St. Joseph Academy (New Jersey)

St. Joseph Academy is a four-year co-educational high school located in Hammonton, in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in grades 9–12. The Academy was established for the 2020-21 school year, replacing St. Joseph High School, which had operated since 1942 under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.[6] The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools through December 2025;[4] The school's accreditation status was extended for seven years in Fall 2018.[7] In 2020, the former school permanently closed because of financial problems that were exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic and the request from the Diocese of Camden.[8]

St. Joseph Academy
Address
328 Vine Street

Hammonton
,
Atlantic County
,
New Jersey
08037

United States
Coordinates39.637115°N 74.800189°W / 39.637115; -74.800189
Information
TypePrivate, Coeducational
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Established1942 (as St. Joseph High School)
2021 (as St. Joseph Academy)
School districtDiocese of Camden
NCES School ID00864708[1]
PresidentStephen Cappuccio[2]
Head of schoolStephen Cappuccio[2]
Faculty14.1 FTEs[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment204 (as of 2019–20)[1]
Student to teacher ratio14.5:1[1]
Color(s)  Red and
  white[3]
Athletics conferenceCape-Atlantic League (general)
West Jersey Football League (football)
Team nameWildcats[3]
RivalHammonton High School
Holy Spirit High School
AccreditationMiddle States Association of Colleges and Schools[4]
NewspaperThe Voice
Tuition$11,715 (2022-23)[5]
Websitestjosephacademy.com

As of the 2019–20 school year, the school had an enrollment of 204 students and 14.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.5:1. The school's student body was 77.5% (158) White, 14.2% (29) Black, 3.4% (7) Hispanic, 2.9% (6) Asian and 2.0% (4) two or more races.[1]

History

After being established in 1935 as a combination preparatory school and seminary in 1935, the high school was opened to all attendees in 1942.[9]

The school had seen enrollment decline from 331 students in 2015 down to 206 in 2020, a 38% decline, and was carrying more than $6 million in debt.[10]

In April 2020, the Diocese of Camden announced that, despite its status as a football powerhouse, St. Joseph was one of five Catholic schools in New Jersey which would close permanently at the end of the school year on June 30, 2020, due to financial problems caused by lack of sufficient enrollment in recent years and lack of community fundraising, which the school reliant on less significant diocesan and parish fundraising.[11] An offer which was made by fundraisers in June 2020 to purchase the school facility was rejected by the Diocese of Camden.[12]

Hammonton Public Schools acquired the building, which it leased to the independent St. Joseph Academy.[13] The academy, which opened in 2020, is not affiliated with the diocese.[14]

Athletics

The St. Joseph Academy Wildcats[3] compete in the National Division of the Cape-Atlantic League, an athletic conference comprised of public and private high schools located in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Gloucester counties, that operates under the aegis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.[15] With 203 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Non-Public B for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 37 to 366 students in that grade range (equivalent to Group I for public schools).[16] The football team competes in the Independence Division of the 94-team West Jersey Football League superconference[17][18] and was classified by the NJSIAA as Non-Public Group B (equivalent to Group I for public schools) for football for 2022–2024, which included schools with 64 to 223 students.[19]

St. Joseph's football team won 28 state championships in the playoff era that started in 1974, including in Non-Public B South in 1977 (awarded by NJSIAA[20]), 1983, 1985 and 1989–1993; in Non-Public I in 1996, 1997, 1999–2002, 2004 and 2011–2015; in Non-Public II in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2017 and 2018; and in Non-Public I/II in 2010.[21][22] The team won the 1985 South Jersey Group B state sectional title with a 33-8 win against Saint James High School in the championship game.[23] The 1989 team won the Parochial B South title with a 19-0 win in the playoff final against three-time defending champion Bishop Eustace.[24] The team won the Non-Public Group I title in 1996 with a 28-16 win in the championship game against Marist High School played at The College of New Jersey.[25] The 2000 team won the Non-Public Group I title against St. Mary High School by a score of 47-7 in the championship game played at Kean University.[26] The team finished at 10-1 in 2001 after winning the Non-Public Group I state title with a 49-0 victory against Immaculate Conception High School of Montclair in the playoff finals.[27] The team won its seventh consecutive sectional title in 2015 with a 19–6 win against Hudson Catholic Regional High School in the Non-Public Group II playoff championship game.[28] In 2017, the team finished the season with a 12–0 record and won the Non-Public Group II state championship with a 30–14 win against third-seeded Mater Dei High School in the tournament final; the victory was the program's eighth in nine seasons, the only exception being in 2016, when Mater Dei won its first state championship with a 26–0 win against St. Joseph.[29][30] Though only dating to 2000, NJ.com ranked the "Holy War" rivalry between St. Joseph and Holy Spirit High School 11th on its list "Ranking the 31 fiercest rivalries in N.J. HS football", with St. Joseph winning 12 of the 18 games played through 2017.[31] Head coach Paul Sacco finished the 2019 season with 20 state championships and an overall career record of 336-66-5 in his 39 years at St. Joseph, ranking him second in wins among active football coaches.[32]

The field hockey team won the South Jersey Group I state sectional championship in 2003, 2005, 2010, 2012.[33] Under Coach John DeMarco,[34] the team had won the Cape Atlantic League title for over 16 years, while also winning five South Jersey Non-Public state titles, and also making three state championship appearances. In 2013, the team had a string of victories including beating both state powerhouses including Camden Catholic High School [35] and Bishop Eustace Prep.

The wrestling team won the Non-Public B South state sectional championship in 1991, 1997, 1998 and 2006. The team won the Non-Public B state championship in 1998.[36] The wrestling team won the Non-Public, South B sectional title in 2006 with a 45–31 win over Sacred Heart High School in the tournament final.[37]

The softball team won the 2007 Non-Public South B state sectional championship with a string of shutout victories over Timothy Christian School (15-0) in the first round, St. Rose High School (6-0) n the semifinals and Gloucester Catholic High School (2-0) in the tournament final.[38]

The boys track team won the Non-Public Group B spring / outdoor track state championship in 2011 and 2013-2015.[39] The team won the South Jersey Non-Public B sectional title in 2011 for the first time in school history, edging the Pingry School by a single point after winning the 4x400-meter relay, the final event held at the meet.[40] One week later, the boys won the state championship for the first time ever at South Plainfield High School.[41]

Teacher controversy

In June 2005, religion teacher and athletics coach Michael McColgan was arrested on charges brought against him in relation to child pornography traced back to his online account. Upon searching his home, authorities discovered dozens more images on his personal computer and also copied onto disk.[42] McColgan pleaded guilty and was sentenced in a federal court in May 2006 to 48 months in prison for possession of child pornography.[43]

