Vineland High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Vineland, in Cumberland County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as part of the Vineland Public Schools. The now reunified school operates from a south campus that had been Vineland Senior High School South (which opened in 1963) and a north campus that was formerly Vineland Senior High School North (opened in 1976). The original high school in Vineland dates back to 1870, and the 1927 Vineland High School structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 3, 1995, and is now used as district offices.[5] The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1936;[4] The school's accreditation status was extended for seven years in Fall 2018.[6]
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As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,780 students and 178.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 15.6:1. There were 3 students (0.1% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and none listed as eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1] Based on 2021-22 data from the New Jersey Department of Education, it was the ninth-largest high school in the state and one of 29 schools with more than 2,000 students.[7]
Vineland High School had served students from neighboring communities, as part of sending/receiving relationships with the Buena Regional School District (comprised of Buena and Buena Vista Township for grades 10-12), and from Newfield, Pittsgrove Township and Weymouth Township for grades 9-12. With significant overcrowding at the high school and substantial growth in enrollment from students residing in Vineland, the sending districts were informed in November 1968 that they would no longer be accommodated in Vineland and that all sending students would be phased out by the end of the 1973-74 school year.[8]
Buena Regional High School was constructed to serve an estimated 900 students from the Buena Regional, Estell Manor and Weymouth Township districts, with plans to open for the 1972-73 school year.[9] The Pittsgrove Township School District constructed Arthur P. Schalick High School, which opened in September 1976 for 800 township students who had previously been sent to either Bridgeton High School or Vineland High School.[10][11]
A proposed dress code, that had been slated to take effect for the 2006–07 school year, gave way to controversy and debate among students and parents.[12]
The school was the 264th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology.[13] The school had been ranked 297th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 275th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[14] The magazine ranked the school 222nd in 2008 out of 316 schools.[15] The school was ranked 194th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[16]
Due to its large student body Vineland High is able to offer a wide range of elective classes topics include arts and design, computers, media, automobile repair, woodworking, as well as a wide range of Advanced Placement courses. Courses such as English, mathematics, history, and science are tracked into college preparatory, advanced college preparatory, and honors. Students are tracked into honors mathematics and science from middle school.
Requirements for graduation
Courses required to be taken in order to graduate are four years of English, three years of Mathematics, two years of United States History, one year of World History, three years of Science, one year of Fine, Practical and/or Performing arts, one year of a Vocational course, and one year of a World Language, and four years of Physical Education/Health. It is also required to do 40 hours of service learning. However, a student may do 100 hours of service learning to receive a cord for their graduation ceremony.
The Vineland High School Fighting Clan[2] compete in the Atlantic Division of the Cape-Atlantic League, an athletic conference comprised of public and private high schools in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Gloucester counties, and operates under the aegis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[17] With 1,916 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group IV for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 1,060 to 5,049 students in that grade range.[18] The football team competes in the Continental Division of the 94-team West Jersey Football League superconference[19][20] and was classified by the NJSIAA as Group V South for football for 2022–2024, which included schools with 1,315 to 2,466 students.[21]
Vineland High School has participated since 1893 in an annual Thanksgiving football game with Millville Senior High School, in Millville. The rivalry is one of the oldest public high school rivalry in the United States and the state's oldest, with Vineland leading the series 65-62-19, after Vineland's 28–18 victory in the 146th game in the series in 2017.[22][23] The rivalry with Millville was listed at 6th on NJ.com's 2017 list "Ranking the 31 fiercest rivalries in N.J. HS football".[24]
There is a longstanding swim team rivalry between Vineland and Mainland Regional High School.[25]
Vineland High School's interscholastic athletic teams include:[2]
