As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 753 students and 73.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.2:1. There were 21 students (2.8% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 8 (1.1% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[2]
History
Voorhees High School, constructed at a cost of $7.5 million (equivalent to $42.5 million in 2023), opened for the 1975-76 school year, helping end overcrowding that necessitated split sessions at North Hunterdon High School.[8][9] Students in the following areas, except for incoming 12th graders (seniors), were reassigned to Vorhees High: Lebanon Township, Califon, High Bridge, and Tewksbury Township.[10]
The 40-acre (16 ha) lot reserved for Voorhees High School was unusually long and narrow, which posed an engineering and design challenge. To solve this, Breslin Ridyard Fadero Architects designed the 280,000 square feet (26,000 m2) school building to be nearly 700 feet (210 m) in length and three stories tall.[11]
In 1980, a 60,000-square-foot (5,600 m2) addition was built, adding a second gymnasium and cafeteria, technology laboratories, and additional classrooms to all three floors.[12]
Throughout the 2021-22 school year, the North Hunterdon-Voorhees High School District undertook a large solar power installation project, which was completed in November 2022. Voorhees High School's photovoltaic system totals 655.2 kilowatts.[13][14]
Glen Gardner students were zoned only to Voorhees High until 2014[15] after which Clinton and Glen Gardner residents were given the option to select which high school they wished to attend.[16]
In its listing of "America's Best High Schools 2016", the school was ranked 233rd out of 500 best high schools in the country; it was ranked 38th among all high schools in New Jersey and 21st among the state's non-magnet schools.[19]
In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post, the school was ranked 24th in New Jersey and 830th nationwide.[20] In Newsweek's May 22, 2007, issue, ranking the country's top high schools, Voorhees High School was listed in 1118th place, the 36th-highest ranked school in New Jersey.[21]
The school was the 43rd-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.[22] The school had been ranked 48th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 59th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[23] The magazine ranked the school 41st in 2008 out of 316 schools.[24] The school was ranked 30th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state.[25]
Schooldigger.com ranked the school tied for 83rd out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (a decrease of 40 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (88.1%) and language arts literacy (97.0%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[26]
The school was the Consumer Bowl 2006 and 2007 state champion, a program that evaluates the skills of students as informed consumers.[27]
The architects of Voorhees High School, Breslin Ridyard Fadero Architects, achieved a design award, "Outstanding Planning and Design", from the New Jersey Department of Education.[28] Additionally, in the Annual State School of the Year awards program, Voorhees High School was judged best high school because of "The simplified form of the building, restrained use of materials and color, precision detailing, the play of sun and shadow and the wonderful site and setting."[29]
Athletics
Voorhees High School Vikings[3] compete in the Skyland Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren counties in west centralNew Jersey. The conference operates under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[30] With 761 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group III for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 761 to 1,058 students in that grade range.[31] The football team competes in Division 2A of the Big Central Football Conference, which includes 60 public and private high schools in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, Union and Warren counties, which are broken down into 10 divisions by size and location.[32] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group II South for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 514 to 685 students.[33]
The district approved a plan in 2010 for construction of an $850,000 artificial turf field to be mainly be used for football. Voorhees' football team was unable to use its grass field between 2008 and 2009 when glass shards and other debris was found in the turf.[34]
The wrestling team won the Central Jersey Group II state sectional championship in 1981–1983, 1995, 1996 and 1998; the Central Jersey Group III title in 1983, 1985-1989 and 1991; the North Jersey II Group II title in 2004 and 2013; and the North Jersey II Group III title in 2015 and 2018. The team won the state Group II title in 1982 and 1995, and the Group III title in 1985 and 1987. The program's 15 sectional titles are the seventh-most of any public high school in the state.[35] The team won the program's fourth state title and finished the season with an 18-1 record after winning the Group II championship 40-21 against Buena Regional High School.[36]
The boys' cross country team won the Group II state championship in 1981-1983, 2015 and 2016.[37] The team won the 2015 Group II state championship, the team's first state title since 1983.[38]
The 1984 softball team won the Group III state championship in 1984, defeating Ramsey High School by a score of 3-0 on a three-run home run in the fourth inning of the tournament final at Mercer County Park.[39][40]NJ.com / The Star-Ledger ranked Voorhees as their number-one softball team in the state in 1984.[41] The team won the 1998 Central Jersey Group II state sectional championship, defeating Raritan High School by a score of 1–0 in the first round and Manasquan High School by 4–1 in the semifinals, before defeating Carteret High School by a score of 8–2 in the tournament final. They lost 1–0 to a nationally ranked Audubon High School team in extra innings on a controversial call at the plate to end their playoff run in the Group II championship.[citation needed]
The field hockey team won the Central Jersey Group II state sectional championship in 1993 and 1996, won the North II Group II title in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2016, and won the North II Group II title in 2006.[42] The field hockey team won the 2002 North II, Group II sectional championship, edging Madison High School 3–2 in the final game.[43] The 2006 team won the North II, Group III tournament with a 1–0 win over Ocean Township High School.[44]
The 1995 Voorhees football team won the Central Jersey Group II state championship.[45] Voorhees High School's football team competes in an annual Milk Can Game against rival North Hunterdon High School. After the conclusion of the game, a golden milk can is awarded to the winner, which earns bragging rights and ownership of the can until the next year's game. The 36th annual Milk Can Game was played in November 2011, with Voorhees winning at home by a score of 13–7 to end a five-year streak by North Hunterdon.[46] With a 14–7 win in 2018, North Hunterdon had won seven consecutive games in the series and holds an overall record of 30–12–1 in the 43 Milk Can games played between the two schools.[47]NJ.com called the Milk Can "maybe the most famous trophy in New Jersey football" and listed the rivalry in the fifth spot on their 2007 list "Ranking the 31 fiercest rivalries in N.J. HS football".[48]
The girls cross country team won the Group III state title in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2006-2009, and won the Group II championship 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2017. The team's 10 group titles are the fourth-most of any school in the state.[49] The girls cross country team won the Meet of Champions in 1990, 2007, 2008 and 2012; the program's four state team titles are tied for third-most in the state.[50]
The girls track team won the Group III winter / indoor track state title in 2001 and 2012.[51]
The girls' track team won the Group II indoor relay championship in 2001.[52]
The boys fencing team won the overall state championship in 1986, 1994 and 2005.[54] The team won in 2005 when they defeated Ramapo High School 14–13 in the tournament final.[55]
The girls fencing team won the overall state championship in 1996 and was épée team winner in 2004 and 2010.[56]
Administration
The school's principal is Ron Peterson. His core administration team includes five assistant principals.[57]
Doug Payne (born 1981, class of 2000), American equestrian who was selected to compete for the United States in the delayed 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo[62]
Noah Rothman (born 1981, class of 2000), editor, political commentator and author who serves as the online editor of Commentary[63]
^Voorhees High School 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 3, 2016. "Voorhees High School has consistently ranked among the top high schools in New Jersey and was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2015. With an enrollment of 1,095 students in grades 9-12, the school serves the communities of Califon, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Lebanon Township, and Tewksbury Township."
^Bergstedt, Karen. "High cost of education chat follows tour of new school", Courier News, September 30, 1975. Accessed May 7, 2012, via Newspapers.com. "Preceding their discussion last night with school administrators on the high cost of local education, municipal leaders toured the new $7.5 million Voorhees High School that opened this month."
^History, North Hunterdon High School. Accessed May 7, 2022. 'In 1975, Voorhees High School was opened, and freshmen, sophomores and juniors from the four new sending districts to Voorhees left North Hunterdon High School. Prior to the opening, the 1974-75 school year was spent in split sessions."
