Kittatinny Regional High School

The Kittatinny Regional High School is a six-year comprehensive regional public high school and school district in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in seventh through twelfth grades from five municipalities in the northwest area of the county, which are Fredon Township, Hampton Township, Sandyston Township, Stillwater Township and Walpack Township.[4] The high school is located on a 96-acre (39 ha) campus in Hampton Township, about seven minutes outside of the county seat of Newton.

Kittatinny Regional High School
Address
77 Halsey Road
Newton
, Sussex County, New Jersey, 07860
United States
Coordinates41.105117°N 74.764953°W / 41.105117; -74.764953
District information
Grades7-12
SuperintendentCraig Hutcheson
Business administratorTheresa Linskey
Schools1
Students and staff
Enrollment800 (as of 2021–22)[1]
Faculty83.5 FTEs[1]
Student–teacher ratio9.6:1[1]
Other information
District Factor GroupFG
Websitewww.krhs.net
Ind.Per pupilDistrict
spending		Rank
(*)		7-12
average		 %± vs.
average
1ATotal Spending$20,92027$18,89110.7%
1Budgetary Cost16,0962314,58610.4%
2Classroom Instruction9,840388,33918.0%
6Support Services1,908122,114−9.7%
8Administrative Cost1,721281,56110.2%
10Operations & Maintenance1,646111,798−8.5%
13Extracurricular Activities8952867333.0%
16Median Teacher Salary79,0003965,769
Data from NJDoE 2014 Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending.[2]
*Of 7-12 districts with any number of students. Lowest spending=1; Highest=47
Kittatinny Regional High School
Location
Information
TypePublic high school
Established1975
SuperintendentCraig Hutcheson
NCES School ID340806005372[1]
PrincipalBrian Bosworth
Asst. principalsSharon Falchetta (7-9)
Robert Black (9-12)
Faculty83.5 FTEs[1]
Grades7-12
Enrollment798 (as of 2021–22)[1]
Student to teacher ratio9.6:1[1]
Color(s)  Royal blue and
  silver[3]
Athletics conferenceNorthwest Jersey Athletic Conference (general)
North Jersey Super Football Conference (football)
Team nameCougars[3]
RivalNewton High School
YearbookPuma

As of the 2021–22 school year, the school had an enrollment of 798 students and 83.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.6:1. There were 51 students (6.4% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 22 (2.8% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]

The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "FG", the fourth-highest of eight groupings. District Factor Groups organize districts statewide to allow comparison by common socioeconomic characteristics of the local districts. From lowest socioeconomic status to highest, the categories are A, B, CD, DE, FG, GH, I and J.[5]

History

By a 60%-40% margin, voters approved a February 1973 referendum that allocated $5.7 million (equivalent to $37.6 million in 2022) towards the cost of construction of the new high school facility.[6]

In August 1974, the Newton Public School District was notified that students from the five constituent districts who had attended Newton High School as part of sending/receiving relationships would be leaving the high school.[7][8] Enrollment in the Newton district dropped by 400 following the departure of the districts sending to Kittatinny.[9]

The Kittatinny regional district opened its high school to students in September 1975.[10]

Awards, recognition and rankings

During the 1997–98 school year, Kittatinny Regional High School was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education,[11] the highest award an American school can receive.[12][13]

Kittatinny Regional High School has been recognized as a Star School District, and in the 2005–06 school year, was awarded the honor of Governor's School of Excellence.

The school was the 133rd-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 89th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 149th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[15] The magazine ranked the school 163rd in 2008 out of 316 schools.[16] The school was ranked 149th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[17] Schooldigger.com ranked the school 155th out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (an increase of 8 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (82.0%) and language arts literacy (94.6%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[18]

In the 2013–14 school year, Kittatinny Regional High School ranked fifth in Sussex County out of nine other public high schools in SAT scores.[19]

Extracurricular activities

Athletics

The Kittatinny Regional High School Cougars[3] sports teams compete in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Morris, Sussex and Warren counties, and was established following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[20][21] Prior to the 2010 realignment, the school participated in the Sussex County Interscholastic League until the SCIL was dissolved in 2009.[22] With 505 students in grades 10–12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group II for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 486 to 758 students in that grade range.[23] The football team competes in the American White division of the North Jersey Super Football Conference, which includes 112 schools competing in 20 divisions, making it the nation's biggest football-only high school sports league.[24][25] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group I North for football for 2022–2024, which included schools with 184 to 471 students.[26]

The field hockey team won the North I Group I state sectional title in 1978 and the North I Group II title in 1979, 1994 and 1995.[27]

The girls cross country team won the Group II state championship in 1986, 1988 and 1989.[28]

The wrestling team won the North I Group II state sectional title in 1991, 1993–1998, 2000-2007 and the North Jersey Group I title in 2008 and 2011–2014; the team won the Group II state championship in 1996, 2001-2006 and the Group I title in 2008. The program's 19 sectional titles are tied for sixth-most in the state and the eight group titles are tied for sixth-most, while the streak of seven titles won from 2001 to 2006 is tied for third longest[29] The wrestling team reached the finals of the 2006 NJSIAA North I Group II tourney defeating Raritan High School 50–18 to win the championship.[30] In the 2006 Group II Championship, the team made it to the finals, edging Delaware Valley Regional High School 30–29 to win the state title.[31] The 2007 team won the North I, Group II state sectional championship with a 43–24 win against Lenape Valley Regional High School.[32]

The football team won the North I Group II state sectional championship in 2018.[33] In 2006, the Kittatinny Regional High School football team reached the first round of the regional playoffs against Pascack Valley High School, ending the season with a 6–3 record. In 2007, the Kittatinny Cougars received the title of top in the SCIL, but were once again defeated by Pascack Valley High School in the second round of the North I, Group II state sectional championship tournament.[34] They finished off the season with 10 wins and 1 loss, marking the best season in school history. Kittatinny had previously never ranked in the top ten in the state rankings, a distinction that the 2007 team held for over 5 weeks. The 2007 season also marked a record high in the number of individual awards[35] The 2018 team won the North I Group II state sectional title in 2018 with a 28–19 win against Newton High School in the finals of the tournament.[36]

Drama

Drama productions at Kittatinny have focused on productions of modern Broadway theatre, endeavors which include being home to the first showing of The Who's Tommy and now Mary Poppins in Sussex County.[37]

Administration

Core members of the district / school administration are:[38][39]

  • Craig Hutcheson, superintendent
  • Theresa Linskey, business administrator and board secretary
  • Brian Bosworth, principal
  • Sharon Falchetta, assistant principal (Grades 7–8)
  • Shannon McCarney, assistant principal (Grades 9–12)

Board of education

The district's board of education, comprised of nine members, sets policy and oversees the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type II school district, the board's trustees are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year held (since 2012) as part of the November general election. The board appoints a superintendent to oversee the district's day-to-day operations and a business administrator to supervise the business functions of the district.[40][41][42] Seats on the board of education are allocated based on the basis of the population of the constituent municipalities.

