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Arthur L. Johnson High School

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Coordinates: 40°37′23″N 74°18′43″W / 40.623114°N 74.311967°W / 40.623114; -74.311967
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Arthur L. Johnson High School
Front of the school
Address
Map
365 Westfield Avenue

Clark
,
Union County
,
New Jersey
07066

United States
Coordinates40°37′23″N 74°18′43″W / 40.623114°N 74.311967°W / 40.623114; -74.311967
Information
TypePublic high school
Established1956
School districtClark Public School District
NCES School ID340315000205[2]
PrincipalTara Oliveira[1]
Faculty65.0 FTEs[2]
Grades9-12
Enrollment754 (as of 2023–24)[2]
Student to teacher ratio11.6:1[2]
Color(s)  Navy Blue and
  white[3]
Athletics conferenceUnion County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (general)
Big Central Football Conference (football)
AccreditationMiddle States Association of Colleges and Schools[4]
AlumniALJalumni.org
Websitealj.clarkschools.org

Arthur L. Johnson High School is a four-year public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Clark and Garwood in Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as the lone secondary school of the Clark Public School District. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1963 and is accredited until January 2030.[4]

Students from Garwood attend the high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Garwood Public Schools.[5][6]

As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 754 students and 65.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.6:1. There were 29 students (3.8% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 8 (1.1% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[2]

The school's campus abuts the planned Clark Reservoir Recreation Area, an area of woodland surrounding the decommissioned Robinson's Branch Reservoir (also known as the Clark Reservoir), which is currently being rehabilitated for water recreation.[7][8]

History

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By the early 1950s, Jonathan Dayton Regional High School in Springfield, the sole school of the Union County Regional High School District, had become overcrowded. In November 1953, voters approved a $1.95 million bond referendum to purchase two sites in Clark and Berkeley Heights and construct a high school on the Clark site. Constructed on a site covering 25 acres (10 ha) and including 94,000 square feet (8,700 m2) of space for classes and other facilities, the school opened in September 1956 and was named for a longtime county superintendent who was a leading advocate for the establishment of a regional school district.[9] In April 1957, voters approved a $3.8 million bond referendum that included funds for an addition at Johnson.[10] The addition opened in September 1959 and contained 14 classrooms as well as a boys' gymnasium and special classrooms.[11] On May 4, 1971, voters approved a $4.7 million bond referendum to expand and renovate each school in the district.[12] At Johnson, the addition of an instructional media center, two general education classrooms, and several special classrooms, and various renovations and expansions were completed by September 1973.[13][14]

Amid conflict between the constituent municipalities about financing a district described as "the highest-spending regional high school in the state" and anger from residents impacted by the closure of David Brearley High School, a referendum was held in May 1996 in which voters approved a proposal to breakup the regional district. With the district's dissolution at the end of the 1996-97 school year Arthur L. Johnson High School was turned over to the Clark Public School District, which became a K-12 district. Garwood, one of the two municipalities without a high school, established a sending/receiving relationship to send its high school students to Arthur L. Johnson.[15][16]

Awards, recognition and rankings

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In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post, the school was ranked 47th in New Jersey and 1,493rd nationwide.[17] The school was ranked 1609th, the 62nd-highest in New Jersey, in Newsweek magazine's 2010 rankings of America's Best High Schools.[18]

In its 2013 report on "America's Best High Schools", The Daily Beast ranked the school 898th in the nation among participating public high schools and 67th among schools in New Jersey.[19]

The school was the 86th-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.[20] The school had been ranked 40th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 101st in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[21] The magazine ranked the school 95th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[22] The school was ranked 91st in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[23] Schooldigger.com ranked the school tied for 115th out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (an increase of 29 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (84.1%) and language arts literacy (97.5%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[24]

In 2019, the school was ranked 241st out of 438 high schools in New Jersey in rankings by U.S. News & World Report.[25]

Athletics

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The Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusaders[3] compete in the Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Union County, and was established following a reorganization of spots leagues in Northern New Jersey under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[26] Before the 2010 realignment, the school had participated in the Mountain Valley Conference, which consisted of public and private high schools in Essex County and Union County.[27] With 520 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group II for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 486 to 758 students in that grade range.[28] The football team competes in Division 2B of the Big Central Football Conference, which includes 60 public and private high schools in Middlesex, Hunterdon, Somerset, Union and Warren counties, which are broken down into 10 divisions by size and location.[29] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group II South for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 514 to 685 students.[30]

The boys' bowling team won the overall state championship in 1985 and the Group I state championship in 2013.[31]

