Manalapan High School

Manalapan High School
Address
Map
20 Church Lane

Manalapan Township
,
Monmouth County
,
New Jersey
07726

United States
Coordinates40°17′21″N 74°20′10″W / 40.2891°N 74.3360°W / 40.2891; -74.3360
Information
TypePublic high school
Motto"Today's Students, Tomorrow's Leaders"
Established1971
School districtFreehold Regional High School District
NCES School ID340561003802[2]
PrincipalShawn Currie[1]
Faculty115.0 FTEs[2]
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,740 (as of 2023–24)[2]
Student to teacher ratio15.1:1[2]
Color(s)  Red
  white and
  navy blue[3]
Athletics conferenceShore Conference[4]
Team nameBraves[3]
AccreditationMiddle States Association of Colleges and Schools[5]
Websitemanalapan.frhsd.com

Manalapan High School is a comprehensive four-year public high school located in Manalapan Township, in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as part of the Freehold Regional High School District. The school serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from all of Englishtown (which is the school's mailing address) and portions of Manalapan.[6][7] The Freehold Regional High School District also serves students from Colts Neck Township, Farmingdale, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Howell Township, and Marlboro Township.[8][9] The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1975; the school's accreditation expires in July 2025.[5]

Manalapan High School is home to the Science/Engineering Specialized Learning Center, or S&E, which is a program for students with an affinity for mathematical and scientific subjects. The program has anywhere between 10 and 40 students in each class and the curriculum consists of courses related to engineering, science and high level mathematics.[10] The high school houses the Law Enforcement Public Safety Academy (LEPS), in which students undergo a course load learning about such fields as criminal justice, first responder procedures, evidence collection, first aid certifications, investigative procedures, civics, Homeland Security, fire science and safety, and emergency medical technicians.[11] Manalapan also houses the Automotive Technical Academy, which helps students prepare for a career in the automotive service industry. Students learn about how engines and vehicles work, how to diagnose, and how to repair vehicles. Students also learn how to use equipment such as scan tools.[12]

As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,740 students and 115.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 15.1:1. There were 131 students (7.5% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 37 (2.1% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[2]

History

Freehold Township High School and Manalapan High School, the district's fourth and fifth facilities, were constructed with identical designs. Groundbreaking for both schools took place in August 1969 and the two schools opened in September 1971, having been completed at a combined cost of $10.4 million (equivalent to $78.2 million in 2023). Manalapan High School opened with an enrollment of 900 students from Englishtown and Manalapan Township, who had previously been assigned to attend Marlboro High School.[13]

Awards, recognition and rankings

The school was the 93rd-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.[14] The school had been ranked 152nd in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 127th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[15] The magazine ranked the school 125th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[16] The school was also ranked 125th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[17]

Schooldigger.com ranked the school tied for 61st out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (a decrease of 7 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (91.6%) and language arts literacy (96.2%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[18]

In 2009, of the 460 students who graduated, 97% went on to continue their education at two- or four-year colleges or universities. Also there are others who graduated and are now attending trade or technical schools. The Class of 2009 also produced 11 commended students, 4 semi-finalists and 1 complete finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program, as well as 42 Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars.[6]

Athletics

The Manalapan High School Braves[3] compete in Division A North of the Shore Conference, an athletic conference comprised of public and private high schools in Monmouth and Ocean counties along the Jersey Shore.[4][19] The league operates under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.[20] With 1,417 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group IV for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 1,060 to 5,049 students in that grade range.[21] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group IV South for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 890 to 1,298 students.[22]

The girls spring track team was the Group II state champion in 1975.[23]

The boys cross country running team won the Group III state championship in 1979.[24]

The wrestling team won the Central Jersey Group IV state sectional championship in 1986, 1991 and 1992, and won the Central Jersey Group V title in 2020.[25]

The boys basketball team won the Central Jersey Group IV state sectional championship in 1988.[citation needed]

The boys bowling team were the winners of the 2006 New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association state championship. The Brave's score of 2,840 defeated runner-up Woodbridge High School by a margin of ten pins at Carolier Lanes.[26][27]

In 2007, the boys soccer team won the Central Jersey Group IV state sectional championship with a 1–0 win over Howell High School in the tournament final.[28] The team moved on to share the Group IV state championship with a 1–1 tie against Clifton High School.[29][30][31]

In 2008, Robby Andrews won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Meet of Champions in the 800m run. He followed this up with the 1600m Group IV state championship in the 1600m run. Additionally he placed second in both the Millrose Games and Penn Relays, participating in the mile run on both occasions.[32] In 2009, Robby Andrews won the Meet of Champions in the 800m run, set two national records in the 1000m and 800m runs, won the Millrose Games and won two national championships.[33]

