As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 880 students and 91.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.6:1. There were 73 students (8.3% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 20 (2.3% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]
History
Through the 1957-58 school year, students from Mahwah joined those from Allendale, Saddle River and Upper Saddle River who attended Ramsey High School as part of sending/receiving relationships with the respective districts and the Ramsey Public School District.[4] Allendale and Mahwah left the Ramsey district in September 1958 once Mahwah High School was opened.[5] With construction delayed due to labor actions, Mahwah High School started the year with afternoon classes housed in space rented at Ramsey High School.[6] Completed at a cost of $3.6 million (equivalent to $37.3 million in 2023), the high school facility opened for students in February 1959.[7]
The school was the 69th-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.[8] The school had been ranked 55th in state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 56th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[9] The magazine ranked the school 68th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[10] The school was ranked 46th in the magazine's 2006 rankings.[11] Schooldigger.com ranked the school 79th out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (a decrease of 18 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (90.9%) and language arts literacy (94.8%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[12]
In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post, the school was ranked 70th in New Jersey and 2,033rd nationwide.[13]
In its 2013 report on "America's Best High Schools", The Daily Beast ranked the school 615th in the nation among participating public high schools and 47th among schools in New Jersey.[14]
In its listing of "America's Best High Schools 2016", the school was ranked 366th out of 500 best high schools in the country; it was ranked 42nd among all high schools in New Jersey and 25th among the state's non-magnet schools.[15]
In Niches 2017 list of the Best Schools in the Nation, Mahwah High School as the 28th school in New Jersey.
Construction on the $3.25 million campus-style facility began in August 1958, with 13 buildings spread out over 20 acres (8.1 ha) of the 62-acre (25 ha) property to accommodate 600 students from Mahwah and Allendale. Delays in starting the work meant that the initial set of classrooms would not be available until November 1958, with completion of the 1,200-student capacity facility due for February 1959. Before the buildings opened, the district rented space from Ramsey High School, with Allendale and Mahwah students who had already started in the Ramsey district remaining there until graduation. With the opening of the high school, the Mahwah district's elementary schools were changed from K-8 to K-6, with the new high school serving students in grades 7-12.[17]
In May 1963, voters in Allendale and Upper Saddle River approved a referendum to create Northern Highlands Regional High School, with the expenditure of $3.65 million to build a facility on a 40-acre site, with plans to complete the building in time to start classes in September 1965.[18] The Northern Highland school building, completed at a cost of $4 million, was dedicated in February 1966.[19] The first all-Mahwah graduating class was in 1967.
The present school building was constructed in 1984 with three floors on the site of the original school, with an addition completed in "March 2005" (along with the expansion of Ramapo Ridge Middle School), according to a plaque in the new wing.[20]
In Fall 2009, the Freshman Advisory, a full year freshman transition program, was implemented. Freshman Advisory is a required course for all freshman students, and it is taught by upperclassmen (juniors and seniors) and supervised by the high school faculty. The following topics are addressed: study and organizational skills, time management, coping skills, peer pressure, Habits of Mind, and college/post-secondary planning.[21]
In Summer of 2018 construction began on a new extension to the high school. Named the STEAM room and also known as The Thunderbird Think Tank and houses new science rooms and computer labs. The extension was completed August, 2019 and opened for students in September, 2019.
The Mahwah High School Thunderbirds[2] compete in the Big North Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Bergen and Passaic counties and was established following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[23] Prior to the 2010 realignment, Mahwah was one of the member schools of the North Bergen Interscholastic Athletic League.[24] With 676 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group II for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 486 to 758 students in that grade range.[25] The football team competes in the American Red 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.[26][27] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group II North for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 484 to 683 students.[28]
Interscholastic sports offered include (those listed with an asterisk, although they are technically two teams that compete and score separately, usually practice and have their events with each other):[2]
Fall sports: Cross country (boys)*, Cross country (girls)*, Football (boys), Soccer (boys), Soccer (boys), Soccer (girls), Tennis (girls), Volleyball (girls), Marching Band and Fall Cheerleading.
