| Florence Township Memorial High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
| 1050 Cedar Lane Florence Township, Burlington County, New Jersey 08518 United States | |
| Coordinates | 40°07′07″N 74°47′45″W / 40.118647°N 74.795772°W / 40.118647; -74.795772 |
| Information | |
| Type | Public high school |
| School district | Florence Township School District |
| NCES School ID | 340522001082 |
| Principal | John M. Cogan |
| Faculty | 38.3 FTEs |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 479 (as of 2023–24) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 12.5:1 |
| Color(s) | Blue and Gold |
| Athletics conference | Burlington County Scholastic League (general) West Jersey Football League (football) |
| Team name | Flashes |
| Rivals | Burlington City HS, Bordentown Regional HS, Palmyra HS, Burlington Twp. HS, Northern Burlington HS, New Egypt HS, Riverside HS |
| Newspaper | The Florence Sentinel |
| Website | www |
Florence Township Memorial High School is a comprehensive community public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Florence Township, in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as the lone secondary school of the Florence Township School District.
As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 479 students and 38.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.5:1. There were 120 students (25.1% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 42 (8.8% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.
Awards, recognition and rankings
The school was the 258th-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. The school had been ranked 220th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 237th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed. The magazine ranked the school 183rd in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 209th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.
Athletics
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The Florence Township Memorial High School Flashes compete in the Burlington County Scholastic League, which is comprised of public and non-public high schools covering Burlington, Mercer and Ocean counties in Central Jersey, operating under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). With 336 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 75 to 476 students in that grade range. The football team competes in the Classic Division of the 94-team West Jersey Football League superconference and was classified by the NJSIAA as Group I South for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 185 to 482 students.
The school participates in a joint wrestling team with Bordentown Regional High School as the host school / lead agency. The co-op program operates under agreements scheduled to expire at the end of the 2023–24 school year.
The girls' field hockey team won the South Jersey Group I sectional title in 1984, 1992 and 1993, and won the Central Jersey Group I title in 2000. The team was Group I state champion in 1992. The 1992 team finished the season with a record of 19-3 after winning the Group I state title, defeating runner-up Belvidere High School by a score of 4-0 in the championship game at Trenton State College.
The football team won the South Jersey Group I state sectional championship in 1985, and won the Central Jersey Group I title in 2003-2006 and 2012. The 1985 team finished the season with a 10-1 record after winning the South Jersey Group I state championship game with a 19-18 win against a Burlington Township High School team that failed on a late two-point conversion attempt that would have given them the lead. A pair of late touchdowns provided the margin the 1986 team needed to defeat Keyport High School by a score of 21-14 to win the Central Jersey Group I sectional championship and finish the season at 12-0. The 2006 team won the Central Jersey Group I state championship by a final score of 17-6 against South River High School at Rutgers Stadium, marking the team's fourth consecutive sectional title, the second-highest number of titles (five) of any Burlington County school. The team finished the season 12-1 after winning the 2016 Central Jersey Group I sectional title with a 23-17 overtime win in the championship game against Shore Regional High School. Head coach Joe Frappolli entered the 2020 season with six sectional championships and an overall career record of 319-149-5 in his 47 years leading the team, ranked third in wins among all active football coaches.
The baseball team won the Group I state championship in 1985 (defeating Cresskill High School in the tournament final) and 1986 (vs. Roselle Park High School). In 2011 the team defeated South River High School by a score of 12-2, and in 2012 the team defeated Point Pleasant Beach High School, 4-2, to win back-to-back Central Jersey Group I state sectionals. The winning pitcher in both games was Greg Perri, who is the first and only pitcher to win back-to-back state sectional championships in school history.
The boys' basketball team won the Group I state championship in 1986 (vs. Glen Ridge High School in the tournament final), 2000 (vs. Waldwick High School) and 2001 (vs. Cresskill High School). Farcing Waldwick in the finals, the team won the Group I title by a score of 72-43. In 2001, the team won the Group I title with a 41-35 win against Cresskill in the tournament final. The team won the 2005 Central, Group I state sectional championship with a 64-50 win over Metuchen High School.
