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Parsippany Hills High School
Address
Map
20 Rita Drive

Parsippany-Troy Hills
,
Morris County
,
New Jersey
07950

United States
Coordinates40°51′41″N 74°27′22″W / 40.86139°N 74.45611°W / 40.86139; -74.45611
Information
TypePublic high school
MottoKnowledge is Power
Established1969
School districtParsippany-Troy Hills School District
NCES School ID341248004432[2]
PrincipalMatt Thompson[1]
Faculty101.8 FTEs[2]
Grades9-12
Enrollment998 (as of 2022–23)[2]
Student to teacher ratio9.8:1[2]
Color(s)  Black
  Columbia Blue and
  white[4]
Athletics conferenceNorthwest Jersey Athletic Conference (general)
North Jersey Super Football Conference (football)
Team nameVikings[4]
RivalsParsippany High School
Sparta High School (New Jersey)
PublicationConcept[3]
NewspaperVoyager[3]
YearbookAegis[3]
Websitephhs.pthsd.k12.nj.us

Parsippany Hills High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school in the township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, in Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grade as one of the two secondary schools of the Parsippany-Troy Hills School District. Built in 1969, the school serves students who live in the western half of Parsippany. Its companion school in the district is Parsippany High School.

As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 998 students and 101.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.8:1. There were 88 students (8.8% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 33 (3.3% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[2]

Enrollment by Grade:
9 10 11 12 Ungraded
Students 221 257 278 265 7
Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity:
American Indian/

Alaska Native

Asian Black Hispanic Native Hawaiian/

Pacific Islander

White Two or More

Races

Students – 382 28 151 4 429 34
Enrollment by Gender:
Male Female
Students 519 509

[5]

History

[edit]

Construction of a new high school was approved in a 1967 referendum.[6] The name Parsippany Hills was chosen in February 1969 from a list of 28 alternatives that had been submitted, ending a plan that had named the schools as East and West.[7]

Constructed at a cost of $4.75 million (equivalent to $39.5 million in 2023) and designed to accommodate an enrollment of 1,800, the school opened in September 1969 with 1,200 students in ninth through eleventh grades, primarily those living south of U.S. Route 46.[8][9] In the 2008–09 school year, Parsippany Hills High School saw the opening of the New N-Wing, an addition off the back of the school.

Awards, recognition and rankings

[edit]

The school was the 58th-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.[10] The school had been ranked 23rd in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 50th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[11] The magazine ranked the school 87th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[12] The school was also ranked 87th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[13] PHHS was ranked #7 out of 98 schools in the 2010 "FG" District Factor Group (socioeconomic measure). Schooldigger.com ranked the school tied for 151st out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (a decrease of 30 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (83.6%) and language arts literacy (93.4%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[14]

Academics

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Parsippany Hills High School offers the basic math, science, English, and history courses, but also has a wide range of elective courses ranging from human development to choir to marketing. Parsippany Hills also offers its students a wide range of Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

96.8% of Parsippany Hills teachers hold a master's degree or doctorate in the field that they teach in. Parsippany Hills also has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10.6 students per every faculty member.[13]

Parsippany Hills students can connect to the Internet, with most school computers having Internet connections.[13] Most wall-mounted televisions in the school are equipped with cable television.

In order to graduate from Parsippany Hills High School, a student must take at least 24 credits of courses, where one credit equals a one period full-year class. A student must take four years of English, three years of mathematics, three years of science, three years of social sciences, one year of a career development course, one year of a foreign language, and one year of a visual and performing arts elective. In addition, all students must pass the New Jersey High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) in their junior or senior year.[15]

Parsippany Hills High School uses a four marking-period year, which are known as quarters. Two quarters make up one semester.[16] The school uses a rotating drop-block schedule, where each student attends 6 of their 8 classes each day. Each period is 56 minutes with a 4 minute passing period between classes.

