Millburn High School

Awards, recognition and rankings

During the 2007-08 school year, Millburn School was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive.

In its 2015 report on "America's Top High Schools", Newsweek ranked Millburn the #1 open-admission and #4 non-magnet school in the nation. It placed 13th overall in the U.S. and 8th in the state among all participating public high schools (including selective admission and magnet schools). All schools ranked above Millburn are selective enrollment per their respective websites and are listed as magnet programs on Wikipedia.

In its 2013 report on "America's Best High Schools", The Daily Beast ranked the school 69th in the nation among participating public high schools and 6th overall (and the highest-ranked non-magnet school) among schools in New Jersey. The school was ranked 83rd in the nation and fourth in New Jersey on the list of "America's Best High Schools 2012" prepared by The Daily Beast / Newsweek, with rankings based 25% each on graduation rate, matriculation rate for college and number of Advanced Placement / International Baccalaureate courses taken per student, with 10% based on average scores on the SAT / ACT, 10% on AP/IB scores and an additional 5% based on the number of AP/IB courses available to students; It was the highest-ranked open enrollment (non-selective / non-magnet) school in the state.

In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post, the school was ranked 4th in New Jersey and 236th nationwide. The school was ranked 170th in Newsweek's 2009 ranking of the top 1,500 high schools in the United States and was the second-ranked school in New Jersey, with 3.165 AP tests taken in 2008 per graduating senior and 56% of all graduating seniors passing at least one AP exam, after being ranked 151st in 2008. In Newsweek's 2007 ranking of the country's top high schools, Millburn High School was listed in 165th place, the third-highest ranked school in New Jersey. The school was 181st, sixth-highest in New Jersey, on Newsweek's May 8, 2006, list of 1,200 U.S. high schools. Millburn High School was ranked as Number 148 in Newsweek's 2005 rankings.

The school was the 5th-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. The school had been ranked 8th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 1st in 2010 out of 322 schools listed. The school had also ranked highest in the state in the magazine's 2008 report. The school was ranked 3rd in the magazine's 2006 rankings out of 316 schools included across the state.

Schooldigger.com ranked the school tied for 31st out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (a decrease of 9 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (93.5%) and language arts literacy (98.5%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).

In 2005-06, the school averaged an 1860 combined SAT score, seventh highest of all public high schools statewide, and the highest score for any non-magnet general admission high school.

In 1998, Jay Mathews, an author and education reporter, named Millburn High School the second-best public school in the country, according to ratios of students taking AP exams.

Athletics

The Millburn High School Millers compete in the Super Essex Conference, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). Prior to the 2010 realignment, the school had competed in the Skyline Division of the Northern Hills Conference. With 1,114 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2015-16 school year as North II, Group IV for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 1,114 to 4,800 students in that grade range.

Known primarily for their consistently strong boys' and girls' tennis and fencing teams, the Millers have proven to be perennial contenders for state titles in these sports. The school teams are officially called the Millburn Millers. However, most teams simply call themselves Millburn.

The Millburn baseball program has a history as a strong competitor in their conference and section. In 2007, the Millers finished 18-9 and bowed out in their sections' semifinals. In 2008, the Millers set a school record with 27 wins, finishing 27-5 with conference and winning a North II, Group III state sectional title with a 9-8 win over John F. Kennedy Memorial High School of Iselin after trailing by 8-0 in the game's fourth inning before losing 17-8 to Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan in the Group III semifinal. In 2015, the Millers won both the Group IV state championship, and the New Jersey state title with an 11-3 win against Williamstown High School, the team's first, under coach Brian Chapman. Who was later named one of the ABCA / Diamond Club National Coaches of the Year. Millburn held a 26-6 record during their state championship run, including a 14-2 record in league play.

The Millburn cross country team finished 4th in the State of New Jersey at the Meet of Champions in 2007, and 7th in 2009. Coach Jeffrey Kaye won Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2012.

In 1966, the football team was undefeated and was ranked first in the state. In 2002, the Millers finished the season 6-4 and had the team's first winning season since 1973 and the first six-game winning season since 1970. In 2006, the Millers finished the regular season 4-4 and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in school history since the playoff system was established in 1973. In the North II, Group III state sectional championship, the team came in as the 8th seed, falling to top-ranked Irvington High School 47-14 in the first round of the tournament.

The field hockey team wo the North II, Group III state sectional title in 1979 and 1982.

The wrestling team won the North II Group II sectional championship in 1987. In the 2005-06 season, the team won the Northern Hills Conference Suburban Division title and established the school win record with 18 wins. The high school principal, is a former top wrestler from the school, placing first in the wrestling state tournament at the weight class of 157 lbs in 1973.

