J.P. Stevens High School

Infobox School
name = John P. Stevens High School


motto = "Be the Change"
established = 1964
type = Public high school
grades = 9-12
principal = Gail Pawlikowski
enrollment = 2,228 (as of 2005-06)
faculty = 157.6 (on FTE basis)
ratio = 14.1
colors = Dartmouth Green and Old Gold
nickname = Hawks
location = 855 Grove Avenue
city = Edison
state = NJ
zipcode = 08817
country = USA
information = 732-452-2800
website = [http://www.jpstevens.org/ School website]

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.

As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,228 students and 157.6 classroom teachers (on a FTE basis, for a student-teacher ratio of 14.1. [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&InstName=stevens&State=34&SchoolType=1&SchoolType=2&SchoolType=3&SchoolType=4&SpecificSchlTypes=all&IncGrade=-1&LoGrade=-1&HiGrade=-1&ID=340450003326 J. P. Stevens High School] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed October 28, 2007.]

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.

The school was the 52nd-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 314 schools statewide, in "New Jersey Monthly" magazine's September 2008 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools". The school was ranked 82nd in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state. [ [http://njmonthly.com/articles/towns_and_schools/highschoolrankings/top-new-jersey-high-schools-by-rank.html "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank"] , "New Jersey Monthly", September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.]

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 served as a member of the Edison Board of Education.Fact|date=February 2007

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 1984, the Edison School District changed the junior high schools into middle schools, moving 9th grade into JPS.

tudents

The population of J.P. Stevens High School enters primarily 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's students were mostly Caucasian, with an African American minority. Beginning in the 1980s, J. P. Stevens saw increasing numbers of Asian Americans. By the 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 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 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.

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

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, Spanish, and starting the 2008-2009 school year, Hindi). 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.

chool funding

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

Extracurricular activities

Athletics

The J.P. Stevens High School Hawks compete in the Red Division of the Greater Middlesex Conference, against nearby rivals such as Edison High School, East Brunswick High School, and Woodbridge High School.

A student at the school won the girls' 5,000 meter race at the 1983 Kinney National High School Cross-Country Championships held in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, with a time of 16 minutes 43.7 seconds. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00E4DB1638F932A25751C1A965948260 " Jersey Senior Takes Girls' Cross-Country"] , "The New York Times", December 11, 1983. Accessed December 2, 2007.]

Music

Chorus

The J.P. Stevens High School Chorus is directed by Diane Wions. The J.P. Stevens Choir has won numerous awards, including Best Overall Choir at National and State competitions. In the 2006 Music Festival in Virginia Beach, Virginia, all competing groups from J.P. Stevens won first place, including best overall choir with all superior ratings. At the ACDA Festival in May 2006, the A Cappella Ensemble and the Chamber Ensemble both received The Sweepstakes award with a perfect score. In the Roxbury Invitational 2007, J.P. Stevens A Cappella Ensemble was one of two concert choirs selected to be in the showcase (previously in 2005), and went home with a 1st runner up trophy (with a rating of gold), behind Hopewell Valley Chamber Singers. In 2008, J.P. Stevens A Capella once again qualified as one of two showcase choirs at Roxbury Invitational, receiving a rating of gold. In addition, two concert soloists were selected to perform in the showcase. Many students from the choir are accepted into the Regions II Choir, the NJ All-State Choir, All-Eastern High School Honor Choir, and Governor's School of the Arts. At the Heritage Festivals in Boston, Massachusetts in April 2007, the A Cappella Ensemble received second place and the Concert Choir won first place, as well as the Adjudicator's award. In addition, the Chamber Choir was awarded first place in the Madrigal Choir category, and the school won Best Overall Choir and the Sweepstakes award. All performing groups received a gold rating. In the 2008 Festivals of Music in Washington, D.C., all competing groups from J.P. Stevens won the top honors.

* Concert Choir - Open to all students, about 170-190 members; Weekly Thursday rehearsals
* A Cappella Ensemble - Open by audition to all students, about 120-130 members; Weekly Monday rehearsals
* Men's Ensemble - Open to audition, automatic membership with acceptance into A Cappella Ensemble; Weekly morning rehearsals
* Women's Ensemble - Open to audition, automatic membership with acceptance into A Cappella Ensemble; Weekly morning rehearsals
* Chamber Ensemble - Most selective group, open to audition, grades 10-12, 38 members; Weekly Monday rehearsals, following A Capella

Band

The J.P. Stevens High School band program is under the direction of Andrew S. DeNicola and assistant director John Zazzali. Around 200 students participate in several ensembles, among which are Freshman Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Lab Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and 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 John Zazzali. The Jazz Ensemble (Top Jazz), directed by Andrew DeNicola, is the highest level jazz group. It has been accepted to the NJIAJE Jazz Finals every year from , and was named state champion in 1998, 2000, & 2004 (though a minor time penalty pushed their placement to 2nd).

Marching Hawks

The J.P. Stevens Marching Hawks perform at Varsity Football games and competitions around the area. The Marching Hawks are a Class VI Marching Band, composed of around 150 members. Anyone attending J.P. Stevens High School is 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.

