Neptune High School
Neptune High School is a comprehensive four-year community public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Neptune Township, in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as part of the Neptune Township Schools. Neptune Township Schools is one of New Jersey's 31 former Abbott districts. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1929.
As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,102 students and 91.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.1:1. There were 509 students eligible for free lunch and 109 eligible for reduced-cost lunch.
Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades from Neptune City attend Neptune High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Neptune City School District; in a study published in May 2015, the district looked at modifying its relationship with the Neptune Township district, considering leaving the agreement unchanged, adding students in grades 6–8 to the sending arrangement or a regionalization of the two districts.
History
Neptune High School was established in 1897 when the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association leased land at Main Street and Main Avenue in Ocean Grove to the Neptune Township Board of Education for educational purposes. The original building, completed in 1898, was designed by local architect Ernest A. Arend, and it was notable for its distinctive Romanesque architecture.Lida Doren served as the school's first principal and superintendent, making her the first woman in New Jersey to hold both positions simultaneously at a public high school. The school received architectural acclaim, including an award at the 1906 World's Fair.
The building served as the township’s main high school until a new facility opened on Neptune Boulevard in September 1960. After that, the original building was used intermittently for other educational purposes until the 1980s, when it was abandoned and fell into disrepair.
In 1994, the Ocean Grove Historic Preservation Society, led by Herbert Herbst, purchased the building for $1 and began a restoration process aimed at converting it into a community arts venue. Renovations began in 1996, and by 2004, the facility reopened as the Jersey Shore Arts Center, home to art studios, performances, and community events.
The school’s mascot and nickname also carry historical significance. “Scarlet Fliers” was coined in 1928 by student journalist James Lawrence Ogle in reference to the basketball team’s red uniforms and fast-paced play. King Neptune became the school’s official symbol during the same period, representing strength and knowledge. Although a red-tailed hawk was briefly used as a mascot in the early 2000s, the King Neptune emblem was formally reinstated in 2005.
Awards, recognition and rankings
Neptune High School has appeared in multiple rankings of New Jersey public high schools over the years.In New Jersey Monthly magazine’s most recent published rankings in September 2014, Neptune High School was listed as the 292nd-ranked public high school out of 339 statewide, based on a revised evaluation methodology. Previous rankings include:
- 283rd out of 328 schools in 2012,
- 268th out of 316 schools in 2008,
- 221st out of 316 schools in 2006.
- 28th out of 444 in "Most Diverse Public High Schools in New Jersey"
- 248th out of 525 in "Best High Schools for Athletes in New Jersey"
Athletics
The boys track team won the Group II spring / outdoor track state championship in 1939 and 1940.
The boys track team won the indoor track Group IV state championship in 1974 and 1976. The girls team won the Group IV championship in 1987, the Group II titles in 1995-96 and the Group III title in 2009.
In 1976, the boys' track team won the Group IV state indoor relay championship. The girls team won the Group III title in 1996.
The boys track team won the winter track Meet of Champions in 1976.
The 1980 boys' soccer team finished the season with a record of 21-3 after winning the program's first Group IV state championship, defeating Columbia High School in the tournament final at Mercer County Park by the score of 3–1.
The girls' basketball team won the Group IV state championships in 1984 against Plainfield High School, and won the Group III title in 2010 and 2011. The girls' basketball team won the 2011 state championship, topping St. John Vianney High School by a score of 67–48 in the finals of the Tournament of Champions in a game played at the Izod Center, earning the first ToC championship for the school and for any school in the Shore Conference.
The field hockey team won the Central Jersey Group IV state sectional title in 1984 and 1986, and won the Group IV state championship in 1986.
The girls spring track team was the Group IV state champion in 1987 and 2012.
Football
The Neptune High School football team has a longstanding tradition of competition in the Shore Conference and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. The Scarlet Fliers have won the Central Jersey Group III state sectional title four times: in 1995, 1997, 1998, and most recently in 2011.In 2011, Neptune completed an undefeated season and captured the sectional title with a 22–14 victory over Steinert High School. The team was noted for its strong defensive performance throughout the season.
Since the 2011 championship, the football program has experienced mixed results. While the team has remained a competitive presence within its division, it has not returned to a sectional final. The program continues to emphasize player development and community involvement.
The team also participates in one of New Jersey's historic Thanksgiving Day rivalries, facing Asbury Park High School annually. This matchup is among the longest-standing holiday football traditions in the state.
Boys' basketball
The Neptune High School boys' basketball team has a storied history, securing multiple NJSIAA state championships across different group classifications.In 1949, the team captured the Group II state championship, defeating Merchantville High School 47–45 in the semifinals and Millburn High School 62–59 in the final.
In 1981, Neptune went undefeated, finishing with a 29–0 record and claiming the Group IV title with a 60–55 win over Malcolm X Shabazz High School at Princeton University's Jadwin Gymnasium. Bob Braun scored 22 points, Kevin Thomas added 20, and Gabriel contributed 11 in the victory.
Led by Taquan Dean, the 2002 team won the Group III championship with an 84–58 win over Weequahic High School at the Louis Brown Athletic Center. They advanced to the Tournament of Champions, where they defeated East Side High School 71–63 in the semifinals before falling 69–49 to St. Anthony High School in the final at Continental Airlines Arena, finishing the season 29–3.
The team captured another Group III title in 2009 with a win over Teaneck High School.
In recent years, Neptune has remained a competitive Shore Conference program under head coach Joe Fagan. The 2023–24 season was challenging, ending with a 1–20 overall record and a 0–6 mark in the Shore – B Coastal division. The 2024–25 season marked a turnaround, with the team finishing 14–10 overall and 5–5 in the Shore – B Central division, qualifying for the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 playoffs before being eliminated in the first round by Hopewell Valley Central High School.
Administration
As of the 2024–25 academic year, the principal of Neptune High School is Tom Decker. He has over 23 years of experience in the Neptune Township School District and previously served as a social studies teacher, department chair, and vice principal at Neptune Middle School. Decker earned his bachelor's degree from Georgian Court University and a master's degree in Educational Leadership from Thomas Edison State University. In 2023, he was recognized as the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association Visionary Assistant Principal of the Year.The administrative team includes three vice principals.
Student demographics and academic performance
As of the 2023–24 academic year, Neptune High School enrolled 1,102 students in grades 9 through 12, with a student–teacher ratio of approximately 12:1. The school's student body is notably diverse, with the following racial and ethnic composition:- Black or African American: 39.4%
- Hispanic or Latino: 39.9%
- White : 17.5%
- Asian or Pacific Islander: 2.9%
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 0.3%
In terms of academic performance, state assessment results indicate that 8% of students achieved proficiency in mathematics, and 25% in reading/language arts, both below the New Jersey state averages. The school's average SAT score is 1100, with an average of 550 in both math and verbal sections. The average ACT score is 22.
The graduation rate at Neptune High School stands at 66%. Advanced Placement course participation is at 7%, with a 59% pass rate among those taking AP exams. The school offers nine AP courses, though enrollment in AP math and science courses is notably low.