Established 1976 Vice principal Kristen Trabona Phone +1 201-418-7618 Number of students 707 (2013–2014) | Principal Kathleen McCabe Faculty 50.0 (on FTE basis) Color Yellow | |
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Similar County Prep High School, Saint Peter's Prep, St Anthony High School, James F Murray Elem Sch, F L Williams Middle Sc | ||
Dr ronald e mcnair academic high school 2011 freshmen orientation video
Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School (often dubbed Academic previous to its dedication, or as McNair) is a Magnet public high school located at 123 Coles Street in Jersey City, in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. The school is named in memory of Dr. Ronald E. McNair, the astronaut and scientist who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. McNair is part of the Jersey City Public Schools district. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools since 1979.
Contents
- Dr ronald e mcnair academic high school 2011 freshmen orientation video
- History
- Achievements
- Standards
- Athletics
- School programs
- Administration
- References
As of the 2013-14 school year, the school had an enrollment of 707 students and 50.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.1:1. There were 244 students (34.5% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 88 (12.4% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.
The school offers a wide selection of Advanced Placement (AP) Courses, in addition to a standard curriculum that contains courses at the Honors level. 21 AP courses were offered in 2010, with 897 students taking exams and 83.8% of those taking the exams scoring 3 or higher, more than quadruple the statewide average. Most electives are regular, unweighted classes. From 2008 to 2010, 100% of the class has graduated and in 2010 a full 100% of the student body indicated that they planned to attend a four-year college.
History
The school originally opened as Academic High School in 1976 on 70 Sip Avenue in Jersey City. The school also rented a space in a Ukrainian building at 16 Bentley Ave on Bergen Avenue. The school's name was also changed to honor the late astronaut in 1986. In 1997 the school moved to its new location on 123 Coles Street due to safety and spacing reasons.
Beginning in the 2004-05 school year, the incoming class size was increased from 140 students to 200.
In 2004, McNair Academic, the school's library was renamed in honor of teacher Vincent Russo. In May 2009, McNair lost Dr. Sara Solberg, a teacher of English, French, Shakespeare, and Mythology. The school opened a new stage in the Winter of 2010 named 'Sara's Stage' in her honor.
Achievements
The school has been highly praised. Notable achievements include:
Standards
General admittance is based on a consensus of PSAT scores, academic performance from the 6th through 8th grades, extracurricular activities, and teacher recommendations. With the primary goal of diversity through affirmative action, the school's enrollment is based on a quota of 25% White, 25% Black, 25% Hispanic, and 25% Other (mostly Asian).
The school enforces a business-type dress code (though not a school uniform) for both students and teachers. The basic protocols dictate the following:
Students are also required to fulfill 50 mandatory community service hours. They must also maintain a final grade of 70 or higher on all of their courses. If a student has a failing final grade in one course, he or she must go to summer school in order to pass the course. If a student receives a failing final grade in two or more courses, he or she cannot re-enroll in the school the following school year, and must instead attend his or her local public or private high school.
Athletics
The McNair Academic Cougars compete in the Hudson County Interscholastic League, which includes private and parochial high schools in Hudson County and operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). With 516 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2014-15 school year as North II, Group II for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 493 to 732 students in that grade range.
The Girls Cross Country team has won the North II Group I state sectional championships in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2012.
The Boys Cross Country team has won the North II Group I state sectional championships 2011 and 2012.
The Girls Spring Track & Field team has won North II Group I state sectional championships in 1999 and 2007.
The Boys Spring Track & Field team won the North II Group I state sectional championships in 2007.
Junior class member Leslie Njoku won the 2006 state All Group (aka NJ Meet of Champions) 400m hurdle title with a time of 59.48 and won the 400m Hurdle title at the Nike Outdoor Nationals with a time of 59.28.
School programs
Beyond McNair's own internal visual and performing arts programs, McNair also works closely with the Visual and Performing Arts program at the Henry Snyder High School, where McNair students may choose to apply into four-year arts intensives, and Rutgers University, where students take ITV courses.
Every year McNair's Science Research students face stiff competition at the various levels of competition, such as Hudson County Science Fair, Junior Science and Humanities Competition, Siemens Westinghouse, and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
Administration
Core members of the school's administration are: