Sparta High School (New Jersey)
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| Sparta High School | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| 70 West Mountain Road Sparta, NJ 07871 |
|
| Information | |
| School district | Sparta Township Public School District |
| Principal | James R. Bevere (Acting) |
| Enrollment |
1,174 (as of 2005-06)[1] |
| Faculty | 87.0 (on FTE basis)[1] |
| Student:teacher ratio | 13.5[1] |
| Type | Public high school |
| Grades | 9 - 12 |
| Athletics conference | Sussex County Interscholastic League |
| Nickname | Sparta Spartans |
| Color(s) | Navy, Columbia Blue, White |
| Established | 1959 |
| Information | 973-729-6191 |
| Homepage | School website |
Sparta High School is a four-year public high school serving grades nine through twelve in Sparta Township, in Sussex County, New Jersey, as part of the Sparta Township Public School District. The school is currently under a major reconstruction phase.
As of the 2005-6 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,174 students and 87.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 13.5.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
The school opened in September of 1959 when Newton High School in neighboring Newton, which had also served Sparta students, could no longer take on Sparta's rapidly growing high school-aged population.
In its first year of operation, Sparta High enrolled over 400 students enrolled in just three grades, including students from not only Sparta, but also from nearby Hopatcong and Byram Township, which shared the school.
When it opened in 1959, the school employed only 28 teachers and participated in only four sports: football, basketball, wrestling, and baseball. There were, however, shop classes and home economics rooms, and the school gave behind-the-wheel driving lessons. In 1963, Sparta graduated its first class -- of 160 students -- that had attended the school for all four years.
During the 1970s, Sparta High School instituted split sessions to help alleviate problems brought on by increased enrollment. This was only a temporary fix, however, and the town later approved a referendum to build an "annex" onto the back of the school, more than doubling its area. The section added a new cafeteria, a library, and open classroom spaces.
In the early 1990s, the open spaces provided by the built-on annex were renovated and became closed classrooms. By this time, over one thousand students -- all from Sparta -- were enrolled in the school. Later in the 1990s, the high school was expanded yet again, adding a new science wing and a number of technological upgrades.
In September 2006, Sparta residents approved a referendum to perform major renovations on the school that aim to bring the school up to date. The construction began in the summer of 2007 and is currently on-going. School officials hope that this reconstruction will alleviate the increasingly imminent issue of overcrowding that the school currently faces. While the construction is happening, many classrooms have been displaced to a cluster of modular trailer rooms.
Today, Sparta High School is home to over 1,100 students, approximately 100 faculty members, and a myriad of sports and co-curricular activities.[2]
[edit] Awards and recognition
Sparta High School was the 73rd-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.[3]
[edit] Sports
Sparta High School is a member of the Sussex County Interscholastic League. All sports teams compete in one of three seasons:
- Fall: Football, Boys' Soccer, Girls' Soccer, Cross-Country (Boys' & Girls'), Field Hockey, Girls' Volleyball, Cheerleading, and Girls' Tennis
- Winter: Boys' Basketball, Girls' Basketball, Skiing (Boys' & Girls'), Bowling (Boys' & Girls'), Winter Track (Boys' & Girls'), Wrestling, and Ice Hockey
- Spring: Boys' Track and Field, Girls' Track and Field, Boys' Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse', Baseball, Softball, Golf (Boys' & Girls') and Boys' Tennis
The wrestling team won the North I, Group III state sectional championship in 2000 with a 36-29 win against Indian Hills High School.[4]
The 2001 girls basketball team won the North I, Group III state sectional championship with a 36-32 win versus Northern Highlands Regional High School.[5] The team moved on to win the 2001 Group II State Championship, defeating West Morris Mendham High School in the semifinals and Toms River High School South in the finals to take the title.[6]
The girls basketball team won the 2003 North I, Group III title with a 34-28 win against Pascack Valley High School in the tournament final.[7] The 2006 team won the title in a low-scoring match, topping Northern Highlands Regional high School by a final score of 27-18.[8]
In 2005, the softball team won the North I, Group III state title with a 2-1 win against Nutley High School.[9]
[edit] Administration
- Mr. James Bevere - Acting Principal
- Mr. Chris Carrubba - Vice Principal
- Mrs. Cathy Goodwin - Dean of Students
- Mr. Stan Abromavage - Director of Guidance
- Mr. Patrick Shea - Athletic Director
[edit] Graduation Rate
According to The New Jersey Herald, the graduation rate for Sparta High School is 94.7%. This rate exceeds the national high school graduation rate of approximately 70%. Sparta High School currently has the highest graduation rate in Sussex County.
[edit] Noted alumni
- Greg Baty (1964-), former NFL player. [10]
- Chris Jent (1970-), former NBA player.[11]
- Dan Miller (1981-), mixed martial arts fighter and Cage Fury Fighting Championships Middleweight Champion.
- Jim Miller (1983-), mixed martial arts fighter and Cage Fury Fighting Championships Lightweight Champion.
- Jon Saxe, Chief Information Officer, Morgan Stanley
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Sparta High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 8, 2007.
- ^ History of Sparta High School, accessed January 4, 2007.
- ^ "Top Public High Schools in New Jersey" (Schools 51-100), New Jersey Monthly, September 2006, backed up by Internet Archive as of March 10, 2007. Accessed March 5, 2008.
- ^ Team Wrestling - North I, Group III, NJSIAA. Accessed July 12, 2007.
- ^ 2001 - North I, Group III, NJSIAA. Accessed July 12, 2007.
- ^ 2001 - Group III, Semis/Finals, NJSIAA. Accessed July 12, 2007.
- ^ 2003 Girls Basketball - North I, Group III, NJSIAA. Accessed July 12, 2007.
- ^ 2006 Girls Basketball - North I, Group III, NJSIAA. Accessed July 12, 2007.
- ^ 2005 Softball - North I, Group III, NJSIAA. Accessed July 12, 2007.
- ^ NFL Historical Player Results, NFL.com, September 20, 2007.
- ^ Community: Chris Jent's career began in Sparta, New Jersey Herald, March 20, 2006.
