Highland Regional High School

High school in New Jersey, United States

Highland Regional High School

Address

450 Erial Road Gloucester Township, Camden County, New Jersey 08012 United States
Coordinates	39°48′09″N 75°03′11″W / 39.802562°N 75.053151°W / 39.802562; -75.053151
Information
Type	Public high school
School district	Black Horse Pike Regional School District
Principal	Ryan C. Varga
Faculty	95.4 FTEs
Enrollment	1,175 (as of 2023–24)
Student to teacher ratio	12.3:1
Color(s)	Columbia Blue and Navy
Athletics conference	Tri-County Conference (general) West Jersey Football League (football)
Mascot	Scotty the Tartan
Team name	Tartans
Website	www.bhprsd.org/highland

Highland Regional High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades from Gloucester Township in Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The school is located in the Blackwood section of Gloucester Township and is one of the three secondary schools of the Black Horse Pike Regional School District, which also includes Timber Creek Regional High School and Triton Regional High School (which serves students from Bellmawr and Runnemede). The school is accredited by the New Jersey Department of Education.

As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,175 students and 95.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.3:1. There were 354 students (30.1% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 84 (7.1% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.

History

Ground was broken in June 1966 for construction of a building that would be the district's second school facility, which would have a capacity of 1,200 students and be built at a cost of $2.7 million (equivalent to $25.4 million in 2023) on a site 33 acres (13 ha). The school opened in 1967, allowing split sessions at Triton High School to end.

In 1993, Highland Regional High School students voted to allow a prayer before their graduation ceremony. The school district was quickly sued by a graduating senior with the support of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey over separation of church and state. The case was heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which ruled against the school district in a 9-4 decision.

Awards, recognition and rankings

The school was the 254th-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 284th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 252nd in 2010 out of 322 schools listed. The magazine ranked the school 269th in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 224th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.

Athletics

The Highland Regional High School Tartans compete as one of the member schools in the Tri-County Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools located in Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties. The conference is overseen by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). With 958 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group III for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 761 to 1,058 students in that grade range. The football team competes in the Memorial Division of the 94-team West Jersey Football League superconference and was classified by the NJSIAA as Group III South for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 695 to 882 students.

The 1975 baseball team finished the season with an 18-7 record after winning the Group I state title by a score of 1-0 against Ridgefield Park High School on a one-hitter in the championship game.

Highland Regional's most successful athletic program had been the wrestling program, winning numerous state championships until the late 1990s. The team won the South Jersey Group IV state sectional championships in 1981-1985 and 1991-1996, and the South Jersey Group III title in 1987 and 1990. The team was Group IV state champion in 1982-1985, 1991, 1992 and 1994-1996; the program's nine state championships are third-most of any public school in the state Ralph E. Ross was the head coach during this period of time and became the winningest high school wrestling coach in South Jersey history with 405 wins, the second-most in state history. The 1996 team defeated Roxbury High School in the semis and Middletown High School North in the finals to win the Group IV state championship. The program produced one of the greatest wrestlers in New Jersey history, Joe Melchiore, who lost only three matches his entire career, all during his freshman year. He was a three-time state champion in high school and a four-time All-American selection in college. He also represented the United States in the World Championships where he placed 7th. Both Melchiore and Ross were inducted into the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1990. In the auxiliary gym of the high school, an entire wall is devoted to the team's accomplishments. In 2012 Mike Davidson became the team's head coach and has led the team to four straight district titles.

The boys cross country team won the Group III state championship in 1989 and the Group IV title in 1994. The 1994 boys cross country team went undefeated and were Olympic Conference champions. Additionally, they won the South Jersey Open and the Group IV sectionals on their way to win the Group IV state championship (the only Group IV state title for the boys cross country team). The team's best finish came in the Group IV Sectional meet where Tartan runners came in 1st, 2nd, 7th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 23rd out of a field of approximately 126 runners. The top five averaged 16:06.4 for the 3.1 mile course and scored 39 points to blow out the 2nd place team, Eastern Regional High School, who scored 86. It was the largest victory margin of the meet. In the Group IV state meet, the top five runners finished 3rd, 5th, 20th, 23rd, and 36th to win with 67 points, ahead of the second-place team, Westfield High School, which scored 92.

In 2004, the girls' basketball team won the South, Group III state sectional championship, their first in Group III, with an 82-45 win against Woodrow Wilson High School.

The boys' track team won the Group II state indoor relay championship in 2014.