The football team won the North II Group II state sectional titles in 1995 and 2002.[32] The 1995 team finished the season with a record of 11-0 after winning the North II Group II sectional championship game with a 21-6 victory against a Summit High School team that came into the tournament as the number-one seed.[33]

The field hockey team won the North II Group II state sectional titles in 2008, 2010 and 2011.[34]

The cheerleading team won the NJCDCA Group II state championship title in 2017.[35]

The ice hockey team won the McMullen Cup in 2020, defeating Frisch School by a score of 7–3 in the tournament final.[36]

Notable alumni

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See also: Category:Arthur L. Johnson High School alumni

References

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  1. ^ Directory, Arthur L. Johnson High School. Accessed January 19, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e School data for Arthur L. Johnson High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Arthur L. Johnson High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Arthur L. Johnson High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed December 18, 2024.
  5. ^ Clark Township Public Schools 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 5, 2016. "The school district educates more than 2,350 students in five buildings and enjoys a very positive and collaborative send/receive relationship with the Garwood Public Schools. Students from Garwood are educated in their local K-8 district. They subsequently attend grades 9-12 at our Arthur L. Johnson High School here in Clark."
  6. ^ About Us, Garwood Public Schools. Accessed June 5, 2016. "High school students attend ALJ High School in Clark, NJ"
  7. ^ "Clark Reservoir Recreation Area – County of Union". December 11, 2020.
  8. ^ Union County’s Clark Reservoir Slated for Restoration, [[Union County, New Jersey|]], press release dated December 3, 2021. Accessed July 28, 2022. "The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce that work is moving forward on the restoration of the Clark Reservoir. Located along Robinson’s Branch of the Rahway River in the Township of Clark, the reservoir was built in 1907."
  9. ^ "1,000 Attend Dedication Of Johnson High School Clark", Courier News, December 8, 1956. Accessed March 3, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "More than 1,000 persons turned out last night for the dedication ceremonies of the newly-completed Arthur L. Johnson Regional High School here. Notables in the field of education from state, county and local levels appeared to pay tribute to the late Dr. Arthur L. Johnson, who as county superintendent of schools for 40 years, first conceived the idea of a regional school district.... The building contains 94,000 square feet of floor space with 22 classrooms, and 12 laboratory and arts and crafts rooms which surround the auditorium. The rear wing contains a cafeteria, gymnasium and two shops. Costing $2,000,000, the school building is located on the east corner of the 25-acre tract."
  10. ^ "Voters OK Funds For New School". Courier News. May 1, 1957. Retrieved November 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Regional To Hold Open House". Courier News. October 15, 1959. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Gold, Abner (May 6, 1971). "Regional expansion proposal wins at the polls" (PDF). Springfield Leader. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  13. ^ "District School Board Selects Dr. Hagedorn; Outline Building Plan" (PDF). Clark Patriot. April 15, 1971. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  14. ^ "Additions to schools to be done". Courier News. August 9, 1973. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  15. ^ Hanley, Robert. "Schools Weigh Impact Of District Breakup", The New York Times, May 16, 1996. Accessed April 28, 2021. "They are Springfield, with Dayton High; Berkeley Heights, with Governor Livingston High; Clark, with Arthur Johnson High, and Kenilworth, with Brearley High, which closed three years ago but will reopen after Commissioner Klagholz sets a date for the formal dissolution. Many expect it will be June 30, 1997. The district's two towns without high school buildings -- Garwood and Mountainside -- will remain kindergarten-to-eighth-grade districts and ship out their high school students."
  16. ^ Paglia, Bernice. "Stakes high in vote on deregionalization", Courier News, May 13, 1996. Accessed April 28, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "In 1992 the Union County Regional High School District 1 board voted to close one of its four high schools, a move aimed at saving $4 million. That move may come full circle on Tuesday, when voters from six municipalities will decide whether to dissolve the district itself, which state Education Commissioner Leo Klagholz has called 'the highest-spending regional high school in the state.'"
  17. ^ Mathews, Jay. "The High School Challenge 2011: Arthur L. Johnson High School", The Washington Post. Accessed September 9, 2011.
  18. ^ Staff. "America's Best High Schools: The List", Newsweek, June 13, 2010. Accessed March 26, 2011.
  19. ^ Streib, Lauren. "America's Best High Schools", The Daily Beast, May 6, 2013. Accessed May 9, 2013.
  20. ^ Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
  21. ^ Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed September 11, 2012.
