 2007, Timothy Cornell was named Mathematics Teacher of the Year by the Professional Engineers Society of Mercer County. They presented this prestigious award to him at their annual dinner held at Mercer Oaks Country Club. Cornell has taught at Monmouth University and Rutgers University. His students excel at AP Calculus and the Multivariable Calculus course. From over the years, of his 321 students who have taken the AP exams, 314 of them have scored the highest score of “5,” with the remaining seven students scoring “4.”In 2009 Cornell, was selected as a winner of the 2009 Edyth May Sliffe Award for distinguished high school mathematics teaching, presented by the Mathematical Association of America
Mathematical Association of America
The Mathematical Association of America is a professional society that focuses on mathematics accessible at the undergraduate level. Members include university, college, and high school teachers; graduate and undergraduate students; pure and applied mathematicians; computer scientists;...
, one of 22 teachers throughout high schools in the United States and Canada to be selected for the award.
Sports
The West Windsor-Plainsboro High School Northern Knights participate in the Colonial Valley ConferenceColonial Valley Conference
The Colonial Valley Conference is an athletic conference in Central Jersey composed of a group of high schools located primarily in Mercer County, New Jersey, with one member school in Monmouth County and one in Middlesex County...
, which includes high schools from Mercer
Mercer County, New Jersey
As of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...
, Middlesex
Middlesex County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 750,162 people, 265,815 households, and 190,855 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,422 people per square mile . There were 273,637 housing units at an average density of 884 per square mile...
and Monmouth
Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
Counties. The high school has a fierce rivalry with its counterpart school, West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South
West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South
West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Princeton Junction in Mercer County, New Jersey, serving students in Grades 9 through 12...
that began when the two high schools began operating independently of each other in 2000.
In 2007, the boys soccer team won the Central Jersey Group III state championship with a 3-0 win over Red Bank Regional High School
Red Bank Regional High School
Red Bank Regional High School is a comprehensive regional four-year public high school that serves students in grades nine through twelve in Monmouth County, New Jersey, from the boroughs of Little Silver, Red Bank and Shrewsbury...
in the tournament final. The boys soccer team, under the direction of coach Trevor Warner, repeated as Central Jersey Group III Champions when they beat Wall Township in the sectional final, finishing the season with a 19-2 record, the best in school history.
In 2008, they became the first Colonial Valley Conference Team to win back-to-back sectional finals. They beat Wall 2-1 at north.
In 2008, the Ultimate Frisbee club team (a sport not officially recognized by the school) finished 2nd in the UPA NJ High School Championships while also winning the Spirit Award for best sportsmanship
Boys Cross Country
In 2008, the boys cross-country team, coached by Brian Gould, finished 5th in the Nike Nationals that took place in Oregon and were recognized as the top team in New Jersey and one of the top 5 teams in the country, beating Don Bosco Preparatory High SchoolDon Bosco Preparatory High School
Don Bosco Preparatory High School is a private, Roman Catholic secondary school for young men, grades 9 through 12. Founded by the Salesians of Don Bosco, a religious order of priests and brothers, the school is situated on a campus in Ramsey, New Jersey, United States...
which was formerly the top team in New Jersey.
In 2009, the team followed up the successful 2008 campaign by finishing 3rd in the New Jersey Meet of Champions and 4th at Nike Nationals Northeast. Preceding these championship races, the team finished 1st at Manhattan College Invitational, 3rd at Shore Coaches Invitational, 1st at Briarwood Invitational and finished the season undefeated once again (14-0). The team has won 55 consecutive dual meets. The team is still considered to be a top team in the state of New Jersey as well as the Northeast Region.
In 2010, the boys cross-country team continued its success. Despite losing its number 1 runner, the Knights continued to have success. WW-P North finished 3rd at Shore Coaches (Championship Race); 9th at Eastern States Championship; won its 4th consecutive NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III Sectional Championship; won its 4th straight NJSIAA Group 3 Championship; 5th place at the New Jersey Meet of Champions; and 4th place at the Nike Cross Northeast Regional team.
Administration
Core members of the school's administration are:- Principal: Michael Zapicchi
- Assistant Principal: Doug Eadie
- Assistant Principal: Melissa Levine
Notable alumni
- Andrew BynumAndrew BynumAndrew Bynum is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . He was drafted 10th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005. Bynum became the youngest player ever to play an NBA game later that year, breaking Jermaine...
(born 1987), basketball player, 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...
, attended school for beginning of his Freshman year. - Matt LalliMatt LalliMatt Lalli is an American professional lacrosse player for the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse.Lalli attended West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North in Plainsboro Township, New Jersey, where he lettered in lacrosse, hockey, football and soccer...
(born 1986), professional lacrosse player for the San Francisco DragonsSan Francisco DragonsThe San Francisco Dragons were a professional field lacrosse team based in San Francisco and San Jose, California. From 2006–2008, they played in Major League Lacrosse and they ceased operations before the 2009 season due to the economic situation in the United States.-Franchise history:The San...
. - Mariam NazarianMariam NazarianMariam Nazarian is a concert pianist and producer; she is a graduate of the Mannes College of Music and Harvard University. Nazarian has performed at Carnegie Hall , Symphony Hall , and the Grand Philharmonic Hall . She has recorded a commercially released CD of J.S. Bach's Goldberg...
(born 1983), concert pianist and producer, who made her Carnegie Hall debut at the age of 16. - Taktin OeyTaktin OeyTaktin Oey is an American composer from Princeton Junction, New Jersey.He graduated from West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North in 2004. He graduated from Harvard University in 2008....
, composer. - Rebecca SoniRebecca SoniRebecca Soni is an American breaststroke swimmer and three-time Olympic medalist. She currently holds the world record in the 100 and 200 m breaststroke and is a former world-record holder in the 100 and 200 m breaststroke .Soni has won a total of nineteen medals in major...
(born 1987), won a gold medal in 200m breaststroke and a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke at the 2008 Summer Olympics2008 Summer OlympicsThe 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in BeijingBeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
See also
- West Windsor-Plainsboro High School SouthWest Windsor-Plainsboro High School SouthWest Windsor-Plainsboro High School South is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Princeton Junction in Mercer County, New Jersey, serving students in Grades 9 through 12...
- List of high schools in New Jersey
External links
- West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North website
- West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
- Data for the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional 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...