Coordinates: 40.753953°N 74.

2206°W

East Orange High School

East Orange High School was a comprehensive community
public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth
East Orange High School
grades from 1891 to 2002 in East Orange, in Essex County, in Address
the U.S. state of New Jersey. For most of its existence, the school
operated as one of the two secondary schools of the East Orange
School District.

Contents
East Orange
History High School

Athletics
Notable alumni
References

History
The original building of East Orange High School, facing Winans
Street, opened to students in 1891. An addition on Walnut Street East Orange
was added in 1953. The school was closed when East Orange High School
Campus High School opened in 2002, combining both East
Orange High School and Clifford Scott High School.[1]
Demolition of the old high school began in 2005.[2]

In 1933, African American student and future civil rights activist

Robert L. Carter staged a protest against an official school policy
that restricted black students to using the school's pool on Fridays
after the school had closed, with male and female students
segregated by gender, after which the pool would be emptied,
cleaned out and refilled with water before the start of the next
school week. Having read that the New Jersey Supreme Court
banned the practice of racial segregation, and despite threats of
expulsion from teachers and his inability to swim, Carter entered
the pool with fellow white students during times when access to
the pool was forbidden to black students, ultimately leading the
district to close the pool.[3][4][5][6]

While serving in New Jersey General Assembly from 1964 to

1972, Kenneth T. Wilson was also employed as a teacher at East
Orange High School, where he taught civics and American East Orange
High School
history.[7]

In September 2009, a new $143 million, 309,000-square-foot

(28,700 m2) facility opened on the site of the former East Orange
High School. Consisting of an elementary school and
middle/high school, the new Cicely Tyson School of Performing Walnut and Winans Street
and Fine Arts was among the largest and most technologically East Orange, New Jersey 07018
advanced schools ever built in the state of New Jersey, with
United States
extensive performing arts facilities which meet or exceed the
highest professional standards.[8] Coordinates 40.753953°N
74.2206°W

Athletics Information
Type Public high school
In 1896, East Orange was one of the founding member schools of Established 1891
the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association, the state's
first athletic conference; created and operated by students, the Closed 2002
conference consisted of nine public and private high schools School East Orange School
located across the state, competing in track and field, football and district District
tennis.[9]
Grades 9–12
Begun in 1897, East Orange had an annual Thanksgiving Day
football rivalry with Barringer High School that had been the nation's longest-running continuous rivalry,
played for 91 consecutive years until 2006, when scheduling conflicts interfered with the annual tradition;
traditionally, the Left-Footed Kicker trophy is awarded to the winning team, with games attracting as many
as 13,000 fans until the 1970s, when both teams saw their football programs deteriorate.[10]

In March 1930, Gordon Chalmers won the title in the 100-yard backstroke at the national interscholastic
aquatic champions at Columbia University, leading East Orange High School to a second-place team
finish.[11]

The boys' basketball team won the Group IV state championship in 1940 vs. West New York Memorial High
School, in 1969 vs. Perth Amboy High School and in 1974 vs. Neptune High School, and won the Group III
title in 1972 vs. Lakewood High School, in 1973 vs. Northern Burlington County Regional High School and
in 1976 vs. Woodrow Wilson High School; the girls' basketball team won the Group IV state championship
in 1980 vs. Atlantic City High School.[12]

Notable alumni
John Amos (born 1939, class of 1958), actor who played James Evans Sr. on the 1970s
television series Good Times.[13]
Betty Bronson (1906-1971), television and film actress who began her career during the silent
film era after leaving school to benefit her film career.[14]
Tyrone Brown (born 1942, class of 1960), attorney, Commissioner of the Federal
Communications Commission.[15]
Herbert Brucker (1898–1977), journalist, teacher, and national advocate for the freedom of the
press, who served as editor-in-chief of the Hartford Courant.[16]
Stephanie R. Bush (born 1953), attorney and politician who served in the New Jersey General
Assembly representing the 27th district from 1988 to 1992.[17]