Notable alumni

References
  1. School data for St Joseph High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 10, 2022.
  2. 2022-2023 Student Handbook, Saint Joseph Academy. Accessed April 20, 2023.
  3. Saint Joseph Academy, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  4. Saint Joseph Academy, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed February 11, 2022.
  5. Tuition and Fees, Saint Joseph Academy. Accessed April 19, 2023.
  6. McGarry, Mike. "St. Joseph Academy returns to Vine Street in Hammonton", The Press of Atlantic City, August 27, 2020. Accessed February 19, 2021. "St. Joseph Academy in Hammonton finally has a home.... The academy announced Wednesday night it will be located at the former St. Joseph building at 328 Vine St.... Almost immediately, students, parents, friends and alumni formed St. Joe Strong and began to raise money and develop plans to keep both schools open. The group was able to raise enough money and interest to reopen the high school under the Academy name."
  7. MSA-CESS Fall 2018 Accreditation Actions, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools, Fall 2018. Accessed April 25, 2021.
  8. Yates, Riley. "5 N.J. Catholic schools to close, including South Jersey football powerhouse", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, April 17, 2020. Accessed August 13, 2020.
  9. Our History, Saint Joseph High School. Accessed September 10, 2012. "Saint Joseph High School came into being in September 1935 when the Pallottine Fathers opened a Prep-Seminary in Hammonton. The first Freshman Class consisted of five boys-Joseph Mungari, Guido Carcich, Vincent Campi, Raymond Fiume and Louis Del Vecchio-all of whom were ordained priests. The high school served seminarians exclusively until 1942 when the Prep-Seminary was transferred to Sag Harbor, Long Island."
  10. "Five Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Camden to close at end of school year", Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden, April 17, 2020. Accessed February 19, 2021. "Wildwood Catholic High School has received nearly $750,000 in support and Saint Joseph High School has received loan support totaling $1.1 million but currently carries a debt of $6.6 million. "
  11. Yates, Riley. "5 N.J. Catholic schools to close, including South Jersey football powerhouse", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. April 17, 2020. Accessed February 19, 2021. "Five Catholic schools in southern New Jersey are closing permanently because of financial problems made worse by the coronavirus pandemic, the Diocese of Camden announced Friday. The schools will be shuttered at the end of the academic year, and include Saint Joseph High School in Hammonton, a South Jersey football powerhouse."
  12. McGarry, Mike. "St. Joseph backers say Camden Diocese has rejected their offer to buy school, fields", The Press of Atlantic City, June 6, 2020. Accessed February 19, 2021. "The survival hopes of St. Joseph High School and Elementary School took another hit Friday night. In a statement, St. Joe Strong, a task force dedicated to saving both schools, said the Diocese of Camden had rejected its offer to buy the St. Joe Elementary School building on Third Street and the school’s athletic fields on Wood Street."
  13. McGarry, Mike. "St. Joseph Academy returns to Vine Street in Hammonton", The Press of Atlantic City, August 27, 2020. Accessed April 16, 2021. "St. Joseph Academy in Hammonton finally has a home. It’s a familiar one. The academy announced Wednesday night it will be located at the former St. Joseph building at 328 Vine St. The academy will lease the building from the Hammonton Board of Education."
  14. Hawk, Tim. "Shuttered N.J. Catholic school revived as private academy by alumni, supporters", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 15, 2020. Accessed April 16, 2021. "Once Saint Joseph Academy opens on Sept. 21 it will be an independent private school for students grades 9 through 12 with a tuition of approximately $11,000 and nearly 150 students deeply rooted in Roman Catholic faith, DiGerolamo said, and will not be part of the diocese."
  15. League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  16. NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  17. St. Joseph (Hamm.) Wildcats, West Jersey Football League. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  18. 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."
  19. NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2022–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  20. "Probable pairings in NJSIAA football", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 13, 1977. Accessed February 19, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Parochial B Title awarded to St. Joseph's of Hammonton"
  21. NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  22. Friedman, Josh. "Championship preview: St. Joseph faces Mater Dei in Non-Public 2 final", Courier-Post, November 30, 2017. Accessed December 7, 2017. "Sectional titles: St. Joseph 25 (1977, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015); Mater Dei 1 (2016)"
  23. Langerman, Chuck. "Gabriel, Bannister lead St. Joe's to S. J. crown", Courier-Post, November 24, 1985. Accessed January 17, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Running backs Kelly Gabriel and Brian Bannister each rushed for over 100 yards and teamed for five touchdowns to help give St. Joseph High School of Hammonton a 33-8 victory over St. James here yesterday for the South Jersey Group B championship. Overall, St. Joe's has captured the Group B crown three times, including 1977 when it was the automatic champion."
  24. McKee, Don. "For tiny Woodbury High, years of dominance", The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 4, 1989. Accessed February 19, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Bishop Eustace has qualified seven times and has won a record five titles, despite Saturday's 19-0 loss to St. Joseph. The school won three straight titles from 1986 to 1988, and is the only school from the seven-county South Jersey area to have accomplished that feat.'
  25. Haley, John. "Franklin 'special' in win", Asbury Park Press, December 9, 1996. Accessed December 1, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "St. Joseph (Hammont0n) 28, Marist 16: Behind the running of seniors Ed Silipena and Rob Mauriello and junior Carmine Avellino, St. Joseph exploded for 203 yards to defeat Marist 28-16 and win the state Parochial Group I championship at the College of New Jersey."
  26. "A perfect ending; Hackensack justifies No. 1 ranking", The Record, December 4, 2000, December 7, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "St Mary's of Rutherford could not prevent St. Joseph of Hammonton from capturing its fourth State Parochial Group 1 title in five years, falling, 47-7, at Kean University."
