Ridgewood High School (New Jersey)
Ridgewood High School (New Jersey)
Ridgewood High School is a four-year public high school in Ridgewood, Bergen County, New Jersey. It is the only high school in the Ridgewood Public Schools and serves students in grades 9 through 12. As of the 2023–24 school year, about 1,740 students attended RHS, with around 137.5 teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.7:1. The school’s colors are maroon, white, and black, and its sports teams are called the Maroons. The principal is Jeffrey M. Nyhuis.
History and campus
- RHS was founded in 1892, starting with a ninth-grade class; a dedicated high school building opened in 1919.
- The campus includes the original central building and gym, with major renovations and additions in 2001 (science wing, Campus Center).
- Glen Rock students attended Ridgewood High School until 1955 when Glen Rock built its own high school.
- The Ho-Ho-Kus Brook near the campus can cause field flooding after heavy rainfall.
Academics and recognition
- In 1986–87, Ridgewood High School was named a National Blue Ribbon School, a top honor for U.S. schools.
- The school has been ranked among New Jersey’s top public high schools in various years by New Jersey Monthly and has appeared on national lists such as The Washington Post and Newsweek/The Daily Beast.
- In 2013, RHS teacher Medha Kirtane was honored as an exceptional secondary school teacher by Princeton University.
- RHS has a strong program for academic competitions, including history bee/quiz events.
Arts and music
- The music department offers three orchestras, four choirs, three concert bands, a marching band, two jazz ensembles, and many smaller groups.
- In 2004, Ridgewood High School was named a Grammy Signature School for its outstanding music program.
- The bands and ensembles are led by instructors John W. Luckenbill III and Jeffery G. Haas.
Athletics
- RHS competes in the Big North Conference. The football team plays in the North Jersey Super Football Conference, a large conference in the region.
- The Maroons have won numerous state titles across sports, including:
- Tennis: multiple state championships in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Football: North I Group IV titles (1991, 2003, 2004) and North I Group V titles (2016, 2018, 2019).
- Girls lacrosse: state championships in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019, including Tournament of Champions titles in 2010 and 2011.
- Softball: Group IV titles in 1979 and 1983.
- Baseball: state championships in 2019 and 2024.
- RHS athletics are also broadcast locally on RHS-TV Sports.
Demographics
- For the 2020–21 school year, Ridgewood High’s student body was about 66% White, 18% Asian, 10% Hispanic, 1% Black, with small percentages of other groups.
- Feeder middle schools are Benjamin Franklin Middle School and George Washington Middle School.
Notable alumni
- Ridgewood High School has many notable graduates, including paleontologist Robert T. Bakker; TV host Willie Geist; actor Michael Zegen; actress Ali Stroker; MLB executive Kim Ng; musician Alex Bleeker of Real Estate; and several others who have achieved prominence in various fields.
Website
- School website: rhs.ridgewood.k12.nj.us
Ridgewood High School combines a long history with strong academics, a vibrant arts program, and a tradition of athletic success, making it a pillar of the Ridgewood community.
This page was last edited on 27 January 2026, at 21:17 (CET).