About PTHS

 

The Pequannock Township High School was established in 1956 and serves a student body of 720 students. PTHS is currently undergoing a comprehensive reform initiative that includes:

 

Extended learning time for mathematics, science and English

An increased focus on essential skills, rigor and relevance

A Student-to-Student Peer Tutorial Program

A Gold Academy pilot addressing the gifted and talented

A curriculum mapping project for all core content areas

An increased focus on student engagement

A commitment to data-driven instruction and school improvement through the use of irrefutable metrics

 

Pequannock Township High School is entering into its second year of a three year improvement plan designed to make PTHS one of the best high schools in the state of New Jersey. The plan includes a new master schedule with increased time in math, science and English instruction. This schedule will optimize elective offerings and create a balanced curriculum in the liberal and fine arts.

 

The high school has endeavored to increase the rigor and relevance in all content areas and has made a concerted effort to focus on the essential skills needed to increase advanced levels of proficiency on the HSPA, PSAT, SAT and ACT.

 

PTHS has expanded the Student-2-Student Peer Tutorial Program which encourages high performing students to share their academic success with their peers needing remediation or enrichment. Student-tutors earn college scholarship money as they accrue hours of instruction. The program has flourished and reinforced a culture of learning at PTHS.

 

Our district stands behind its commitment to offer a world-class education for all of its students. For those students who demonstrate exceptional promise in the middle grades, we have established a Gold Academy. The mission of the Gold Academy is to focus on student engagement and active learning lessons that encourage and foster, critical thinking, enduring understandings and the application of knowledge. Academy students will look at innovative ways to attack the core curriculum.

 

Along with our extensive Advanced Placement Program, PTHS offers a wide variety of elective courses offerings including:

 

Forensic Science

American History through Film

Physiology § Human Behavior

Music Technology

The History of Rock & Roll

Theater Arts

Journalism

Videography

 

This summer PTHS teachers participated in a curriculum mapping project ensuring that the scope and sequence of all courses is directly aligned to the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards, the HSPA and the PSAT/SAT. These maps will become an integral part of the reform movement and ensure that students are fully prepared for all high stakes tests.

 

PTHS continues to expand its use of the Instructional Practices Inventory to measure student engagement in all core and non-core content areas. The IPI protocol is designed to create a “whole school” profile of instructional practices. Our goal is to develop a more comprehensive, composite picture of daily instruction. We firmly believe that scholarship and academic achievement share a direct correlation to engaging lessons and student motivation.

 

The PTHS athletic program spans 19 different interscholastic sports with consistently high performing programs in wrestling and field hockey. PTHS student athletes are committed to sportsmanship in the Northern Hills Conference.

 

Pequannock Township High School also offers extensive co-curricular opportunities in marching band, chorus and club activities. Most recently, our marching band has earned distinction and honor as the 2008 USSBA Northern States Champions, the 2008 USSBA New Jersey State Champions - Group IV, the 2008 USSBA Yamaha Cup Champions and the 2008 winners of the United States Marine Corps Esprit de Corp Award. Stellar performances have helped to solidify the reputation of PTHS students as among the best musicians in the state.

 

Pequannock Township High School encourages parent and community involvement in our school programs. The PAWS Home and School Association is active in its support of our mission. Our band parents association and individual parent sports associations have worked collaboratively to support our students on the road to success. Our commitment to establishing a strong partnership with our parents is a hallmark of our program.