Marching and jazz bands

The Highland Regional Marching Band has had success in the Tournament of Bands competitions since the turn of the millennium. The marching band won the Chapter One Championship in 2005, led by band director Chris Tumminia, the first such championship in the band's history. The band successfully defended their Chapter One Championship in 2006, and were the 2002 Atlantic Coast Invitational Champion in Group 1.

The school's pep band performs in numerous parades winning first place at the Bridesburg Memorial Day Parade in 2012 and 2013

The school's indoor color guard was the Tournament Indoor Association Scholastic Novice champions in 2006 and the Scholastic Intermediate A champions in 2007.

The school's indoor drumline was the Tournament Indoor Association Scholastic Open champions in 2001 and the Scholastic A champions in 2005 and 2008. In 2016 and 2019 the drumline took 1st place in the 'Regional A' Class for the Mid-Atlantic Percussion Society circuit.

The school's competitive jazz ensemble placed second in the New Jersey state finals in 1991 and first in the Atlantic Coast Championships in 2013 and 2014.

Administration

The school's principal is Ryan C. Varga. His administration team includes five vice principals, one for each class and one who serves as athletic director.

Notable alumni

Ryan Buchter (born 1987, class of 2005), professional baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, who debuted for the Atlanta Braves in 2014
Mike Daniels (born 1989, class of 2007), defensive end for the NFL's Detroit Lions
Sean Daniels (born 1991, class of 2010), arena football player
Donovin Darius (born 1975), former American football safety who played in the NFL for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins
Joseph Menna (born 1970), sculptor and engraver who has worked in both digital and traditional sculpture media
Dave Miller (born 1966), former bullpen coach for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball
Joe Vitt (born 1954, class of 1972), former assistant head coach and linebackers coach for the New Orleans Saints
Sharnee Zoll-Norman (born 1986), point guard who has played for the Chicago Sky of the WNBA

