St. Joseph Academy (New Jersey) Explained

St. Joseph Academy
Streetaddress:328 Vine Street
City:Hammonton
County:Atlantic County
State:New Jersey
Zipcode:08037
Country:United States
Coordinates:39.6371°N -74.8002°W
Pushpin Map:USA New Jersey Atlantic County#USA New Jersey#USA
District:Diocese of Camden
Religion:Roman Catholic
President:Stephen Cappuccio[1]
Head Of School:Stephen Cappuccio
Type:Private, Coeducational
Tuition:$11,715 (2022-23)[2]
Conference:Cape-Atlantic League (general)
West Jersey Football League (football)
Accreditation:Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Rival:Hammonton High School
Holy Spirit High School
Team Name:Wildcats
Colors: Red and
white
Newspaper:The Voice
Established:1942 (as St. Joseph High School)
2021 (as St. Joseph Academy)
Enrollment:140 (as of 2021–22)
Faculty:14 FTEs
Ratio:10:1
Us Nces School Id:00864708
Grades:9-12

St. Joseph Academy is a four-year co-educational high school located in Hammonton, in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in grades 9 - 12. The Academy was established for the 2020-21 school year, replacing St. Joseph High School, which had operated since 1942 under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.[3] The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools through December 2025;[4] The school's accreditation status was extended for seven years in Fall 2018.[5] In 2020, the former school permanently closed because of financial problems that were exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic and the request from the Diocese of Camden.[6]

As of the 2021–22 school year, the school had an enrollment of 140 students and 14 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10:1. The school's student body was 70.0% (98) White, 22.9% (32) Black, 5.0% (7) Hispanic and 2.1% (3) Asian.[7]

History

After being established in 1935 as a combination preparatory school and seminary in 1935, the high school was opened to all attendees in 1942.[8]

The school had seen enrollment decline from 331 students in 2015 down to 206 in 2020, a 38% decline, and was carrying more than $6 million in debt.[9]

In April 2020, the Diocese of Camden announced that, despite its status as a football powerhouse, St. Joseph was one of five Catholic schools in New Jersey which would close permanently at the end of the school year on June 30, 2020, due to financial problems caused by lack of sufficient enrollment in recent years and lack of community fundraising, which the school reliant on less significant diocesan and parish fundraising.[10] An offer which was made by fundraisers in June 2020 to purchase the school facility was rejected by the Diocese of Camden.[11]

Hammonton Public Schools acquired the building, which it leased to the independent St. Joseph Academy.[12] The academy, which opened in 2020, is not affiliated with the diocese.[13]

Athletics

The St. Joseph Academy Wildcats[14] compete in the National Division of the Cape-Atlantic League, an athletic conference comprising public and private high schools located in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Gloucester counties, that operates under the aegis of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.[15] With 203 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Non-Public B for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 37 to 366 students in that grade range (equivalent to Group I for public schools).[16] The football team competes in the Independence Division of the 94-team West Jersey Football League superconference[17] [18] and was classified by the NJSIAA as Non-Public Group B (equivalent to Group I for public schools) for football for 2022–2024, which included schools with 64 to 223 students.[19]

St. Joseph's football team won 28 state championships in the playoff era that started in 1974, including in Non-Public B South in 1977 (awarded by NJSIAA[20]), 1983, 1985 and 1989–1993; in Non-Public I in 1996, 1997, 1999–2002, 2004 and 2011–2015; in Non-Public II in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2017 and 2018; and in Non-Public I/II in 2010.[21] [22] The team won the 1985 South Jersey Group B state sectional title with a 33-8 win against Saint James High School in the championship game.[23] The 1989 team won the Parochial B South title with a 19-0 win in the playoff final against three-time defending champion Bishop Eustace.[24] The team won the Non-Public Group I title in 1996 with a 28-16 win in the championship game against Marist High School played at The College of New Jersey.[25] The 2000 team won the Non-Public Group I title against St. Mary High School by a score of 47-7 in the championship game played at Kean University.[26] The team finished at 10-1 in 2001 after winning the Non-Public Group I state title with a 49-0 victory against Immaculate Conception High School of Montclair in the playoff finals.[27] The team won its seventh consecutive sectional title in 2015 with a 19–6 win against Hudson Catholic Regional High School in the Non-Public Group II playoff championship game.[28] In 2017, the team finished the season with a 12–0 record and won the Non-Public Group II state championship with a 30–14 win against third-seeded Mater Dei High School in the tournament final; the victory was the program's eighth in nine seasons, the only exception being in 2016, when Mater Dei won its first state championship with a 26–0 win against St. Joseph.[29] [30] Though only dating to 2000, NJ.com ranked the "Holy War" rivalry between St. Joseph and Holy Spirit High School 11th on its list "Ranking the 31 fiercest rivalries in N.J. HS football", with St. Joseph winning 12 of the 18 games played through 2017.[31] Head coach Paul Sacco finished the 2019 season with 20 state championships and an overall career record of 336-66-5 in his 39 years at St. Joseph, ranking him second in wins among active football coaches.[32]

