| Clifton High School | | Location | 333 Colfax Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07013
| | Information | | Type | Public high school | | School district | Clifton Public Schools | | Principal | Jimmie Warren | | Vice principal | Luginda Walker (North Wing)
Yvonne Cali (Central Wing)
Susan Peters (South Wing)
Peter Cumba (East Wing) | | Faculty | 229.0 (on FTE basis)[1] | | Grades | 9 - 12 | | Enrollment | 3,397 (as of 2006-07)[1] | | Student:teacher ratio | 14.8[1] | | Color(s) | Maroon and Gray | | Team name | Mustangs | | Information | 973-470-2312 | | Website | School website | Clifton High School is a four year public high school serving grades 9-12 for the city of Clifton in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Clifton Public Schools. It is the largest single facility high school in New Jersey; Elizabeth High School has more students, but they are spread over multiple campuses.[2] As of the 2006-07 school year, the school had an enrollment of 3,397 students and 229 classroom teachers (on a FTE basis, for a student–teacher ratio of 14.8.[1] The school was the 223rd-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 316 schools statewide, in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2008 cover story on the state's Top Public High Schools. The school was ranked 280th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[3] [edit] Athletics Clifton High School competes in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) an athletic conference of twenty high schools located in Bergen County and Passaic County. The NNJIL is separated into three divisions, according to the classification they are given from the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. - Fall sports include Boys and Girls Cross Country, Girls Gymnastics, Football, Girls Volleyball, Girls Tennis, and Boys and Girls Soccer, and Marching Band[4]
- Winter Sports include Hockey, Boy and Girls Indoor Track, Wrestling, Basketball, Swimming, and Bowling.
- Spring Sports include Baseball, Boys Volleyball, Boys and Girls Outdoor Track, Boys and Girls Lacrosse, Boys Tennis, Softball, Golf and Ultimate Frisbee.
The boys cross country team have won the NNJIL for eight years in a row (1998-2006) and the girls have won for three years (2004-2007).[citation needed] The Mustangs were the North I, Group IV Football State Champs 2006, even with the injury of Marcel "Tone" Masso 85 TE, and Mike Chefrin 7 QB defeating Eastside High School 26-0.[5] The 2007 girls softball team won the North I, Group IV Softball sectional championship with a 10-0 win over top-seeded Bloomfield High School.[6][7] The team moved on to win the Group IV State Championship defeating North Hunterdon High School and then Toms River High School East in the final game, both by a score of 2-0.[8] The 2007 boys soccer team, under the direction of Coach Joe Vespignani, won the North I, Group IV state sectional championship with a 1-0 win over defending Group IV State Champion West Orange High School in the tournament final.[9][10] In the state semi-final, Clifton defeated Columbia High School by an identical 1-0 score. The spectacular goal was scored by Manuel Caicedo with a brilliant Bicycle Kick from the penalty spot. Manny Caicedo was named Passaic County Player of the Year and Second Team All State. The team moved on to share the Group IV state championship with a 1-1 tie against Manalapan High School.[11][12] The 2008 boys soccer team repeated as the North I, Group IV state sectional champion with a 3-2 overtime win against North Bergen High School. In the state semi-final, Clifton defeated Elizabeth High School 2-1 in overtime in a match-up of the two largest high schools in the state, before falling in the state final to Rancocas Valley by a score of 2-0. Clifton also shared the Passaic County Championship, their fifth County title in the last seven years. The 2009 boys soccer team completed a threepeat as the North I, Group IV state sectional champion with a 3-0 win over Livingston High School. In the state semi-final, Clifton defeated Ridge High School 1-0 in double overtime, before falling in the state final to Toms River South by a score of 1-0. That goal was the only goal allowed through the six games of the state tournament. Clifton finished the season 19-6-1 and has averaged 20 wins a season over the last three years. In Coach Vespignani's eight years at the helm, the team is a combined 149-36-7. In addition, the girls soccer team at Clifton, under Coach Dan Chilowicz, shared the Passaic County Championship title with Wayne Valley High School in 2007 with a deadlocked score of 0-0. - Clifton High School competes regionally in over 50 sport programs.
- Clifton High School has over 60 clubs.
- Clifton High School also holds many Plays and Dance performances in its auditorium.
- The Clifton High School Mustang Marching Band, "The Showband of the Northeast" is well-known internationally. Unlike many marching bands in the area, it is modelled after the fast paced, high stepping, Big-10 bands. The Clifton High School Mustang Band is directed by Robert D. Morgan, and is known internationally for it's script C-H-S. Similar to script O-H-I-O, the Marching Band unravels from a tight block, following one another, forming the school's initials in cursive. The band is showcased in many venues within the city of Clifton, it appears annually in the North Jersey Band Festival, (formally known as the Clifton Band Festival, or Herald News Band Festival) the West Milford Military Tattoo, all Clifton High School football games, and city parades. The Clifton High School Mustang Band has travelled extensively across the United States, The United Kingdom, Europe, and Canada. The Clifton HIgh School Mustang Marching Band recently won 1st palace in "Best in Parade" during the 2008 Columbus Day Parade in New York City. Among the other activities in Clifton High School, the city of Clifton placed the Marching Band on its list of the most recognized activities in the city of Clifton.
[edit] Administration Core members of the school's administration include:[13] - Jimmie Warren – Principal. Warren, who had been principal of a district middle school, was selected as principal in July 2008, filling the vacancy created when former principal Richard Tardalo was appointed as the district's superintendent.[14]
- Luginda Walker – Vice Principal (North Wing)
- Yvonne Cali – Vice Principal (Central Wing)
- Susan Peters – Vice Principal (South Wing)
- Peter Cumba – Vice Principal (East Wing)
[edit] Notable alumni [edit] References - ^ a b c d Clifton High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed October 27, 2007.
- ^ Clifton High's hallway gridlock, The Record (Bergen County), December 6, 2006. Accessed August 26, 2007. "Clifton High School, circa 1962, is the largest single high school in the state. Only Elizabeth High School has more students, but they are spread out over five campuses."
- ^ "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
- ^ http://www.cliftonmustangband.com
- ^ 2006 Football Tournament - North I, Group IV, NJSIAA, accessed December 4, 2006.
- ^ 2007 Softball - North I, Group IV, NJSIAA. Accessed June 12, 2007.
- ^ Zagoria, Adam. "Clifton hits double digits, cruises to title", Herald News, June 1, 2007. Accessed June 1, 2007. "Sam Litchfield didn't use any of her tae kwon do maneuvers on the softball field at Pulaski Park, but she certainly helped deliver the knockout blow to Bloomfield in the North 1, Group 4 final. Litchfield, a black belt in the martial art and the right fielder for Clifton, went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and also made an eye-popping running grab in the outfield to lead the No. 2-seeded Mustangs to an emphatic 10-0 victory over the No. 1 Bengals in five innings before an estimated 750 fans."
- ^ 2007 Softball - Public Semis/Finals, NJSIAA. Accessed June 12, 2007.
- ^ 2007 Boys Soccer - North I, Group IV, NJSIAA. Accessed November 13, 2007.
- ^ Bondy, Stefan. "They did it! Mustangs take title North 1, Group 4 Clifton 1, West Orange 0", Herald News, November 10, 2007. Accessed November 13, 2007.
- ^ 2007 Boys Soccer - Public Semis/Finals, NJSIAA. Accessed November 24, 2007.
- ^ Bondy, Stefan. "Mustangs finish state champions", Herald News, November 17, 2007. Accessed November 24, 2007.
- ^ Clifton High School Administration, accessed May 1, 2007.
- ^ Cunningham, Jennifer H. "Principal promoted to Clifton High School", The Record (Bergen County), July 11, 2008. Accessed July 11, 2008.
- ^ "Clifton's Karcz joining Red Bulls", The Record (Bergen County), July 3, 2007. Accessed July 28, 2007. "Clifton native Chris Karcz, who played at Rutgers, has been signed by the Red Bulls.... The midfielder/forward was a three-time All-Big East Conference selection at Rutgers and was a first-team All-American in his senior year at Clifton High School."
- ^ Ratish, Robert. "PHARMACY GRADUATE PLEDGES $5M SHOT IN ARM FOR RUTGERS -- SCHOOL TO BE RENAMED FOR FORMER CLIFTON MAN, The Record (Bergen County), December 16, 2001. Accessed May 13, 2007. "...graduated from Clifton High School when he was 16 years old..."
- ^ Biography: Ronald F. Maxwell - Narrator, Horses of Gettysburg. Accessed June 17, 2007. "Ronald F. Maxwell is the son of a World War II veteran and a French war bride. He grew up in New Jersey where he graduated from Clifton High School."
- ^ DeMarrais, Kevin C. "Leaving the spotlight for new, quieter careers", The Record (Bergen County), April 29, 2007. Accessed October 16, 2007. "Who: Dave Szott, 39. Then: Clifton High School and Penn State offensive-line star lasted 14 years in the NFL despite being a seventh-round pick by Kansas City Chiefs."
- ^ 1985-86 WRESTLING USA MAGAZINE'S HIGH SCHOOL All-AMERICA TEAM, Wrestling USA Magazine, accessed February 20, 2007.
[edit] External links Coordinates: 40°52′17″N 74°09′47″W / 40.871253°N 74.163167°W / 40.871253; -74.163167 |