References

^ School data for Highland Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.
^ Member Schools, Tri-County Conference. Accessed November 18, 2020.
^ Highland Regional High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
District Home: Registration Info, Black Horse Pike Regional School District. Accessed June 21, 2015. "What school will you be attending? All Bellmawr and Runnemede residents attend Triton Regional High School. Gloucester Township residents Click Here to view the District Map."
Gloucester Township High School Attendance Areas, Black Horse Pike Regional School District. Accessed June 21, 2015.
"Regional High Work To Begin", Courier-Post, June 24, 1966. Accessed April 4, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The second high school in the Black Horse Pike Regional School District will get underway officially Monday with ground-breaking ceremonies at 6 p.m. Highland Regional High School, to be built on a 33-acre tract on Clementon-Erial Road, Gloucester Township, is expected to be completed for a fall opening in 1967. The 44-room school will have a student capacity of 1,200 and a professional staff of approximately 80.... A bond issue of $2,700,000 was approved by voters in Runnemede, Gloucester Township and Bellmawr in 1964."
Shott, Meghan. "Highland Regional High School", SouthJersey.com, September 26, 2016. Accessed April 4, 2022. "Highland Regional High School, home of the Tartans, serves nearly 1200 students from Bellmawr, Gloucester Township and Runnemede, as part of the Black Horse Pike Regional School District. Sister schools in the BHP Regional School District include Timber Creek and Triton High Schools. Highland opened in 1967 and is celebrating 50 years this school year."
"ACLU v. Black Horse Regional Board of Education (1995): Supreme Court Decisions on Religious Liberty - Summary by About.com". Archived from the original on February 8, 2006. Retrieved December 16, 2005.
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 11, 2012.
Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed July 20, 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.
Highland Regional Tartans, 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.
Baseball Championship History: 1959–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated June 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
Rowe, John. "Scarlet gamble fails in 1-0 heartbreaker", The Record, June 8, 1975. Accessed February 5, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "But like many a riverboat gambler before them, Ridgefield Park rolled the dice one too many times. Some unsuccessful base running had as much to do with the Scarlets' 1-0 loss to Highland Regional yesterday as the one-hitter Bob Gale threw against them. Dan Teel's fourth-inning double was the only Ridgefield Park hit in the Group 3 championship game of the New Jersey Interscholastic A.A. tournament."
NJSIAA Wrestling Team Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2021.
^ Inductee Biographies, South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame. Accessed May 11, 2015. "The winningest coach in South Jersey history with a 405-56-7 record, Ross is second only to Hunterdon Central's Russ Riegel in state history."
Hoffman, Joe. "Roxbury finishes 3rd in Group IV", Daily Record, February 19, 1996. Accessed March 15, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The red-hot Roxbury wrestling team finally met its match yesterday in Group IV. But the Gaels shouldn't feel too bad: When comes to the All-Groups, powerful Highland Regional presents big problems for everybody. 'The Tartans -- annually one of New Jersey's top programs -- won the first seven matches in their state Group IV semifinal and handed Roxbury a 57-14 defeat. Highland wound up beating host school Middletown North for its third straight Group IV title and ninth state championship since the All-Group format began in 1982."
NJSIAA Boys Cross Country State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 1, 2022.
Skaf, Lian. "No doubting Highland", Courier-Post, March 9, 2004. Accessed August 19, 2007. "The top-seeded Tartans jumped to a 21-11 first-quarter lead en route to an 82-45 win over second-seeded Woodrow Wilson to win the South Jersey Group 3 title."
Santoliquito, Joe. "Highland gets revenge as it devastates Wilson - Lisa Steele scored 28 points for the Tartans, who", The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 9, 2004. Accessed August 19, 2007. "All of that frustration poured out last night, as Steele led the Tartans to a dominating 82-45 victory over Wilson in the South Jersey Group 3 title game at Cherry Hill High School East. It was the first Group 3 title for Highland, which improved to 28-0. Wilson fell to 25-2."
2004 Girls Basketball - South, Group III, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed August 19, 2007.
History of the NJSIAA Indoor Relay Championships Archived July 5, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
Tournament of Bands - Chapter One History, Tournament of Bands. Accessed August 23, 2009.
Administration, Highland Regional High School. Accessed May 8, 2023.
Sprang, Charlie. "Former Highland Hurler Finds Comfort Zone in Atlanta Braves Organization; Ryan Buchter, a 24-year-old Highland graduate, leads his team in saves.", Gloucester Township Patch, July 8, 2011. Accessed February 15, 2015. "Ryan Buchter, a 24-year-old Highland Regional High School graduate who was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 33rd round in 2005 and traded to the Cubs in 2008, started this season with Tennessee, the Cubs AA farm team in the Southern League."
Dunne, Tyler. "DT Daniels another athlete up front", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, April 28, 2012. Accessed May 6, 2012. "Daniels may be a skill-position player at heart. He actually played running back in high school. Daniels rushed for 2,203 yards and 25 touchdowns at Highland Regional (N.J.). On Saturday, he described himself as a power back the team used in short-yardage situations."
Evans, Bill. "Highland Regional High School graduate Sean Daniels looking for bounce-back year with Temple University football team", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, July 15, 2012. Accessed June 11, 2017.
Donovin Darius, NJSports.com. Accessed May 8, 2023. "Donovin transferred from Highland Regional High to Woodrow Wilson in Camden proper after his sophomore year."
Mucha, Peter. "Carving heroes and villains from virtual clayJoseph Menna has worked on everything from Jefferson to Batman to the world's biggest statue.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 18, 2014. Accessed October 2, 2017. "So it's not surprising to hear Menna say his enthusiasm for art grew from his love of comic books, sci-fi and fantasy while growing up in Blackwood, Camden County, where he graduated from Highland Regional High School."
David Miller, The Baseball Cube. Accessed December 26, 2018. "Born Date: August 25,1966 Place: Woodbury, New Jersey; High School: Highland Regional (Blackwood, NJ)"
Narducci, Marc. "An NFL Survivor Moves On Again Highland Graduate Joe Vitt Has Coached In The League Since 1979.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 17, 1999. Accessed February 15, 2015. "Joe Vitt says he watched the Super Bowl this year with a little bit of envy. After all, the 1972 Highland graduate could have envisioned himself high up in the press box, calling the defensive signals for the Atlanta Falcons."
Edelson, Stephen. "New: Shore's greatest girls basketball players - One last look", Asbury Park Press, February 8, 2017. Accessed October 2, 2017. "Even though she was only at Marlboro for three years, transferring to Highlands Regional for her senior season, Zoll earned a reputation as one of the finest playmakers ever to grace the hardwood at the Jersey Shore."