Arts

[edit]

Parsippany Hills offers a wide range of artistic classes, from drawing to ceramics, offering 10 different courses in visual arts. The visual arts program offerings include AP Studio Art, Digital Photography, Animation, and Advanced Ceramics.[17]

Parsippany Hills has a large drama club, known unofficially as the Parsippany Hills Players. Past productions have included The Odd Couple: Female Version, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, South Pacific, Picnic, Zombie Prom, The Importance of Being Earnest, Bye Bye Birdie, Aida, Seussical, Legally Blonde, The Drowsy Chaperone, and 42nd Street. In the spring 2007 production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, the Parsippany Hills Players saw a record audience. In 2020, the drama club had to cancel their production of Newsies due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. In 2021, the Parsippany Hills Players performed Oklahoma! on an outdoor stage in the parking lot due to the pandemic. In 2022, the drama club was once again able to perform indoors in their production of Mary Poppins. The Parsippany Hills Players’ most recent production was Our Town, and in 2023 they will be performing The Music Man.

The marching band, in circuit from June to November, has taken a total of six Northern USSBA States Championship titles ('94, '97,'04, '06, '07, '08) and three state championship titles ('02, '04, '08). In both 2004 and 2008, PHHSMB captured two championship titles. At the All-state championships in 2006, they tied with long-standing rivals Verona High School, but won more captions than any other band. At the state championship competition in 2007, PHHSMB placed second (out of 17). A week later, the band finished first with a score of 94.85 and took first place in every caption except for color guard. In 2008, PHHSMB finally went an undefeated season for the first time in over 20 years, winning both titles of State Champions and Northern States Champions.[18] In 2016, PHHSMB won the Tournament of Bands Region 10 NY Metropolitan Area regional championship, with their show, Valhalla.

Athletics

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The Parsippany Hills High School Vikings[4] participate in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Morris, Sussex and Warren counties, and was established by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey.[19][20] Prior to the NJSIAA's 2010 realignment, the school had competed as part of the Iron Hills Conference, which included public and private high schools in Essex, Morris and Union counties.[21] With 788 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.[22] The football team competes in the Patriot 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.[23][24] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group II North for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 484 to 683 students.[25]

Sports offered at Parsippany Hills include tennis, football, soccer, cross country running, field hockey, volleyball and cheerleading in the fall; swimming, basketball, ice hockey, wrestling, track and cheerleading in the winter; and baseball, softball, tennis and golf in the spring.[4]

The school participates as the host school / lead agency in a joint ice hockey team with Parsippany High School. The co-op program operates under agreements scheduled to expire at the end of the 2023–24 school year.[26]

Parsippany Hills High School's primary rivals are Parsippany High School and in football, Wayne Hills High School. Rivalries have also been seen between the Vikings and Morris Hills High School and Morris Knolls High School during crucial football, basketball, and baseball games. Hanover Park High School is Parsippany Hills' rival in wrestling.

The boys cross country running team won the Group IV state championship in 1972 (as co-champion) and won the Group III title in 1974.[27]

The softball team won the Group III state title in 1981 and 1982, defeating Cherokee High School both years in the final game of the playoff tournament.[28] The 1981 team finished the season with a 27–0 record after winning the Group III title with a 4–2 win against Cherokee in the playoff finals.[29] The 1982 team won the program's second consecutive Group III championship with a 3-1 one-hitter at Mercer County Park against Cherokee to finish the season 22–1.[30] NJ.com / The Star-Ledger ranked Parsippany Hills as their number-one softball team in the state in both 1981 and 1982.[31]

The boys swimming team won the Division B state championship in 1983.[32]

The ice hockey team won the Haas Cup in 2002.[33]

The 2007 boys' soccer team won the North II, Group III state sectional championship. In the semi-finals the team defeated heavy favorite Millburn High School by a score of 4–0 in Millburn to advance to the championship round. Then the team defeated West Morris Mendham High School with a 2–1 overtime win over to win the championship.[34]

In 2007, the competition cheerleading squad captured the American National Championship in a competition in Baltimore, Maryland.[citation needed]