The field hockey team won the South Jersey Group I state sectional championship in 2003, 2005, 2010, 2012.[33] Under Coach John DeMarco,[34] the team had won the Cape Atlantic League title for over 16 years, while also winning five South Jersey Non-Public state titles, and also making three state championship appearances. In 2013, the team had a string of victories including beating both state powerhouses including Camden Catholic High School [35] and Bishop Eustace Prep.

The wrestling team won the Non-Public B South state sectional championship in 1991, 1997, 1998 and 2006. The team won the Non-Public B state championship in 1998.[36] The wrestling team won the Non-Public, South B sectional title in 2006 with a 45–31 win over Sacred Heart High School in the tournament final.[37]

The softball team won the 2007 Non-Public South B state sectional championship with a string of shutout victories over Timothy Christian School (15-0) in the first round, St. Rose High School (6-0) n the semifinals and Gloucester Catholic High School (2-0) in the tournament final.[38]

The boys track team won the Non-Public Group B spring / outdoor track state championship in 2011 and 2013-2015.[39] The team won the South Jersey Non-Public B sectional title in 2011 for the first time in school history, edging the Pingry School by a single point after winning the 4x400-meter relay, the final event held at the meet.[40] One week later, the boys won the state championship for the first time ever at South Plainfield High School.[41]

Teacher controversy

In June 2005, religion teacher and athletics coach Michael McColgan was arrested on charges brought against him in relation to child pornography traced back to his online account. Upon searching his home, authorities discovered dozens more images on his personal computer and also copied onto disk.[42] McColgan pleaded guilty and was sentenced in a federal court in May 2006 to 48 months in prison for possession of child pornography.[43]