The softball team won the Group I state championship in 1987 (defeating Roselle Park High School in the tournament final) and 2007 (vs. Pompton Lakes High School). The team took the Central Jersey, Group I state sectional championship in 2007 with a pair of shutout wins, over Middlesex High School (6-0) in the semifinal and South Amboy Middle High School (3-0) in the tournament final. The team moved on to win the Group I state championship with wins over Gloucester City High School (3-2) in the semifinals and Pompton Lakes High School (3-0) in the tournament final. The team won the 2008 sectional title over Dunellen High School by a score of 10-0 in the final game. The 2008 team lost 9-1 to Pennsville Memorial High School in the first round of the Group I championships.
Administration
The school's principal is John M. Cogan. His administration team includes two vice principals.
Notable alumni
- Heath Fillmyer (born 1994), professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres.
- Wali Lundy (born 1983), running back who played in the NFL for the Houston Texans; he attended Florence Township Memorial High School for two years before transferring to Holy Cross High School.
- Curtis Thompson (born 1996, class of 2014), track and field athlete who specializes in the javelin.
References
- ^ School data for Florence Township Memorial High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.
- ^ Florence Township Memorial High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- The Florence Sentinel, Florence Township Memorial High School. Accessed March 22, 2022.
- Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
- Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed September 4, 2012.
- Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed February 13, 2011.
- "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
- League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
- NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
- Florence Flashes, West Jersey Football League. Accessed May 1, 2023.
- 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."
- NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
- NJSIAA Winter Cooperative Sports Programs, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
- History of NJSIAA Field Hockey Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
- Williams, Tom. "Bond scores two goals, lifts Flashes", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 23, 1992. Accessed December 27, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "But yesterday in the NJSIAA Group 1 final at Trenton State College, Bond scored two goals as the Flashes won their first state championship with a 4-0 victory over previously undefeated Belvidere.... Florence (19-3) took the lead less than 10 minutes after the opening pass-back when Carey, a senior, scored her 43d goal of the season at the end of a furious attack."
- NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 1, 2022.
- Iannuzzi, Sam. "Florence nips Burlington Township, takes crown", Courier-Post, December 8, 1985. Accessed February 21, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Steve Muchowski threw for two touchdowns and kicked the only successful extra point to give Florence High School's football team the margin of victory in a 19-18 win over Burlington Township in the South Jersey Group 1 championship game yesterday. I'm just so happy for these kids,' said Florence coach Joe Frappolli, who coached the school's baseball team to the state championship last June... Burlington Township, which missed a potential game-winning two-point conversion attempt in the last five minutes, might not agree with Frappolli.... 'Kevin has stopped that wide play all year,' said Frappolli, whose team finished 10-1."
- Callahan, Kevin. "C. J. Group 1 championship: Florence 21, Keyport 14; Incredible rally caps surprise season; Two late Jones scores lift Florence to 1st sectional title since 1985", Courier-Post, December 14, 2003. Accessed March 10, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Playing with just five seniors and competing in the Central Jersey sectional for the first time, the Flashes rallied with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to stun defending C.J. Group 1 champion Keyport 21-14 Saturday afternoon. Florence (12-0) finished with its best record in school history, and its second sectional title, when sophomore Abree Jones ran for touchdowns of 7 and 3 yards in the final 8 minutes, 30 seconds on the turf field at the Summerfield Elementary School."
- Staff. "12-2 Florence Nutshell", Burlington County Times, December 2, 2006. Accessed August 25, 2011. "Florence High School defeated South River, 17-6, in the Central Jersey Group 1 championship game. The Flashes wrapped up their fourth consecutive sectional title and fifth overall. Among Burlington County teams, only Cherokee, with seven, has won more titles."
- 2006 Football Tournament - Central, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 7, 2006.