Notable people

References
  1. School data for Kittatinny Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.
  2. Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending April 2013, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 15, 2013.
  3. Kittatinny Regional High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  4. Kittatiny Regional High School 2016-17 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 13, 2018. "We opened our doors in September 1975 with grades 7-11 and graduated our first class in June 1977. We are a regional school who serves five townships in the Newton, New Jersey area of Sussex County: Fredon, Stillwater, Hampton, Sandyston and Walpack."
  5. NJ Department of Education District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed November 20, 2014.
  6. "Regional Voters Split; Manchester, Sussex Budgets OK'd", The Evening News, February 7, 1973. Accessed April 4, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Kittatinny Regional: Voters in Fredon, Hampton, Stillwater and Sandyston-Walpack overwhelmingly granted the board authority to raise $5,720,000 in bonds for the construction of a new regional high school. The vote was 852 yes to 548 no on this proposal."
  7. Sullivan, Ann Marie. "Sussex Sidelights", Paterson News, August 29, 1974. Accessed April 4, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The Kittatinny Regional Board of Education will soon officially notify Newton High School officials that all students from the regional district will be withdrawn next year, except for seniors. The new regional district, comprised of Fredon, Hampton, Stillwater and Walpack, will open its new facility in September, 1975. Newton, which now accepts those students on a tuition basis, must be notified by resolution of the regional board of the withdrawal of students, because of budget appropriations."
  8. Wright, Kevin M. Newton Public Schools, Newton, NJ. Accessed December 4, 2017. "At that time, thirteen school districts sent students to Newton High School while two districts sent elementary school children here. Frankford, Lafayette and Branchville students departed Newton High School in 1964 when the High Point Regional district was formed. Kittatinny Regional District subtracted students from Hampton, Stillwater, Fredon, Sandyston and Walpack Townships in September 1975."
  9. "Loss of Pupils Boosts Newton School Taxes", The News, February 19, 1975. Accessed March 25, 2021, via Newspapers.com. The loss of tuition pupils to the new Kittatinny Regional High School has hiked the tax levy to support the local school budget for 1975-76 by $183,051 over last year.... The budget is figured on an enrollment of 1,894 students, a drop of 399 pupils as compared to the previous year. With the opening of the new Kittatinny Regional High School in September, tuition students from Hampton, Stillwater, Fredon and Sandyston-Walpack will no longer be attending Newton High School."
  10. Kittatinny Regional School District Profile, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 4, 2017. "Kittatinny Regional High School is a highly successful 7th through 12th grade school district located in beautiful Sussex County, New Jersey. Kittatinny serves students from five (5) local townships including Fredon, Hampton, Sandyston, Stillwater and Walpack. Opened in 1975, Kittatinny has expanded its facility to include a new 7th and 8th grade wing in 2001 with 'state of the art' science labs and classrooms."
  11. Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF), National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Accessed March 23, 2011.
  12. "CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department", Journal Inquirer, November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."
  13. Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test; The Washington Post. September 29, 2005 "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."
  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 September 3, 2012.
  16. Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed March 5, 2012.
  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 March 5, 2012.
  19. Kittatinny Regional High School 2014 School Performance Report, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 7, 2017.
  20. Home Page, Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference. Accessed August 27, 2020. "The Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference prides itself on being one of New Jersey's premier high school conferences and is comprised of 39 high schools located in Northwest New Jersey."
  21. League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  22. Home Page, Sussex County Interscholastic League, backed up by the Internet Archive, as of February 4, 2012. Accessed November 19, 2014.
  23. NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  24. Cooper, Darren. "Here's what we know about the new Super Football Conference 2020 schedule", The Record, July 23, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2021. "The Super Football Conference (SFC) is a 112-team group, the largest high school football-only conference in America, and is comprised of teams from five different counties."
  25. Cooper, Darren. "NJ football: Super Football Conference revised schedules for 2020 regular season", The Record, July 23, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2021. "The Super Football Conference has 112 teams that will play across 20 divisions."
  26. NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2022–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  27. History of NJSIAA Field Hockey Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  28. NJSIAA Girls Cross Country State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 1, 2022.
  29. NJSIAA Wrestling Team Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2021.
  30. 2006 Team Wrestling - North I, Group II, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 25, 2006.
  31. 2006 Team Wrestling - Group II Championship, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 25, 2006.
  32. 2007 Team Wrestling Tournament - North I, Group II, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 1, 2007.
  33. NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 1, 2022.
  34. 2007 Football - North I, Group II, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 25, 2007.
  35. French, Jimmy. "HS Football: Kittatinny can't escape Pascack Valley", New Jersey Herald, November 18, 2007. Accessed November 25, 2007. "This past season was the best in Kittatinny history.... Although it didn't end the way Kittatinny wanted, the defeat won't diminish the undefeated regular season and the SCIL championship."
  36. Tredinnick, Andrew. "Kittatinny defeats Newton 28-19 to claim first state football title in program history", New Jersey Herald, November 17, 2018. Accessed October 12, 2020. "It was pandemonium as Kittatinny claimed its first state title in program history with a 28-19 victory over Newton in the North 1, Group 2 championship game in front of an enthusiastic crowd braving the cold on Friday night at Newton High School."
  37. Smith, Christina. "Diversity alive in local high school musicals" Archived March 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Herald, February 14, 2013. Accessed April 20, 2013.
  38. Administration, Kittatinny Regional High School. Accessed May 5, 2020.
  39. New Jersey School Directory for Sussex County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 22, 2016.
  40. New Jersey Boards of Education by District Election Types - 2018 School Election, New Jersey Department of Education, updated February 16, 2018. Accessed January 26, 2020.
  41. Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the Kittatinny Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2018. Accessed May 5, 2020. "The Kittatinny Regional School District is a Type II district located in the County of Sussex, State of New Jersey. As a Type II district, the School District functions independently through a Board of Education. The board is comprised of nine members elected to three-year terms. The purpose of the district is to educate students in grades 7-12."
  42. Board of Education, Kittatinny Regional High School. Accessed May 5, 2020.
  43. Matt Valenti, Penn Athletics. Accessed March 21, 2021. "Valenti, Penn’s all-time leader in wins with 137, also has a share of the Penn record for wins in a season (36, a mark he reached twice) and falls in a season (11). He was inducted into the Penn Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017 and is a member of the Kittatinny Regional High School, Sussex County Sports, NJSIAA Region I, and EIWA Halls of Fame."
  44. McCall, Tris. "Jenny Owen Youngs recharged and ready to rock at Maxwell's", Inside Jersey, January 27, 2012, updated March 30, 2019. Accessed January 2, 2022. "Nearly six years have gone by since 'F*** Was I' was licensed to Showtime’s Weeds, providing national exposure for the Sussex County native and Kittatinny High School graduate."
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