The football team won the North II Group III state championship in 2014 and 2019.[35] After four losses in the championship game of a sectional round, the 2014 team defeated Cranford High School by a score of 20–13 in the tournament final to win the school's first sectional title.[36][37] The team won the 2019 North II Group III title with a 28–21 win against West Essex High School in the playoff final.[38]

The girls' soccer team won the Group II state sectional championship in 2016 (defeating Haddonfield Memorial High School in the finals) and 2019 (vs. Wall High School).[39] The team beat Haddonfield by a score of 1–0 in the 2016 championship game, earning the program's first state title.[40] The 2019 team finished the season with a 16-6-4 record after winning the Group II title with a 1–0 win against Wall High School on a goal scored late in the second overtime period of the championship game played at Kean University.[41]

Parsippany Hills does not support random drug testing of participants in extracurricular activities.[42]

Extracurricular activities

[edit]

Parsippany Hills offers many after-school activities, from Academic Decathlon, Junior State of America, FCCLA, DECA, Key Club, Habitat for Humanity to FBLA, along with a steering committee for each grade, which functions as a smaller student council for that grade along with two faculty advisors. Other clubs include the Peerleaders' Activities Council, Animal Lovers Club, Garden Club, Math Team, ERASE Club and the Yearbook Club (Aegis). Parsippany Hills also has National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and International Thespian Society chapters.[43]

Administration

[edit]

The school's principal is Matt Thompson. His core administration team includes three assistant principals.[1]

