Lawrence High School (New Jersey)

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox school Lawrence High School (LHS) is a four-year comprehensive public high school in Lawrence Township, in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as the lone secondary school of the Lawrence Township Public Schools. The school is located in the Lawrenceville section of the township. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1992.<ref>Lawrence High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 15, 2012. Accessed March 26, 2015.</ref>

As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,206 students and 97.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.4:1. There were 282 students (23.4% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 100 (8.3% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.<ref name=NCES>School data for Lawrence High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref>

The school colors are red and white. The school mascot is the cardinal.<ref name=NJSIAAprofile/>

History

Lawrence High School opened in 1966 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in the 2016–2017 school year.<ref>Dauer, Gillian; and Vanaprthi, Roja. "Fiftieth Anniversary of L.H.S.", p. 7, The Lawrencian, Fall / Winter 2016.. Accessed December 31, 2020. "The 2016-2017 school year marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of Lawrence High School. Since 1966, Lawrence High School has been educating and preparing students. The school has put on several events to honor the 50th anniversary."</ref>

Students from Plainsboro Township switched from Hightstown High School to Lawrence High School in 1979.<ref>"Cranbury weighs 4-cent tax cut school budget", The Central New Jersey Home News, March 31, 1979. Accessed September 21, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "This school year, Plainsboro began sending its students to Lawrence Township High School. Cranbury students were asked to leave Hightstown High School because of overcrowding at that school. Cranbury had sent its students to Hightstown High for 75 years."</ref>

Students from Robbinsville Township (known as Washington Township until 2007) had attended Allentown High School exclusively until the start of the 1990-91 school year<ref>Moslowski, Lee Anne. "Washington students adjusting easily to Lawrence school", Messenger-Press, February 7, 1991. Accessed May 8, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "The first year in the transfer of Washington Township students from Allentown High School to Lawrence High School is going smoothly, according to school officials in both districts. In September, Washington's ninth-graders began attending Lawrence as part of a phased withdrawal from Allentown that will be complete in 1993-94. Washington students attending Allentown before the current school year will remain there until they graduate.... Enrollment figures from December show 32 Washington freshmen attending Lawrence, with 48 sophomore, junior, and senior students still at Allentown. There are also a few students in grades 10, 11, and 12 who were sent to Lawrence this year for various reasons. Projections for next year indicate there will be 29 students at Allentown and 72 at Lawrence."</ref> and switched over to Lawrence High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship which ended with the final graduating class of 2007, after which all students attended Robbinsville High School.<ref>Nussbaum, Debra. "A Number Story", The New York Times, September 29, 2002. Accessed June 4, 2012. "In Washington Township, Mercer County, voters approved a bond issue in 2001 to build a high school in the district, which now sends its students to nearby Lawrence High School."</ref>

The Cranbury School District had sent students to Lawrence High School before they began a relationship with Princeton High School.<ref>Kilby, David. "Cranbury: HHS alumni recalls how school used to be"Template:Dead link, CentralJersey.com, June 24, 2011. Accessed October 3, 2017. "Cranbury stopped sending its students to HHS in 1965, then it began sending its students to Hightstown-East Windsor High School. Cranbury students soon would go to Lawrence High School, then to Princeton High School, which is where they go today."</ref>

Awards, recognition and rankings

The school was the 102nd-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 305 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2018 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The school had previously been ranked in the top 75 and 100 in previous years' rankings.<ref>Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed September 11, 2012.</ref>

The music program has been consistently rated one of the best "Communities in the Nation for Music Education" since 2005 by the NAMM Foundation.<ref>"Nationwide Survey Finds the 'Best Communities for Music Education' in U.S." Template:Webarchive, NAMM, April 16, 2009. Accessed March 19, 2013.</ref><ref>"NAMM Foundation Survey Reveals 'Best Communities for Music Education' In the United States" Template:Webarchive, NAMM, May 5, 2010. Accessed March 19, 2013.</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Curriculum

Lawrence High School offers numerous honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes including Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Economics, English, Environmental Science, European History, Music Theory, Physics, Statistics, Studio Art, United States Government and Politics, and United States History.<ref>Lawrence High School 2011 New Jersey School Report Card, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 4, 2012.</ref> The school also offers Cisco I and II, a certified networking course from Cisco Systems. LHS also offers many electives such as drafting, design and photography.

