As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,799 students and 190.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.7:1. There were 1,275 students (45.6% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 224 (8.0% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1] Based on 2021-22 data from the New Jersey Department of Education, it was the ninth-largest high school in the state and one of 29 schools with more than 2,000 students.[7]
History
Vineland High School had served students from neighboring communities, as part of sending/receiving relationships with the Buena Regional School District (comprised of Buena and Buena Vista Township for grades 10-12), and from Newfield, Pittsgrove Township and Weymouth Township for grades 9-12. With significant overcrowding at the high school and substantial growth in enrollment from students residing in Vineland, the sending districts were informed in November 1968 that they would no longer be accommodated in Vineland and that all sending students would be phased out by the end of the 1973-74 school year.[8]
A proposed dress code, that had been slated to take effect for the 2006–07 school year, gave way to controversy and debate among students and parents.[12]
Awards, recognition and rankings
The school was the 264th-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.[13] The school had been ranked 297th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 275th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[14] The magazine ranked the school 222nd in 2008 out of 316 schools.[15] The school was ranked 194th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[16]
Curriculum
Due to its large student body Vineland High is able to offer a wide range of elective classes topics include arts and design, computers, media, automobile repair, woodworking, as well as a wide range of Advanced Placement courses. Courses such as English, mathematics, history, and science are tracked into college preparatory, advanced college preparatory, and honors. Students are tracked into honors mathematics and science from middle school.
Requirements for graduation
Courses required to be taken in order to graduate are four years of English, three years of Mathematics, two years of United States History, one year of World History, three years of Science, one year of Fine, Practical and/or Performing arts, one year of a Vocational course, and one year of a World Language, and four years of Physical Education/Health. It is also required to do 40 hours of service learning. However, a student may do 100 hours of service learning to receive a cord for their graduation ceremony.
Athletics
The Vineland High School Fighting Clan[2] compete in the Atlantic Division of the Cape-Atlantic League, an athletic conference comprised of public and private high schools in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Gloucester counties, and operates under the aegis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[17] With 1,916 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group IV for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 1,060 to 5,049 students in that grade range.[18] The football team competes in the Continental Division of the 94-team West Jersey Football League superconference[19][20] and was classified by the NJSIAA as Group V South for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 1,333 to 2,324 students.[21]
Vineland High School has participated since 1893 in an annual Thanksgiving football game with Millville High School, in Millville. The rivalry is one of the oldest public high school rivalry in the United States and the state's oldest, with Vineland leading the series 65-62-19, after Vineland's 28–18 victory in the 146th game in the series in 2017.[22][23] The rivalry with Millville was listed at 6th on NJ.com's 2017 list "Ranking the 31 fiercest rivalries in N.J. HS football".[24]
Vineland High School's interscholastic athletic teams include:[2]
Girls Crew
Girls Track
Girls Tennis
Girls Soccer
Girls Softball
Girls Swimming
Girls Basketball
Girls Field Hockey
Girls Cross Country
Boys Crew
Boys Track
Boys Tennis
Boys Soccer
Boys Baseball
Boys Lacrosse
Boys Swimming
Boys Wrestling
Boys Basketball
Boys Cross Country
Co-ed Football
Co-ed Golf
Co-ed Winter Track
Co-ed Fall Cheerleading
Co-ed Winter Cheerleading
The boys spring / outdoor track team won the Group III state championship in 1925-1928, and won in Group IV in 1969.[26]
The boys' cross country team won the Group IV state championship in 1964 and 1965.[27]
The boys' wrestling team won the South Jersey Group IV state sectional title in 1988.[28]
The girls swimming team won the Public A state championship in 1996 and 2001–2005; the program's six state titles is tied for the sixth-most in the state and the five consecutive titles won from 2001 to 2005 is tied for the third-longest streak.[29] The 2005 team became the first public school in the state to win five consecutive titles, after taking the Public A championship 105-65 in the finals against Westfield High School.[30]
The boys' track team won the Group IV indoor relay championship in 2004 as co-champion with Christian Brothers Academy.[31]
Administration
The school's principals are Justin Adams (Tanner) Jacqueline Roman-Alvarez (South).[32] Their administration team includes four assistant principals and the athletic director.[33]
Glenn Carbonara (born 1966, class of 1983), retired soccer defender who spent his entire professional career in the American indoor leagues[38]
Marvin Creamer (1916–2020; class of 1932), sailor notable for being the first recorded person to have sailed around the globe without the aid of navigational instruments[39]
^Staff. "Rowdy Rooster competing for ultimate mascot title", The Daily Journal, April 28, 2015. Accessed September 30, 2015. "The Vineland High School Mascot 'Rowdy Rooster' is one of several characters vying for the title of 'Ultimate High School Mascot' at the Camden Riversharks game on Saturday."
^Kausch, Katie. "N.J.’s biggest high school has 3,350 students. See how your school compares.", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 31, 2023. Accessed August 31, 2023. "Another 28 New Jersey schools have at least 2,000 students, according to 2021-2022 enrollment data released by the state Department of Education.... 9. Vineland Senior High School Number of students: 2,585"
^Laning, Pete. "Areas Facing Cutoff Ponder School Merger", The Daily Journal, November 14, 1968. Accessed February 18, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "At least two area school districts are considering some form of regionalization in response to a planned 'phase-out' of tuition students by Vineland schools to relieve overcrowding. Notice of the proposed dropping of sending students was sent out today to officials of the Buena Regional, Weymouth Township, Newfield and Pittsgrove Township school districts following approval last night of a time table by the Vineland Board of Education.... Plans call for the phase-out to begin in less than two years, with all sending students eliminated by September, 1973. The time table calls for the elimination of ninth grade students from Weymouth, Newfield and Pittsgrove in September 1970. (The Buena District sends ninth grade students to the Cleary Junior High in Minotola). In September 1971, tenth grade students from all districts, with eleventh grade students phased out in September 1972, and twelfth grade students in September 1973. Vineland School Superintendent Dr. Victor J. Podesta 'warned' officials in the four districts of the impending move in March of this year after studies indicated continued boosts in enrollment."
^"Buena to Break Ground for High School", The Daily Journal, October 27, 1971. Accessed February 17, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Ground breaking ceremonies for the $4.5 million Buena Regional High School will be conducted Sunday, at 2 p.m. The new facility, which will be constructed on an 84-acre tract, will have a capacity for over 1,200 students and can be expanded to serve 1,500.... Approximately 700 students from the Buena area along with 200 others from the sending districts of Estell Manor and Weymouth are expected to attend during the first year."
^Pray, Rusty. "Turning weeds and stones into turf and clay is Lisa's job at Schalick", Courier-Post, August 17, 1976. Accessed February 17, 2022, 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."
^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 February 17, 2022. "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."
^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."
^Evans, Bill. "Millville vs. Vineland: Division title, stellar seniors and N.J.'s longest Thanksgiving rivalry", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 21, 2017. Accessed November 21, 2017. "The season isn't ending the way the Millville and Vineland High School football teams hoped back in August.... And in addition to the division crown, there's the honor of playing in the state's longest Thanksgiving rivalry – one that dates back to 1893 and in which Vineland took a one-game lead, 64-63-19, with a win last year."
^Bennett, Kyle. "Vineland football beats Millville 28-18 in state's longest rivalry", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 23, 2017. Accessed November 14, 2018. "A new piece of history is always made in the longest running rivalry in New Jersey high school football and in the 146th meeting between Vineland and Millville High School, a new chapter was written as Vineland walked away with a 28-18 win on Thursday in front of a nearly sold out crowd at Wheaton Field. Vineland now leads the series all-time 65-62-19."
^Stypulkoski, Matt. "Ranking the 31 fiercest rivalries in N.J. HS football", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 27, 2017, updated May 15, 2019. Accessed December 1, 2020. "6-Millville vs. Vineland... These Cumberland County rivals and neighboring towns have been long-time Thanksgiving Day opponents. In fact, Vineland-Millville is the state's longest standing Thanksgiving Day rivalry and the 10th longest in the country. The teams have played at least once every year since the series started in 1893 with the exception of 1905.... All-time series: Vineland leads, 64-63-19"
^Sprang, Charlie. "Vineland girls again rule pool; Fighting Clan earn yet another Courier-Post Cup", Courier-Post, March 16, 2005. Accessed February 24, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Once again, Vineland has finished the season as the No. 1 team in the Courier-Post Top 10 and will be presented the Courier-Post Cup at the South Jersey Interscholastic Swimming Association banquet on April 3. The Fighting Clan breezed through the regular season and playoffs without being seriously challenged and won their fifth consecutive Public A state championship, a record for public schools in New Jersey.... In the tournament, Vineland was even more dominating, winning the state title over Westfield, 105-65."
^"Taking the High School Helm", Reminder USA, November 14, 2023. Accessed April 15, 2024. "Vineland Public Schools welcomed two familiar faces who have now officially taken on the role of principals of Vineland High School: Justin Adams and Jacqueline Roman-Alvarez. Adams is helming the Tanner Building (ninth and 10th grades) and Alvarez heads Vineland High School South (11th and 12th grades)."
^John P.Armato, Buena Vista Township. Accessed December 5, 2022. "John went through the Buena school system graduating from Vineland High School in 1966."
^Commissioner Asselta, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Accessed December 5, 2022. "Born on August 17, 1951, Nicholas Asselta was raised in Vineland, New Jersey. As the son of a Vineland Police Officer, he graduated from Vineland High School, Cumberland County College and the Frederick Military Academy."
^Jackson, Vincent. "Vineland's Obie Bermudez A Winner At Latin Grammys", The Press of Atlantic City, November 5, 2005. Accessed October 18, 2015. "Latin pop singer Obie Bermudez, a 1995 Vineland High School graduate, won his first Latin Grammy Award Thursday in the category of Best Male Pop Album, beating out Marc Anthony and three other vocalists."
^Silva, Matt. "Vineland to induct Hall of Fame class on Tuesday", The Daily Journal, November 23, 2015. Accessed July 30, 2024. "Brayboy graduated in 1939 and earned varsity letters in football, basketball and track and field. He was a member of the Vineland High School state champion team in 1937 and 1938."
^O'Kane, John. "Scoring goals no problem for Vineland's Steven Tobolski", The Press of Atlantic City, September 24, 2014. Accessed September 26, 2017. "Tobolski is already fifth on Vineland's all-time scoring list behind Glenn Carbonara (1983 graduate, 151 goals), Walter 'Buddy' Kennedy (1988, 110), Jim Connor (1992, 89) and Mark Marandino (1986, 87)."
^Fox, Margalit, "Marvin Creamer, a Mariner Who Sailed Like the Ancients, Dies at 104", The New York Times, August 17, 2020. Accessed August 28, 2020. "After graduating from Vineland High School at 16, he spent years doing what odd jobs he could, including selling life insurance, making concrete vaults for cemeteries and repairing car engines. The last of these, at least, would stand him in good stead as a mariner."
^McGurk, Tom."Jamil Demby works out for two NFL teams in Vineland", The Daily Journal, April 4, 2018. Accessed May 27, 2018. "The National Football League came to Vineland on Wednesday. Later this month, a city native son hopes to go to the NFL. Jamil Demby, a star offensive lineman at Vineland High School and the University of Maine, worked out for coaches and scouts from the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers at the Joseph E. Romano Sports Complex."
^Staff. "Torn ACL ends Darren Ford's season with Somerset Patriots", The Press of Atlantic City, May 20, 2017. Accessed November 21, 2017. "A former standout baseball and football player at Vineland High School, Ford started the 2011 season in the minors but was promoted to the Giants on April 26. He earned his first major league hit four days later, a single off Washington reliever Tyler Clippard."
^Friedman, Josh. "Vineland grad named Indianapolis Colts' receivers coach", The Daily Journal, February 9, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2018. "Toward the end of their conversation, Chudzinski asked Hull, a 1984 Vineland High School graduate, if he’d have any interest in Indy’s vacant wide receivers coaching job."
^Hendrie, Gardner. "Oral History of Alan Kotok", Computer History Museum, November 15, 2004. Accessed September 26, 2017. "Q: Now what high school was this? Alan Kotok: This was the Vineland High School. Vineland, New Jersey, right, yes."
^Schierenback, Jack. "Lost and Found; The Incredible Life and Times of (Miss) Layle Lane", American Educator, Vol 24, No 4, Winter 2000-2001. Accessed October 25, 2018. "What we do know is that a few years later Rev. Lane picked up the family and moved to Vineland, N.J. At Vineland High School, 13-year-old Layle had her first taste of integration. A good student, she was the school's first black graduate."
^Brandt, Mickey. "Vineland’s Pacheco To Enter 2022 NFL Draft", SNJ Today, December 7, 2021. Accessed May 4, 2022. "Vineland High School 2018 graduate Isiah Pacheco, a star Rutgers University football running back, earned All Big Ten honorable mention in both the coaches’ and media vote released last week by the conference office."
^Finding aid author: Fernanda Perrone (September 2015). "Thelma Parkinson Sharp Papers". Prepared for the Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
^Bennett, Kyle. "Men's Soccer Makes Splash in Latest Head Coaching Hire", Rowan College of South Jersey, September 1, 2017. Accessed October 19, 2020. "Vineland natives John Pascarella and Glenn Carbonara will take the reins as the new Head Coach and Assistant Coach respectively.... The two were teammates at Vineland High School and were both members of the Class of 1984, where they both set records at their respective positions."
^Van Embden, Edward. "Umpire makes Vineland fame wall", The Press of Atlantic City, June 1, 2009. Accessed November 10, 2013. "Behind that moment in history, and several others, was Vineland native Vic Voltaggio.... Voltaggio, 68, is being inducted into the Vineland Hall of Fame tonight at Vineland High School's all-sports banquet at Merighi's Savoy Inn in East Vineland.... Voltaggio graduated from Vineland High School in 1959 and, along with his wife, Janet, was an early member of Vineland's Booster Club, which benefits the school's sports programs."
