Woodbridge High School (New Jersey) - History

History

The current Woodbridge High School was occupied in 1956 and built adjacent to the then new modern football stadium. The old stadium (Legion Field) was vacated to make way for the southbound lanes of the New Jersey Turnpike. Prior to 1957, the high school was located on Barron and Grove Avenue, which is the current site of the Woodbridge Middle School. It operated on split sessions for many years: Freshmen and Sophomores attended school in the afternoon; Juniors and Seniors in the morning. The last graduating class of the Barron Avenue "Woodbridge High School" was 1956.

• The first school building was erected in 1876 in Woodbridge Township, and was designated PS 1. It was located on School Street in Woodbridge Proper. Classes started in January 1877.
• High school class were first conducted in PS 1. The building now houses the Woodbridge Board of Education.
• In 1883, the first high school students graduated. There were two graduates.
• In 1911, high school classes were conducted in the then new building on Barron Avenue. This building now houses Woodbridge Middle School.
• In 1948, a football field and stadium building was constructed on the site of an old wooden surfaced auto racetrack called the 'Woodbridge Speedway'. It was dedicated as 'The Stadium'. The field was re-dedicated 'Nick Priscoe Field' in the 1970s after a longtime former head football coach.
• In 1956, the current Woodbridge HS building was erected and 'Kelly Street' ran through the HS property. The roadway was later renamed 'Samuel Lupo Place" in the 1980s after another head football coach.
• In 1956, WHS graduated 317 students, the final class to graduate from the Barron Avenue building.