Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Explained
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School (or SPFHS) is a comprehensive regional four-year public high school in Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, which serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from the Township of Scotch Plains and the Borough of Fanwood, operating as the lone secondary school of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District.[2] [3] The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1932.[4]
As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,510 students and 115.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.0:1. There were 41 students (2.7% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 15 (1.0% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[5]
History
Designed to accommodate a maximum enrollment of 1,350, the facility is located in Scotch Plains and opened for 1,080 students in September 1957 after delays due to a series of strikes.[6] Originally, the high school was located in another part of town on Park Avenue, which currently houses Malcolm E. Nettingham (formerly Park) Middle School. That building was constructed in 1926.[7] [8] [9]
Awards, recognition and rankings
In its listing of "America's Best High Schools 2016", the school was ranked 210th out of 500 best high schools in the country; it was ranked 33rd among all high schools in New Jersey and 16th among the state's non-magnet schools.[10]
In its 2013 report on "America's Best High Schools", The Daily Beast ranked the school 918th in the nation among participating public high schools and 69th among schools in New Jersey.[11] In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post, the school was ranked 42nd in New Jersey and 1,349th nationwide.[12] The school was the 54th-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.[13] The school had been ranked 60th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 62nd in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[14] The magazine ranked the school 69th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[15] Schooldigger.com ranked the school tied for 86th out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (a decrease of 14 positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (88.6%) and language arts literacy (96.3%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[16]
SPHFS's quiz bowl team, founded in 1982, won the New Jersey state championship of the Rutgers University-run College Bowl competition in 1988 [17] and embarked on creative televised fundraising in order to afford the travel costs to the many regional and national competitions where they were invited.[18]
Publications
The school is host to an annually published literary magazine, Muse, which features poetry, stories and art by the students. The school's newspaper, The Fanscotian, was ranked by the GSSPA as the best newspaper in New Jersey. The school's yearbook is called Culmen.
Music
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School is host to an extensive music department. The department is home to multiple choruses, including concert choir and five auditioned groups: Select Choir, Men's Choir, Women's Choir, Chamber Choir, and the Sensations a cappella group. The instrumental music program includes a plethora of groups. Non-auditioned groups include Freshman Band, Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble, two jazz lab bands, as well as the SPF Raiders Marching Band. Auditioned groups include the Wind Ensemble, RhythmSense, SPF Jazz, and the Moonglowers.
Scotch Plains-Fanwood is also home to the Repertory Theatre program, which in the past few years has put on such shows as Footloose, Les Misérables, West Side Story, 42nd Street, Once Upon a Mattress, Urinetown, Guys and Dolls, Curtains, Hairspray, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood garnering a number of Rising Star Award nominations from the Paper Mill Playhouse, including one win for Outstanding Student Orchestra, for 42nd Street in 2006.[19]
SPF Moonglowers
SPF's top level ("A") jazz band, the Moonglowers, is the oldest continuously operated high school jazz band in the state of New Jersey. It was formed in 1942 to play contemporary big-band songs during lunch periods and at the high school's senior prom. Beginning in 1979, the Moonglowers started competing in the New Jersey International Association of Jazz Education (now the New Jersey Association for Jazz Education) jazz band circuit. Since then, the Moonglowers have won a McDonald's National Jazz Band title and 10 New Jersey State titles. Since 2007, when the NJIAJE reformed into the New Jersey Association for Jazz Education, the Moonglowers have competed in Division II.[20] Notably, in 2008, both the Moonglowers and SPF Jazz, SPF's second tier ("B") jazz band, competed together at the New Jersey State Final festival, and SPF Jazz took first place. This is the only time in the 21-year competition history of the school that SPF Jazz scored higher than the Moonglowers in competitions.
When not competing, the Moonglowers play old time big band swing songs for various community events and organizations. From community concerts to retirement homes, the Moonglowers play songs from the golden age of jazz for those who remember them. Since 2007, the Moonglowers have headlined the Susan G. Komen for the Cure race in New York City in early September.