Winter sports: Basketball (boys), Basketball (girls), Bowling (boys)*, Bowling (girls)*, Ice hockey (boys), Track (boys)*, Track (girls)*, Wrestling (boys) and Winter Cheerleading
The football team was awarded the sectional championship by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association in 1960 (as co-champion).[29] Since the playoff system was introduced in 1974, the team has won the NJSIAA North I Group I state sectional championship in 1978, 1979, 1981, 2015 and 2016.[30] The 1978 team finished the season with a 10-1 record after a 48-20 win against Park Ridge High School in the North I Group I state sectional championship game.[31] The team won the 1979 North I Group I sectional title with a 49-16 win against Pompton Lakes High School in the finals.[32] In 1981, the team finished the season with a 9-1-1 record after winning the North I Group I state sectional title by defeating Park Ridge High School by a score of 21-11 in the championship game.[33] In 2015, the football team finished with a team record 11 wins, defeating Glen Rock High School by a score of 38-13 in the tournament final at MetLife Stadium to win the North I Group II state sectional title.[34] In 2016, the team won its second consecutive North I, Group II state sectional title with a 35-28 win against Westwood Regional High School in the tournament final, the program's fifth title in the playoff era.[35]
The boys cross country running team won the Group II state championship in 1975.[36]
The girls' basketball team won the Group II state title in 1993, defeating Delran High School by a score of 34-27 in the tournament final played at Monmouth College.[37][38]
In 2010, the boys lacrosse team defeated Bergen Catholic High School in the BCCA Lacrosse Championship 10-6 to win a county title in only its second year of varsity existence.[39]
The girls' soccer team won the Group I state championship in 1985 (defeating Maple Shade High School in the tournament final) and won the Group II title in 2010 (vs. Arthur L. Johnson High School).[40] The 1985 team finished the season with a 15-3-3 record after winning the Group I title with a 4-0 victory against Maple Shade in the championship game played at Mercer County Park.[41] In 2010, the girls soccer team, ranked 15th in the state by The Star-Ledger, defeated Arthur L. Johnson High School in the NJSIAA Group II state finals, with a final score of 3-1.[42] The team had made it to the 2009 NJSIAA Group II State Finals, before losing 2-1 in overtime to Haddonfield Memorial High School.[43]
The girls tennis team won the Group I state championship in 1985, defeating Haddonfield Memorial High School in the tournament final.[44] The team won the 1985 title with a 4-1 win against Metuchen High School in the semifinals and a 5-0 victory in the finals against Haddonfield.[45]
The 2012 baseball team defeated Buena Regional High School by a score of 11-4 to capture the Group II state championship, earning the first baseball state championship in the team's 52 seasons.[46][47]
In 2014, the boy's winter track and field team defeated a field of over 20 teams and won the North I Group II state sectional title.[48]
One of the older clubs in the school, the Robotics Club Team 1672, was started in 2005. This team is part of the FIRST Robotics Competition. This club encourages all students with or without knowledge in the STEM field wishing to learn more about mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, as well as running a business. Teams of high school students around the world compete in annual competitions.[50]
Mock trial
The mock trial team has won four Bergen County titles, in 2008, 2011, 2012, and 2014.[51]
Administration
The school's principal is John P. Pascale. His administration team includes two assistant principals.[52]
Vlad Holiday (born 1989), singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist who is the lead singer and founder of the New York City-based indie band Born Cages[58]
^ abSchool History, Mahwah High School. Accessed May 26, 2021. "The campus-style school with 13 buildings was originally established as a joint Junior and Senior high school. It was constructed in 1958-59 for $4 million. Before the new school opened, Mahwah's high school students attended Ramsey High School. Prior to the construction of Northern Highlands Regional High School in the mid-1960s, students from Allendale and Upper Saddle River attended what was then known as Mahwah Junior-Senior High School. The first all-Mahwah graduating class was in 1967."
^Hall, Douglas. "One Building Serves As Home For Two High School Groups; Mahwah, Hit By Strike, Plans To Send Students To Ramsey", Bergen Evening Record, August 20, 1958. Accessed May 26, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Mahwah, a victim of the long summer builders strike, appealed to this borough when it became apparent their new high school building would not be finished in time for schools opening next month. Ramsey High School pseudo-double session with Mahwah. This Borough's high school students will attend classes from 7:45 A. M. to 2:30 P. M. while the guest will send its students from 2 P. M. until 6:30 P. M. The Mahwah group also includes students from Allendale who will attend Mahwah High when it is finished."
^"Students Inspect New Campus As Mahwah High School Opens; Pupils Come Early To Tour Facilities At Their $3+1⁄2-Million Home", Bergen Evening Record, February 17, 1959. Accessed May 26, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The first full day of classes at North Jersey's only campus-type high school went very smoothly, Principal Dr. Kenneth P. Bishop reported last night.... Most of the students arrived early to inspect the $3,565,000 set of buildings, settle behind new desks, and become familiar with the wide-open surroundings. The four buildings used by the High School include 24 classrooms, 12 study halls, and four commons rooms. Nine other buildings are scheduled for completion at the rate of one every 2 weeks. Some 530 students from Mahwah and Allendale attended classes yesterday, having until February 6 studied on an afternoon shift at Ramsey High School."
^Conrad, JJ; and Iseman, Chris. "NJ HS football championships: How past finalists fared", The Record, November 27, 2016. "Although the state established the current playoff format in 1974, titles have been awarded for decades. Here are the most decorated North Jersey teams playing for a title this weekend, listed by their state championship totals:.... Mahwah (5): 1960 (co-champs), 1978, 1979, 1981, 2015"
^Schwartz, Paul. "Mahwah, 48-20", The Record, December 3, 1978. Accessed February 1, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Mahwah did the expected yesterday, routing Park Ridge 48-20 for the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association North Jersey Group 1 football championship."
^"Pascack Hills, Sparta, Mahwah, Rahway win", New York Daily News, December 2, 1979. Accessed January 16, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Mahwah 49, Pompton Lakes 16 - Mahwah, trailing 16-8 in the first period, exploded for six more touchdowns in winning its second straight North Jersey, Section 1, Group 1 championship in Ramsey."