Athletics

The Lawrence High School Cardinals<ref name=NJSIAAprofile>Lawrence High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.</ref> compete in the Colonial Valley Conference, which is comprised of public and private schools in Mercer County and operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).<ref>League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.</ref> With 842 students in grades 10–12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group III for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 761 to 1,058 students in that grade range.<ref>NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.</ref> The football team competes in the Valley Division of the 94-team West Jersey Football League superconference<ref>Lawrence Cardinals, West Jersey Football League. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref><ref>Home Page, West Jersey Football League. Accessed May 1, 2023. "The WJFL is a 94-school super conference that stretches from Princeton to Wildwood encompassing schools from the Colonial Valley Conference, the Burlington County Scholastic League, the Olympic Conference, the Tri-County Conference, the Colonial Conference, and the Cape Atlantic League. The WJFL is made up of sixteen divisions with divisional alignments based on school size, geography and a strength-of-program component."</ref> and was classified by the NJSIAA as Group IV South for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 890 to 1,298 students.<ref>NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.</ref> The school's most successful teams include football, golf, wrestling, soccer, swimming, diving, tennis, softball, cheerleading and cross-country.

The school participates as the host school / lead agency in a joint ice hockey team with Ewing High School and Hightstown High School. The co-op program operates under agreements scheduled to expire at the end of the 2023–24 school year.<ref>NJSIAA Winter Cooperative Sports Programs, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.</ref>

The boys' soccer team won the Group II state championship in 1967 (defeating Northern Highlands Regional High School in the tournament final), 1969 (vs. Morris Knolls High School), 1970 (vs. Shore Regional High School), 1971 (vs. Point Pleasant Borough High School), 1973 and 1975 (vs. Garfield High School both years), 1980 (vs. Governor Livingston High School) and 1994 (vs. Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School), and won the Group III state title in 1968 (vs. Glen Rock High School); The nine state championships are tied for eighth-most of any program statewide and the streak of five consecutive titles from 1967 to 1971 is the longest for any public school.<ref>Boys Soccer Championship History 1946–2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated November 2023. Accessed May 1, 2024.</ref><ref>Greco, Richard; and Deakyne, Brian. "Which N.J. boys soccer programs have the most state titles?", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 24, 2019, updated June 14, 2020. Accessed December 31, 2020. "T7-Lawrence: Number of titles: 9; Championships: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980, 1994; Final appearances: 13"</ref> The program won its first state title in 1967 with a 3–2 win against Northern Highlands in the Group II championship game.<ref>"Highlanders Lose, 3-2, To Lawrence In Group 2", The Record, November 18, 1967. Accessed December 31, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "Unbeaten Lawrence broke out to a 3-0 lead yesterday and then held on to score a 3-2 win over Northern Highlands for the Group 2 State soccer championship"</ref> The 1968 team finished the season with a record of 15-2-3 after winning the Group III title with a 2–1 win against Glen Rock in the championship game played at Princeton University.<ref>"Glen Rock Bows In Group 3 Tilt", The Record, December 1, 1968. Accessed December 31, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "Glen Rock was bounced from the finals of the State soccer tourney Friday, 2-1, as Lawrence copped the Group 3 championship at Princeton University. The loss was only the second of the year for the Rockers, who won 15 games and tied one. Lawrence closed with a 15-2-3 mark."</ref> A 4–1 win against Garfield in the 1973 Group II championship led the team to a season record of 15-3-1.<ref>Simka, Red. "Community Pressbox; Soccer Team Loses Finale - Lawrence 4, Garfield 1", The Messenger, November 29, 1973. Accessed January 14, 2021. "A 'Hearty Toast' to coach Nick Perrapato and his Boilermaker soccer team for their fine efforts on behalf of Garfield in the recently concluded state soccer tournament for Group Two schools. Garfield was a 4-1 loser to Lawrence High School in the finals of the tournament.... Lawrence, which had a season mark of 15-3-1, was appearing in the finals for the seventh consecu tive time."</ref>

The football team was undefeated in 1973. The 1974 football team, featuring future NFL quarterback Scott Brunner, was overshadowed by a defensive unit that had eight shutouts and only allowed six points all year, with a record of 8-0-1, as part of a three-year undefeated stretch from 1972 to 1974 in the pre-playoff era where the team won 21 games and had one tie.<ref>O'Gorman, George. "Lawrence enjoying playoff success", The Trentonian, November 23, 2013. Accessed January 25, 2015. "Brunner was quarterback for the legendary Ed Shirk whose Lawrence teams from 1972-73-74, went 21-0-1. But there were no NJSIAA playoffs in those days, so the 8-0-1 team of '73 that posted eight shutouts, never got to play for a state title like these Cardinals will next month."</ref> The football team won the Colonial Valley Conference titles in 2004, 2005 and 2006. In 2006, the team made it to the state playoffs as the top seed, only to be knocked off by 8th-seeded Moorestown High School at home 19–14 in the first round of the tournament.<ref>2006 Football Tournament - Central, Group III, accessed November 14, 2006.</ref> In 2007, the team made it to state playoffs once again but were defeated by Middletown South at home in the first round, 16–6. The football team won the WJFL Patriot division title in 2013, made the state playoffs and defeated Allentown High School and Carteret High School to advance to the Central Jersey Group III Championship where they were defeated by Hopewell Valley Central High School.<ref>2007 Football - Central, Group III, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed March 10, 2008.</ref>