The baseball team won the Group IV state championship in 2011 (defeating Westfield High School in the tournament final) and 2012 (vs. Hillsborough High School).[34] The 2011 baseball team finished the season with a record of 29-3 and won the Group IV state championship with a 29–14 victory against Westfield in a game in which the team pounded out 32 hits on way to the program's first state title.[35]

The 2014 football team won the Central Jersey Group V state sectional title with a 21-7 victory against South Brunswick High School in the championship game played at Rutgers University's High Point Solutions Stadium.[36][37]

The school has a longstanding athletic rivalry with Marlboro High School, another school in the Freehold Regional High School District, which includes a longstanding Thanksgiving Day football matchup between the teams.[38] A more recent rivalry with Freehold Township High School has also developed.

Manalapan High was featured on MTV's High School Stories, NBC's Today in a segment with alumnus Dylan Dreyer,[39] and on TruTV's The Principal's Office.[40]

Administration

The school's principal is Shawn Currie.[1] The school's administration includes three assistant principals.[41]

Other high schools in the district

Attendance at each of the district's high schools is based on where the student lives in relation to the district's high schools. While many students attend the school in their hometown, others attend a school located outside their own municipality.[7] In order to balance enrollment, district lines are redrawn for the six schools to address issues with overcrowding and spending in regards to transportation. Schools in the district (with 2023–24 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[42]) with their attendance zones for incoming students are:[43][44][45][46]

