Bernards High School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bernards High School |
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| Address | |
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25 Olcott Avenue
, , 07924
United States
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| Coordinates | 40°43′15″N 74°33′56″W / 40.7208°N 74.5655°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public high school |
| Established | 1907 |
| School district | Somerset Hills Regional School District |
| NCES School ID | 340000900176 |
| Principal | Scott Neigel |
| Faculty | 66.8 FTEs |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 796 (as of 2023–24) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 11.9:1 |
| Color(s) | Crimson White |
| Athletics conference | Skyland Conference (general) Big Central Football Conference (football) |
| Team name | Mountaineers |
| Publication | The Crimson |
| Yearbook | The Bernardian |
| Last updated: November 1, 2019 | |
Bernards High School is a public high school in Bernardsville, New Jersey. It serves students from ninth to twelfth grade. The school is part of the Somerset Hills Regional School District. This district includes students from Bernardsville, Far Hills, and Peapack-Gladstone. Students from Bedminster also attend Bernards High School. The school is close to the main part of Bernardsville.
For the 2023–2024 school year, Bernards High School had 796 students. There were about 67 teachers, meaning there was one teacher for every 11.9 students.
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School Achievements and Rankings
Bernards High School has received many awards and high rankings. In 2016, it was named one of the top 100 high schools in the United States. It was ranked 88th out of 500 best high schools. In New Jersey, it was ranked 18th among all high schools. It was also fifth among the state's non-magnet schools.
In 2013, The Daily Beast ranked the school 235th nationally. It was 18th among New Jersey schools. In 2012, the school was ranked 169th in the nation. This ranking was based on things like how many students graduated and went to college. It also looked at how many Advanced Placement (AP) courses students took. AP courses can help students earn college credit.
The Washington Post ranked the school 6th in New Jersey in 2011. Newsweek also ranked Bernards High School highly. In 2009, it was 198th in the U.S. and 4th in New Jersey. The school was also ranked 218th in 2007 and 141st in 2006 by Newsweek.
New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Bernards High School 15th in New Jersey in 2014. It was 11th in 2012 and 32nd in 2010. Schooldigger.com ranked the school 52nd in New Jersey in 2011. This ranking was based on student scores in math and language arts tests.
Sports and Athletics
The Bernards High School sports teams are called the Mountaineers. They compete in the Skyland Conference. This conference includes schools from Hunterdon, Somerset, and Warren counties. Bernards High joined this conference in the 2006–2007 school year. The school's football team plays in the Big Central Football Conference.
Bernards High School also has a joint ice hockey team. It plays with students from Middlesex High School and Somerville High School.
Boys' Track and Cross Country
The boys' outdoor track team has won many state championships. They won in Group II in 1937, 1948, 1971, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985. They also won in Group I in 1947 and 1986.
The boys' cross country team has won 23 state titles. This is the second-most of any school in New Jersey. They won 14 titles in a row from 1974 to 1987. This is the longest winning streak in the state. They also won the Meet of Champions in 1981, 1982, and 1985.
The boys' indoor track team won state championships in Group I in 1983, 1985, and 1989. They won in Group II in 1986.
Girls' Tennis and Cross Country
The girls' tennis team won the Group I state championship in 1976 and 2003. They also won in Group II in 2005.
The girls' cross country team has won 12 state championships. This is the second-most in the state. They won 10 titles in a row from 1977 to 1986.
Other Team Sports
The boys' tennis team won the Group I state championship in 1977 and 1982. They won in Group II in 1978.
The girls' outdoor track team won state championships in Group I in 1982–1985, 1987, and 1993.
The girls' indoor track team won the Group I title in 1983–1985, 1987, 2009, and 2010. They won in Group II in 1986.
The field hockey team won the Group I state championship in 1994.
The boys' soccer team has won several state titles. They won the Group I state title in 1989. They won in Group II in 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2019.
The girls' basketball team won the Central Jersey Group 1 championship in 1997.
The ice hockey team won the McInnis Cup in 2001.
The girls' lacrosse team won the Group II state championship in 2017. They finished the season with a great record of 20 wins and 3 losses.
The football team won its first state sectional title in 2023. They won the North II Group II state sectional title with a 23-17 overtime win. Their record for that season was 12 wins and no losses.
Fencing Teams
The boys' fencing team won the overall state championship in 2006 and 2008. They have won many squad titles, which is the second-most of any school.
The girls' fencing team won the overall state title in 2007. They have also won many squad titles, which is the third-most in the state.
Extracurricular Activities
In 2007, the Bernards Mountaineers Marching Band was invited to perform in Louisiana. They went to a Mardi Gras parade in Houma. This community was badly affected by Hurricane Katrina. The band's visit recognized the help Bernards residents sent to the community.
School History
Bernards High School was built in 1927. Before that, the town had two buildings with classrooms for all eight grades. A new high school was needed to offer special equipment and facilities.
From 2002 to 2009, the school offered the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program. This was a two-year program for junior and senior students. Students took courses in six different subjects. Completing the IB Diploma could help students earn college credit. The school had to stop this program because of budget cuts. However, Bernards High School still offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses. These courses can also lead to college credit.
School Leadership
The school's principal is Scott Neigel. He became principal in 2012. The school also has two assistant principals who help with daily operations.
Famous Alumni
Many notable people have attended Bernards High School:
- Roger Bart (born 1962, class of 1980), a Tony Award-winning actor.
- Philip Capice (1931–2009, class of 1948), an Emmy Award-winning TV producer. He produced shows like Eight is Enough and Dallas.
- J. Geils (born 1946, class of 1964), a musician from The J. Geils Band.
- Andrew McCarthy (born 1962), an actor known for his roles in 1980s movies.
- Meryl Streep (born 1949, class of 1967), an Academy Award-winning actress.
- Jean Villepique (class of 1991), an actress known for her roles in BoJack Horseman and A.P. Bio.