SPF Raiders Marching Band
The band competes and performs regularly. In 2012, the Marching Raiders went into the USBands National Championships (Groups 2 Open & 4 Open PLUS 3A &6A) at MetLife Stadium, with a show entitled "On The Brink Of Change: Gold Rush To A Better Tomorrow". They ended the competitive marching band season ranked 2nd place, with a score of 95.8 in group 6A, with a caption award of Best Effect.[21]
In 2014, the show was entitled Il Cuore Di Romano: The Heart of the Roman Empire. The band had an undefeated season and were Group VIA NJ State and Group VIA National Champions, winning all captions at the latter.[22] [23]
Athletics
The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Raiders[24] compete in the Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in the county and was established following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[25] Prior to the 2010 reorganization, the school had competed in the Watchung Conference, which consisted of public and private high schools in Essex, Hudson and Union counties.[26] With 1,152 students in grades 10–12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group IV for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 1,060 to 5,049 students in that grade range.[27] The football team competes in Division 4 of the Big Central Football Conference, which includes 60 public and private high schools in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, Union and Warren counties, which are broken down into 10 divisions by size and location.[28] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group IV North for football for 2022–2024, which included schools with 895 to 1,296 students.[29]
The school has a longstanding rivalry with Westfield High School, with the two schools first competing against each other in football in 1901.[30]
The boys spring / outdoor track team won the Group IV state championship in 1963, 1964 and 1967, and won the Group III title in 1998 (as co-champion).[31]
The girls' tennis team won the North state championship in 1971 and 1972.[32]
The 1977 boys' baseball team finished the season with a record of 29–3 after winning the Group IV state championship by defeating Piscataway High School by a score of 1–0 in the final game of the tournament.[33] [34] The team won the Union County Tournament championship in 1969, 1976, 2004 and 2009.[35] They also won the 2019 Union County Tournament, with a 4–0 win against Arthur L. Johnson High School in the finals.[36]
The boys' soccer team won the Group III state championship in 1986 (as co-champion with Randolph High School), 1987 (vs. Wall High School), 1989 (vs. Bridgewater-Raritan High School), 1991 (vs. Lacey Township High School), 1992 (vs. Wall Township High School), 1995 (as co-champion with Ocean City High School), 1997 (vs. Brick Memorial High School) and 1998 (vs. Delsea Regional High School).[37]
The football team won the North II Group III state championship in 1990 with a 25–12 win against West Morris Central High School in the tournament final, after coming back from a 12–0 deficit early in the first half.[38] [39]
The Scotch Plains-Fanwood girls swim team won their first state championship title in 2005 and won again in 2006 and 2015.[40] The Lady Raider Swimmers defeated Princeton High School 100–70 to win the 2015 Group B State championship.[41] The Lady Raiders won the Union County Championship for five consecutive years (2015 to 2019).
The boys' basketball team won the Group III state championship in 2008, defeating Timber Creek Regional High School in the tournament final.[42]
The Scotch Plains-Fanwood boys swim team won their only Group B state championship in 2011.[40] The boys have won four Union County Championships (1999, 2002, 2010, 2011). The boys also have won fourteen sectional championships (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019) and are common contenders for the state title. They returned to the state championship for multiple consecutive years most recently in 2019 after winning against Ridgewood High School in the state semi-finals[43] but they fell to Mainland Regional High School.[44]
The boys track team won the winter / indoor Group III state title in 2019.[45] The boys track team also won the Group III indoor relay championship in 2019.[46]
The girls spring / outdoor track team won the Group IV state championship in 2022.[47]
The girls volleyball program won the Central Jersey Group III sectional championship in 2021, the program's first, defeating Colonia High School in the tournament finals.[48]
The boys volleyball program has won six consecutive Union County Tournament titles from 2018 to 2024 (with the 2020 season cancelled due to COVID); the team won in 2018 (vs. Summit High School), 2019 (vs. Union High School), 2021 (vs. Union), 2022 (vs. Union),2023 (vs. Summit).[49] [50] and 2024 (vs. Westfield High School).[51] In 2022, the boys volleyball program won the North II sectional championship over Union High School.[52] In 2023, the team won the North Group III Sectional championship with a victory over Hackensack High School[53] and capped off the season with a Group III state championship victory over Colts Neck High School to finish the year with a record of 31–1.[54]
Administration
The school's principal is Warren Hynes. Core members of the school's administration include the three assistant principals.[55]
Notable alumni
Many of the alumni listed below have been inducted into the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Hall of Fame.[56]
Business, industry and media
Government and public service
- Carol Bellamy (born 1942, class of 1959), executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)[56] [60]
- Donald DiFrancesco (born 1944, class of 1962), elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1976 and moved to the New Jersey Senate in 1979, serving as the Senate President for 10 years and as acting governor of New Jersey for 11 months[56] [61]
- Peter Emery (1926–2004, class of 1943), Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom, who served for 40 years in the House of Commons[56] [62] [63]
