Nottingham High School (New Jersey)

High school in Mercer County, New Jersey, US

Nottingham High School

Nottingham High School Northstars

Address

1055 Klockner Road

Hamilton Township, New Jersey

(Mercer County)

08619

United States

Coordinates| 40°13′47″N 74°42′31″W﻿ / ﻿40.2298°N 74.7086°W﻿ / 40.2298; -74.7086
Information
Other names| Hamilton High School North
Type| Public high school
Motto| Ad Astra Per Aspera
School district| Hamilton Township School District
NCES School ID| 340654005933[1]
Principal| Frank Ragazzo
Faculty| 85.0 FTEs[1]
Grades| 9-12
Enrollment| 1,086 (as of 2023–24)[1]
Student to teacher ratio| 12.8:1[1]
Color(s)|

Navy blue and gold[2]
Athletics| Football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, cross country, field hockey, ice hockey, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, lacrosse
Athletics conference|

* Colonial Valley Conference (general)
* West Jersey Football League (football)

Mascot| Polaris
Team name| Northstars[2]
Publication| Caelestis (literary magazine)[3]
Newspaper| Star Status[3]
Website| hhn.htsdnj.org

Nottingham High School (also formally known as Hamilton High School North) is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades located in Hamilton Township, in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as one of the three secondary schools of the Hamilton Township School District; the other high schools in the district are Hamilton High School West and Steinert High School (Hamilton High School East).[4]

As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,086 students and 85.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.8:1. There were 452 students (41.6% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 141 (13.0% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]

## Awards, recognition and rankings

[edit]

Nottingham High School was the recipient of U.S. News & World Report's Bronze recognition for America's Best High Schools in both 2017 and 2018. Nottingham received an overall Niche grade of a B+ and was ranked as the seventh most diverse public high school in New Jersey. This school was the 231st-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.[5] The school had been ranked 276th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 264th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[6] The magazine ranked the school 260th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[7] The school was ranked 246th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[8]

## Athletics

[edit]

The Nottingham High School Northstars[2] compete in the Colonial Valley Conference, which operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.[9] With 898 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.[10] The football team competes in the Capitol Division of the 94-team West Jersey Football League superconference[11][12] and was classified by the NJSIAA as Group III South for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 695 to 882 students.[13]

The school participates as the host school / lead agency for a joint ice hockey team with Hamilton High School West and Steinert High School. The co-op program operates under agreements scheduled to expire at the end of the 2023–24 school year.[14]

Nottingham's wrestling team is referred as the Northstars. The Nottingham boys' swimming team had been to the NJSIAA state tournament for seven consecutive years from 2000 to 2006. The boys' baseball team won the 2008 Mercer County Tournament beating Notre Dame. The 2009 girls' spring track team was the first in Nottingham history to participate in the Penn Relays. The 2011 Nottingham boys track team was the first ever team in Nottingham history to go undefeated, winning the Mercer County Tournament and the Central Jersey Group III sectional championships.

The girls' softball team won the Group III state championship in 1987 (defeating runner-up West Morris Mendham High School in the tournament final) and 1990 (vs. Morris Hills High School).[15] The 1987 team won the Group III title by a score of 2–1 against West Morris Mendham in the championship game.[16] The 1990 team finished the season with a 24–3 record after a 6–4 victory against Morris Hills in the playoff finals.[17][18]

Nottingham's 2012 football team won the Central Jersey Group III state championship game after defeating Neptune High School by a final score of 35–24 in a game played at The College of New Jersey. The team finished with a record of 11–1, earning the program's first state title and becoming the first Mercer County team since 1989 to win a football championship.[19][20]

In 2018, the boys' basketball team defeated Chatham High School by a score of 60–53 in the tournament final at Rutgers University to win the school's first ever Group III state championship for basketball.[21][22]

The boys indoor / winter track team won the Group III state championship in 2020.[23]

