Arthur P. Schalick High School
Address
Map
718 Centerton Road

Pittsgrove Township
,
Salem County
,
New Jersey
08318

United States
Coordinates39°31′44″N 75°09′56″W / 39.528756°N 75.165667°W / 39.528756; -75.165667
Information
TypePublic high school
MottoP.R.I.D.E.: Patience, Respect, Integrity, Diligence, Empathy.
EstablishedSeptember 1976
NCES School ID341311005080[1]
PrincipalYvette DuBois Trembley
Faculty45.1 FTEs[1]
Enrollment495 (as of 2022–23)[1]
Student to teacher ratio11.0:1[1]
Color(s)  Dark Green
  gold and
  white[2]
Athletics conferenceTri-County Conference[3]
Team nameCougars[2]
YearbookHorizon
Websiteschalick.pittsgrove.net

Arthur P. Schalick High School is a comprehensive community four-year public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grade from Pittsgrove Township, in Salem County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as the lone secondary school of the Pittsgrove Township School District.[4]

As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 495 students and 45.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.0:1. There were 106 students (21.4% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 37 (7.5% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]

History

Opened in September 1976 and constructed at a cost of $4 million (equivalent to $20.6 million in 2022), the school was built to serve an enrollment of 650 in grades 7–11 at opening and was named for Arthur P. Schalick, who at the age of 85 had been serving for 25 years as the board's president. Before the new high school was completed, students from Pittsgrove Township would be sent to attend either Bridgeton High School or Vineland High School as part of sending/receiving relationships, but both schools were above their capacity and could no longer accommodate students from Pittsgrove Township.[5][6]

In 1977, a group of parents protested to the district's board of education about profanity in the book The Catcher in the Rye, which had been included as a text in an elective course. While many board members were unfamiliar with the book, consensus was that the decision on the matter would be heavily influenced by 85-year-old Arthur P. Schalick, whose power was emphasized by the school's principal, who said that "[Schalick] is the township".[6]

Awards, recognition and rankings

The school was the 175th-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.[7] The school had been ranked 209th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 168th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[8] The magazine ranked the school 207th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[9] The school was ranked 211th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[10]

Academic programs

Under the terms of an articulation agreement reached in 2014 between the high school and Rowan University, participants in the school's Creative and Performing Arts Academy will be able to apply up to six college credits at Rowan using coursework performed at the high school.[11]

Athletics

The A. P. Schalick High School Cougars[2] compete as one of the member schools in the Tri-County Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.[3] The conference is overseen by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[12] With 378 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2022–24 school years as Group I South for most athletic competition purposes.[13] The football team competes in the Horizon Division of the 94-team West Jersey Football League superconference[14][15] and was classified by the NJSIAA as Group I South for football for 2022–2024, which included schools with 200 to 463 students.[16]

The school participates as the host school / lead agency for a joint wrestling team with Cumberland Regional High School. The co-op program operates under agreements scheduled to expire at the end of the 2023–24 school year.[17]

The softball team won the Group I state championship in 1978, finishing the season with no losses after defeating Cedar Grove High School by a score of 8–2 in the final round of the tournament at Mercer County Park.[18][19]

The girls' basketball team won the Group I state championship in 1984, defeating Wallkill Valley Regional High School by a score of 54–52 in the final game of the playoff tournament to become the first South Jersey public school to win in the group.[20][21]

The boys' baseball team won South Jersey Group I sectional title, the first for any boys' program in school history, with a 4-3 win against Audubon High School in the tournament championship game.[22]

The boys soccer team was the Group I state champion in 2001 (as co-champion with Whippany Park High School) and 2004 (defeating North Warren Regional High School in the tournament final).[23] The team won the 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2015 South Jersey Group I state sectional championships with wins over Haddon Heights (in 2001 and 2002), Clayton (in 2003), Woodbury (in 2004), Point Pleasant Beach (in 2007) and Lindenwold High Schools (in 2015). In 2004, the team went on to win the Group I state championship with a pair of 2-1 wins over Bound Brook in the semi-finals and North Warren in the finals.[24][25][26][27][28][29] They reached the finals again in 2015 but were defeated 1-0 by David Brearley High School.[30]

The football team took the South Jersey Group I state sectional titles in 2003 and 2004.[31] The team won the 2003 title, topping Woodbury Junior-Senior High School by a final score of 21-6[32] and then by a 20–6 win over Paulsboro High School the following year to finish the season with a 12–0 record.[33]

The girls' soccer team won the South Jersey Group I championship with a 2–1 victory versus Riverside High School in 2003, followed by a victory over Pennsville Memorial High School in 2004 for consecutive championships.[34][35]

The boys' basketball team won the 2005 South, Group I state sectional championship, edging Burlington City High School 74–72 in the tournament final.[36] The team took the first round of the 2005 Group I state championships with a 72–55 win over Florence Memorial High School, but fell in the finals to Science Park High School 69–66 in overtime.[37]