External links

v t e Public and private high schools of Camden County, New Jersey
Public	Audubon Brimm Medical Arts Camden Camden Academy Camden Big Picture Cherry Hill Alternative Cherry Hill East Cherry Hill West Collingswood Creative Arts Eastern Eastside Gloucester City Gloucester Township Tech Haddon Heights Haddon Township Haddonfield Highland Regional LEAP Academy Lindenwold Overbrook Pennsauken Pennsauken Tech Sterling Timber Creek Triton Winslow Township
Private	Bishop Eustace Prep Camden Catholic Gloucester Catholic King's Christian Paul VI
by county Atlantic Bergen Burlington Camden Cape May Cumberland Essex Gloucester Hudson Hunterdon Mercer Middlesex Monmouth Morris Ocean Passaic Salem Somerset Sussex Union Warren

v t e Tri-County Conference (NJSIAA)
Classic Division	Clayton Gloucester Catholic Pitman Salem Salem Tech Wildwood
Diamond Division	Glassboro Overbrook Penns Grove Pennsville Schalick Woodstown
Liberty Division	Cumberland Delsea Deptford Highland Timber Creek Triton
Royal Division	Clearview Regional GCIT Kingsway Regional Washington Township Williamstown

v t e West Jersey Football League (NJSIAA)
American	Cherokee Chiefs (South V) Hammonton Blue Devils (South IV) Kingsway Dragons (South V) Shawnee Renegades (South IV) Washington Township Minutemen (South IV) Williamstown Braves (South V)
Capitol	Burlington Township Falcons (South IV) Hopewell Valley Bulldogs (Central III) Lenape Indians (South V) Notre Dame Irish (Non-Public IV) Rancocas Valley Red Devils (South V) Trenton Tornadoes (Central V)
Classic	Clayton Clippers (South I) Gloucester Catholic Rams (Non-Public II) Gloucester City Lions (South I) Pitman Panthers (NA) Schalick Cougars (South I) Wildwood Warriors (South I)
Colonial	Audubon Green Wave (South I) Collingswood Panthers (South II) Haddonfield Bulldawgs (South II) Overbrook Rams (South II) Sterling Silver Knights (South II) West Deptford Eagles (South II)
Constitution	Camden Catholic Fighting Irish (Non-Public III) Camden Golden Panthers (South II) Cherry Hill West Lions (South IV) Pennsauken Indians (South IV) Seneca Eagles (South III) Winslow Eagles (South IV)
Continental	Atlantic City Vikings (South V) Bridgeton Bulldogs (South V) Egg Harbor Township Eagles (South V) Millville Thunderbolts (South V) St. Augustine Hermits (Non-Public IV) Vineland Fighting Clan (South V)
Diamond	Deptford Spartans (South III) Glassboro Bulldogs (South I) Pennsville Eagles (South I) Penns Grove Red Devils (South I) Salem Rams (South I) Woodstown Wolverines (South I)
Freedom	Burlington City Blue Devils (Central I) Florence Flashes (Central I) Maple Shade Wildcats (Central I) New Egypt Warriors (Central I) Palmyra Panthers (Central I) Riverside Rams (Central I)
Independence	Absegami Braves (South IV) Cedar Creek Pirates (South II) Mainland Mustangs (South IV) Oakcrest Falcons (South III) Ocean City Red Raiders (South III) St. Joseph Wildcats (Non-Public II)
Liberty	Bordentown Scotties (Central II) Cinnaminson Pirates (South II) Delran Bears (South II) Holy Cross Lancers (Non-Public II) Robbinsville Ravens (Central III) Willingboro Chimeras (South II)
Memorial	Gateway Gators (South I) Haddon Heights Garnets (South II) Haddon Township Hawks (South I) Lindenwold Lions (South I) Paulsboro Red Raiders (South I) Woodbury Thundering Herd (South I)
National	Cherry Hill East Cougars (South V) Clearview Pioneers (South IV) Delsea Crusaders (South III) Eastern Vikings (South V) Paul VI Eagles (Non-Public IV) Timber Creek Chargers (South III)
Patriot	Allentown Red Birds (Central IV) Northern Burlington Greyhounds (Central IV) Pemberton Hornets (South IV) Princeton Little Tigers (Central IV) Steinert Spartans (Central III) West Windsor-Plainsboro North Knights (cancelled)
Royal	Bishop Eustace Crusaders (Non-Public III) Cumberland Colts (South III) Eastside Mighty Tigers (South III) Highland Tartans (South IV) Moorestown Quakers (South IV) Triton Mustangs (South III)
United	Buena Chiefs (South I) Holy Spirit Spartans (Non-Public II) Lower Cape May Tigers (South II) Middle Township Panthers (South II) Pleasantville Greyhounds (South II)
Valley	Ewing Blue Devils (Central III) Hamilton West Hornets (Central III) Hightstown Rams (Central IV) Lawrence Cardinals (Central III) Nottingham Northstars (Central IV) West Windsor-Plainsboro South Pirates (Central IV)

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