Notable alumni

[edit]
See also: Category:Parsippany Hills High School alumni

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Contact Staff, Parsippany Hills High School. Accessed November 29, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e School data for Parsippany Hills High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Co-Curricular Activities, Parsippany Hills High School. Accessed May 30, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d Parsippany Hills High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  5. ^ "Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Parsippany Hills High School". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  6. ^ Stoddard, Mike. "School Referendum Due", Herald News, March 21, 1969. Accessed May 31, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Last year marked the first time in a 10-year period that the voters were not asked to approve any new schools. The previous referendum passed by the voters in 1967 approved the building of Parsippany Hills High School and additions to several other school buildings."
  7. ^ "Parsippany Hills Name Of Second High School",The News, February 19, 1969. Accessed May 31, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The Board of Education announced Feb. 17 that the name for the township's second high school will be Parsippany Hills High School. The board explained that it had received 28 name suggestions for the school. The township's other high school will be called Parsippany High School. It had been previously; planned to call them Parsippany High School East and West."
  8. ^ Maclean, Allan. "Parsippany Hills Awaits First Day", Herald News, August 25, 1969. Accessed May 31, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "When Parsippany Hills High School, the townships second, opens Sept. 4, students are advised to bring their lunches but not' their cars. The 1,800 pupil high schools classrooms will be largely ready for use, but some of the other facilities, including the cafeteria kitchen and the auditorium, wont be quite finished.... During last week's good weather, workmen started laying sidewalks and blacktop outside the nearly finished $4.75 million building, located at the end of Rita Drive, off Littleton Road.... Each high school will open with about 1,200 students, according to Oldham. Parsippany High has a capacity of approximately 1,450; Parsippany Hills has a capacity of 1,800."
  9. ^ "Parsippany Lists School Attendance Areas",Herald News, March 28, 1969. Accessed May 31, 2022. "All 12th grade students will also attend Parsippany High School, no matter where they live, so that seniors may graduate from the high school they started at. The new Parsippany-Hills High School will service grades 9-11 from the south side of Route 46. Also, those students in grades 9-11 from the Intervale area will attend Parsippany Hills High School. There will be no 12th grade students in Parsippany Hills High School for the 1969-70 school year."
  10. ^ Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
  11. ^ Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed August 26, 2012.
  12. ^ Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed February 2, 2011.
  13. ^ a b c "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
  14. ^ New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2010-2011, Schooldigger.com. Accessed March 5, 2012.
  15. ^ Student Course Selection Bulletin 2007-2008, Parsippany-Troy Hills School District, January 2007.[dead link‍]
  16. ^ Marking Period Schedule Parsippany Hills marking period schedule for the 2008-2009 school year
  17. ^ Cahill, Frank L. "PHHS students artwork on display at library", Parsippany Focus, May 11, 2018. Accessed February 10, 2022. "The PHHS Art Department offers a diverse range of classes to students allowing them to explore many different media and grow as young artists. Classes offered are AP Studio Art, Honors Art Portfolio, Painting, Drawing, Multi Art, Digital Photography, Graphic Design, Animation, Ceramics, and Advanced Ceramics."
  18. ^ "Parsippany Hills Marching Band is number one", Parsippany Life, November 5, 2008. Accessed February 10, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The Parsippany Hills High School Marching Band won first place in the United States Scholastic Band Association's Group 2A New Jersey States Championship on Oct. 26, at Washington Township High School, in Sewell.... The Band finished out their undefeated season as they battled the best bands from the northeastern part of United States on Nov. 2 at The Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, PA."
  19. ^ 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."
  20. ^ League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  21. ^ Home Page, Iron Hills Conference, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 2, 2011. Accessed December 3, 2014.
  22. ^ NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  23. ^ 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."
  24. ^ 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."
  25. ^ NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
  26. ^ NJSIAA Winter Cooperative Sports Programs, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
  27. ^ NJSIAA Boys Cross Country State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  28. ^ Softball Championship History 1972–2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated July 2023. Accessed April 1, 2024.
  29. ^ Gramlich, Barry. "It's Parsippany Hills", Herald News, June 7, 1981. Accessed January 4, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Ferrieri, the junior fireballer of Parsippany Hills, twirled a four-hitter as the Vikings captured the state Group 3 softball crown from Cherokee, 4-2, at- Mercer County Park Saturday. Parsippany Hills concluded its season with a perfect 27-0 ledger."
  30. ^ Bovoso, Vikki. "Unhappy history repeats for Cherokee", Courier-Post, June 10, 1982. Accessed December 23, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "The edge went to Ferrieri once again this season as she pitched a one-hitter to lead Parsippany Hills over Cherokee, 3-1, for a second consecutive New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association crown at Mercer County Park."