The girls' field hockey team won the South Jersey Group I state sectional championships in 2009, 2011 (as state group runner-up) and 2017.[38] The program's first title came in 2009 with a 1–0 overtime victory against St. Joseph High School.[39]

The boys' tennis team won the South Jersey Group I state sectional championships in 1995 and 1996, defeating Pitman High School both years in the tournament championship and were also the New Jersey Group I state runners-up in both of those years as well. The 1995 and 1996 boys' tennis teams were the first back-to-back South Jersey sectional champions and back-to-back New Jersey state runners-up in school history.[40]

Administration

The school's principal is Yvette DuBouis Trembley. Her administration team includes the assistant principal and athletic director.[41]

Notable alumni

See also: Category:Arthur P. Schalick High School alumni

References

  1. ^ a b c d e School data for Arthur P. Schalick High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Arthur P. Schalick High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Member Schools, Tri-County Conference. Accessed November 18, 2020.
  4. ^ Schools, Pittsgrove Township School District. Accessed December 11, 2022. "Pittsgrove Township School District is comprised of five schools and is located in Salem County in Southern New Jersey. Our student body consists of approximately 2000 students in grades Pre-K through 12."
  5. ^ Pray, Rusty. "Turning weeds and stones into turf and clay is Lisa's job at Schalick", Courier-Post, August 17, 1976. Accessed March 3, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The sign in front of Woodstown High School reads: 'The Woodies Welcome Schalick High School.' Woodstown is not only welcoming a future Tri-County Conference and Group 1 rival, it is welcoming South Jersey's newest high school.... The school will open its doors for the first time in September for 650 students in grades seven through 11, drawing its student body primarily from overcrowded Bridgeton and Vineland high schools."
  6. ^ a b Janson, Donald. "Use of Salinger's Catcher in the Rye In Salem County School Stirs a Dispute", The New York Times, October 31, 1977. Accessed March 3, 2021. "The Rausers demanded that the board ban the book at the Arthur P. Schalick High School, which draws 800 students from rural Pittsgrove Township's 47 square miles and from surrounding areas in this section of South Jersey.... Before the $4 million school opened last year, Pittsgrove Township children attended school in Vineland and Bridgeton.... The key man at the meeting is likely to be Arthur P. Schalick, 85 years old, who has been on the school board 37 years and its president for 25. He has also been Town Clerk for 32 years and assessor for 57. 'He is the township,' said Joseph C. McCloskey, principal of the Arthur P. Schalick High School."
  7. ^ Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
  8. ^ Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed September 5, 2012.
  9. ^ Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed August 13, 2012.
  10. ^ "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
  11. ^ Wehner, Brittany M. "Rowan, Arthur P. Schalick agreement to give students head start in performing arts", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 17, 2014. Accessed November 30, 2017. "Students of Arthur P. Schalick High School Creative and Performing Arts Academy will soon be able to put college credits toward their college degree, according to district officials. As part of a new articulation agreement between Schalick and Rowan University, students who graduate from the high school with academy credits can bring up to six credits with them toward their undergraduate degree."
  12. ^ League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  13. ^ NJSIAA General Classifications - Public Schools 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  14. ^ Schalick Cougars, West Jersey Football League. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  15. ^ Home Page, West Jersey Football League. Accessed May 1, 2023. "The WJFL is a 94-school super conference that stretches from Princeton to Wildwood encompassing schools from the Colonial Valley Conference, the Burlington County Scholastic League, the Olympic Conference, the Tri-County Conference, the Colonial Conference, and the Cape Atlantic League. The WJFL is made up of sixteen divisions with divisional alignments based on school size, geography and a strength-of-program component."
  16. ^ Football Public School Classifications 2022–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  17. ^ NJSIAA Winter Cooperative Sports Programs, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
  18. ^ History of the NJSIAA Softball Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  19. ^ "Schalick wins softball by beating Cedar Grove", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 4, 1978. Accessed March 3, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Schalick won the first state championship in the school's brief history by completing an unbeaten girls softball season with an 8-2 victory over Cedar Grove in the NJSIAA Group One state final tournament game yesterday at Mercer County Park. Sharon Hawk (23-0) got the win, allowing just two unearned runs, and the offense was led by Donna Whitson's two-run double in the sixth inning and Hawk's two-run double in the seventh, breaking open a close game."