- Girls Crew
- Girls Track
- Girls Tennis
- Girls Soccer
- Girls Softball
- Girls Swimming
- Girls Basketball
- Girls Field Hockey
- Girls Cross Country
- Boys Crew
- Boys Track
- Boys Tennis
- Boys Soccer
- Boys Baseball
- Boys Lacrosse
- Boys Swimming
- Boys Wrestling
- Boys Basketball
- Boys Cross Country
- Co-ed Football
- Co-ed Golf
- Co-ed Winter Track
- Co-ed Fall Cheerleading
- Co-ed Winter Cheerleading
The boys spring / outdoor track team won the Group III state championship in 1925-1928, and won in Group IV in 1969.[26]
The boys' cross country team won the Group IV state championship in 1964 and 1965.[27]
The boys' wrestling team won the South Jersey Group IV state sectional title in 1988.[28]
The girls swimming team won the Public A state championship in 1996 and 2001–2005; the program's six state titles is tied for the sixth-most in the state and the five consecutive titles won from 2001 to 2005 is tied for the third-longest streak.[29] The 2005 team became the first public school in the state to win five consecutive titles, after taking the Public A championship 105-65 in the finals against Westfield High School.[30]
The boys' track team won the Group IV indoor relay championship in 2004 as co-champion with Christian Brothers Academy.[31]
The school's principals are Justin Adams (Tanner)
Jacqueline Roman-Alvarez (South).[32] Their administration team includes four assistant principals and the athletic director.[33]
- John Armato (born 1948), politician who represented the 2nd Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2018 to 2022[34]
- Nicholas Asselta (born 1951), politician who served in the New Jersey Senate from 2004 to 2008, where he represented the 1st Legislative District[35]
- Obie Bermúdez (born 1977, class of 1995), Latin Grammy winner for Best Male Pop Vocal Album in 2005[36]
- Jack S. Brayboy (1921–1976, class of 1939), football player, coach, teacher, and university administrator, all at Johnson C. Smith University[37]
- Glenn Carbonara (born 1966, class of 1983), retired soccer defender who spent his entire professional career in the American indoor leagues[38]
- Marvin Creamer (1916–2020; class of 1932), sailor notable for being the first recorded person to have sailed around the globe without the aid of navigational instruments[39]
- Jamil Demby (born 1996), offensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL[40]
- Dick Errickson (1912-1999), pitcher who played in MLB for the Boston Bees / Braves and the Chicago Cubs[41]
- Darren Ford (born 1985), former MLB center fielder who played for the San Francisco Giants[42]
- Lee Hull (born 1965, class of 1984), football coach and former player who was the head football coach at Morgan State University from 2014 to 2015[43]
- Alan Kotok (1941-2006), computer scientist known for his work at Digital Equipment Corporation and at the World Wide Web Consortium[44]
- Layle Lane (1893-1976), African American educator and civil rights activist[45]
- Jillian Loyden (born 1985), soccer goalkeeper[46]
- Ryan Ogren (born 2000), musician who has performed as part of Over It and Runner Runner[47]
- Isiah Pacheco (born 2000, class of 2018), American football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs. Super Bowl LVII champion[48]
- Thelma Parkinson (1898-1983), politician, candidate for 1930 special election for the United States Senate, member of the New Jersey State Board of Tax Appeals, member (and later president) of the New Jersey Civil Service Commission 1954 to 1970[49]
- John Pascarella (born 1966, class of 1984), soccer coach who serves as head coach of USL Championship club OKC Energy FC[50]
- Lou Piccone (born 1949), former American football wide receiver and kick returner who played in the National Football League for the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills[51]
- Vic Voltaggio (born 1941, class of 1959), Major League Baseball umpire from 1977 to 1996[52]
Laning, Pete. "Areas Facing Cutoff Ponder School Merger", The Daily Journal, November 14, 1968. Accessed February 18, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "At least two area school districts are considering some form of regionalization in response to a planned 'phase-out' of tuition students by Vineland schools to relieve overcrowding. Notice of the proposed dropping of sending students was sent out today to officials of the Buena Regional, Weymouth Township, Newfield and Pittsgrove Township school districts following approval last night of a time table by the Vineland Board of Education.... Plans call for the phase-out to begin in less than two years, with all sending students eliminated by September, 1973. The time table calls for the elimination of ninth grade students from Weymouth, Newfield and Pittsgrove in September 1970. (The Buena District sends ninth grade students to the Cleary Junior High in Minotola). In September 1971, tenth grade students from all districts, with eleventh grade students phased out in September 1972, and twelfth grade students in September 1973. Vineland School Superintendent Dr. Victor J. Podesta 'warned' officials in the four districts of the impending move in March of this year after studies indicated continued boosts in enrollment."
"Buena to Break Ground for High School", The Daily Journal, October 27, 1971. Accessed February 17, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Ground breaking ceremonies for the $4.5 million Buena Regional High School will be conducted Sunday, at 2 p.m. The new facility, which will be constructed on an 84-acre tract, will have a capacity for over 1,200 students and can be expanded to serve 1,500.... Approximately 700 students from the Buena area along with 200 others from the sending districts of Estell Manor and Weymouth are expected to attend during the first year."
Pray, Rusty. "Turning weeds and stones into turf and clay is Lisa's job at Schalick", Courier-Post, August 17, 1976. Accessed February 17, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The sign in front of Woodstown High School reads: 'The Woodies Welcome Schalick High School.' Woodstown is not only welcoming a future Tri-County Conference and Group 1 rival, it is welcoming South Jersey's newest high school.... The school will open its doors for the first time in September for 650 students in grades seven through 11, drawing its student body primarily from overcrowded Bridgeton and Vineland high schools."
Janson, Donald. "Use of Salinger's Catcher in the Rye In Salem County School Stirs a Dispute", The New York Times, October 31, 1977. Accessed February 17, 2022. "The Rausers demanded that the board ban the book at the Arthur P. Schalick High School, which draws 800 students from rural Pittsgrove Township's 47 square miles and from surrounding areas in this section of South Jersey.... Before the $4 million school opened last year, Pittsgrove Township children attended school in Vineland and Bridgeton."
Home Page, West Jersey Football League. Accessed May 1, 2023. "The WJFL is a 94-school super conference that stretches from Princeton to Wildwood encompassing schools from the Colonial Valley Conference, the Burlington County Scholastic League, the Olympic Conference, the Tri-County Conference, the Colonial Conference, and the Cape Atlantic League. The WJFL is made up of sixteen divisions with divisional alignments based on school size, geography and a strength-of-program component."
Evans, Bill. "Millville vs. Vineland: Division title, stellar seniors and N.J.'s longest Thanksgiving rivalry", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 21, 2017. Accessed November 21, 2017. "The season isn't ending the way the Millville and Vineland High School football teams hoped back in August.... And in addition to the division crown, there's the honor of playing in the state's longest Thanksgiving rivalry – one that dates back to 1893 and in which Vineland took a one-game lead, 64-63-19, with a win last year."
Bennett, Kyle. "Vineland football beats Millville 28-18 in state's longest rivalry", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 23, 2017. Accessed November 14, 2018. "A new piece of history is always made in the longest running rivalry in New Jersey high school football and in the 146th meeting between Vineland and Millville High School, a new chapter was written as Vineland walked away with a 28-18 win on Thursday in front of a nearly sold out crowd at Wheaton Field. Vineland now leads the series all-time 65-62-19."
Stypulkoski, Matt. "Ranking the 31 fiercest rivalries in N.J. HS football", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 27, 2017, updated May 15, 2019. Accessed December 1, 2020. "6-Millville vs. Vineland... These Cumberland County rivals and neighboring towns have been long-time Thanksgiving Day opponents. In fact, Vineland-Millville is the state's longest standing Thanksgiving Day rivalry and the 10th longest in the country. The teams have played at least once every year since the series started in 1893 with the exception of 1905.... All-time series: Vineland leads, 64-63-19"
Sprang, Charlie. "Vineland girls again rule pool; Fighting Clan earn yet another Courier-Post Cup", Courier-Post, March 16, 2005. Accessed February 24, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Once again, Vineland has finished the season as the No. 1 team in the Courier-Post Top 10 and will be presented the Courier-Post Cup at the South Jersey Interscholastic Swimming Association banquet on April 3. The Fighting Clan breezed through the regular season and playoffs without being seriously challenged and won their fifth consecutive Public A state championship, a record for public schools in New Jersey.... In the tournament, Vineland was even more dominating, winning the state title over Westfield, 105-65."