Robert L. Carter (1917–2012, class of 1933), lawyer, civil rights activist and a United States
District Judge.[3]
Gordon Chalmers (1911–2000), swimmer who competed in the men's 100 metre backstroke at
the 1932 Summer Olympics.[11]
Margaret Clapp (1910–1974, class of 1926), scholar and educator, who served as eighth
president of Wellesley College.[18]
 Chris Fletcher (born 1948), safety who played for the San Diego Chargers during his seven-
year NFL career.[19]
Harold Geiger (1884–1927), US military aviator number 6, who was killed in an airplane crash
in 1927.[20]
Ann Harding (1902–1981), actress who was nominated for an Academy Award for the film
Holiday.[21]
Balozi Harvey (1940-2016, class of 1957). diplomat and community organizer.[22]
Chris Jones (born 1964), American football center who played one season in the NFL with the
New York Giants.[23]
C. Milford Orben (1895-1975), politician who served five terms in the New Jersey General
Assembly.[24]
C. Thomas Schettino (1907–1983), Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from
1959 to 1972.[25]
George Tully (1904-1980), American football end who played one season in the NFL with the
Frankford Yellow Jackets.[26]
Dionne Warwick (born 1940, class of 1959), singer, actress and TV-show host, who became a
United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization.[27]

References
1. Lambert, Jim. "The East Orange boys win a wild one to capture North Jersey, Sec. 2 Group 4
title" (http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-1667171699096762483/the-east-orange-boy
s-win-a-wild-one-in-north-jersey-sec-2-group-4/), NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 23,
2015. Accessed September 11, 2016. "Clifford Scott merged with East Orange High School in
2002 to form East Orange Campus."
2. East Orange Class of 1897 (http://www.eohistory.info/oldhistoricalsociety/1897photo/Classof18
97.htm), East Orange Interactive Museum. Accessed September 11, 2016.
3. Jackson, Janice Harris. "East Orange High School's disappeared swimming pool a hidden
symbol for civil rights" (http://blog.nj.com/njv_guest_blog/2012/01/east_orange_high_schools_
disap.html), The Star-Ledger, January 20, 2012. Accessed September 11, 2016. "Robert L.
Carter died on Jan. 3 at 94. He was raised in Newark and East Orange, attending Barringer
High School for two years and graduating from East Orange High in 1933."
4. Reed, Roy. "Robert L. Carter, an Architect of School Desegregation, Dies at 94" (https://www.n
ytimes.com/2012/01/04/nyregion/robert-l-carter-judge-and-desegregation-strategist-dies-at-94.
html?_r=0), The New York Times, January 3, 2012. Accessed September 11, 2016. "Mr. Carter
recalled experiencing racial discrimination as a 16-year-old in East Orange, N.J. The high
school he attended allowed black students to use its pool only on Fridays, after classes were
over. After he read in the newspaper that the State Supreme Court had outlawed such
restrictions, he entered the pool with white students and stood up to a teacher's threat to have
him expelled from school."
5. Wu, Frank H. "Robert Lee Carter Continuing the Struggle for Civil Rights" (http://repository.uch
astings.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2207&context=faculty_scholarship), University of
California, Hastings College of the Law, 2000. Accessed September 11, 2016. "His abiding
commitment to racial quality, which started when he personally integrated New Jersey's East
Orange High School pool (despite his own inability to swim), is what drives his continued
efforts to achieve racial justice."
 6. Carter, Robert L. A Matter of Law: A Memoir of Struggle in the Cause of Equal Rights (https://b
ooks.google.com/books?id=a3ARBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA14), pp. 14–15. Accessed September
12, 2016. The New Press, 2012. ISBN 9781595588470. "To protect the white children from
contamination the blacks might have left in the pool, it was then drained, cleaned, and refilled
for the use of white students the following Monday."
7. Staff. Fizgerald's Legislative Manual, State of New Jersey; 1971 edition (https://books.google.c