- Christian J. Lambertsen (1917-2011, class of 1934), environmental medicine and diving medicine specialist who developed the United States Navy frogmen's rebreathers in the early 1940s and created the acronym "SCUBA"[56] [64]
- Zahid Quraishi, United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and a former United States magistrate judge of the same court. He is the first Muslim Article III judge in the United States[65]
- Todd D. Robinson (born, class of 1981), American diplomat who was U.S. ambassador to Guatemala and Venezuela, and was a senior advisor for Central America in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs[56] [66]
- Linda Stender (born 1951, class of 1969), member of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 22nd Legislative District from 2002 to 2016, who was formerly the mayor of Fanwood[56] [67]
- Allen Weh (born 1943, class of 1960), retired military officer and politician in New Mexico[68]
Sports
- Bill Austin (born 1937, class of 1955), former football player[56] [69]
- Derrick Caracter (born 1988), professional basketball player for Capitanes de Arecibo of the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional, who played in the NBA for the Los Angeles Lakers[70]
- Michael Dwumfour (born 1998), American football defensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns[71]
- Rashan Gary (born 1997), defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers team who transferred to Paramus Catholic High School after his sophomore year[72]
- Scott Goldblatt (born 1979, class of 1997), swimmer who won a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, with both medals earned in the 4 × 200 m Freestyle Relay[73]
- Jeffrey Hammonds (born 1971, class of 1989), baseball Olympian, twelve years in major leagues including one all-star appearance[56] [74]
- Nate Jones (born 1982), cornerback who played in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos and New England Patriots[75] [76]
- Hillary Klimowicz (born 1987), professional basketball player for Limoges ABC[77]
- Jim Lambert (born 1966, class of 1984), track & field writer for The Star-Ledger[78]
- Bryan Meredith (born 1989), former professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper, and current coach[79]
- James Murphy (born 1997), soccer player who previously played as a midfielder for MLS club Los Angeles FC and Arbroath F.C. of Scottish Championship. He currently plays for Rio Grande Valley FC in the USL Championship[80]
- John Murphy (born 2000), soccer player who last played as a midfielder for USL Championship club Loudoun United[81]
- Renaldo Nehemiah (born 1959, class of 1977), held 110 meter hurdles record for years, twice Superstars champion and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver[56] [82]
- John Pak (born 1998), golfer[83]
- Joe Scarpati (born 1943, class of 1960), former NFL safety for the Philadelphia Eagles and the New Orleans Saints who was the holder for Tom Dempsey's previous record 63yd field goal in 1970[56] [84]
- Jim Shreve (1926-2018, class of 1945), football, basketball and lacrosse coach, who served as the head football coach at Moravian College from 1951 to 1954[56] [85]
- Lance Thomas (born 1988), power forward/center for the Brooklyn Nets, who attended Scotch Plains before graduating from St. Benedict's in 2006[86]
Fine arts
- Amy Lee, better known as Ailee (born 1989), a popular Korean-American singer who grew up in Scotch Plains and graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School[87] [88] She has earned wide recognition in South Korea, most notably as "Best New Female Artist" at the 2012 Mnet Asian Music Awards[89]
- Pat DiNizio (1955-2017, class of 1973), lead singer, songwriter, and founding member of the band The Smithereens[56] [90]
- John Bernard Riley (born 1955, class of 1971), jazz drummer who has recorded on over 40 albums and CDs with internationally renowned artists, winning two Grammy Awards out of 14 nominations[56] [91]
- Cynthia Sayer (class of 1974), jazz banjoist, vocalist, concert / recording artist and entertainer, who was inducted into the National Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame in 2006[92]
- Marc Shaiman (born 1959, class of 1974), Tony and Grammy winning composer, five time Academy Award-nominee[56] [93]
- Cecilia Tan (born 1967, class of 1985), writer, editor, sexuality activist, and founder of Circlet Press, the first press devoted primarily to erotic science fiction and fantasy[94]
- Sada Thompson (1927–2011, class of 1945), actress who appeared in the television series Family[56] [59]
- David S. Ware (1949–2012), jazz musician[95]
Controversies
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School has been the center of several controversies regarding its use of a logo with a Native American mascot. In September 2017, the school came under controversy when students raised concerns through a petition on change.org regarding the use of the former logo at sporting events by spectators in a fan group called Raider Nation. The petition garnered over 400 signatures. A counter petition was also created, stating that the school should return to using its original logo with a Native American head. The petitions gained news attention from NJ 101.5, Fox News, Courier News and NJ.com.[96]
External links
Notes and References
- https://www.spfk12.org/Domain/1022 Co-Curricular Activities
- http://www.nj.gov/education/pr/1415/narrative/39/4670/000.html Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District 2015 Report Card Narrative
- https://www.spfk12.org/domain/42 About Our District
- https://www.msa-cess.org/school-profile/?oId=0065e00000B8SAm&typ=school-profile Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
- https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3414670&ID=341467005676 School data for Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
- https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100866138/scotch-plains-fanwood-high-school-opens/ "New High School Opens for 1,081"
- Book: Suzanne Bousquet . Richard Bousquet . Scotch Plains and Fanwood . October 1, 1995 . . 9781439637128 . November 14, 2018.
- https://www.nj.gov/treasury/lgbr/schpdf/scotchplainsboe.pdf Local Government Budget Review: Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District
- https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/229044693/ "A historical tour of Scotch Plains-Fanwood"
- Staff. "America's Best High Schools 2016", Newsweek. Accessed November 11, 2016.
- Streib, Lauren. "America's Best High Schools", The Daily Beast, May 6, 2013. Accessed May 9, 2013.
- [Jay Mathews|Mathews, Jay]
- Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
- Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed September 12, 2012.
- Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed August 10, 2011.
- http://www.schooldigger.com/schoolrank.aspx?Level=3&findschool=1467005676 New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2010-2011
- http://www.thejointlibrary.org/archives/TheTimes/1988/1988-06-16/index.cgi?zoom=1&page=1 "Raiders trample Redskins for State Championship!"
- http://www.thejointlibrary.org/archives/TheTimes/1989/1989-06-08/pg_0002.pdf "Quiz Bowl alumni gather for meeting of the minds"
- http://www.papermill.org/_content/education/a4236540.doc Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards 2006 Award Recipients
- http://njaje.org/jazzfest/festiv.html 2011 Finals
- https://s3.amazonaws.com/eventdocuments.ussba.trigonroad.com/7C460E08-1517-8A12-D9CB017B4A68BB9C.jpg USBAnds National Championship November 11, 2012
- Staff. "Scotch Plains-Fanwood H.S. Marching Band wins Group 6-A Yamaha Cup Competition", Suburban News, November 3, 2014. Accessed November 19, 2017. "The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Raiders Marching Band took first place in Group 6-A at the annual Yamaha Cup competition, held Saturday, Nov. 1, at MetLife Stadium. The musicians and color guard performed their Roman Empire-themed 2014 show, "Il Cuore di Romano," on the home field of the football Giants and Jets. The event came one week after Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School won the US Bands Group 6-A New Jersey State Championship at the Rutgers University stadium in Piscataway."
- Staff. "Scotch Plains-Fanwood H.S. Marching Band wins USBands National Championship", Suburban News, November 10, 2014. Accessed November 19, 2017. "The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Marching Band capped an undefeated competition season on Nov. 8, by sweeping the awards in Group 6A at the US Bands A Class National Championships show at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown, Pa. With an overall score of 92.875, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Raiders band took first place in Group 6A, plus the awards for Best Color Guard, Best Percussion, Best Music, Best Visuals and Best Overall Effect."
- https://www.njsiaa.org/schools/scotch-plains-fanwood-high-school Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
- https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-10/2020-2021-lc-officers-schools.pdf League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021
- https://web.archive.org/web/20110207103530/http://watchungconference.com/ Home Page
- https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/general-classifications-2018-2020.pdf NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020
- Kinney, Mike. "Big Central revises 2020 football schedule for its shortened inaugural season", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 12, 2020. Accessed April 18, 2021. "The newly formed Big Central Football Conference has released a revised 2020 schedule for its inaugural season.... the BCFC is comprised of schools from Middlesex, Union, Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties."
