University High School (New Jersey)

High school in Essex County, New Jersey, US

University High School of Humanities

Address

55 Clinton Place

Newark

Essex County

New Jersey

07108

United States

Coordinates| 40°43′16″N 74°12′39″W﻿ / ﻿40.72104°N 74.210697°W﻿ / 40.72104; -74.210697
Information
Type| Public high school
Established| 1977; 48 years ago (1977)
School district| Newark Public Schools
NCES School ID| 341134002202[1]
Principal| Genique Flournoy-Hamilton
Faculty| 40.0 FTEs[1]
Grades| 7 \- 12
Enrollment| 447 (as of 2023–24)[1]
Student to teacher ratio| 11.2:1[1]
Color(s)|   Burgundy and
Silver[2]
Athletics conference| Super Essex Conference
Team name| Phoenix[2]
Newspaper| Phoenix Flame
Website| www.nps.k12.nj.us/UNI

University High School of Humanities (usually University High School) is a six-year public high school serving students in seventh through twelfth grades in Newark, in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, as part of the Newark Public Schools.

Originally created as a program called "School Within a School" at Malcolm X Shabazz High School, University High School became a standalone school in 1977. It moved into the old Clinton Place Junior High building in 1982.[3]

As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 447 students and 40.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.2:1. There were 334 students (74.7% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 39 (8.7% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]

## Awards, recognition and rankings

[edit]

The school was the 237th-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.[4] The school had been ranked 171st in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 131st in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[5] The magazine ranked the school 66th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[6] The school was ranked 146th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state.[7] Schooldigger.com ranked the school tied for 55th out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (an increase of 27 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (91.6%) and language arts literacy (97.2%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[8]

In 2011, University High School seniors won the National Urban Debate Championship, a three-day tournament with over 7,000 students from 38 schools in 19 cities participating.[9]

## Athletics

[edit]

The University High School Phoenix[2] compete in the Super Essex Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Essex County and was established following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[10] Prior to the NJSIAA's realignment in 2010, the school had competed in the Colonial Division of the Colonial Hills Conference, which included public and private high schools in Essex, Morris and Somerset counties.[11] With 381 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group I for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 75 to 476 students in that grade range.[12]

In 1989, the boys' track team, led by senior Darrell Davis, won the North II, Group I state sectional championships. Davis was the 1988 and 1989 Group I sectional winner in the 100 m and 200 m races as well as the All Group I 100 m champion.[citation needed]

The girls' basketball team won the Group I state championship in 2007 (vs. Palmyra High School), 2008 (vs. Wildwood High School), 2016 (vs. Bound Brook High School), 2018 (vs. Bound Brook), 2019 (vs. Bound Brook), 2022 (vs. Shore Regional High School), 2023 (vs. Shore Regional) and 2024 (vs. Shore Regional). The program's eight state titles are tied for sixth-most in the state.[13] The team won the North II, Group I state sectional championship in 2007 with a 66–50 win over Bloomfield Tech High School[14] and moved on to win the Group I state championship, defeating Palmyra High School by a score of 80–55 for the title.[15] The team made it to the 2007 Tournament of Champions, defeating Willingboro High School, 71–58, in the first round, Trenton Catholic Academy, 61–51, in the semis and Trenton Central High School, 68–62, in the finals to win the tournament.[16][17] The 2016 beat Bound Brook by a score of 81-55 in the Group I playoff finals at the Pine Belt Arena[18] and as the sixth seed in the Tournament of Champions lost in the quarterfinals round to third-seeded Manasquan High School by 57-49, despite leading by seven points in the last five minutes of the game.[17][19] In 2019, the team faced Bound Brook in the Group I state championship game for the fourth consecutive year and won the title with a 41–20 win, their third championship in the four match-ups between the two teams,[20] and entered the Tournament of Champions seeded fifth before losing in the first round to by a score of 61-45 to a St. Rose High School team that was ranked fourth.[17][21]

The boys' basketball team won the Group I state championship in 2009 (defeating Asbury Park High School in the playoff finals) and 2010 (vs. Woodbury Junior-Senior High School) and 2016(vs. Paulsboro High School).[22] The team won the Group I title in 2016 with a 63–45 win against Paulsboro.[23]

## Academics

[edit]

University High School is a college preparatory institution, where students can pick from three academies; Law, Teaching, or Fields of Humanities to specialize in and complete courses based on their choices, though students are free to specialize in the major of their choice.