"Taking the High School Helm", Reminder USA, November 14, 2023. Accessed April 15, 2024. "Vineland Public Schools welcomed two familiar faces who have now officially taken on the role of principals of Vineland High School: Justin Adams and Jacqueline Roman-Alvarez. Adams is helming the Tanner Building (ninth and 10th grades) and Alvarez heads Vineland High School South (11th and 12th grades)."
John P.Armato, Buena Vista Township. Accessed December 5, 2022. "John went through the Buena school system graduating from Vineland High School in 1966."
Commissioner Asselta, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Accessed December 5, 2022. "Born on August 17, 1951, Nicholas Asselta was raised in Vineland, New Jersey. As the son of a Vineland Police Officer, he graduated from Vineland High School, Cumberland County College and the Frederick Military Academy."
O'Kane, John. "Scoring goals no problem for Vineland's Steven Tobolski", The Press of Atlantic City, September 24, 2014. Accessed September 26, 2017. "Tobolski is already fifth on Vineland's all-time scoring list behind Glenn Carbonara (1983 graduate, 151 goals), Walter 'Buddy' Kennedy (1988, 110), Jim Connor (1992, 89) and Mark Marandino (1986, 87)."
Fox, Margalit, "Marvin Creamer, a Mariner Who Sailed Like the Ancients, Dies at 104", The New York Times, August 17, 2020. Accessed August 28, 2020. "After graduating from Vineland High School at 16, he spent years doing what odd jobs he could, including selling life insurance, making concrete vaults for cemeteries and repairing car engines. The last of these, at least, would stand him in good stead as a mariner."
McGurk, Tom."Jamil Demby works out for two NFL teams in Vineland", The Daily Journal, April 4, 2018. Accessed May 27, 2018. "The National Football League came to Vineland on Wednesday. Later this month, a city native son hopes to go to the NFL. Jamil Demby, a star offensive lineman at Vineland High School and the University of Maine, worked out for coaches and scouts from the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers at the Joseph E. Romano Sports Complex."
Van Embden, Edward. "Vineland native Ryan Ogren, frontman in the band Runner Runner, to play Tuesday on Jimmy Kimmel Live",The Press of Atlantic City, July 20, 2010, updated June 20, 2019. Accessed August 28, 2020. "Former Vineland resident Ryan Ogren and his band will perform for an audience of about 1.7 million tonight.... For Ogren, 30, a graduate of Vineland High School, tonight's show is the culmination of more than a decade of dedication and hard work."
Brandt, Mickey. "Vineland’s Pacheco To Enter 2022 NFL Draft", SNJ Today, December 7, 2021. Accessed May 4, 2022. "Vineland High School 2018 graduate Isiah Pacheco, a star Rutgers University football running back, earned All Big Ten honorable mention in both the coaches’ and media vote released last week by the conference office."
Finding aid author: Fernanda Perrone (September 2015). "Thelma Parkinson Sharp Papers". Prepared for the Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
Bennett, Kyle. "Men's Soccer Makes Splash in Latest Head Coaching Hire", Rowan College of South Jersey, September 1, 2017. Accessed October 19, 2020. "Vineland natives John Pascarella and Glenn Carbonara will take the reins as the new Head Coach and Assistant Coach respectively.... The two were teammates at Vineland High School and were both members of the Class of 1984, where they both set records at their respective positions."
Van Embden, Edward. "Umpire makes Vineland fame wall", The Press of Atlantic City, June 1, 2009. Accessed November 10, 2013. "Behind that moment in history, and several others, was Vineland native Vic Voltaggio.... Voltaggio, 68, is being inducted into the Vineland Hall of Fame tonight at Vineland High School's all-sports banquet at Merighi's Savoy Inn in East Vineland.... Voltaggio graduated from Vineland High School in 1959 and, along with his wife, Janet, was an early member of Vineland's Booster Club, which benefits the school's sports programs."