- https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2022-08/Football%20%2722%20%26%20%2723.pdf NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2022–2024
- Celock, John. "Westfield, Scotch Plains Sports Rivalry 108 Years Old Rival schools to meet four days this week, culminating in football Saturday.", Westfield, NJ, Patch, October 12, 2009. Accessed September 29, 2020. "Westfield and Scotch Plains-Fanwood, who first met on the football field in 1901, will meet once more Saturday afternoon in Scotch Plains."
- https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-08/21-history.pdf NJSIAA Boys Spring Track Summary of Group Titles
- https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-10/21-girls-team-tennis-history.pdf History of NJSIAA Girls Team Tennis Championships
- https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/20-baseball-history.pdf NJSIAA Baseball Championship History
- Pall, Tom. "Piscataway tumbles, 1-0, as Reilly outduels Ochal", Home News, June 12, 1977. Accessed February 9, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Scotch Plains High School pitcher Ed Reilly has garnered numerous accolades this year, regarded as one of the top scholastic baseball players from Union County. And Reilly, the powerfully-built righthander, certainly showed how he earned his credentials, pitching and batting Scotch Plains to the NJSIAA State Group IV championship, nipping Piscataway, 1-0. yesterday at Mercer County Park.... Scotch Plains (29-3) scored its only run in the first inning on Reilly' s run-scoring single to rightfield."
- https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/article/baseball-the-history-of-the-union-county-tournament/ "Baseball: The history of the Union County Tournament"
- Frezza, Harry. "Scotch-Plains Fanwood baseball completes surprise run to UCT title", Courier News, May 15, 2019. Accessed September 17, 2020. "Sixth-seeded Scotch Plains-Fanwood topped No. 4 seed A.L. Johnson 4-0 on Wednesday night at Kean University for its fourth county championship and first since 2009 behind senior lefty Patrick Cuccurullo, timely hitting and outstanding defense."
- https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-12/21-boys-soccer-history.pdf NJSIAA History of Boys Soccer
- https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-12/21-football.pdf NJSIAA Football History
- https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/499550420/ "Scotch Plains rallies to beat West Morris"
- https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/20-swimming-history.pdf History of NJSIAA Team Swimming
- Dzenis, Brian. "Princeton girls swimming loses numbers game to Scotch Plains-Fanwood in Public B final", The Trentonian, February 22, 2015. Accessed February 7, 2016. "Despite taking first place in seven on the 11 events, the No. 2 seed Little Tigers lost the battle of unbeatens with No. 1 seed Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 100-70, in the Public B championship at The College of New Jersey."
- https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/2020-basketball-history_0.pdf NJSIAA Boys Basketball Championship History
- https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/article/ridgewood-76-at-scotch-plains-fanwood-94-njsiaa-group-tournament-semifinal-round-public-b-boys-swimming/ "Scotch Plains-Fanwood boys swimming rallies to win in Public B semis"
- https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/article/scotch-plains-fanwood-72-at-mainland-98-njsiaa-group-tournament-final-round-public-b-boys-swimming/ "Mainland boys swimming captures fourth straight Public B title (PHOTOS)"
- https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2024-01/Boys%20Indoor%20Track%20%26%20Field_0.pdf Boys Winter Track and Field Championship History: 1922-2023
- https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-12/20-relay-history_0.pdf History of the NJSIAA Indoor Relay Championships
- https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-08/21-spring-track-group-history.pdf NJSIAA Girls Spring Track Summary of Group Titles
- https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2021/04/scotch-plains-fanwood-in-trying-season-beats-colonia-for-1st-girls-volleyball-title.html "Scotch Plains-Fanwood, in trying season, beats Colonia for 1st girls volleyball title"
- Potter, PJ. "Boys volleyball: No. 2 Scotch Plains-Fanwood claims UCC championship", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 18, 2022. Accessed June 11, 2023. "For the fourth straight time, Scotch Plains-Fanwood stands atop the UCC. The Raiders, ranked No. 2 in the NJ.com Top 20, took down No. 9 Union 25-19, 25-22 for the conference championship on Wednesday at Kean University."