  22. ^ Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed March 26, 2011.
  23. ^ "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
  24. ^ School Overview; Click on "Rankings" for 2003-11 HSPA results, Schooldigger.com. Accessed March 10, 2012.
  25. ^ Arthur L. Johnson High School, U.S. News & World Report. Accessed January 29, 2020.
  26. ^ League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  27. ^ Home Page, Mountain Valley Conference, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 2, 2011. Accessed December 15, 2014.
  28. ^ NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  29. ^ Kinney, Mike. "Big Central revises 2020 football schedule for its shortened inaugural season", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 12, 2020. Accessed April 18, 2021. "The newly formed Big Central Football Conference has released a revised 2020 schedule for its inaugural season.... the BCFC is comprised of schools from Middlesex, Union, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties."
  30. ^ NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
  31. ^ History of NJSIAA Boys Bowling Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed August 1, 2022.
  32. ^ NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 1, 2022.
  33. ^ De Martini, Tom. "Simply Perfect; Unbeaten Johnson tops Summit for title", Home News Tribune, December 3, 1995. Accessed March 3, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Is a sectional championship game a good time to throw a new wrinkle into your offensive scheme? Only if it works. Johnson Regional High School capped off its first unbeaten football season yesterday behind the rushing of senior Joe Aleffi, who carried 23 times for 124 yards and one touchdown, as the third-seeded Crusaders downed top-seeded Summit 21-6 to take the North Jersey, Section 2, Group II crown at Tatlock Field."
  34. ^ History of NJSIAA Field Hockey Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  35. ^ 2017 NJCDCA Cheerleading State Champions, New Jersey Cheerleading and Dance Coaches Association, March 5, 2017. Accessed October 15, 2017.
  36. ^ Staff. "Crusaders Take the McMullen Cup and More in This Week's Sports Roundup for February 23", TAP into Clark, February 24, 2020. "It was a big week for the Crusaders on the ice. The top-seeded Johnson ice hockey team won the McMullen Cup after defeating third-seeded Frisch, 7-3, at South Mountain Arena on Saturday, Feb. 22."
  37. ^ Todd Burger player profile Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Football Database. Accessed January 13, 2007.
  38. ^ Player Bio: Dave Durante, Stanford Cardinal men's gymnastics, April 17, 2013. Accessed August 7, 2024. "Hometown: Clark, NJ; High School: Arthur L. Johnson"
  39. ^ Kenneth T. Ham, NASA. Accessed March 26, 2011. "Arthur L. Johnson Regional High School, Clark, New Jersey, 1983."
  40. ^ "Johnson soccer standout to continue playing at Cornell, Union County LocalSource, February 22, 2018. Accessed November 29, 2020. "Arthur L. Johnson senior Gennaro Nigro recently signed with Cornell University."
  41. ^ "Johnson Regional Tops Raider Team", Courier News, November 28, 1969. Accessed January 20, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Powerful Johnson Regional High of Clark put the defensive shackles on the Scotch Plains-Fanwood offense yesterday to post a 21-0 triumph over the Raiders in a Watchung Conference tilt.... Midway through the opening period, Ed Pinkham fielded a Scotch Plains punt and raced back 18 yards to the Raider 34."
  42. ^ 2015 Men's Lacrosse Coaching Staff, Wagner College. Accessed August 4, 2015. "Prior to his stint at Drew, Poskay served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, A.L. Johnson Regional High School in Clark, New Jersey.... He has held the national high school record with 362 career goals for nearly a decade and also tallied 468 career points, tops in state history. On the gridiron, he was a First-Team All-State quarterback as a senior and Second-Team his junior year. He was also the starting point guard for three years on the basketball team."
  43. ^ Staff. "Cranford Cougars Defeat Johnson in Season Opener; Cranford's new quarterback excels in his first outing.", Cranford Patch, September 15, 2011. Accessed September 6, 2017. "Interestingly, head coach for Cranford, Erik Rosenmeier, is a Clark native and a 1983 Arthur L. Johnson alum."
  44. ^ Armstrong, Kevin. "Spaziani ready to make most of chance as BC's new head coach", Sports Illustrated, May 5, 2009. Accessed March 26, 2011. "Mixed in with graduation moments and prom pageantry, the home video footage captured a true throwback from Arthur L. Johnson Regional High in Clark, N.J. The quarterback wore No. 14 and displayed a powerful arm. To gauge others' interest, Spaziani, then the Eagles' defensive coordinator, gathered his assistants in a meeting room, showed them the film and invited their evaluations. Recognizing their boss as a prep star some 40 years earlier, the coaches burst out laughing."
  45. ^ "Rain Drives Class, Parents into School", Courier News, June 21, 1962. Accessed February 15, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "A drizzling rain drove the largest graduating class in the 6-year history of the Arthur L. Johnson Regional High School into the boys' gymnasium last night.... Garwood... David Weeks"
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