The girls spring / outdoor track team was the Group II state champion in 1979.<ref name=NJSIAAGirlsSpringTrack>NJSIAA Girls Spring Track and Field Championship History: 1976-2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated July 2023. Accessed May 1, 2024.</ref>

The boys track team won the Group II winter / indoor track state championship in 1984 (as co-champion).<ref>Boys Winter Track and Field Championship History: 1922–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated March 2024. Accessed May 1, 2024.</ref> The girls team won the Group II state title in 1987.<ref>Girls Winter Track and Field Championship History: 1981–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated March 2024. Accessed May 1, 2024.</ref>

The boys swimming team won the Public Central B sectional title in 2000 and 2008.<ref>Boys Swimming Championship History 1921–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated February 2024. Accessed May 1, 2024.</ref> The girls team won the Public Central A title in 2006.<ref>Girls Swimming Championship History 1974–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated February 2024. Accessed May 1, 2024.</ref>

The wrestling team was the CVC Valley Division champions most recently in the 2003–04 season.<ref>Franklin, Paul. "The mystery that is Mercer County high school wrestling goes back 75 years. With the recent successes and raising of standards, the area as a whole is .... Seeking A Reversal", The Times, February 11, 2013. Accessed March 19, 2013. "Last March Ray Bethea of Trenton High School won the county's second individual state title in Atlantic City. Mark Savino of Lawrence had won the first in 2004."</ref>

The boys' track and field Team was the CVC Patriot Division champions in 2010, 2011 and co-champions in 2013. Lawrence Girls track and field team were the 2014 CVC Patriot Division Co-Champions.<ref>Federovith, Barry. "Track & Field Sectional Championships Roundup: Nothing flukey, Princeton High girls roll again", The Times, May 27, 2012. Accessed March 19, 2013. "Lawrence (36.5) had to settle for seventh, but had two individual winners: Robert Jean-Pierre in the long jump (22-2.75) and Ed Carrington in the shot (53-2.75)."</ref>

In 2012, the softball team won their first state sectional title in program history, winning the Central Jersey Group III title with a 3–2 win over Manasquan High School.<ref>Lewin, Joe. "Softball Roundup: Lawrence High captures sectional title", The Times, June 1, 2012. Accessed March 19, 2013. "Yesterday in Manasquan, the Cardinals continued their run through the state tournament with a 3-2 victory over third-seeded Manasquan to claim the sectional title, the first in the history of the program, which dates back to the 1970s.</ref>

In 2019, the tennis team won the Group II state championship with a 3–2 win against Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest in the tournament final.<ref>"Lawrence continues program's historic run, wins Group 2 state title (PHOTOS/VIDEO)", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 22, 2019, updated August 22, 2019. "The first of the program-firsts for Lawrence's boys tennis team came long before the team arrived at Mercer County Park for the NJSIAA group semifinals and finals on Wednesday, but why stop? On the same day that the Cardinals clinched their first state-final appearance in program history, Lawrence, No. 16 in the NJ.com Top 20, took a step further in the afternoon by defeating Demarest, No. 15 in the ranking, 3-2 to take the Group 2 state championship for the program's first state group title."</ref><ref>Boys Tennis Championship History 1950–2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated November 2023. Accessed May 1, 2024.</ref>

Administration

The school's principal is David J. Adam. His core administration team includes three assistant principals and the director of athletics.<ref>Meet the Administrative Team, Lawrence High School. Accessed September 21, 2025.</ref>