- Patuto, Greg. "No. 2 Scotch Plains-Fanwood back on top, wins fifth-consecutive Union County Championship", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 18, 2023. Accessed June 11, 2023. "Top-seeded Scotch Plains-Fanwood defeated second-seeded Summit 25-15, 25-15 to win its fifth-consecutive Union County Championship on Thursday night at Kean University in Union.... This was a rematch of the county final from 2018, which is when the Raiders began their streak."
- Hugel, Donovan. "Scotch Plains-Fanwood is a regional school district comprised of students in Grades Preschool-Grade12 from the Township of Scotch Plains and the Borough of Fanwood. The district has five elementary schools (Preschool-Grade 4), 2 middle schools (Grades 5-8), and one comprehensive high school (Grades 9-12).", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 17, 2024. Accessed May 28, 2024. "The top-seeded Raiders (26-1) powered past second-seeded Westfield (13-10) in two sets (25-14, 25-19) to win its sixth consecutive Union County Tournament championship, at Kean University in Union."
- Bernstein, Jason. "Boys Volleyball: No. 2 Scotch Plains-Fanwood downs No. 10 Union for North 2 title", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 3, 2022, updated February 16, 2023. Accessed June 11, 2023. "Led by Jeremy Zimmerman’s 10 kills, seven digs and two blocks, top-seeded Scotch Plains-Fanwood, No. 2 in the NJ.com Top 20, defeated second-seeded and No. 10 Union, 25-18, 25-21 in the NJSIAA JAG-ONE Physical Therapy North Jersey, Section 2 final in Scotch Plains."
- Hugel, Donovan. "No. 2 Scotch Plains-Fanwood rolls over No. 9 Hackensack to repeat as sectional champ", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 7, 2023. Accessed June 11, 2023. "That was how long it took for Scotch Plains-Fanwood, No. 2 in the NJ.com Top 20, to assert its dominance over No. 9 Hackensack, which had proven itself to be one of the best teams in the state during the most important and hyped week of the season.... In just two sets (25-14, 25-15), the top-seeded Raiders (30-1) trounced the third-seeded Comets (24-3) in the North, Group 3 title game to repeat as sectional champions and move on to the Group 3 final against Colts Neck on Saturday."
- Hugel, Donovan. "Boys Volleyball: No. 2 Scotch Plains-Fanwood finishes off dream season with state title", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 10, 2023. Accessed June 11, 2023. "A 31-1 record, just four lost sets, and three championships.... The Raiders, ranked No. 2 in the NJ.com Top 20, clinched the only championship it was missing from its resume with a two sets to none victory over No. 12 Colts Neck in the NJSIAA Group 3 state championship game. As usual the Raiders were clinical, efficient, and dominant with set victories of 25-15 and 25-14."
- https://nj50000526.schoolwires.net/site/Default.aspx?PageID=408 Our School
- https://www.spfk12.org/Page/9070 Alumni Hall of Fame
- Mooney, John. "NJ Devils Co-Owner David Blitzer Will Return to Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School for Hall of Fame Induction", TAPinto Springfield, December 9, 2018. Accessed April 25, 2023. "David S. Blitzer, a co-owner of the New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia 76ers, and Crystal Palace FC, will return to Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School on December 11 for his induction into the school's Hall of Fame. A graduate of the class of 1987, Blitzer went on to study at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated magna cum laude."
- Mooney, John. "NJ Devils Co-Owner David Blitzer Will Return to Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School for Hall of Fame Induction", TAP into Scotch Plains / Fanwood, December 9, 2018. Accessed August 12, 2019. "Amy Nutt '73, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, investigative and science reporter and author"
- Staff, "New inductees to Scotch Plains-Fanwood H.S. Hall of Fame", Suburban News, October 9, 2014. Accessed June 18, 2016. "Peter Schultz. Class of 1960. He invented an optical fiber which is the basis for the Internet.... Sada Thompson. Class of 1945. Now deceased, Sada starred as an actress in productions off-Broadway, Broadway, TV and films."
- Thompson, Clifford. "Carol Bellamy", Current Biography Yearbook, p. 53. H. W. Wilson Company, 1999. . Accessed August 10, 2011. "Bellamy acted in student productions of musicals at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, from which she graduated in 1959."
- DiFulco, Pasquale. "Senate president has eye on new job", Courier News, June 1, 1999, backed up by the Internet Archive as of November 7, 2012. Accessed November 13, 2018. "DiFrancesco was popular enough at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School to be elected senior class president."
- Conklin, Sean. "Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS Hall of Fame Inducts Eight New Members", TAP into Scotch Plains / Fanwood, November 19, 2015. Accessed August 12, 2019. "Sir Peter Emery, Class of 1943, member of the British Parliament for more than four decades and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. Emery served as a junior minister and as spokesman for the Treasury, Economics and Trade under Sir Edward Heath, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970-74."
- Roth, Andrew. "Sir Peter Emery A loyal partisan Tory who was among the last surviving 1959 Commons' entrants from Harold Macmillan's "you never had it so good" era", The Guardian, December 10, 2004. Accessed August 12, 2019. "The second world war caused his evacuation to the United States, where he was educated at the Scotch Plains High School, New Jersey, but he returned for his degree at Oriel College, Oxford, where he was librarian of the Union."
- Conklin, Sean. "Scenes from 2016 Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS Hall of Fame Induction", TAPinto.net, November 16, 2016. Accessed August 12, 2019. "Dr. Christian Lambertsen, (deceased) Class of 1934, a Major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1944-46, Lambertsen invented the Self-contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA)."
- News: Wiessner . Daniel . 2021-06-11 . Senate confirms first federal Muslim judge in U.S. history . en . Reuters . 2022-08-14.
- Straehley, Steve. "U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala: Who Is Todd Robinson?", AllGov.com, August 17, 2014. Accessed November 13, 2018. "Robinson is from Fanwood, New Jersey and graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in 1981."
- Staff. "Linda Stender", Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, p. 205. Skinder-Strauss Associates, 2005. . Accessed August 10, 2011. "She attended elementary schools in Union County, and graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School."
- https://combatveteransforcongress.org/alumni/3119 Col Allen Weh
- O'Gorman, George. "Rutgers' Bill Austin to be honored by NJ Sportswriters", The Trentonian, January 24, 2011. Accessed October 1, 2015. "Now 74 years old and living in Camarillo, Calif. Austin is still a football legend in New Jersey, and especially on the banks of the Raritan.... Austin, a Fanwood native who earned high school stardom at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High, earned All-American honors in two sports at Rutgers as a senior."
- Goodman, Jeff. "Heralded recruit struggles with expectations", USA Today, November 16, 2005. Accessed November 13, 2018.
- https://jetswire.usatoday.com/lists/things-to-know-new-york-jets-undrafted-free-agent-michael-dwumfour-rutgers/ "4 things to know about Jets' UDFA DL Michael Dwumfour"
- Dunleavy, Ryan. "Rashan Gary commits to Michigan as No. 1 recruit in nation", Asbury Park Press, February 3, 2016. Accessed February 7, 2016. "Gary spent the first two seasons of his career at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School before transferring to state powerhouse Paramus Catholic in the summer of 2014. Gary's move sparked always ready-to-flare tensions between public and non-public schools in the state over alleged recruiting."
- Frezza Jr., Harry. "Central Jerseyans chase their Olympic dreams", Courier News, August 12, 2004, backed up by the Internet Archive as of August 19, 2016. Accessed November 13, 2018. "Swimmer Scott Goldblatt, a 1997 Scotch Plains-Fanwood High graduate and a silver medalist at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia, who is returning for his second Olympiad."
- Olson, Drew. "Rich brew: Hammonds breaks bank of Brewers", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 22, 2000. Accessed December 13, 2007.
- Malool, Amanda. "District honors NFL’s Nate Jones ’00; retires #22", The Fanscotian, November 27, 2012. Accessed November 13, 2018. "In June, 2000, Nate Jones was graduating Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. In June, 2012, his jersey was being retired to mark his outstanding academic and athletic career; the first jersey in the football program at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School."
- http://www.goleader.com/05feb10/ Professional Donation
- https://tcnjathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3365 Hillary Klimowicz
- Montferrat, Pat. "10 Questions With...\ Jim Lambert", MileSplit, January 11, 2017. Accessed March 30, 2017. "When I got to high school (Scotch Plains-Fanwood) I couldn't wait to join the school paper."
- Staff. "Hawks hosting NEC soccer tournament After clinching sixth straight regular-season crown", The Hub, November 11, 2010. Accessed November 13, 2018. "'Winning the regular-season championship has become a tradition here, and I'm glad that we can keep that going,' added fellow Hermann Trophy candidate Bryan Meredith (Scotch Plains, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School)."