^"Seton Hall Prep Downs Bergen Catholic", The New York Times, December 6, 1981. Accessed January 11, 2021. "Roger Remo passed for one touchdown and ran for another to send Mahwah (9-1-1) to a 21-11 victory over Park Ridge (10-1) in the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 1 title game."
^Lanni, Patrick. "Mahwah ends 34-year title drought with 38-13 win over Glen Rock in North 1, Group 2", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 4, 2015. Accessed December 5, 2015. "Mahwah entered Friday's NJSIAA/SportsCare Institute North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 final with average margin of victory of 37 points, and they continued that trend here at MetLife Stadium with a 38-13 win over Glen Rock. The win secured Mahwah's third [sic] sectional title in school history and first in coach Jeff Remo's 18-year tenure as the Thunderbirds finished their campaign with a school record 11 wins."
^Perez, Braulio. "Mahwah downs Westwood in a thriller to capture N1G2 championship", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 4, 2016. Accessed December 9, 2016. "On Saturday evening, Mahwah was in a see-saw battle with Westwood, but came out on top 35-28 to capture the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 championship.... This is Mahwah's second-consecutive sectional championship and fifth since 1974."
^Staff. "Mahwah 10, Bergen Catholic 6", The Star-Ledger, May 9, 2010. Accessed June 10, 2011. "Mark Glicini scored three goals and assisted on two others and Ryan Magner sank three goals and had one assist to power top-seeded and undefeated Mahwah to the Bergen County Tournament championship on Sunday in Franklin Lakes. Mahwah (15-0) is only in its second varsity season and first with head coach Ernie Yenco."
^Cuneo, Ed. "Mahwah ends Maple Shade title bid", Courier-Post, November 24, 1985. Accessed January 17, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Mahwah High School scored three goals in the second half to break open a close game as it defeated Maple Shade, 4-0, yesterday in the state Group 1 girls' soccer final at Mercer County Park. The game was relatively pressure-free for Maple Shade, as it came into the match as the Cinderella team of the tournament at 6-5-4. Mahwah entered with an impressive 15-3-3 mark."
^Chapman, Brian. "Mahwah 3, Johnson 1 (High school Girls Soccer scores and results), The Star-Ledger, November 20, 2010. Accessed August 21, 2011. "Truglio, with a little help from classmate Jordyn Davis, scored her second goal of the game with just under four minutes remaining to propel Mahwah, No. 15 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, to a 3-1 victory over upstart Johnson in the NJSIAA/The Sports Authority Stores Group 2 championship match yesterday at The College of New Jersey in Ewing."
^Staff. "Girls Soccer - 2009 NJSIAA Tournament - Group 2, Public Semis/Finals - Round 2 - Game 1 - Girls Soccer ", The Star-Ledger, November 21, 2009. Accessed August 21, 2011. "After the slick forward gathered a rebound of her initial shot, her delicate cross to the far post found an unmarked Johnston, who calmly scored from six yards with just over four minutes elapsed in the first overtime to lift Haddonfield to a 2-1 victory over Mahwah, No. 19 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, yesterday in the NJSIAA/Investors Savings Bank Group 2 final before 600 at The College of New Jersey in Ewing."
^"Curcuru sisters lead Mahwah to state title", The Record, October 31, 1985. Accessed January 18, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "For the Mahwah High School girls tennis team, winning the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Group I title was an all-day affair. Yesterday morning, the T-Birds made short work of Metuchen winning, 4-1, behind the play of the Curcuru sisters.... In the state final, the Curcuru sisters struck again as Mahwah swept past Haddonfield, 5-0."
^About, Mahwah Robo T-Birds FRC Team 1672. Accessed August 29, 2022. "The Mahwah Robo T-Birds is a team of bright, driven Mahwah High School students that compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition—a worldwide tournament in which high schools from around the world conceive and build their own robot to compete/cooperate in a yearly game."
^Frank Chamberlin player profile, NFL Players Association. Accessed April 11, 2007. "Attended Mahwah High School, where, as a senior, two-way football star he rushed for 900 yards and 14 TDs while logging 114 tackles with 6 forced fumbles … Also as a senior, won state shot put championship."
^Fox, Ron. "Where's What's-His-Name?", The Record, December 28, 1991. Accessed June 1, 2013. "Despite his slender build, Randy Reutershan was known as a hardnosed football player. From Mahwah High School to the University of Pittsburgh to the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was an aggressive, punishing hitter."
^King, George A. III."NJ baseball star Kyle Teel passes on draft and will attend Virginia", New York Post, April 24, 2020. Accessed March 1, 2023. "Three weeks ago, highly rated left-handed hitting catching prospect Kyle Teel figured he was in a good spot no matter what came his way despite the likelihood of no high school games being played this season because of COVID-19. The heavily scouted 18-year-old senior from Mahwah High School in New Jersey had a strong chance of being selected during MLB’s reconfigured draft, which has no set date after being pushed back from mid-June."