om/books?id=YxZMAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Assemblyman+Wilson+is+a+social+studies+teacher+
at+East+Orange+High+School+and+teaches+courses+In+United+States%22), p. 394. J.A.
Fitzgerald, 1971. Accessed September 11, 2016. "Assemblyman Wilson is a social studies
teacher at East Orange High School and teaches courses In United States History, Advanced
Placement American History and Civics."
8. Epstein, Sue. "East Orange performing arts school opens with celebrity glitz" (http://www.nj.co
m/news/index.ssf/2009/10/opening.html), 'NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 24, 2009.
Accessed September 11, 2016. "The $143-million state-of-the-art facility opened its doors to
more than 1,000 students last month, but today was its formal unveiling.... The new school on
Winans Street combines two old schools into one 309,000-square-foot facility of four buildings
that include a 400-seat auditorium, an 800-seat auditorium and a production studio for the TV
concentration."
9. Pruter, Robert. The Rise of American High School Sports and the Search for Control, 1880–
1930 (https://books.google.com/books?id=tIWiAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA38), p. 38. Syracuse
University Press, 2013. ISBN 9780815652199. Accessed September 11, 2016. "The league
took n both public and private schools; its public school members were Newark Central,
Montclair, Plainfield and East Orange, and its private-school members were Newark Academy,
Bordentown Military Institute, Stevens Preparatory, Pingry, and Montclair Military Academy."
10. Staff. "Old Rivalry Returns to a Big Welcome" (https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/25/sports/old-
rivalry-returns-to-a-big-welcome.html), The New York Times, November 25, 1988. Accessed
September 11, 2016. "But this game is different from most. The East Orange-Barringer series
began in 1897 and was the longest unbroken holiday rivalry in the country until two years ago,
when the teams were forced to play each other in September because of conference
scheduling commitments."
11. Staff. "Philadelphia Wins School Title Swim; Catholic High School First With 14 Points in
National Meet in Columbia Pool. East Orange Next With 10" (http://timesmachine.nytimes.co
m/timesmachine/1930/03/16/118369019.html?pageNumber=120), The New York Times,
March 16, 1930. Accessed September 11, 2016. "Gordon Chalmers of East Orange achieved
the outstanding performance in capturing the 100-yard backstroke title."
12. Basketball Past State Champions (http://www.njsiaa.org/sites/default/files/document/15%20%2
0Group%20Basketball%20Past%20Champions.pdf), New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic
Association. Accessed September 11, 2016.
13. Lombardi, Patrick. "Black History NJ: John Amos" (https://bestofnj.com/black-history-nj-john-a
mos), Black History – New Jersey, February 26, 2016. Accessed September 11, 2016. "John
A. Amos Jr. was born in Newark, New Jersey on December 27, 1939. In 1958, he graduated
from East Orange High School."
14. Hanson, Bruce K. Peter Pan on Stage and Screen, 1904–2010, 2d ed. (https://books.google.c
om/books?id=k3HHu_CxoWkC&pg=PA127), p. 127. McFarland & Company, 2011.
ISBN 9780786486199. Accessed November 6, 2017. "Born Elizabeth Ada Bronson in Trenton,
New Jersey, on November 17, 1907, she left East Orange High School and convinced her
parents to let her move to California to aid her career in films."
15. Flannery, Gerald v., ed. Commissioners of the FCC, 1927-1994 (https://books.google.com/boo
ks?id=xr-PSj-sp6YC&pg=PA181), p. 181. University Press of America, 1995.
ISBN 9780819196699. "Tyrone Brown was born in the Tidewater area of Virginia on November
5, 1942.... At East Orange High School, he was a top student, an athlete, and the first black
president of the student council."
16. Staff. "Columbia Names Aide to Journalism Dean Herbert Brucker Resigns From the Review
of Reviews to Become Assistant at School." (http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1