- Franklin, Paul. "Champs land on Shore: Florence High football runs through Shore Conference on road to title", The Times, December 9, 2012, updated March 30, 2019. Accessed November 23, 2020. "Those were some of the emotions as the Florence High School football team went into overtime in the Central Jersey Group I state championship game yesterday. The feelings were quite different after the end of the second overtime as the Flashes held on to win 23-17 at Lions Stadium on the campus of The College of New Jersey.... Florence, which finished 12-1, won its sixth state sectional title."
- 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. "3-Joe Frappolli, Florence Record: 314-149-5 Winning Percentage: 67.8 Years as head coach: 47 seasons; all at Florence The dean of South Jersey coaches, Frappolli has led the Flashes to six sectional titles"
- Baseball Championship History: 1959–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated June 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
- NJSIAA Boys Basketball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated March 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
- Kurland, Bob. "Waldwick thwarted; Comes apart against quick Florence 'D'", The Record, March 13, 2000. Accessed November 23, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "The curtain came down on a boys basketball golden era at Waldwick, but not with the expected storybook finish. Instead, retiring coach Paul Puglise and his Warriors absorbed a 72-43 defeat at the hands of Florence on Sunday in the Group 1 championship game at Rutgers."
- Mattura, Greg. "Cresskill comes close", The Record, March 12, 2001. Accessed November 23, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "Cresskill had a chance for its first State boys basketball title snatched away by Florence's 6-foot-9 David Keeley, who was just too tall for the undersized Cougars. Cresskill made Keeley work for every basket, every rebound, and every pass in the 41-35 loss in the State Group 1 final Sunday night at the Louis Brown Athletic Center, but Keeley's 7-inch height advantage was too much to overcome."
- 2005 Boys Basketball - Central, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 4, 2007.
- Softball Championship History 1972–2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated July 2023. Accessed April 1, 2024.
- 2007 Softball - Central, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 8, 2008.
- 2007 Softball - Public Semis/Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 12, 2007.
- "Catalano leads Governor Livingston to first state title", Asbury Park Press, June 10, 2007. Accessed January 6, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Florence 3, Pompton Lakes 0: Melissa Mehrer tossed seven shutout innings and hit a two-run homer in the sixth to send the Flashes to a win over the Cardinals for their first Group I championship since 1987."
- 2008 Softball Tournament - Central, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 28, 2008.
- "S. Jersey Girls: Schreck powers Florence to softball crown", The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 30, 2008. Accessed June 30, 2008.
- 2008 Softball Tournament - Public Semis/Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed June 28, 2008.
- Staff. "Curry leads Pennsville past Florence to final", Courier-Post, June 4, 2008. Accessed June 30, 2008.
- Administration, Florence Township Memorial High School. Accessed March 22, 2022.
- Fisher, Rich. "Former local standout Heath Fillmyer 'extremely grateful' to play for Royals", The Trentonian, June 22, 2018. Accessed June 25, 2018. "Since being called up to the Royals Monday night, Heath Fillmyer has yet to scale a Major League pitching mound in the heat of battle.... It matters not to the former Florence High/Mercer County Community College standout that Kansas City has lost nine straight as it begins a weekend series with the Astros Friday night."
- Carchidi, Sam. "Wali Lundy shares player-of-week honors", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 29, 2002. Accessed June 8, 2008. "Lundy, who attended Florence for two years before transferring to Holy Cross..."
- Curtis Thompson, United States national track and field team. Accessed November 16, 2021. "Birthplace: Trenton, N.J. Hometown: Florence, N.J. High School: Florence Township Memorial High School (Florence, N.J.) '14"
External links
- Florence Township Memorial High School
- Florence Township School District
- School Performance Report for Florence Township Memorial High School, New Jersey Department of Education
- School Data for the Florence Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics
| Education in Burlington County, New Jersey | ||
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| School districts |  | |
| Public high schools | ||
| Private | ||
| Tertiary | ||
| School districts by county: | ||
| Burlington County Scholastic League (NJSIAA) | |
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| Freedom Division | |
| Liberty Division | |
| Patriot Division | |