## Administration

[edit]

The school's principal is Genique Flournoy-Hamilton.[24] Her core administration team includes two vice principals.[25]

## Notable alumni

[edit]

See also: Category:University High School (New Jersey) alumni

* Ras Baraka (born 1970), Mayor of Newark[26]
* Niobia Bryant (born 1972), author, also writes urban fiction as Meesha Mink[27]
* Faith Evans (born 1973), R&B singer[28]
* Nadirah McKenith (born 1991), professional basketball player who has played in WNBA for the Washington Mystics and Minnesota Lynx[29]
* Laurin Mincy (born 1992), professional basketball player[30]
* Brittney Sykes (born 1994), basketball guard with the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association[31]
* The Three Doctors, a group of African-American motivational speakers, authors, and doctors that includes Dr. Rameck Hunt, Dr. Sampson Davis and Dr. George Jenkins[32]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e School data for University High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.
2. ^ a b c University High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
3. ^ Our School, University High School. Accessed December 17, 2021.
4. ^ Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
5. ^ Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed September 20, 2012.
6. ^ Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed March 30, 2011.
7. ^ "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
8. ^ New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2010-2011[permanent dead link], Schooldigger.com. Accessed February 27, 2012.
9. ^ Giambusso, David. "No debating this: Newark students win national debate championship", The Star-Ledger, May 20, 2011. Accessed September 11, 2014.
10. ^ League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
11. ^ Home Page, Colonial Hills Conference, backed up by the Internet Archive, as of November 19, 2010. Accessed December 15, 2014.
12. ^ NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
13. ^ Girls Basketball Championship History: 1919–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated March 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
14. ^ 2007 Girls Basketball - North II, Group I, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 10, 2007.
15. ^ 2007 Girls Basketball - Public Group Semis/Finals, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, May 9, 2007.
16. ^ 2007 Girls Basketball - Tournament of Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed July 10, 2007.
17. ^ a b c NJSIAA Girls Basketball Tournament of Champions History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
18. ^ Ryan, Chris. "University rolls past Bound Brook for Group 1 title: Stars of the game and rapid reaction", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 13, 2016, updated August 24, 2019. Accessed February 24, 2021. "University erupted for a 81-55 win over Bound Brook in the Group 1 final, giving the Newark school its third state title in program history. Here are the game's top performers, plus other rapid reaction from Pine Belt Arena in Toms River."
19. ^ Ryan, Chris. "Mabrey powers late rally to push Manasquan past University in T of C first round", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 16, 2016, updated August 24, 2019. Accessed February 24, 2021. "Manasquan found itself behind the eight-ball, trailing by seven points with less than five minutes to play. But Dara Mabrey came through to keep the season alive. Mabrey scored 10 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:35 to play, fueling a 15-0 run to close the game and capping her 22-point effort to power third-seeded Manasquan, No. 3 in the NJ.com Top 20, to a 57-49 comeback win over sixth-seeded University in the first round of the NJSIAA/ShopRite Tournament of Champions on Wednesday at Pine Belt Arena in Toms River."