Notable alumni

See also: Category:Manalapan High School alumni

References

  1. ^ a b Principal, Manalapan High School. Accessed December 17, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e School data for Manalapan High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Manalapan High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Shore Conference Realignment for 2018-2019 and 2019-2020, Shore Conference. Accessed November 15, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Manalapan High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed December 21, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Manalapan High School 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 29, 2016. "Manalapan High School is a fully accredited comprehensive high school serving a community of nearly 39,000 residents living primarily in the Township of Manalapan and the Borough of Englishtown. One of six high schools in the Freehold Regional High School District, which opened in 1971, Manalapan High School has enjoyed an outstanding reputation throughout the state for its academic and extracurricular programs."
  7. ^ a b FRHSD Attendance Boundaries; Which High School Will My Child Attend?, Freehold Regional High School District. Accessed December 17, 2024. "The following is a list of streets, by municipality, that are assigned to a Freehold Regional District high school outside of their hometown."
  8. ^ Freehold Regional High School District 2016 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 9, 2017. "The Freehold Regional High School District, the largest regional high school District in New Jersey, has six high schools with over 11,000 students and over 1,500 employees and spans 200 square miles. District members include the townships of Colts Neck, Freehold, Howell, Manalapan, and Marlboro, and the boroughs of Englishtown, Farmingdale, and Freehold."
  9. ^ Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, Freehold Regional High School District, June 30, 2018. Accessed January 15, 2020. "Geographically, the District is comprised of the Townships of Colts Neck, Freehold, Howell, Manalapan and Marlboro and the Boroughs of Englishtown, Farmingdale and Freehold. Established in 1953, the District's total area is 198 square miles."
  10. ^ The Science and Engineering Learning Center, Freehold Regional High School District. Accessed January 16, 2017.
  11. ^ The Law Enforcement and Public Safety Academy, Freehold Regional High School District. Accessed January 16, 2017.
  12. ^ Benjamin, Dave. "Career night promotes h.s. auto tech academy", Tri-Town News, November 6, 2003. Accessed January 16, 2007. The automotive technology academy is a four-year training program in the automotive field offered by the Freehold Regional High School District at Manalapan High School."
  13. ^ "Freehold Regional Opening 2 New Schools Tomorrow", Asbury Park Press, September 7, 1971. Accessed July 6, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Manalapan Township High School (top) and Freehold Township High School, the two newest schools in the Freehold Regional High School District, will open for the first time tomorrow. The two schools were built at a cost of $10.4 million.... The two new schools will bring to five the number of buildings in the eight-municipality regional district.... Manalapan Township and Englishtown students who formerly attended Marlboro High School will now attend the Manalapan High School. Estimated enrollments for this year are: Freehold High School, Freehold Township 1,600; Howell High School 1,750; Manalapan High School 900; and Marlboro High School 1,300. The two new schools are identical in structure."
  14. ^ Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
  15. ^ Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed December 2, 2012.
  16. ^ Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed February 3, 2011.
  17. ^ "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
  18. ^ New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2010-2011, Schooldigger.com. Accessed February 27, 2012.
  19. ^ Member Schools, Shore Conference. Accessed November 15, 2020.
  20. ^ League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  21. ^ NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  22. ^ NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
  23. ^ NJSIAA Girls Spring Track Summary of Group Titles, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  24. ^ NJSIAA Boys Cross Country State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 1, 2022.
  25. ^ NJSIAA Wrestling Team Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2021.
  26. ^ Braves are state's best on the bowling alleys, News Transcript, March 1, 2006. Accessed January 13, 2007.
  27. ^ History of NJSIAA Boys Bowling Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed August 1, 2022.
  28. ^ 2007 Boys Soccer - Central, Group IV, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 14, 2007.
  29. ^ 2007 Boys Soccer - Public Semis/Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 24, 2007.
  30. ^ Bondy, Stefan. "Mustangs finish state champions", Herald News, November 17, 2007. Accessed November 24, 2007.
  31. ^ NJSIAA History of Boys Soccer, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 1, 2022.
  32. ^ "Robby Andrews, Manalapan, Boys Track", Asbury Park Press, June 14, 2008. Accessed August 28, 2008.
  33. ^ Newman, Josh. "Robby Andrews, Manalapan, Boys Indoor Track", Asbury Park Press, March 28, 2009. Accessed June 27, 2011.
  34. ^ Baseball Championship History: 1959–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
  35. ^ Lerner, Gregg. "Manalapan (29) at Westfield (14), NJSIAA Group Tournament, Final Round, Group 4 - Baseball", The Star-Ledger, June 11, 2011. Accessed July 26, 2011. "Manalapan saw every starter in its lineup contribute at least two hits as it finished with a stunning total of 32 and put away a resilient Westfield squad en route to a wild 29-14 triumph for the NJSIAA/Star-Ledger Group 4 championship before close to 500 at Toms River South.... Manalapan (29-3), which claimed its first state title, came out sizzling."
  36. ^ NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 1, 2022.
  37. ^ Zedalis, Joe. "Football finals 2014: Manalapan finally breaks through, defeats South Brunswick in Central Jersey Group 5 final", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 6, 2014, updated August 24, 2019. Accessed January 17, 2021. "Behind an inspired defensive effort that put the clamps down on South Brunswick's prolific option rushing attack and some big plays on offense, the Braves finally captured the first state sectional championship in school history after three consecutive heartbreaking losses in championship games with a 21-7 triumph over South Brunswick here on Saturday in the NJSIAA/Sports Care Institute Central Jersey, Group 5 final at High Point Solutions Stadium on the campus of Rutgers University."
  38. ^ Morris, Tim. "Rivalries bring football season to its conclusion", News Transcript, November 27, 2002. Accessed July 26, 2011. "The oldest Thanksgiving Day rivalry is Manalapan-Marlboro. They will be meeting for the 31st time tomorrow."
  39. ^ "The TODAY Show Visits Manalapan High School", Manalapan High School. Accessed February 24, 2022. "NBC’s the TODAY Show recently visited Manalapan High School when meteorologist Dylan Dreyer returned to see how things at the school have changed since she graduated in 1999."