Noted alumni

• Ifa Bayeza (born Wanda Williams), playwright, producer and conceptual theater artist<ref>Staff. "Author Ifa Bayeza Comes 'Home' At Library Reading and Book Signing", Town Topics, March 27, 2013. Accessed November 6, 2017. "Ifa Bayeza had a homecoming of sorts at Princeton Public Library on Friday night, March 22. The author, artist, playwright and professor, who was born in Trenton and graduated from Lawrence High School, read a selection of her latest book Some Sing, Some Cry, to an audience that included"</ref>
• Brett Brackett (born 1987), tight end for the Jacksonville Jaguars<ref>Staff. "Brackett Making Impact As Nittany Lions Receiver" Template:Webarchive, Centre Daily Times, September 4, 2008. Accessed October 10, 2012. "Now the fourth receiver in an offense that routinely utilizes four-wide sets, the redshirt sophomore from Lawrenceville, NJ, poses a big problem for opposing defenses... Brackett threw for 46 touchdowns and ran for 23 more during his career at Lawrence High School...."</ref>
• Scott Brunner (born 1957), former professional quarterback who played in the NFL for the New York Giants<ref>Schaefer, Beverly "Former Giants QB Scott Brunner helps open new PEAC turf facility in Ewing", The Times, January 26, 2015. Accessed December 18, 2017. "The Millburn resident played football at Lawrence High School and the University of Delaware and played for the Giants from 1980 to 1983."</ref>
• Luke Elliot (born 1984), singer-songwriter and composer<ref>"Lawrence singer Luke Elliot returns to local roots", Community News, February 28, 2018. Accessed January 10, 2020. "From an early age, Elliot found a love for creating music. He started taking piano lessons at eight years old and started writing songs at 13. A Lawrence High School graduate, Elliot went on to study English and literature at Mercer County Community College but left to pursue a career in music."</ref>
• Dan Lavery (born 1969), musician who has been nominated for two Grammy Awards as part of the band Tonic<ref>Morgan, Scott. "Ex-drummer and Lawrence native Pete Maloney settles into art career", Community News, July 28, 2017. Accessed October 3, 2017. "Maloney also grew up good friends with fellow Lawrence High School graduate Dan Lavery, who went on to play bass in the band Tonic (of 'If You Could Only See' fame) and get nominated for two Grammys."</ref>
• Glenn "Mooch" Myernick (1954–2006), former professional soccer player and United States Soccer captain;<ref>Soccer time at Moochie's fields Town to honor noted player, The Times, November 12, 2006, accessed April 21, 2007. "Myernick played soccer at both Slackwood Elementary and Lawrence High School. At Lawrence, he earned All-American honors and led his soccer team to three state championships."</ref> in 1999, he was named by The Star-Ledger as one of the top ten New Jersey high school soccer players of the 1970s<ref>Jandoli, Ron. "The Century's Best -- boys Soccer: Top 10 Players of each decade", The Star-Ledger, November 7, 1999, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 10, 2003. Accessed September 11, 2008.</ref>
• John Nalbone (born 1986), tight end who has played for the Philadelphia Eagles<ref>Vrentas, Jenny. "Miami Dolphins draft former Monmouth tight end John Nalbone in the fifth round", The Star-Ledger, April 26, 2009. Accessed March 28, 2011. "Nalbone, a graduate of Lawrence High School, was a four-year starter for Monmouth and a Division I-AA All-American. His stock rose after he impressed in his Pro Day workouts with a 40 time in the 4.6 range, and he was hoping to sneak into the Draft's final rounds."</ref>
• Patricia Russo (born 1952), former CEO and chairman of Alcatel-Lucent<ref>Patricia Russo: Lucent's Best Hope?, Business Week, May 29, 2003. Today, with an optimism that's reminiscent of her days as captain of the cheerleading squad at Lawrence High School in New Jersey, Lucent's CEO contends that she can return the company to growth."</ref>
• John Schneider (born 1980, class of 1998), professional baseball coach for the Toronto Blue Jays<ref>Johnson, Greg. "Lawrence High grad John Schneider rising in Blue Jays’ system as a manager" Template:Webarchive, The Trentonian, April 10, 2018. Accessed December 5, 2018. "During John Schneider’s sixth season as a prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, his career in professional baseball took a twist.... Schneider, a 1998 Lawrence High graduate, is in his first season managing the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, who are in town until Wednesday to play the Thunder."</ref>
• Jon Stewart (born 1962), comedian, director and host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show<ref>Comic Jon Stewart to host benefit for former teacher, Princeton Packet by Helen Pettigrew, April 17, 2001. "Jon Stewart, the Lawrence High School alumnus who hosts the Comedy Central hit The Daily Show, will return to his alma mater April 28 as special guest host for a benefit concert honoring Selma Litowitz, his former English teacher who is afflicted with Parkinson's disease."</ref>

Notable faculty

• Teller (born Raymond Joseph Teller in 1948), silent half of Penn and Teller taught Latin at the school.<ref>Filichia, Peter. "At Red Bank production of "Macbeth," there will be blood", The Star-Ledger, January 21, 2008. Accessed June 19, 2011. "Ironically, Teller likens his professional marriage to the Macbeths. He says of his 6-foot-6 partner -- who makes his own 5-foot-9 frame look minuscule -- 'Penn is my Lady Macbeth. I was here in New Jersey, teaching Latin at Lawrence High School (in Lawrence Township), when a mutual friend introduced us.'"</ref>

External links

• Lawrence High School Official Website
• Lawrence Township Public Schools website
• Template:NJReportCard
• School Data for the Lawrence Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics