J.P. Stevens High School

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John P. Stevens High School
Enter to learn, depart to serve
Established 1964
School type Public
Grades 9-12
Principal Ms. Gail Pawlikowski
Location Edison, NJ, USA
Students approx. 2,200
Faculty approx. 200
Colors Dartmouth Green and Old Gold
Mascot Hawk
Website www.jpstevens.org

John P. Stevens High School (abbr. JP or JPS) is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves the northern end of Edison, in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It is one of two public high schools in the Edison Township Public Schools, the other being Edison High School.

JPS has had an SAT average that has surpassed the state's mean since it opened. Moreover, about 79% of its graduates advance to four-year colleges, with many attending Ivy League schools.

J.P. Stevens High School was the 82nd-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 316 schools statewide, in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2006 cover story on the state's Top Public High Schools[1].

Contents

[edit] History

The school is named after J.P. Stevens, an alumnus of the nearby Wardlaw-Hartridge School and CEO of the J.P. Stevens Textile Corporation, who donated the land the school now sits on.[citation needed]

J.P. Stevens was founded in 1964, and rapidly expanded with North Edison. Originally, JPS was a senior high school, serving grades 10 through 12. In the mid-1980s, the Edison School District changed the junior high schools into middle schools, moving 9th grade into JPS.

[edit] Students

The population of J.P. Stevens High School is around 2,200 students, entering from two of Edison's middle schools: John Adams Middle School and Woodrow Wilson Middle School.

The history of the demographics of J.P. Stevens is somewhat unusual. From the time it opened through the 1980s, the school was mainly comprised of Caucasian, with an African American minority. Beginning in the 1980s, J. P. Stevens saw increasing numbers of Asian Americans. By the 2002-2003 school year, the largest group of students at J.P. Stevens was of the Asian Americans (particularly Indian Americans), following the same trend as Edison as a whole. As of the 2005-2006 school year, Asian-Americans constitute 56% of students. In addition, 34% of the school is Caucasian, 7% African American, and 3% Hispanic. Only 35% of JPS students speak English as their primary language at home.

The average class size of the school is about 27 students. The school's ratio of students to computers is 12 to 1 while the state average is 4 to 1.

On the Language Arts section of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA), 54% of students scored proficient and 37% scored advanced. On the Math section of the test, 38% scored proficient and 52% scored advanced. The average SAT score is 1160 out of 1600. The Advanced Placement Program (AP) participation is 22%. The average attendance rate is 96%. As of the 2004-05 school year, JPS had a suspension rate of 11%. 97% of JPS seniors graduated and only 7% of the school graduated via the SRA process. 77% of the graduating seniors go on to four-year colleges and another 17% of the graduating seniors go on to two year colleges.

[edit] Faculty

The faculty population of J.P. Stevens High School is around 200 teachers. The student to faculty ratio is 13 to 1. The faculty gets paid $55,035 a year while the state average is $52,563

[edit] Curriculum

J.P. Stevens students are required to take four years of English, four years of math, three years of science, three years of history (one of world and two of U.S.) and at least two years of a foreign language (including Latin, French, and Spanish). In addition, health and physical education classes are required for every year in which a student attends J.P. Stevens. Starting with the Class of 2008, one year of "Career Education and Consumer, Family and Life Skills" such as Foods or Technology Fundamentals is required as well as another year of the "Visual Performing Arts" such Chorus, Band, Visual Arts, Clothing for Fashion, and Architectural Drawing. J.P. Stevens has an Honors college preparatory track that features several Advanced Placement courses.

[edit] School funding

The school receives 88% of the money from local taxes. The total cost per pupil in the school district is $11,964.

[edit] Extracurricular activities

[edit] Sports

The J.P. Stevens High School Hawks compete in the Greater Middlesex Conference.

[edit] Music

[edit] Chorus

The J.P. Stevens High School Chorus is known for its lyrical interpretations of a variety of songs. These include the Concert Choir, which is open to all students attending J.P. Stevens, A Cappella Choir, which is open by audition, and Chamber Choir, which is the most select group, consisting of no more than 37 people. In addition, there are a men's and women's ensemble. The director is Mrs. Diane Wions, who originally taught at John Adams Middle School and was famous along the entire East coast for her ability to coordinate middle schoolers singing in eight-part harmony. The J.P. Stevens Choir has won several awards, including at the Festivals of Music 2006 Williamsburg, where the choir received first place in all categories and receiving superior ratings. They have also received a superior rating in the Roxbury Invitational 2005, being one of the only two concert choirs to make it into the Showcase Program. In addition, they received Exemplary in the sight reading portion of the Roxbury Invitational. The A Cappella Choir has also won many awards for Best Overall Choir. In the recent 2006 Roxbury Invitational, the choir received a rating of Gold. After participating in the 2006 Music Festival in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the JP Stevens choir placed first in all categories including best overall choir with all superior ratings. At the ACDA Festival in May of 2006, the A Capella Ensemble and the Chamber Ensemble both received a perfect score, which is quite a notable accomplishment. Many students from the choir audition and are accepted into the Regions II Choir, the NJ All-State Choir, and the All-Eastern High School Honor Choir.

[edit] Band

The J.P. Stevens High School band program, under the direction of Andrew S. DeNicola, and his assistant, John Zazzali is among the finest in the state of New Jersey. Around 200 students participate in several ensembles, among which are Freshman Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Lab Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and the so-called "Marching Hawks," Marching Band. Students can also participate in pep band, pit band, and various small ensembles. Freshman band consists of incoming freshmen and allows the young student to grow accustomed to the atmosphere of a new band program. As the student progresses through his high school career, he joins either the symphonic band or the wind ensemble, both of which are groups that comprise sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The repertoire of the symphonic band is more advanced than that of the freshman band, and the symphonic band attends several festivals and competitions throughout the year. The wind ensemble is among the finest in the state, attending the state gala concert for the past three years, winning numerous awards. Membership is limited through audition only. The members are among the finest musicians across the state. Many of them are accepted into region and all-state bands year after year.

The J.P. Stevens High School jazz program is also among the finest in the state. Membership is through audition only. Students are accepted into either Lab Jazz or Top Jazz. Lab Jazz Ensemble consists of musicians showing a particular interest in jazz. The Lab Jazz Ensemble is directed by Mr. J. Zazzali. The Jazz Ensemble (Top Jazz), directed by Mr. DeNicola, is the highest level jazz group. It has been accepted to the NJIAJE Jazz Finals every year from 1993-2005, and earned 1st placement in 1998, 2000, & 2004.

The J.P. Stevens Marching Hawks perform at Varsity Football games and competitions around the area. All students attending J.P. Stevens High School are eligible to participate. The Marching Hawks have won many competitions, and rank as one of the top 10 Marching Bands in the state as of 2005.

[edit] Orchestra

The orchestra program has a history of producing fine musicians who continue to study music after graduation. Each year a number of students audition and are selected to participate in both CJMEA Regions II and All-State Orchestra. The orchestras compete each year in various orchestra festivals and place first in every competition. Presently the orchestra program has over fifty members and continues to grow. Mr. Brian Verdi is the director of orchestras who began teaching at J.P. Stevens in 2005-2006 school year.

The J.P. Stevens High School Orchestra Program consists of three orchestras, a string quartet and some of the finest young musicians in the state of New Jersey. Chamber Orchestra includes 21 students who are selected by audition and perform standard string literature. Concert Orchestra has more than 50 students that is combined with winds and percussion to form the Symphonic Orchestra. Students who play in the string quartet are selected by audition and perform at weddings and other fundraisers around the community. More information about the orchestra program at J.P. Stevens High School can be found at www.mrverdi.com.

[edit] Notable alumni

Noted JPS alumni include:

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Top Public High Schools in New Jersey: 51-100, New Jersey Monthly, September 2006
  2. ^ McGwire's Big Whiff, Time (magazine), January 8, 2007

[edit] External links

[edit] Clubs

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