Fall  | Coach  | Winter  | Coach  | Spring  | Coach

|
|
|
|
|

Football  | Milo McGuire  | Girls' Basketball  | Kyle James  | Girls' Spring Track  | Andrew Parsons
Girls' Soccer  | Nicole Sullivan  | Boys' Basketball  | Chris Raba  | Boys' Spring Track  | Robert Harris
Boys' Soccer  | Nicholas Durante  | Baseball  | Charles Iacono  | Field Hockey  | Jessica Mull
Ice Hockey  | Alexdru Chis-luca  | Softball  | Lindsey Diamond  | Cheerleading  | Sunny Longo
Golf  | Kyle Seeley  | Marching Unit  | Jennifer Klek
Girls' Tennis  | Kristen Dunham  | Wrestling  | Dennis Dressel  | Boys' Tennis  | Jessica Belmont
Cross Country  | Andrew Parsons  | Girls' Swimming  | Andrew Parsons  | Athletic Trainer | Samantha Quinnette
Debate  | Christopher Cymbal  | Boys' Swimming  | Bryan Emmerson  | Dance Team | Megan McDermott
Boys' Lacrosse  | Jerry Lynch  | Girls' Lacrosse  | Nicole Sullivan  | Step Team | Jennifer Tammaro

## Courses

[edit]

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Nottingham offers Advanced Placement program (AP) courses in AP United States History, AP European History, AP Computer Science, AP Biology, AP Psychology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP French, AP Spanish, AP English Literature and Composition, and AP United States Government.

There is a FIRST Robotics Competition team available. (TEAM 2191)

## Performances

[edit]

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The school has one core show every year, the Spring Musical.

Previous musicals include Damn Yankees (2011), High School Musical (2010) and Footloose (2009).

## Administration

[edit]

The school's principal is Frank Ragazzo. His core administration team includes three vice principals and the athletic director.[24]

## Notable alumni

[edit]

* Saquan Hampton (born 1995, class of 2014), American football safety who played in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints[25]
* Tyler Kliem (born 2002, class of 2020), Yiddishist, translator and researcher[26]
* Zack Mesday (born 1994, class of 2013), American football free agent defensive end/linebacker who played college football for Temple University[27]

## Sister schools

[edit]

The two other high schools in the district (with 2023–24 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[28]) are:[29]