- Bernstein, Jason. "James Murphy of Scotch Plains is named Gatorade New Jersey Boys Soccer Player of the Year", The Star-Ledger, February 13, 2014. Accessed August 10, 2016. "On the soccer field Scotch Plains' James Murphy has the ability to anticipate just about anything that comes his ways. Despite an already lengthy list awards, he did not expect to be named the 2013-14 Gatorade New Jersey Boys Soccer Player of the Year."
- https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/article/all-stater-john-murphy-surpasses-senior-year-at-scotch-plain-to-play-for-red-bulls-academy/ "All-stater John Murphy not returning to Scotch Plains to pursue possible pro career with NY Red Bulls"
- Konecky, Chad. "Player Profile: Cordera Jenkins (Dickinson, Texas)", RISE Magazine, March 29, 2006. Accessed July 3, 2007. "In 1977, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High (N.J.) senior Renaldo Nehemiah, who later won a Super Bowl ring as a San Francisco 49ers wideout, ran a computer-timed 12.98 in the 120yd high hurdles, which remains the fastest finish over an equivalent distance in scholastic history."
- https://seminoles.com/sports/golf/roster/john-pak/ John Pak
- http://www.goleader.com/misc/97nov13/sp.pdf "Honoring Former High School Greats"
- Mink, Nate. "Former Syracuse football player, assistant Jim Shreve, 92, has died", The Post-Standard, January 4, 2019. Accessed August 12, 2019. "Shreve arrived at Syracuse University from Scotch Plains High School (N.J.) on a scholarship in 1945, played basketball for Lew Andreas, left school to serve one year in the United States Army, returned to play defensive back for Schwartzwalder and embarked on a coaching career that would eventually lead him back to Syracuse."
- Carino, Jerry. "Lance Thomas' work ethic pays off", Courier News, April 1, 2010. Accessed July 1, 2011. "Six years ago, as a sophomore at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, Lance Thomas filled out Duke University's recruiting questionnaire and faxed it in, hoping he could catch the attention of his dream college basketball program."
- http://www.goleader.com/08jul03/19.pdf "Congratulations to The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Graduating Class of 2008"
- http://www.ymcent.com/YMC/ "YMC Entertainment Official Website"
- http://www.allkpop.com/2012/11/winners-from-the-2012-mnet-asian-music-awards "Winners from the 2012 Mnet Asian Music Awards"
- Slotnik, Daniel E. "Pat DiNizio, Singer and Songwriter for the Smithereens, Dies at 62", The New York Times, December 13, 2017. Accessed July 23, 2019. "Patrick Michael DiNizio was born in Plainfield, N.J., on Oct. 12, 1955, to Nicholas DiNizio, who ran a waste management business, and the former Antoinette Gallo. He grew up nearby in Scotch Plains and graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School before attending several colleges, including Union County College in Cranford, N.J.; Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J.; and New York University."
- https://www.nj.com/suburbannews/index.ssf/2016/10/scotch_plains-fanwood_high_to_1.html "Scotch Plains-Fanwood High to induct 6 alumni into Hall of Fame"
- https://www.nj.com/suburbannews/2016/10/scotch_plains-fanwood_high_to_1.html "Scotch Plains-Fanwood High to induct 6 alumni into Hall of Fame"
- http://www.broadwayworld.com/read.cfm?prid=24000 "Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman perform benefit for Brook Arts Center"
- "Web site: Interview with Cecilia Tan. Mary Anne Mohanraj. Mary Anne Mohanraj. Strange Horizons. October 23, 2000 .
- La Gorce, Tammy. "A Gift of Life and Music: Musician David S. Ware, of Scotch Plains, recovered from a kidney transplant...with a little help from his fans.", New Jersey Monthly, December 14, 2009. Accessed August 9, 2011. "David S. Ware, 60, a tenor saxophonist from Scotch Plains, got more than support. He got a new kidney.... Having regained his health, Ware, a graduate of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, is planning to release an experimental jazz album this spring."
- Miscavage, Nick; and Tufaro, Greg. "Scotch Plains-Fanwood students call for ban of 'racist' symbols", Courier News / Home News Tribune, September 22, 2017. Accessed March 4, 2018. "Students at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School have started a petition calling for a ban to be placed on students and fans using Native American symbols."