  27. "Phillipsburg stuns favored Montclair", Courier News, December 3, 2001. Accessed March 21, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "St. Joseph 49 Immaculate Concept. 0: Senior running back James Hargrave scored two touchdowns and rushed for 97 yards as St. Joseph (10-1) shut out Immaculate Conception (9-2) for the Parochial Group I title. It was St. Joseph's sixth title in nine seasons."
  28. Zedalis, Joe. "St. Joseph (Hamm.) wins 7th straight sectional title; tops Hudson Cath. in NP2 final", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 6, 2015. Accessed December 7, 2017. "St. Joseph (10-2) played solid defense from start to finish then used its powerhouse, off-tackle, downhill running game to wear down Hudson Catholic and the Wildcats won their seventh straight sectional title with a 19-6 victory in the NJSIAA/Sports Care Institute Non-Public Group 2 championship."
  29. Evans, Bill. "Townsel, Byers rush for 431 yards as St. Joseph (Hamm.) finishes 12-0", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 3, 2017. Accessed December 7, 2017. "After a 26-0 loss to Mater Dei in last year's Non-Public Group 2 championship ended a 7-year run of state championships, the St. Joseph (Hamm.) football team bounced back in a big way.The Wildcats capped a 12-0 season by avenging the defeat to Mater Dei a year ago with a 30-14 win on Sunday. St. Joseph (Hamm.) avenged all four losses from last season as it also defeated Holy Spirit, Cedar Creek and St. Augustine."
  30. "Football - 2017 NJSIAA Non-Public, Group 2 Playoffs", NJ.com. Accessed December 7, 2017.
  31. Stypulkoski, Matt. "Ranking the 31 fiercest rivalries in N.J. HS football" Archived January 10, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 27, 2017, updated May 15, 2019. Accessed December 1, 2020. "11-Holy Spirit vs. St. Joseph (Hamm.) This matchup is relatively recent as it started in 2000 but as both teams became contenders in their respective statewide groups over the past 10-15 years this became a must-see game dubbed the Holy War..... All-time series: St. Joseph (Hamm.) leads, 12-6."
  32. Koob, Andrew. "N.J. football′s winningest active head coaches in 2020", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 27, 2020, updated October 1, 2020. Accessed December 6, 2020. "2-Paul Sacco, St. Joseph (Hamm). Record: 336-66-5 Winning Percentage: 83.6 Years as head coach: 39 seasons; all at St. Joseph (Hamm.) At the helm of his alma mater, Sacco has led the Wildcats to 20 state titles"
  33. History of NJSIAA Field Hockey Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  34. "Coach John DeMarco", The Press of Atlantic City. Accessed August 13, 2020.
  35. Camden Catholic High School, The Philadelphia Inquirer. Accessed August 13, 2020.
  36. NJSIAA Wrestling Team Championship History Archived October 20, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  37. 2006 Team Wrestling - Non-Public, South B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 17, 2007.
  38. 2007 Softball - South B, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 12, 2007.
  39. NJSIAA Boys Spring Track Summary of Group Titles, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  40. McGarry, Michael. "Bridgeton, St. Joseph win South Jersey track and field team championships at Buena Regional", The Press of Atlantic City, May 29, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2011. "While Bridgeton has a strong tradition, the St. Joseph boys are just building one.The Hammonton school won its first South Jersey title, edging second-place Pingry 102-101. The Wildcats clinched the championship by winning the meet's last event - the 4x400-meter relay."
  41. Iezzi, Bill. "Timber Creek, Haddonfield, and St. Joseph of Hammonton win state boys' track titles", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 5, 2011. Accessed June 5, 2011. "Timber Creek won its fourth consecutive Group 3 crown, Haddonfield defended its Group 2 title, and St. Joseph of Hammonton won its first team championship.... Carl Watson was the key to St. Joseph's winning its first state team title. The junior won the 100, 200, and 400, and anchored the victorious 4x400 relay."
  42. "Catholic Religion Teacher Accused Of Possessing Child Pornography", WCAU, June 8, 2005, backed up by the Internet Archive as of September 22, 2007. Accessed March 10, 2011.
  43. "Former High School Teacher Sentenced to 48 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Pornography", The United States Attorney's Office: District of New Jersey press release dated May 12, 2006. Accessed March 10, 2011.
  44. Tyler Bellamy, St. Bonaventure University. Accessed September 27, 2017. "Scored 68 goals over his high school career, including 21 tallies in his senior season ... St. Joseph's second all-time leading scorer"
  45. Dave Calloway, Monmouth Hawks men's basketball. Accessed July 3, 2019. "Calloway was one of Szoke's prize recruits as a sharpshooting guard from St. Joseph's High School."
  46. "Kellyanne Conway, St. Joe's graduate, takes over Donald Trump's campaign", The Press of Atlantic City, August 17, 2016. Accessed November 9, 2016. "Conway was born Kellyanne Elizabeth Fitzpatrick and was raised in the Hammonton area. She graduated from St. Joseph's High School in 1985 and serves on the school's board of trustees."
  47. Weinberg, David. "St. Joseph grad Gordon Hill signs with Chargers", The Press of Atlantic City, May 3, 2015. Accessed September 27, 2017. "Gordon Hill and Max Valles grew up together in Winslow Township and were teammates at St. Joseph High School in Hammonton."
  48. via United Press International. "Oakhurst Boy Wins NJ Legion Oratory Contest", The News (Paterson), March 13, 1965. Accessed January 18, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "The other three contestants in the order of finish were: Rita Marie Myers, 17, of 323 E Pleasant Ave.. Hammonton, a senior at St. Joseph's High School, Hammonton, 'The Fire of Our Founding Fathers Revitalized', a $100 scholarship."
  49. Silber, Zach. "Brian E. Rumpf (R-Ocean)", Observer.com, February 28, 2011. Accessed March 8, 2022. "Assemblyman Rumpf was born in Somerville on May 11, 1964. He graduated from St. Joseph High School and attended The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC where he graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts."
  50. Weinberg, David. "St. Joseph grad Max Valles is NFL's youngest draft prospect", The Press of Atlantic City, April 25, 2015. Accessed September 27, 2017. "Max Valles plans to watch the NFL draft next week with friends and family from his home in the Sicklerville section of Winslow Township. When the 2012 St. Joseph High School graduate does get picked - the outside linebacker/defensive end is projected to be selected in the middle rounds - his celebration will be subdued."
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