^"Breslin Architects- Voorhees High School". Accessed September 16, 2022. "This 280,000 sq. ft. New High School is the second High School for the North Hunterdon School District in Central New Jersey... The linear, multi-story design was developed in response to the rather long and narrow site adjacent to Voorhees State Park. Site development included athletic fields, a multipurpose stadium with grandstands, an all-weather running track, tennis courts and related parking."
^"Breslin Architects- Voorhees High School. Accessed September 16, 2022. "A subsequent addition of 60,000 sq. ft. also designed by Breslin Ridyard Fadero Architects, provided major expansion for physical education and state-of-the-art science and technology laboratories."
^"District Celebrates Completion of Solar Panel Project". Accessed December 7, 2022. "On Monday, November 21st, Board of Education members, administrators, and students gathered for a ceremonial ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion and now operational solar panel project at both of the district’s high schools."
^Mueller, Mark. "Which N.J. schools were named National Blue Ribbon schools?", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 29, 2015. Accessed November 14, 2016. "Fifteen New Jersey schools have been recognized by the federal government as National Blue Ribbon Schools, a designation that celebrates excellence in academics or progress in closing the achievement gap among groups of students.... Each of the 15 New Jersey schools was chosen for the 'exemplary high performing' category, which weighs state or national tests, high school graduation rates and the performance of subgroups of students, such as those who are economically disadvantaged."
^Voorhees High School Wins 2007 State Consumer Bowl Competition, New Jersey Attorney General press release dated May 22, 2007. Accessed February 27, 2008. "Voorhees High School in Glen Gardner, Hunterdon County, is the State Champion in the 11th Annual New Jersey Consumer Bowl, a quiz show-style competition that encourages students to become well-informed consumers."
^"Breslin Architects- Voorhees High School". Accessed September 16, 2022. "For this project, Breslin Architects achieved a "Design Award" from the New Jersey Department of Education for "Outstanding Planning and Design"."
^"Breslin Architects- Voorhees High School". Accessed September 16, 2022. "The school was judged the best high school in the Annual State School of the Year awards program. The Awards Jury commended 'The simplified form of the building, restrained use of materials and color, precision detailing, the play of sun and shadow and the wonderful site and setting.'"
^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."
^Toll, Matt. "In title shot, Buena falls to Voorhees; The Chiefs sought their first state wrestling crown. Their lightweights failed to pin it down.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 19, 1995. Accessed February 25, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "At the conclusion of the 153-pound match of yesterday's NJSIAA Group 2 state final, Buena coach Doug Castellari thought to himself: This has never happened before.... He had just seen his seven best wrestlers Buena's Murderer's Row of lightweights battle Voorhees and fail to get a pin. In fact, the Chiefs had lost four of the eight bouts. This was not good. Voorhees went on to earn three pins and a technical fall in the final five bouts of the match to win, 40-21, at Kittatinny Regional High School. Seeking their first state title, the Chiefs settled instead for their second straight season as state runner-up. Voorhees (18-1) won its fourth state title, while Buena, ranked No. 1 in South Jersey by The Inquirer, fell to 19-3."
^Lambert, Jim. "Boys Cross-Country: Recap of the Group 2 Championship race", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 14, 2015. Accessed December 14, 2015. "Voorhees avenged its loss last year by winning its first state title since 1983 and Joe Dragon became the first boys from High Point to win a state XC title in Saturday's Group 2 race at Holmdel Park."
^Kuzbyt, Tom. "Three-run homer beats Ramsey", The Record, June 10, 1984. Accessed January 4, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "One swing of the bat shattered Ramsey High School's hopes of a New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association Group 3 softball championship yesterday at Mercer County Park. With two outs, two runners on, and a 2-0 count on winning pitcher Michele Smith in the fourth inning, Ramsey sophomore Cathy Kaminski threw a pitch down the middle and Smith smacked it for a three-run homer to give Voorhees a 3-1 win and the state title."
^"Softball: Every No. 1 team in the state from 1979 to 2015", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 21, 2015, updated August 24, 2019. Accessed January 4, 2021. "Following are the teams that finished as the NJ.com No. 1 softball team in the state with year and record.... 1984: Voorhees (24-1)"
^Loigu, Andy. "Voorhees High School upsets North Hunterdon in Milk Can Game", Lehigh Valley Live, November 19, 2011. Accessed November 19, 2011. "The seniors for Voorhees High School walked off Rich Degnan Field as winners of The Milk Can for the first time in their rivalry game against North Hunterdon on Friday evening after a 13–7 win over North Hunterdon. However, North Hunterdon has won the can for the last five years."
^Frezza, Harry. "NJ football: North Hunterdon continues dominance in Milk Can game", Courier News, October 27, 2018. Accessed February 17, 2019. "The 43rd edition of the Milk Can game between North Hunterdon and Voorhees on Friday night promised to be extremely tight.... A pick six on the first play of the night and a game-turning punt return by senior birthday boy Griffin Honthy were vital in the Lions’ 14-7 triumph at Singley Field. North Hunterdon's lead in the series is 30-12-1 after beating the Vikings (4-5) for the seventh straight time."
^Stypulkoski, Matt. "Ranking the 31 fiercest rivalries in N.J. HS football", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 27, 2017, updated May 15, 2019. Accessed December 1, 2020. "5-North Hunterdon vs. Voorhees... This rivalry was born in 1975 when Voorhees High School opened, populated by six of North Hunterdon's 12 districts.... The winner of the Milk Can Game gets bragging rights and maybe the most famous trophy in New Jersey football. All-time series: North Hunterdon leads 27-12-1"
^"Class of 2003; Voorhees High School", Courier News, June 18, 2003. Accessed February 7, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The graduation ceremony for the class of 2003 at Voorhees High School in Lebanon Township will be conducted on June 20. The following is the list of candidates for graduation. A-D:... Thomas Zander Bleck Jr...."
^Smith, Steve. "Getz is surprised over mat success", Courier News, January 26, 1984. Accessed July 1, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Lee Getz is certainly resilient.... Getz came to Rutgers a year ago on a football scholarship, but a knee injury suffered during the summer after his senior year at Voorhees forced the Glen Gardner resident to red-shirt his initial football and wrestling seasons."
^Laniawe, Vanessa. "1999 Voorhees valedictorian is now a cable TV star", Hunterdon Review, January 27, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2011. "Alison Haislip, 29-year-old gamer, tech-lover, actress, expert zombie-slayer and card-carrying member of The Lord of the Rings fan club, is best known for her appearances on G4TV, a national cable station based in Los Angeles. She often co-hosts G4's Attack of the Show, available on Comcast. The Tewksbury native was valedictorian of Voorhees High School's class of 1999."
^Doug Payne, Team USA. Accessed July 21, 2021. "Birthplace: Morristown, N.J.... High School: Voorhees High School (Glen Gardener, N.J.) '00"
^"Voorhees High School: Class of 2000", Courier News, June 20, 2000. Accessed February 7, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2000 at Voorhees High School are to be conducted on June 23. Class valedictorian and salutatorian will be announced on June 23. Candidates for graduation are:... Noah Christopher Rothman..."
^Frezza, Harry Jr. "Cloud has gold", Courier News, October 2, 2000. Accessed February 11, 2011. "Smith, one of the key players on the U.S. gold-medal-winning Olympic softball team in Sydney, Australia, still is the girl from Califon, the 1985 graduate of Voorhees High School in Lebanon Township."
^"Voorhees boys fencers get back on winning track", New Jersey Hills, January 9, 2002. Accessed February 7, 2022. "'We think the foil squad is solid, and the épée team had been good with Brian Luteran, John Thornton and Greg Haislip, but the saber squad is still a question, except for Chris Sakos.'"