High school

A high school (also secondary school, senior school, secondary college) is a school that provides adolescents with part or all of their secondary education. It may come after primary school or middle school and be followed by higher education or vocational training.

Terminology

The term "high school" originated in Scotland, with the world's oldest high school being Edinburgh's Royal High School from 1505. The Royal High School was used as a model for the first public high school in the United States, Boston Latin School founded in Boston, Massachusetts.

The precise stage of schooling provided by a high school differs from country to country, and may vary within the same jurisdiction. In all of New Zealand and Malaysia, along with most of Britain and parts of Australia, Bangladesh and Canada, high school means the same thing as secondary school, but instead of starting in 9th grade, these "secondary schools" begin at ages 11 or 12.

Country by country

Australia

In Australia, high school is a secondary school, from Year 7 or Year 8 through to Year 12, varying from state to state. High school immediately follows primary (elementary) school; therefore, a Year-7 Australian high-school student is sometimes as young as 12. In Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, the term "high school" generally refers to Years 7–10, whereas the term "College" is used for Years 11–12. In Victoria the term "secondary college" has largely replaced the term "high school" following the reforms of the Labor Government in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Some schools have retained the name "high school" (such as Melbourne High School) and many have now dropped the "secondary" and are simply known as "college".

New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) is an association of hundreds of New Jersey high schools that regulates high school athletics and holds tournaments and crowns champions in high school sports.

State championships

In order for schools to move on to the state championship, they must achieve a winning percentage of .500 or greater by a pre-set date (the "cut–off" date). Football, wrestling and bowling are the only sports where a school may have a .500 record and not qualify for the postseason. For football and wrestling, it is only the best eight schools in each section that move on. This is determined by power points, awarded to each game's winning team and based on the size of the school that is defeated and the score of the game. Winning percentage alone, however, is not sufficient to qualify for the playoffs. If a school's team has too many disqualifications, it is disqualified from the state championship. In bowling the top 2 teams in each division (North I, Group I; North I Group II, etc.) in the State Sectional Tournament, qualify for State Finals.

Bergen Catholic High School

Bergen Catholic High School is an all-male Roman Catholic high school in Oradell, Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in ninth through twelfth grade. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools since 1989.

Bergen Catholic operates under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Bergen Catholic draws students from a wide geographic area that includes over 100 North Jersey communities, Rockland, Orange, Westchester counties and New York City.

As of the 2013-14 school year, the school had an enrollment of 745 students and 43.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a Student–teacher ratio of 17.2:1.

Academics

All students are required to graduate with at least 140 credits. Senior year electives include college credit courses from Seton Hall University, allowing students to earn credits that are transferable to many colleges and universities and allow the student advance standing in courses that have included English, Spanish, Italian, Biology, Chemistry, and History. The curriculum requirements for graduation are three years of learning in world languages (Chinese, Italian, Latin and Spanish), social studies/history and science. Four years requirement of mathematics, English, religion, computer science and physical education. General electives include visual art, jazz ensemble, orchestra, vocal ensemble and music editing and recording. Bergen Catholic offers more than 35 honors and Advanced Placement courses.