  31. ^ "Softball: Every No. 1 team in the state from 1979 to 2015", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 21, 2015, updated August 24, 2019. Accessed January 4, 2021. "Following are the teams that finished as the NJ.com No. 1 softball team in the state with year and record.... 1982: Parsippany Hills (22-1) 1981: Parsippany Hills (27-0)"
  32. ^ NJSIAA Boys and Girls Swimming History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  33. ^ NJSIAA Ice Hockey State Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  34. ^ 2007 Boys Soccer - North II, Group III, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 13, 2007.
  35. ^ NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  36. ^ Hague, Jim. "Parsippany Hills football claims first state crown", Daily Record, December 7, 2014. Accessed January 13, 2017. "There were four previous trips to the NJSIAA state championship football game and all four times, Parsippany Hills head coach Dave Albano came up empty.... So when Albano's Vikings held a 20-13 lead in the closing seconds in Sunday's NJSIAA North 2, Group III title game against Cranford, the coach was on the sidelines, on one knee, rubbing his hands across his face and eyes.... Hill successfully defended two passes in the final 35 seconds, including one at the goal line with just six seconds remaining, enabling the Vikings to hang on to the 20-13 victory and giving Albano and the school their first-ever state title in the process."
  37. ^ Kratch, James. "2014 football finals: Parsippany Hills halts Cranford's comeback drive to capture North 2 Group 3 title", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 7, 2014. Accessed December 7, 2014. "Cranford came within seven yards of a game-tying drive but Parsippany Hills' defense rose to the occasion with a stand at 7-yard line to preserve a 20-13 victory in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 final Saturday at MetLife Stadium."
  38. ^ Cohen, Todd. "Parsippany Hills football tops West Essex for sectional title", Daily Record, November 22, 2019. Accessed September 15, 2020. "Following a pair of special-teams miscues by West Essex, Parsippany Hills took advantage with two touchdowns. The Vikings went on to record 21-straight points, power past the Knights 38-21, and capture the North 2 Group III title Friday night."
  39. ^ NJSIAA History of Girls Soccer, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  40. ^ Havsy, Jane. "Parsippany Hills girls soccer makes history", Daily Record, November 19, 2016. Accessed June 18, 2018. "That was the only goal the Vikings would need to defeat Haddonfield, 1-0, and wrap up an improbable Group II championship on Sunday. It is the first soccer title in Parsippany Hills history, a Cinderella story come true."
  41. ^ Christie, Sherlon. "NJ Girls Soccer: Parsippany Hills’ counterattack generates game-winning goal versus Wall", Asbury Park Press, November 16, 2019. Accessed January 31, 2021. "Parsippany Hills junior Nerina San Martin fueled a powerful counter attack when she sprung free and played a give-and-go with teammate Sophia Vicenzino in the NJSIAA Group II final. San Martin finished off the play with the game-winning goal for 1-0 win over Wall in double overtime at Kean University's Alumni Stadium on Saturday evening.... It was only the Vikings’ (16-6-4) second shot in the two overtime periods their eighth of the game."
  42. ^ Jennings, Rob. "Parsippany principals object to drug testing: Administrators argue move could create a culture of 'distrust'", Daily Record, August 3, 2007. Accessed August 3, 2007. "The principals of both township public high schools said Thursday night they opposed random drug testing at a school board meeting convened to study the issue."
  43. ^ Parsippany Hills High School Clubs, Parsippany-Troy Hills School District. Accessed August 19, 2007.
  44. ^ UMass Profile for R.J. Cobbs. Accessed January 9, 2007.
  45. ^ Osby, Liv. "Fellowship offers river of travel", Daily Record, August 23, 1992. Accessed September 8, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "After living four years on a college campus, Morris Plains native Darron Collins will spend the next 12 months in an outdoor classroom, studying the rivers of Chile, Egypt and New Zealand.... Collins, 22, is a 1988 graduate of Parsippany Hills High School who completed his studies last spring at the College of the Atlantic, a small school in Bar Harbor, Me."
  46. ^ Havsy, Jane. "Parsippany Hills grad earns victory in pro jiu-jitsu debut", Daily Record, May 9, 2015. Accessed November 29, 2022. "Danis is very accustomed to being misunderstood. He started training in jiu-jitsu when he was just 15 years old, a teenager who 'couldn't do one pushup' grappling with grown men. He got into wrestling at Parsippany Hills at about the same time, after head coach Jason Lodato recruited him out of a freshman history class."
  47. ^ Havsy, Jane. "Morris Plains made, #TempleTUFF Michael Dogbe selected in NFL Draft", Daily Record, April 25, 2019. Accessed July 19, 2019. "Now Dogbe, a Parsippany Hills and Temple alumnus, could follow Wilkerson into the National Football League too."
  48. ^ "Classroom a thrill for teacher"[dead link‍], Daily Record, November 9, 2004.
  49. ^ "Orsulak Signs With Marlins - Next Targets: Cone, McDowell", The Record, December 6, 1995. Accessed August 2, 2007. "Orsulak, a Parsippany Hills High School graduate, signed a two-year deal worth $1.275 million and is expected to strengthen the Marlins' bench."
  50. ^ Greenidge, Jim; and Griffith, Bill. "Singleton's number up: Former top pick waived", Boston Globe, November 3, 1993. Accessed February 23, 2011. "Singleton and his twin brother, Kevin, were the best players on their Parsippany Hills, NJ, high school team as they formed a backfield that rushed for more than 2,300 yards their senior year."
  51. ^ Cahill, Frank L. "UmaSofia Srivastava Will Compete in Miss Teen USA Pageant", Parsippany Focus, April 28, 2023. Accessed October 28, 2024. "UmaSofia Srivastava, 15, of Parsippany, is a high school sophomore at the Academy of St. Elizabeth. She attended Mt. Tabor Elementary School, Brooklawn Middle School, and her freshman year at Parsippany Hills High School."
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