  20. ^ NJSIAA Girls Basketball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  21. ^ "Cougars Crack Wallkill Valley", The Millville Daily, March 19, 1984. Accessed December 27, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "Schalick High School coach Karen Bowman said after Bailey's 24-point effort in a 54-52 win over Wallkill Valley here Saturday carried the Cougars to the summit of New Jersey high school basketball.... In other words, the senior guard can scoop up a team and carry it on her back for one ... two ... three ... yes, even four quarters, which is exactly what she did Saturday as Schalick became the first public school from South Jersey to ever win a Group I title."
  22. ^ McKee, Don. "Schalick a surprise Group 1 titlist", The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 30, 1992. Accessed November 19, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Totally overlooked and vastly underrated Schalick upset heavily favored Audubon, 4-3, to win the South Jersey Group 1 baseball championship. Schalick, which had never won a sectional championship in any boys' sport since beginning varsity play in 1977, will meet Central Jersey champ Middlesex at 4 p.m."
  23. ^ NJSIAA History of Boys Soccer, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  24. ^ 2001 Boys Soccer - South, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 18, 2007.
  25. ^ 2002 Boys Soccer - South, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 18, 2007.
  26. ^ 2003 Boys Soccer - South, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 18, 2007.
  27. ^ 2003 NJSIAA Group 1 Boys' Soccer State Tournament - NJSIAA, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 29, 2007.
  28. ^ 2004 Boys Soccer - Public Semis/Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 18, 2007.
  29. ^ 2007 Boys Soccer - South, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 14, 2007.
  30. ^ Greco, Richard. "Justin Estremera leads Brearley to 1-0 win over Schalick in Group 1 final", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 22, 2015. Accessed December 15, 2015.
  31. ^ NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  32. ^ 2003 Football Tournament - South, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 18, 2007.
  33. ^ McGurk, Tom. "H.S. football: Schalick's Seth Brown showed Cougars the way for 15 seasons", The Daily Journal (New Jersey), April 28, 2020. Accessed September 23, 2020. "Brown was an assistant coach under Josh Hedgeman when the Cougars put together a perfect 12-0 season, culminating with a 20-6 win over Paulsboro in the sectional final."
  34. ^ 2003 Girls Soccer - South I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 18, 2007.
  35. ^ 2004 Girls Soccer - South, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 18, 2007.
  36. ^ 2005 Boys Basketball - South, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 18, 2007.
  37. ^ 2005 Boys Basketball - Group I, Semis/Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 18, 2007.
  38. ^ History of NJSIAA Field Hockey Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
  39. ^ Staff. "St. Joseph falls in overtime to Schalick in South Jersey Group I field hockey championship", The Press of Atlantic City, November 9, 2009. Accessed September 5, 2012. "Speedy Arthur P. Schalick High School field hockey left wing Joyce Perry scored the only goal of the game on a breakaway with 3 minutes, 2 seconds left in the first overtime on Monday to give the Cougars a 1-0 win over St. Joseph in the South Jersey Group I championship game in Pittsgrove Township.... It was the first South Jersey field hockey title for Schalick, the top seed. The Cougars are 18-4-1, the program's best record."
  40. ^ Culligan, Ryan. "Tennis: Schalick repeats as S. Jersey champion", The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 21, 1996. Accessed November 20, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Coach Karen Bowman's squad defeated Tri-County Conference Classic Division rival Pitman, 4-1, at Bethel Mill Park yesterday to win its second straight South Jersey Group 1 title. The victory improved Schalick's record to 18-0 and advanced the Cougars into Thursday's Group 1 state semifinals at Mercer County Park.... Schalick, which has beaten Pitman (19-3) three times this season by 4-1 scores, also handed the Panthers a 5-0 defeat in last year's sectional title match."
  41. ^ Students Handbook 2023-2024, Arthur P. Schalick High School. Accessed November 20, 2023.
  42. ^ PrepNation report Accessed June 18, 2007.
  43. ^ Rogers, Dan. "Newly appointed CASA executive director returns to South Jersey after extensive career", The News of Cumberland County, August 5, 2012, updated January 18, 2019. Accessed November 20, 2023. "She failed nearly every year leading up to high school before flunking ninth grade at Arthur P. Schalick High School in Pittsgrove, and after moving to Florida, failed 10th grade, Kappeler said."
  44. ^ Huffman, Beth. "Schalick Grad Jackson Hopes He'll Catch On With Mls Fire", The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 17, 2000. Accessed August 10, 2008.
  45. ^ Jamarr Johnson - 2008-2009 Men's Basketball, Widener University. Accessed May 8, 2016. "Hometown: Pittsgrove, NJ; High School: Schalick"
  46. ^ Pawling, Chris. "Schalick High School wrestler Joe Pyfer having immediate impact", South Jersey Times, January 13, 2013. Accessed February 7, 2024. "Schalick High School sophomore Joe Pyfer is in his first year of wrestling — ever.... Pyfer started training with mixed martial arts, particularly jiu jitsu and judo, when he was 4 years old."

External links

Education in Salem County, New Jersey
Tri-County Conference (NJSIAA)
West Jersey Football League (NJSIAA)
Authority control databases
Categories