* Hamilton High School West[30] (also known as Watson; 1,427 students)
* Steinert High School[31] (East; 1,454)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e School data for Hamilton North - Nottingham, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.
2. ^ a b c Hamilton High School North, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
3. ^ a b 2021 Student Handbook, Nottingham High School. Accessed May 19, 2022.
4. ^ About Our District, Hamilton Township School District. Accessed December 19, 2024. "HTSD is comprised of a diverse group of 12,000 students. There are 23 schools; 3 high schools, 3 middle schools, 17 elementary schools, and 1 special education alternative program for middle/high school students."
5. ^ Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
6. ^ Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed November 14, 2012.
7. ^ Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed March 6, 2011.
8. ^ "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
9. ^ League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
10. ^ NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
11. ^ Nottingham Northstars, West Jersey Football League. Accessed May 1, 2023.
12. ^ 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."
13. ^ NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
14. ^ NJSIAA Winter Cooperative Sports Programs, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
15. ^ Softball Championship History 1972–2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated July 2023. Accessed April 1, 2024.
16. ^ Tatum, Kevin. "Florence Girls Take First Title; Delsea Falls", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 7, 1987. Accessed September 30, 2015. "In the other state finals, Hamilton North beat Mendham, 2-1, in Group 3, and Edison took the Group 4 title by beating Belleville, 8-0."
17. ^ Seegers, Sandy. "No regrets for Moris Hills girls", Daily Record, June 3, 1990. Accessed January 27, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The Morris Hills softball team had no regrets following its 6-4 loss to Hamilton North in the Group III final yesterday.... They looked like the favorite against 24-3 Hamilton North, taking a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth inning."
18. ^ 1990 NJ State Champions Softball Team, Northstar Hall of Fame. Accessed September 30, 2015. "A 6-4 victory over Morris Hills earned the team the New Jersey State Group III title."
19. ^ Behre, Bob. "'Star Power: Nottingham High football wins program's first state title", The Times, December 8, 2012. Accessed October 18, 2013. "Nottingham unleashed those weapons and, appropriately, came up with a number of big stops in the second half when it wrested control of the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group III championship game yesterday at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. Senior quarterback Luke Westerberg was efficient and deadly, going 9-for-12 passing with 218 yards and two long touchdowns and he ran for another score as second-seeded Nottingham defeated fourth-seeded Neptune, 35-24, in front of a roaring and packed Lions Stadium."
20. ^ NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
21. ^ Johnson, Greg. "Nottingham boys basketball captures first state title in school history", The Trentonian, March 11, 2018. Accessed February 3, 2020. "The finality of the first state championship in school history Sunday night at Rutgers University evoked all the surreal feelings that come with lifting a community’s spirits in a way never before. Senior Cliff Joseph heaved the ball into the air underhanded, twirled and rushed to celebrate in a mob at midcourt with his teammates as the final seconds ticked in Nottingham’s 60-53 win over Chatham in the Group III final."
22. ^ NJSIAA Boys Basketball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 1, 2020.
23. ^ Boys Winter Track and Field Championship History: 1922-2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated November 2023. Accessed February 1, 2024.
24. ^ Administration, Nottingham High School. Accessed December 19, 2024.
25. ^ Edelstein, Jeff. "Saquan Hamptom, Nottingham grad, readies for NFL draft with his right-hand (also Nottingham!) man", The Trentonian, December 17, 2018. Accessed January 26, 2020. "Saquan Hampton is a 2014 football-playing graduate of Nottingham High School, went on to become one of the nation’s top free safeties during his career at Rutgers, and he’s a near-sure thing to be drafted by an NFL team this April."
26. ^ "Nottingham High School’s Top 10 of the Class of 2020", Community News, July 2, 2020, updated January 11, 2022. Accessed August 3, 2023.
27. ^ Fisher, Rich. "Former Nottingham grad trying to make it to the NFL ... the hard way", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, January 11, 2021. Accessed May 8, 2023. "If anyone knows how to do things the hard way, it’s Zack Mesday.... It was announced on Monday that the 2013 Nottingham High graduate has signed to play linebacker and fullback with the Trenton-based Jersey Flight, a new entry in the National Arena League."
28. ^ School data for the Hamilton Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.
29. ^ School Performance Reports for the Hamilton Township Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.
30. ^ Hamilton High School West, Hamilton Township School District. Accessed December 19, 2024.
31. ^ Steinert - Hamilton High East, Hamilton Township School District. Accessed December 19, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Nottingham High School
* Hamilton Township Public Schools
* School Performance Report for Hamilton North High School - Nottingham, New Jersey Department of Education
* Data for the Hamilton Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics

* v
* t
* e

Public and private high schools of Mercer County, New Jersey

Public|

* Daylight/Twilight
* Ewing
* Hamilton East-Steinert
* Hamilton North-Nottingham
* Hamilton West-Hamilton
* Hightstown
* Hopewell Valley
* Katzenbach School for the Deaf
* Lawrence
* Princeton
* Robbinsville
* Trenton Central
* Trenton West
* West Windsor-Plainsboro South

Private|

* Al-Bayaan/Islamic School of Trenton
* Hun
* Lawrenceville
* Lewis School
* Notre Dame
* Peddie
* Pennington
* Princeton Day
* Princeton International School of Mathematics and Science
* Stuart
* Trenton Catholic
* Wilberforce

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

Colonial Valley Conference (NJSIAA)

Colonial Division|

* Hamilton
* Hightstown
* Lawrence
* Nottingham
* Steinert
* Trenton Central
* West Windsor-Plainsboro South

Valley Division|

* Allentown
* Ewing
* Hopewell Valley Central
* Notre Dame
* Princeton
* Robbinsville
* West Windsor-Plainsboro North

* 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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