  40. ^ Principal's Office: Bagels to Go, Season 1, Episode 5, Yahoo! TV. Accessed July 26, 2011. "Originally Aired: September 04, 2008 - At Manalapan High, two kids attempt to make an off-campus coffee break, but are nabbed by Principal Tague and his surveillance cameras."
  41. ^ Administration, Manalapan High School. Accessed December 17, 2024.
  42. ^ School Data for the Freehold Regional High School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.
  43. ^ Building Contact Information, Freehold Regional High School District. Accessed December 17, 2024.
  44. ^ County School List E-G, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2024.
  45. ^ School Performance Reports for the Freehold Regional High School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.
  46. ^ New Jersey School Directory for the Freehold Regional High School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  47. ^ Colts Neck High School, Freehold Regional High School District. Accessed December 17, 2024.
  48. ^ Freehold High School, Freehold Regional High School District. Accessed December 17, 2024.
  49. ^ Howell High School, Freehold Regional High School District. Accessed December 17, 2024.
  50. ^ Howell High School, Freehold Regional High School District. Accessed December 17, 2024.
  51. ^ Marlboro High School, Freehold Regional High School District. Accessed December 17, 2024.
  52. ^ Lambert, Jim. "N.J.'s Robby Andrews uses big heart and big kick to make U.S. World Championship Team", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 14, 2015. Accessed August 9, 2016. "Everything seemed to be falling into place perfectly for Robby Andrews. After finishing a legendary career at New Jersey's Manalapan High School in 2009 with two national indoor records (1,000 and 800), two national 800 titles, and a meet record victory in the 800 at the outdoor Meet of Champions in his pocket, Andrews went on to set the track on fire at the University of Virginia."
  53. ^ "Sports Shorts", Farmingdale News Transcript, July 11, 2007. Accessed May 2, 2017. "Jason Bergmann has settled in as a starter for the Washington Nationals. The right-hander from Manalapan High School has a 3.47 earned-run average in his 10 starts for the Nats."
  54. ^ Bellano, Anthony. "Manalapan Football Player Saeed Blacknall Changes Commitment From Rutgers to Penn State Blacknall committed to Rutgers in August, but announced he would go to Penn State Sunday night.", New Brunswick, NJ Patch, January 26, 2014. Accessed September 26, 2019. "Manalapan High School standout Saeed Blacknall has de-committed from Rutgers University and will play college football at Penn State."
  55. ^ Popper, Steve. "What Shea is like", NorthJersey.com, September 30, 2007. Accessed February 21, 2015. "On a different note, my fellow Manalapan High School alum Jason Bergmann — we're not talking Lou Brutus here, the creator of the Blue Jewel phenomenon and another proud alum — is on the mound for the Nationals today against the Phillies."
  56. ^ David DeJesus, Tampa Bay Rays. Accessed July 19, 2007. "Full name is David Christopher DeJesus...graduated from Manalapan (N.J.) High in 1997."
  57. ^ Clarendon, Don. "The Stunning Transformation Of Dylan Dreyer", TheList.com, March 9, 2021. Accessed February 24, 2022. "As a member of the Class of 1999 at Manalapan High School in New Jersey, Dylan Dreyer's 'true passion' was varsity girls' softball, as she revealed in a 2017 Today show segment when she revisited the school (and, to her chagrin, met high school seniors who were born the year she graduated)."
  58. ^ La Gorce, Tammy. "A Rocker Who Rocks to His Own Beat (and CD)", The New York Times, December 2, 2007. Accessed June 8, 2008. "'So I just went,' said Mr. Emmich, who grew up in Manalapan and graduated from Manalapan High School."
  59. ^ "Sportswire", Asbury Park Press, December 11, 2004. Accessed February 7, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Lou Esposito, a 1996 graduate of Manalapan High School, has been named the 17th head football coach at Division II Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Ind."
  60. ^ Anthony Firkser, Tennessee Titans. Accessed September 28, 2019. "Attended Manalapan (N.J.) High School, where he was named All-Shore Offensive Player of the Year as a senior wide receiver."
  61. ^ "Other Stages", Asbury Park Press, August 15, 1981. Accessed February 24, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Winners of 1981 Merit Awards for music from the scholarship committee of the Monmouth Arts Foundation in July were: Misa R. Iwama, piano, and Elizabeth Bucher, flute, both of Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School; John Conte, piano, and Richard Fleischman, viola, Manalapan High School..."
  62. ^ "NFL insider Jay Glazer on mental health, new book, ‘Jersey attitude,’ Giants and more - Q&A", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, January 19, 2022. Accessed November 26, 2022. "[Q] What was life like growing up? [A] I grew up on the Jersey Shore, I went to Manalapan High."
  63. ^ Badders, Bob. SEAL Candidate from Manalapan, NJ, former high school and Monmouth University football standout, Dies After 'Hell Week'", Shore Sports Network, February 7, 2022. Accessed February 9, 2022. "Kyle Mullen, a 2015 graduate of Manalapan High School and former captain of the Yale football team who finished his career at Monmouth, was transported to Sharp Coronado Hospital in California where he later died, according to Navy officials."
  64. ^ Morris, Tim. "Perri in control of LIU basketball; Manalapan High School graduate now leading NCAA Division I squad", News Transcript, August 1, 2012. Accessed July 5, 2018. "Manalapan High School graduate Jack Perri was named the head men’s basketball coach at Long Island University, Brooklyn, N.Y., this past spring and will lead the Blackbirds into action this season."
  65. ^ "Article clipped from Asbury Park Press". Asbury Park Press. June 26, 2004. p. 68. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  66. ^ Staff. "Mike The Situation's high school yearbook photo", Life & Style (magazine), December 23, 2009, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 26, 2010. Accessed April 25, 2021. "Mike, pictured as a high school sophomore in this yearbook photo obtained exclusively by Life & Style, attended Manalapan High School in New Jersey, graduating in 1999."
  67. ^ Edelson, Stephen. "Broken date Swinger's eight-month race for readiness falls short of Giants", Asbury Park Press, September 3, 2000. Accessed February 3, 2011. "for Swinger, a Manalapan High School graduate, the numbers over the past eight months were a bit more humbling, ranging from how many degrees he was able to bend his surgically reconstructed left knee to the amount of leg lifts he could do, if any, with the ability to jog or cut at half speed treated like momentous occasions."
  68. ^ Delancey, Karen Hammersdorfer. "Teen actor tells pupils why they need to study", Asbury Park Press, March 10, 2001. Accessed April 25, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Actor Jade Yorker, a 15-year-old Manalapan High School sophomore, takes questions during a student assembly at the Lenna Conrow School in Long Branch."