932/01/06/105765137.html?pageNumber=3), The New York Times, January 6, 1932.
Accessed September 11, 2016. "Mr. Brucker was born in Passaic, N. J., on Oct. 4, 1998. He
prepared for college at the Morristown school and East Orange High School, and was
graduated from Williams College in 1921."
17. Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, Volume 203, Part 1 (https://books.google.com/book
s?lr=&id=e1NiPlQKgDsC&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=%22ms.+bush%22), p. 269. J.A.
Fitzgerald, 1988. Accessed April 1, 2019. "Ms. Bush was born in East Orange March 16, 1953.
She attended East Orange High School and Cornell University, where she received her degree
in 1975."
18. Leavitt, Judith A. American Women Managers and Administrators: A Selective Biographical
Dictionary of Twentieth-century Leaders in Business, Education, and Government (https://book
s.google.com/books?id=Jk_uzzu36rgC&pg=PA46), p. 46. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1985.
ISBN 9780313237485. Accessed September 11, 2016. "Clapp graduated from East Orange
High School in 1926 and attended Wellesley College on a scholarship."
19. Chris Fletcher (https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FletCh20.htm), Pro-Football-
Reference.com. Accessed September 11, 2016.
20. Staff. "Was Native of East Orange, N. J." (http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/192
7/05/18/106924636.html?pageNumber=27), The New York Times, May 18, 1927. Accessed
September 11, 2016. "A year ago Major Geiger was injured slightly in a collision between two
planes at Langley Field. He was 42 years old. Born at East Orange, he attended the East
Orange High School, and was graduated from West Point in 1908."
21. "You Cannot Eclipse Ann Harding" (http://hedgerowtheatre.org/you-cannot-eclipse-ann-hardin
g/), Hedgerow Theatre. Accessed November 6, 2017. "Ann first appeared on the stage at the
East Orange High School, in New Jersey, where she surprised the audience with her
interpretation of the seductive spy, Theda Bara."
22. Remo, Jessica. "N.J. activist, champion of African-American heritage dies at 76" (http://www.nj.
com/essex/index.ssf/2016/12/nj_community_activist_champion_of_african-american.html), NJ
Advance Media for NJ.com, December 30, 2016. Accessed November 6, 2017. "Harvey was
born in East Orange and graduated from East Orange High School in 1957, according to his
website."
23. Chris Jones Stats (https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneCh21.htm), Pro-
Football-Reference.com. Accessed March 14, 2018.
24. Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, Volume 164 (https://books.google.com/books?id=R8
UGAQAAIAAJ&q=%22June+28,+1808+:+son+of+Charies+S.+and%22), p. 278. J.A.
Fitzgerald, 1940. Accessed November 6, 2017. "C. MILFORD ORBEN (Rep., Millburn) - Mr.
Orben was born In Newark, New Jersey, on June 28, 1808 : son of Charles S. and Mabel
Orben. Educated East Orange Grammar and High Schools, Pennsylvania State College."
25. Staff. Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual, State of New Jersey; 1960 edition (https://books.google.
com/books?id=YHULAQAAIAAJ&q=%22He+is+a+graduate+of+Elmwood+Grammar+School,+
East+Orange+High+School+and+Rutgers+University,+where+he+received+a%22), p. 338.
J.A. Fitzgerald, 1960. Accessed September 11, 2016. "He Is a graduate of Elmwood Grammar
School, East Orange High School and Rutgers University, where he received a Bachelor of
Letters degree in 1930."
26. George Tully Stats (https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TullGe20.htm), Pro-
Football-Reference.com. Accessed March 14, 2018.
27. Warwick, Dionne. "We All Walked Together; East Orange native Dionne Warwick reminisces
about growing up in New Jersey, and how the music of the streets that surrounded her helped
propel her to super-stardom." (https://njmonthly.com/articles/jersey-living/we-all-walked-togeth
er/), New Jersey Monthly, November 15, 2010. Accessed September 11, 2016. "Dionne
Warwick's East Orange High School yearbook, 1959, when she was Marie Dionne Warrick."
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