The 2008-2009 Marching Hawks

The 2008-09 Marching Hawks currently have around 140 members. The show is entitled "A Ron Nelson Holiday" consisting of Rocky Point Holiday as well as Sonoran Desert Holiday(pt.1&pt.2).

The Marching Hawks took 1st place at the Scotch-Plains Competition on September 13, 2008, as well as receiving Best Overall Music, Best Percussion, Best Overall Effect, and the Mayor's Award.

Orchestra

Brian Verdi has been the director of orchestras since the school year. 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.

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.

Theatre Company

The John P. Stevens award winning theatre company has been an ongoing program in the school for many years now. Since the foundation of the company, several Broadway and off-Broadway shows have been performed; some notable include: "Grease", "Into the Woods", "Pippin", "The Wiz", "Leader of The Pack" and '. The theatre company's production of ' garnered several honorable mentions and nominations by the NJ Papermill Playhouse Rising Star Awards as well as a separate award being honored to student Thomas Minucci for the best set design. Other productions by the company from the past include "Macbeth", "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940", "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" and "Working" among others. The theatre company put on a production of Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee's "Inherit The Wind" in November 2007. Most recently, the company put on perhaps their most successful and lauded show ever: the Stephen Sondheim musical "" in April 2008. Tickets easily sold out for the show, thus, each performance night oversaw members of the theatre company performing to one of the largest turnouts ever. Darlene Rich, an English and Theatre Arts teacher at the school, is currently the director and head of the theatre company.

"More Ways Out" Improv Troupe

The "More Ways Out" Improv Troupe meets every Thursday after school, to practice along with other students the art of "staying on ones toes". In the past years the "More Ways Out" improv troupe has won best in state numerous times. Most recently, the troupe went to New York City for an improv workshop encountering many professionals, as well as attending the NYC comedy festival.

Other

The Choir and Orchestra recently went to the Heritage Festival in Boston and swept the awards, receiving gold first place superior ratings in all categories entered.

SerenAIDe is an annual, entirely student-run, benefit concert that was organized to raise money and awareness for victims of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's Disease. This event takes place in the first week of May. The concert was inspired by the choral director's husband's struggle against this disease. Over the last three years the students have successfully raised over $24,000 towards the ALS foundation and the Jewish Community Center of Belle Mead, New Jersey.

Recently, a new robotics club was founded. Team 2554 [https://my.usfirst.org/myarea/index.lasso?page=teamlist&menu=false&event=NY&year=2008&event_type=FRC] , the JPS Warhawks [http://www.team2554.org/home.html] , which attended the FIRST Robotics Competition 2008 New York Regionals, is a new robotics club started in the 2007-2008 school year at John P. Stevens High School. The team went on the place 18 out of 64 [http://www2.usfirst.org/2008comp/events/NY/rankings.html] , qualifying for finals.

Notable alumni

Noted JPS alumni include:
*David Bryan (born 1962), who plays the keyboards in the hard rock band Bon Jovi. [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/tomwaits/articles/story//in_brief_tom_waits_bsbs "In Brief: Tom Waits, BSBs"] , "Rolling Stone", April 22, 2002. Accessed June 5, 2007. "Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan was inducted into the Hall of Honor at the John P. Stevens High School in Edison, New Jersey, over the weekend. Bryan graduated from the school in 1980."]
*Al Cheznovitz (born 1961), trumpet player, appears nightly on "The Late Show with David Letterman".Fact|date=July 2008
*Jun Choi (born 1971), current Mayor of Edison, New Jersey.Fact|date=July 2008
*Pam Long, class of '94, singer for the group Total.Fact|date=July 2008
*Mark L. Polansky (born 1956), NASA astronaut. [Caiazza, Tom. [http://ws.gmnews.com/news/2007/0509/Front_Page/007.html "Five million miles and one heck of a view: Astronaut returns after space flight; township names day in his honor"] , "Woodbridge Sentinel", May 9, 2007. Accessed June 4, 2007. "Polansky, an Edison native and graduate of J.P. Stevens High School, returned to his alma mater Monday after commanding STS-116, the space shuttle mission to the International Space Station last December."]
*Joel Stein (born 1971), journalist, media personality, and current columnist for the "Los Angeles Times".Fact|date=July 2008
*Sabrina Wind, Executive Producer of "Desperate Housewives".Fact|date=July 2008
*Jeremy Zuttah (born 1986), Tampa Bay Buccaneers player. [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-89802982.html "Sports Briefs"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", January 24, 2004. Accessed October 9, 2007. "Jeremy Zuttah of Edison's J.P. Stevens, rated the No. 34 best offensive guard in the country by Rivals.com, will attend Rutgers, according to his high school coach, Frank Zarro."]

See also

* List of high schools in New Jersey

References

External links

* [http://www.jpstevens.org/ J.P. Stevens High School Student Run Website]
* [http://www.edison.k12.nj.us/jpswelcome.htm J.P. Stevens High School page] from [http://www.edison.k12.nj.us/ Edison Township Public Schools]
*NJReportCard|23|1290|053|J.P. Stevens High School
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3404500&ID=340450003326 Data for J.P. Stevens High School] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.jpstevenshawks.com/ J.P. Stevens Hawks Athletics]
* [http://hawktalk.ning.com/ J.P. Stevens Alumni Run Social Network]