Notable alumni

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://online.fliphtml5.com/acldx/qbjy/#p=2 2022-2023 Student Handbook
  2. https://stjosephacademy.com/tuition/ Tuition and Fees
  3. McGarry, Mike. "St. Joseph Academy returns to Vine Street in Hammonton", The Press of Atlantic City, August 27, 2020. Accessed February 19, 2021. "St. Joseph Academy in Hammonton finally has a home.... The academy announced Wednesday night it will be located at the former St. Joseph building at 328 Vine St.... Almost immediately, students, parents, friends and alumni formed St. Joe Strong and began to raise money and develop plans to keep both schools open. The group was able to raise enough money and interest to reopen the high school under the Academy name."
  4. https://www.msa-cess.org/school-profile/?oId=0065e00000B8SAX&typ=school-profile Saint Joseph Academy
  5. https://www.msa-cess.org/Customized/Uploads/ByDate/2018/October_2018/October_19th_2018/Fall%202018%20Accreditation%20Actions07238.pdf MSA-CESS Fall 2018 Accreditation Actions
  6. Yates, Riley. "5 N.J. Catholic schools to close, including South Jersey football powerhouse", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, April 17, 2020. Accessed August 13, 2020.
  7. https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&ID=00864708 School data for St Joseph High School
  8. http://www.stjoek12.org/About/History.aspx Our History
  9. https://www.camdendiocese.org/five-catholic-schools-in-the-diocese-of-camden-to-close-at-end-of-school-year/ "Five Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Camden to close at end of school year"
  10. Yates, Riley. "5 N.J. Catholic schools to close, including South Jersey football powerhouse", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. April 17, 2020. Accessed February 19, 2021. "Five Catholic schools in southern New Jersey are closing permanently because of financial problems made worse by the coronavirus pandemic, the Diocese of Camden announced Friday. The schools will be shuttered at the end of the academic year, and include Saint Joseph High School in Hammonton, a South Jersey football powerhouse."
  11. McGarry, Mike. "St. Joseph backers say Camden Diocese has rejected their offer to buy school, fields", The Press of Atlantic City, June 6, 2020. Accessed February 19, 2021. "The survival hopes of St. Joseph High School and Elementary School took another hit Friday night. In a statement, St. Joe Strong, a task force dedicated to saving both schools, said the Diocese of Camden had rejected its offer to buy the St. Joe Elementary School building on Third Street and the school’s athletic fields on Wood Street."
  12. McGarry, Mike. "St. Joseph Academy returns to Vine Street in Hammonton", The Press of Atlantic City, August 27, 2020. Accessed April 16, 2021. "St. Joseph Academy in Hammonton finally has a home. It’s a familiar one. The academy announced Wednesday night it will be located at the former St. Joseph building at 328 Vine St. The academy will lease the building from the Hammonton Board of Education."
  13. Hawk, Tim. "Shuttered N.J. Catholic school revived as private academy by alumni, supporters", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 15, 2020. Accessed April 16, 2021. "Once Saint Joseph Academy opens on Sept. 21 it will be an independent private school for students grades 9 through 12 with a tuition of approximately $11,000 and nearly 150 students deeply rooted in Roman Catholic faith, DiGerolamo said, and will not be part of the diocese."
  14. https://www.njsiaa.org/schools/saint-joseph-academy Saint Joseph Academy
  15. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-10/2020-2021-lc-officers-schools.pdf League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021
  16. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/general-classifications-2018-2020.pdf NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020
  17. https://www.gridironnewjersey.com/schoolDetail.aspx?schoolid=291 St. Joseph (Hamm.) Wildcats
  18. https://www.westjerseyfootball.com Home Page
  19. 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
  20. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/173610343/ "Probable pairings in NJSIAA football"
  21. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-12/21-football.pdf NJSIAA Football History
  22. Friedman, Josh. "Championship preview: St. Joseph faces Mater Dei in Non-Public 2 final", Courier-Post, November 30, 2017. Accessed December 7, 2017. "Sectional titles: St. Joseph 25 (1977, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015); Mater Dei 1 (2016)"
  23. Langerman, Chuck. "Gabriel, Bannister lead St. Joe's to S. J. crown", Courier-Post, November 24, 1985. Accessed January 17, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Running backs Kelly Gabriel and Brian Bannister each rushed for over 100 yards and teamed for five touchdowns to help give St. Joseph High School of Hammonton a 33-8 victory over St. James here yesterday for the South Jersey Group B championship. Overall, St. Joe's has captured the Group B crown three times, including 1977 when it was the automatic champion."
  24. McKee, Don. "For tiny Woodbury High, years of dominance", The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 4, 1989. Accessed February 19, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Bishop Eustace has qualified seven times and has won a record five titles, despite Saturday's 19-0 loss to St. Joseph. The school won three straight titles from 1986 to 1988, and is the only school from the seven-county South Jersey area to have accomplished that feat.'
  25. Haley, John. "Franklin 'special' in win", Asbury Park Press, December 9, 1996. Accessed December 1, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "St. Joseph (Hammont0n) 28, Marist 16: Behind the running of seniors Ed Silipena and Rob Mauriello and junior Carmine Avellino, St. Joseph exploded for 203 yards to defeat Marist 28-16 and win the state Parochial Group I championship at the College of New Jersey."
  26. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/499866305/ "A perfect ending; Hackensack justifies No. 1 ranking"
  27. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/224723538/ "Phillipsburg stuns favored Montclair"
  28. Zedalis, Joe. "St. Joseph (Hamm.) wins 7th straight sectional title; tops Hudson Cath. in NP2 final", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 6, 2015. Accessed December 7, 2017. "St. Joseph (10-2) played solid defense from start to finish then used its powerhouse, off-tackle, downhill running game to wear down Hudson Catholic and the Wildcats won their seventh straight sectional title with a 19-6 victory in the NJSIAA/Sports Care Institute Non-Public Group 2 championship."