20. ^ Gould, Brandon. "No. 11 University girls basketball goes back to back, wins Group 1 championship", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 10, 2019, updated August 22, 2019. Accessed November 2, 2020. "That was on display in a 40-21 victory over No. 20 Bound Brook on Sunday at RWJ Barnabas Health Arena in Toms River. The win gave University its third Group 1 title in the last four years and all of those championships have been secured with a win against Bound Brook."
21. ^ Gould, Brandon. "No. 11 University falls to No. 4 St. Rose, looks for next step in TOC", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 12, 2019, updated August 22, 2019. Accessed February 24, 2021. "The Phoenix are the aggressor in most games and that intensity carried University, No. 11 in the NJ.com Top 20, to the Tournament of Champions for the third time in four years. But on Tuesday night in Toms River, University ran into another heavyweight and got a taste of its own medicine against No. 4 St. Rose. St. Rose went on a 14-0 run in the first half that gave it the advantage throughout a 61-45 win over University in the first round of the Tournament of Champions."
22. ^ NJSIAA Boys Basketball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022.
23. ^ Silva, Matt."Boys' Basketball: Paulsboro falls in Group 1 final", Courier-Post, March 14, 2016. Accessed November 2, 2020. "The Paulsboro High School boys’ basketball team had arrived to the same destination, the Group 1 state championship game, once again facing University at Rutgers. Unfortunately for the Red Raiders, it was a losing effort, a 63-45 decision on Sunday. However, Paulsboro could look back fondly of the journey that led them to the final after losing a strong core of players to graduation."
24. ^ "Superintendent León Appoints 15 New Principals to Lead Newark Schools", Newark Public Schools, posted August 2, 2019. Accessed December 22, 2024.
25. ^ Administration, University High School. Accessed December 22, 2024.
26. ^ Bonamo, Mark. "Newark mayor's race candidate profile: Ras Baraka", PolitickerNJ, May 8, 2014. Accessed September 11, 2014. "'I went to University High School and Howard University.'"
27. ^ Cutler, Jacqueline. "A conversation with Niobia Bryant", NJ.com, August 31, 2014. Accessed September 11, 2014. "'I went to University High. I wasn't one of the top. I was floating in the middle, doing just enough to get by.'"
28. ^ Wilson Wesley, Valerie. "Faith's healing - Faith Evans, singer, mother and widow of rapper Notorious B.I.G - Cover Story - Interview", Essence, December 1997. Accessed July 10, 2007. "While attending University High School in Newark, she sang with the chorus and jazz bands and, encouraged by Helene, entered outside pageants, festivals and contests, where her voice would be noticed and praised."
29. ^ McCullough, Andy. "Newark's Nadirah McKenith leads rising St. John's women's basketball program", The Star-Ledger, February 24, 2010. Accessed September 1, 2017. "Nadirah McKenith bounced in a black leather chair inside a conference room on the second floor of Taffner Fieldhouse, the basketball complex on St. John's campus in Queens.... 'We can get out and go,' said McKenith, a graduate of University High in Newark."
30. ^ Lerner, Gregg. "Laurin Mincy of University is State Player of the Year", NJ.com, April 5, 2009. Accessed September 11, 2017. "Carol Nixon-Mincy's words hit home for Laurin, who plays every game for University High of Newark as if it were her last."
31. ^ Brittney Sykes, Syracuse Orange women's basketball. Accessed May 6, 2017. "Played four years at University High School for Coach Felicia M. Oliver"
32. ^ Sampson Davis, MD, The Three Doctors. Accessed September 20, 2012. "While attending University High School in Newark, Dr. Davis met Dr. Rameck Hunt and Dr. George Jenkins, two fellow students who, together, drastically altered the course of one another's lives."

