Cardinal McCarrick High School (CMHS), later known as Cardinal McCarrick/St. Mary's High School, was a Catholicsecondary school located in South Amboy, New Jersey, that operated under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.[3] The school closed at the end of the 2014–15 school year, in the wake of an increasing financial deficit.[4]
As of the 2009–10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 328 students and 25.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.8:1.[2]
Description
The school said its goal was to help to ensure that each CMHS student continues to reach their potential during high school. Initiatives to advance this goal included a College Advisory Program, a Formalized Academic Support Program, an Enhanced College Testing Program, Distance Learning Opportunities, and an Interdisciplinary Honors Program.
History
The school was founded in 1885 by Saint Mary's parish, and included grades one to eleven. It was expanded to include the twelfth grade in 1918, was accredited as Saint Mary's High School in 1919, and the first graduating class was in 1922. The original building was destroyed by a fire and a new school building that opened in 1968 was built in its place.[5]
During the late 1980s, the high school went from being a parish high school to a diocesan high school, separating completely from the now-defunct St. Mary Elementary School (K-8). As a result of the change the high school went through several name changes, including St. Mary Regional High School (1988–2000), St. Mary Diocesan High School (2000–2001). On June 11, 2001, then Diocese of Metuchen Bishop Vincent Breen announced that Saint Mary's would close and reopen under a new name the following fall. In September 2001, the school was named Cardinal McCarrick High School, in honor of Theodore Edgar McCarrick, the first bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen.[5]
Also in fall of 2001, the school opened a local branch of a credit union called the Eagle's Nest.
In 2013, the school, along with Sacred Heart Elementary School, joined the umbrella organization Raritan Bay Catholic Preparatory School.[7]
Mascot, colors and mission
Cardinal McCarrick's school mascot was the Eagle, wearing blue and gold. The Eagle was named Ollie. In 2000–2001, Cardinal McCarrick High School rewrote their mission statement - "The mission of Cardinal McCarrick High School is to facilitate, nurture, and instill a thirst for knowledge based on Catholic moral principles in preparation for life's journey to create a better world."
The boys basketball team won the NJSIAA Parochial South B championship in 2003, defeating Wildwood Catholic High School, 67–51.[9] The 2005 team repeated the feat with a 75–56 win over Holy Spirit High School in the tournament final.[10]
The girls bowling team won the Group I state championship in 2012 and 2013.[11]
Sports included: Fall
Varsity Soccer (Boys and Girls)
Varsity Cross Country (Boys and Girls)
Varsity Tennis (Girls)
Varsity and JV Football
Varsity Cheerleading
Winter
Varsity and JV Cheerleading
Freshman, Varsity and JV Basketball (Boys)
Varsity and JV Basketball (Girls)
Varsity Bowling (Boys and Girls)
Spring
Varsity Track and Field (Boys and Girls)
Freshman, Varsity and JV Baseball (Boys)
Varsity and JV Softball (Girls)
Varsity Golf (Boys and Girls)
The Cardinal McCarrick school closed its doors as of June 2015.
The Cardinal himself resigned that rank in July 2018 (reverting to Archbishop) and was laicized in February, 2019.[17]
Bishop Ahr High School (now St. Thomas Aquinas High School) accepted its former students; Ahr and the former McCarrick had the same tuition prices.[7]
^Milo, Paul. "McCarrick High School in South Amboy closing in June, report says", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 19, 2015. Accessed September 23, 2015. "The Diocese of Metuchen announced that Cardinal McCarrick St. Mary's High School will close due to a cash shortfall, News 12 New Jersey reported Tuesday.... Parents interviewed by the station expressed surprise when they learned the school had been grappling with financial problems for 5 years and now faces a $1.8 million deficit."
^ abHistory, Cardinal McCarrick St. Mary's High School. Accessed September 11, 2012.
^ abBichao, Sergio. "Cardinal McCarrick latest Catholic school to close", Asbury Park Press, May 21, 2015. Accessed March 6, 2021. "Sabrina Leff, a sophomore at Cardinal McCarrick High School, is not looking forward to the fall.... Parents and students learned Tuesday that the 130-year-old school would close next month as a result of plummeting enrollment numbers and widening budget deficits. This year's graduating class will be the last from the high school once known as St. Mary's."
^Marlins manager nurtured his faith in New Jersey parishArchived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, The Georgia Bulletin, February 9, 2004. "McKeon, who led the underdog Florida Marlins to the World Series title over the New York Yankees last November, grew up in South Amboy. He attended St. Mary Elementary School there and graduated from St. Mary High School, now called Cardinal McCarrick High School, before going on to a long and fruitful career in professional baseball."
^"Phillips Re-elected Freeholder", The South Amboy / Sayreville Times, November 16, 1992. Accessed December 21, 2023. "Former State Senator, James T. Phillips (D), a 1971 St. Mary's graduate was re-elected to another term as Middlesex County Freeholder."