Elizabeth High School (New Jersey) - History

History

Elizabeth High School was constructed in 1977 as part of a $29.3 million project to create a single co-ed school to succeed Thomas Jefferson High School, which had been for boys only, and Battin High School, which had served girls only during the 73 years it existed and was to become a middle school.

With over 5,279 students, Elizabeth High School had been the largest high school in the nation in terms of student population. Prior to 2010, Elizabeth High School occupied eight campuses, also known as houses: The William F. Halsey house, the John E. Dwyer house, the Thomas Jefferson house, the Thomas Edison house, the Sam E. Aboff house, the Alexander Hamilton academy, the Upper academy, and the Lower academy. In 2009, the Elizabeth Board of Education passed the "Transformation Plan", which split-up the houses that made up Elizabeth High School and made each house its own high school. The Upper and Lower academies became the new Elizabeth High School.

Almost half of each graduating class had failed to pass the standard High School Proficiency Assessment and complete required course credits, so they are funneled through a so-called Alternative High School Assessment test. About one in four students who entered the high school dropped out.