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Newark Public Schools
* School Performance Report for University High School, New Jersey Department of Education

* v
* t
* e

City of Newark

Neighborhoods|

| North Ward|

* Broadway
* Forest Hill
* Mount Pleasant
* Roseville
* Seventh Avenue
* Woodside

|

South Ward|

* Clinton Hill
* Dayton
* Port Newark
* South Broad Valley
* Weequahic

Central Ward|

* Chinatown
* Downtown
* Four Corners
* Government Center
* Lincoln Park/The Coast
* Springfield/Belmont
* University Heights
* Teachers Village

East Ward|

* Five Corners
* The Ironbound

West Ward|

* Fairmount
* Ivy Hill
* Vailsburg
* West Side

Transportation|

* NJ Transit (Broad Street Station, Pennsylvania Station, Newark Light Rail)
* Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Newark Liberty International Airport (AirTrain Newark), PATH, Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal)
* Jackson Street Bridge

Education|

| Newark Public Schools|

* Newark Arts HS
* American History HS
* Barringer HS
* Bard HS Early College
* Central HS
* Eagle Academy for Young Men
* East Side HS
* Girls' Academy
* Malcolm X Shabazz HS (former South Side HS)
* Newark Vocational HS
* Science Park HS
* Technology HS
* University HS
* Weequahic HS
* West Side HS

|

Charter school|

* Newark Collegiate Academy

Private schools|

* St. Benedict's Preparatory School (Catholic)
* Saint Vincent Academy (Catholic)

| Closed|

* Christ the King Prep. (Cristo Rey Newark HS)
* Our Lady of Good Counsel HS

|

Tertiary/Misc.|

* Essex County College
* New Jersey Institute of Technology
* Pillar College
* Rutgers University–Newark
* Seton Hall University School of Law
* Newark Public Library

Government|

* Essex County Government Complex
* Government Center
* Mayor of Newark
* Municipal Council of Newark
* Newark Police Department

History|

* Timeline
* List of people from Newark, New Jersey

Parks and Landmarks|

* Branch Brook Park
* Military Park
* The Newark Museum of Art
* Newark Riverfront Park
* New Jersey Historical Society
* New Jersey Performing Arts Center
* Prudential Center (New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall Pirates)
* Riverbank Park
* Weequahic Park
* Public art
* Tallest buildings

Media|

* The Star-Ledger
* WBGO

Religion|

* Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark
* Pro-Cathedral of Saint Patrick in Newark
* St. Stephan's Church

* v
* t
* e

Public and private high schools of Essex County, New Jersey

Public|

* American History
* Bard Early College
* Barringer
* Belleville
* Bloomfield
* Bloomfield Tech
* James Caldwell
* Cedar Grove
* Central
* Columbia
* East Orange Campus
* East Orange STEM Academy
* East Side
* Glen Ridge
* Irvington
* Livingston
* Millburn
* Montclair
* Newark Arts
* Newark Collegiate
* Newark Early College
* Newark Tech
* Newark Vocational
* North 13th Street Tech
* North Star Academy
* Nutley
* Orange
* Science Park
* Shabazz
* Technology
* Cicely Tyson Performing Arts
* University
* Verona
* Weequahic
* West Caldwell Tech
* West Essex
* West Orange
* West Side

Private|

* Ahlus Sunnah
* Christ the King Prep
* Immaculate Conception
* Kushner
* Lacordaire Academy
* Marylawn of the Oranges
* Montclair Kimberley
* Mount Saint Dominic
* Newark Academy
* Golda Och Academy
* St. Benedict's Prep
* St. Vincent Academy
* Seton Hall Prep

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

Super Essex Conference (NJSIAA)

* Newark Arts Jaguars
* Barringer Blue Bears
* Belleville Buccaneers
* Bloomfield Bengals
* Bloomfield Tech Spartans
* Cedar Grove Panthers
* Central Blue Devils
* Christ the King Knights
* Columbia Cougars
* East Orange Jaguars
* East Side Red Raiders
* Glen Ridge Ridgers
* Golda Och Roadrunners
* Immaculate Conception Lions
* Irvington Blue Knights
* James Caldwell Chiefs
* Livingston Lancers
* Malcolm X Shabazz Bulldogs
* Marylawn Knights
* Millburn Millers
* Montclair Mounties
* Montclair Kimberley Academy Cougars
* Mount Saint Dominic Lady Lions
* Newark Academy Minutemen
* Newark Collegiate Academy Panthers
* Newark Tech Terriers
* North 13th Street Tech Cougars
* Nutley Maroon Raiders
* Orange Tornadoes
* Saint Vincent Academy Panthers
* Science Park Chargers
* Seton Hall Prep Pirates
* Newark Tech Panthers
* University High Phoenix
* Verona Hillbillies
* Weequahic Indians
* West Essex Knights
* West Orange Mountaineers
* West Side Roughriders

Authority control databases: Geographic |

* NCES

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