  29. Evans, Bill. "Townsel, Byers rush for 431 yards as St. Joseph (Hamm.) finishes 12-0", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 3, 2017. Accessed December 7, 2017. "After a 26-0 loss to Mater Dei in last year's Non-Public Group 2 championship ended a 7-year run of state championships, the St. Joseph (Hamm.) football team bounced back in a big way.The Wildcats capped a 12-0 season by avenging the defeat to Mater Dei a year ago with a 30-14 win on Sunday. St. Joseph (Hamm.) avenged all four losses from last season as it also defeated Holy Spirit, Cedar Creek and St. Augustine."
  30. http://highschoolsports.nj.com/tournament/63628/ "Football - 2017 NJSIAA Non-Public, Group 2 Playoffs"
  31. Stypulkoski, Matt. "Ranking the 31 fiercest rivalries in N.J. HS football", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 27, 2017, updated May 15, 2019. Accessed December 1, 2020. "11-Holy Spirit vs. St. Joseph (Hamm.) This matchup is relatively recent as it started in 2000 but as both teams became contenders in their respective statewide groups over the past 10-15 years this became a must-see game dubbed the Holy War..... All-time series: St. Joseph (Hamm.) leads, 12-6."
  32. Koob, Andrew. "N.J. football′s winningest active head coaches in 2020", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 27, 2020, updated October 1, 2020. Accessed December 6, 2020. "2-Paul Sacco, St. Joseph (Hamm). Record: 336-66-5 Winning Percentage: 83.6 Years as head coach: 39 seasons; all at St. Joseph (Hamm.) At the helm of his alma mater, Sacco has led the Wildcats to 20 state titles"
  33. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-12/21-girls-field-hockey_0.pdf History of NJSIAA Field Hockey Championships
  34. https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/high_school/new_jersey/20131211_St__Joe_s_DeMarco_is_coach_of_year.html "Coach John DeMarco"
  35. https://www.inquirer.com/sports/high_school/nj/20131109_Fri__S_J__girls__St__Joseph_edges_Camden_Catholic.html Camden Catholic High School
  36. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/2020-wrestling-history.pdf NJSIAA Wrestling Team Championship History
  37. http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=141653&tclass=Non-Public%2C%20South%20B 2006 Team Wrestling - Non-Public, South B
  38. http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=220864&tclass=South%20B 2007 Softball - South B
  39. https://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2021-08/21-history.pdf NJSIAA Boys Spring Track Summary of Group Titles
  40. McGarry, Michael. "Bridgeton, St. Joseph win South Jersey track and field team championships at Buena Regional", The Press of Atlantic City, May 29, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2011. "While Bridgeton has a strong tradition, the St. Joseph boys are just building one.The Hammonton school won its first South Jersey title, edging second-place Pingry 102-101. The Wildcats clinched the championship by winning the meet's last event - the 4x400-meter relay."
  41. Iezzi, Bill. "Timber Creek, Haddonfield, and St. Joseph of Hammonton win state boys' track titles", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 5, 2011. Accessed June 5, 2011. "Timber Creek won its fourth consecutive Group 3 crown, Haddonfield defended its Group 2 title, and St. Joseph of Hammonton won its first team championship.... Carl Watson was the key to St. Joseph's winning its first state team title. The junior won the 100, 200, and 400, and anchored the victorious 4x400 relay."
  42. https://web.archive.org/web/20070922004156/http://www.nbc10.com/news/4585483/detail.html "Catholic Religion Teacher Accused Of Possessing Child Pornography"
  43. http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/files/mcc00512_r.htm "Former High School Teacher Sentenced to 48 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Pornography"
  44. http://gobonnies.sbu.edu/sports/m-soccer/mtt/bellamy_tyler00.html?view=bio Tyler Bellamy
  45. https://monmouthhawks.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1011 Dave Calloway
  46. http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/politics/kellyanne-conway-st-joe-s-graduate-takes-over-donald-trump/article_7eb265da-6479-11e6-b947-53fea3fed8fe.html "Kellyanne Conway, St. Joe's graduate, takes over Donald Trump's campaign"
  47. Schroeder, Charles. "Hammonton's JD DiRenzo to fulfill boyhood dream by signing with NFL team: 'It's now my job to prove them right'", The Press of Atlantic City, May 2, 2023. Accessed December 19, 2023. "But DiRenzo, a 2017 St. Joseph High School graduate who played offensive line at Sacred Heart (Fairfield, Connecticut) and Rutgers universities, had worked too hard over too many years to think his boyhood dream of playing football at its highest level was over."
  48. Weinberg, David. "St. Joseph grad Gordon Hill signs with Chargers", The Press of Atlantic City, May 3, 2015. Accessed September 27, 2017. "Gordon Hill and Max Valles grew up together in Winslow Township and were teammates at St. Joseph High School in Hammonton."
  49. via United Press International. "Oakhurst Boy Wins NJ Legion Oratory Contest", The News (Paterson), March 13, 1965. Accessed January 18, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "The other three contestants in the order of finish were: Rita Marie Myers, 17, of 323 E Pleasant Ave.. Hammonton, a senior at St. Joseph's High School, Hammonton, 'The Fire of Our Founding Fathers Revitalized', a $100 scholarship."
  50. Silber, Zach. "Brian E. Rumpf (R-Ocean)", Observer.com, February 28, 2011. Accessed March 8, 2022. "Assemblyman Rumpf was born in Somerville on May 11, 1964. He graduated from St. Joseph High School and attended The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC where he graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts."
  51. Weinberg, David. "St. Joseph grad Max Valles is NFL's youngest draft prospect", The Press of Atlantic City, April 25, 2015. Accessed September 27, 2017. "Max Valles plans to watch the NFL draft next week with friends and family from his home in the Sicklerville section of Winslow Township. When the 2012 St. Joseph High School graduate does get picked - the outside linebacker/defensive end is projected to be selected in the middle rounds - his celebration will be subdued."

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