The boys' tennis team won the Group III state championship in 1967 (vs. Summit High School), 1968 (vs. Metuchen High School), 1970 (vs. River Dell High School), 1971 (vs. Morris Hills High School), 1998 (vs. Middletown High School South), 2000 and 2001 (vs. Ocean Township High School both years), 2003 (vs. Princeton), 2005 (vs. Cumberland Regional High School), 2006 (vs. Ramapo High School), 2009 (vs. Ramapo), 2010 (vs. West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North), 2011 (vs. Moorestown) and 2011 (vs. Hopewell Valley Central High School), won the Group II title in 1988 (vs. Holmdel High School), 1989 and 1990 (vs. Moorestown High School both years), 1992 (vs. Princeton High School), 1993 (vs. Moorestown), 1994 (vs. Holmdel), 1995 (vs. Princeton), and won the Group IV title in 2013 (vs. Montgomery High School) and 2014 (vs. Montclair High School). The team was the overall state champion in 1970 (vs. Westfield High School) and 1989 (vs. Christian Brothers Academy). The team won the Tournament of Champions in 1994 (vs. Cherry Hill East High School), 2006 (vs. Delbarton School), 2012 (vs. West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South), 2013 (vs. Holmdel) and 2014 (vs. Haddonfield High School). The 23 state championships, seven Tournament of Champions titles and six consecutive state titles are the most of any public school in the state. The boys' tennis team won the 2006 Group III state championship, defeating Moorestown High School 3½-1½ in the semifinals and Ramapo High School 5-0 in the finals to take the title. The 2007 team won the North II, Group III state sectional title with a 4-1 win vs. Ridge High School. The 2008 team fell in the Group III Finals to rival Moorestown by a score of 3-2.

In 2008, sophomore Tyler Udland won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Meet of Champions 3,200 m race with a time of 9:04.80, the sixth-fastest ever run in the state by a sophomore. Udland became the school's fourth individual Meet of Champions winner, joining All-Americans Tom Lester (1966 in the discus), Steve O'Connell (1975 and 1976; Mile) and Will Nesbitt (1980; pole vault) as well as Marty O'Hare (1973, long jump).

The girls' tennis team won the Group III state champions in 1978 (vs. Ridge High School), 1979 (vs. Holy Spirit High School), 1980 (vs. Cherokee High School) and 1981 (vs. Ramapo High School), 1997 (vs. Ramapo), 1998 (vs. Watchung Hills Regional High School), 2006 and 2007 (vs. Moorestown both years), 2008 (vs. Ramapo), 2009 (vs. Holmdel High School), 2010 (vs. Ramapo), 2011 (vs. Montville Township High School), and 2014 (vs. Princeton High School), won the Group II state championship in 1986 (vs. Moorestown High School), 1988 (vs. Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School), 1989 and 1990 (vs. Millburn both years), 1996 (vs. Manasquan High School), and won the Group IV title in 2012 and 2013 (vs. West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South both years). The team won the Tournament of Champions in 1988 (vs. St. John Vianney High School), 1989 (vs. Red Bank Catholic High School), 2006 (vs. East Brunswick High School), 2007 (vs. Tenafly High School), 2011 (vs. Red Bank Catholic), 2013 (vs. Haddonfield Memorial High School) and 2014 (vs. Holmdel). The 14 appearances in the Tournament of Champions is the most of any girls' tennis program, 20 state group titles are tied for the most of any school in the state, the seven Tournament of Champions titles is the second-most of any school and the nine consecutive state group titles from 2006 to 2014 is the state's second longest. The 2007 girls' tennis team won the North II, Group III state sectional championship with a 5-0 win over Holmdel in the tournament final. The team moved on to take the Group III state championship with a 3½-1½ win over Wall Township in the semifinals and Moorestown in the finals by a 5-0 score. In 2016, The Millburn girls tennis team extended their winning streak to 99 games and won their fourth consecutive NJSIAA/New Balance Tournament of Champions title, an accomplishment that earned the team recognition as #13 of "NJ.com's 17 biggest high school sports stories of 2016".

The fencing team has won numerous state championships and produced several international competitors, including Olympian Tamir Bloom. It has also produced many individual state champion fencers. Most recently, Alexander Mills won the New Jersey State Foil title for two consecutive years in 2007 and 2008 and his brother, Michael Mills claimed the state saber title in 2010. In the 08-09 season, the girls fencing team won the state foil title, as well as gold for Overall, led by Brianna Martin who had an individual record of 86-2 and won the New Jersey State Foil individual title.

The girls' soccer team won the Group III state title in 2010 vs. Hopewell Valley Central High School; the boys' team won the Group II title in 1986 (as co-champion with Delran High School) and 1987 (as co-champion with Monroe Township High School), won the Group III title in 2008 (vs. Moorestown High School) and the Group IV championship in 2012 (vs. Monroe Township). The 2008 boys' varsity soccer team won the Group III state sectional championship with a 3-0 win over Moorestown High School. It was the first soccer team in Millburn school history to win an outright Group III championship, and the first since 1987 to win any state sectional championship. The team also captured the Essex County and Northern Hills Conference championships, finishing with a record of 23-2 and ranked 3rd in the state of New Jersey and 32nd in the nation. In 2012 the Millburn boys varsity soccer team won the 2012 NJSIAA Group IV state championship with a 3-2 win over Monroe Township High School, after moving up from Group III before the season.

In 2013, the boys' and girls' cross country teams won the Essex County championship as well as the Group IV state sectional championship. This was the third straight country title for the boys team and the first for girls. The sectional championship was the second in school history for the girls team, the first being in 1988.

In 2015, The boys baseball team won the Group IV State Championship, a first in Millburn High School history.

In 2016, The Millburn girls tennis team extended their winning streak to 99 games and won their fourth consecutive NJSIAA/New Balance Tournament of Champions title. They were also chosen as #13 of NJ.com's 17 biggest high school sports stories of 2016.

Curriculum

Millburn is also known for its academics, and wide offering of AP (Advanced Placement) courses. AP courses are available for: (with grade normally taken in) English Language (11/12th grade), English Literature (12th grade), Calculus AB and BC (12th grade), Computer Science(11/12th grade), Statistics (11/12th grade), Music Theory (10/11/12th grade), Studio Art I&II (10/11/12th grade), Spanish Language (11/12th grade), Spanish Literature (12th grade), French Language (11th/12th grade), Latin Vergil (12th grade), Chinese Language (12th grade), United States History (11th grade), European History (10/11/12th grade), Art History (11/12th grade), Human Geography (12th grade), United States Government and Politics (11/12th grade), Psychology (12th grade), Microeconomics & Macroeconomics (12th grade), Biology (10th grade), Chemistry (11/12th grade), Physics (11/12th grade), and Environmental Science (12th grade).

Extracurricular activities

Millburn is home to a nationally regarded Forensics team, which placed fifth in the National Debate Rankings during the 2005-06 school year. It is especially known for its strong and competitive Lincoln-Douglas debate, Public Forum Debate, Extemporaneous Speaking and Speech (Interpretation and Oratory) teams.

Millburn competes in state and national Academic Quiz Bowl competitions, netting sixth place in the 2006 National Academic Quiz Tournaments (NAQT) National High School Championship.

Millburn's Key Club is one of the largest clubs in the school, with over 160 registered members. At the New Jersey District Convention for Key Club, Millburn won the gold medal for UNICEF (raising $3,700), as well as gold for the Platinum Single Service Award (Haiti Relief Fund effort - $15,000+). Millburn has provided 3 Lieutenant Governors for district 14, and has also represented with several candidates for District Treasurer, Secretary and Webmaster.

Millburn has a literary magazine (Word), non-fiction literary magazine (Cellar Door), and newspaper (The Miller). An item included in the school's literary magazine Word, was winner of a 2009 Gold Medal from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

Millburn's performing arts program, the Millburn Limelight Players, is also recognized for annual musical and dramatic productions. Recent productions have included The Drowsy Chaperone, Young Frankenstein, Pal Joey, Into the Woods, Cheaper by the Dozen, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Metamorphoses, "Thoroughly Modern Millie", and Woody Allen's "Don't Drink the Water". Between 80 and 100 students each year are involved with the musical and dramatic productions, whether as onstage performers, backstage and technical crew, set builders, or members of the pit orchestra. Notable Limelight alums include Anne Hathaway.

Other clubs and activities include The MHS Peer Leader Program, Soulfege (MHS' student-led a cappella group) Squash Club, Yearbook, Art Club, Science and Tech Club, Philosophy Club, Asian Club, Astronomy Club, Stage Crew, Drama Club, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), Jewish Cultural Club, March of Dimes Club, Gay Straight Alliance, Chamber Orchestra, Pit Orchestra, Chorale, Jazz Band, the Future Physicians and Nurses Club, and many others. Studio 462, the school's completely student run broadcasting network and production studio, was created by a group of students in 2013 and has continued to produce live coverage of school and sporting events as well as hosting an online network for school journalism.

Administration

Core members of the school's administration are:

Miron is also a graduate of Millburn High School, graduating in 1974. While in school, he was a member of the wrestling team, and in the 1973 season, he placed number one in the state in his 157 lb. weight class.

Noted alumni