Rutherford High School is a comprehensive four-year public high school located in Rutherford, in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as part of the Rutherford School District. The original structure was built in 1922 and expanded in 1938, 1957 and 2005.About, Rutherford High School. Accessed April 3, 2022. Rutherford High School is overseen by the New Jersey Department of Education and has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1940.Rutherford High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools, backed up by the Internet Archive as of April 14, 2012. Accessed March 29, 2015.
As of the 2024–25 school year, the school had an enrollment of 727 students and 68.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.6:1. There were 21 students (2.9% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 8 (1.1% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.School data for Rutherford High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed January 15, 2026.
Awards, recognition and rankings During the 1999-2000 school year, the school was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive, which recognized the school's use of technology in the instruction process in which every classroom was wired for Internet access and a substantially higher than average level of access by students to computers.National Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982 Through 2019 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed September 1, 2024.Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In/Rutherford; A Patriotic Town With an Easy Commute", The New York Times, November 4, 2001. Accessed August 29, 2011. "Last year, Rutherford High School won the coveted United States Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award. 'We were recognized for our overall focus on technology,' Ms. Conlon explained. Every room in the high school is wired for Internet access, compared with a state average of 74 percent. There is one computer for every 2.9 students, compared with one for every 4.8 students statewide."
The school was the 124th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology.Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014. The school had been ranked 71st in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 73rd in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed December 2, 2012. The magazine ranked the school 72nd in 2008 out of 316 schools.Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed February 10, 2011. The school was ranked 88th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state."Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008. Schooldigger.com ranked the school tied for 141st out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (unchanged from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (86.2%) and language arts literacy (92.0%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2010-2011, Schooldigger.com. Accessed March 5, 2012.
Curriculum and facilities Rutherford High offers courses ranging from Honors classes to Advanced Placement (AP) classes for college credit. The elective classes are also offered, ranging from classes of technology, to those that are career-related as well. The school contains a television studio that is used for morning announcements in homeroom and sends out feeds for the local public access station. There is a newly expanded library with 23 computers and over 20,000 books. Two gyms house athletic programs and physical education classes. Located on the East Wing of the school features a half-size Olympic-style swimming pool currently leased by the YMCA of the Meadowlands. It is also used by the Rutherford Bulldogs Swim Team.
Student life A typical day at Rutherford High starts at 7:50 AM when homeroom starts. School is in session five days a week. There are 7 blocks, consisting of 57-minute classes that are on a rotating block schedule and one lunch period, ending the day at 2:48 PM. Extra-curricular activities include an abundance of clubs, academic groups, and music programs.
Academic teams and extracurricular activities
Rutherford High School has a host of academic teams and non-athletic extracurricular activities.
Rutherford was the Academic Decathlon champion for the state of New Jersey, having represented New Jersey at the National Competition in Memphis, Tennessee in April 2009, and competed once again in Omaha in April 2010.2009 Nationals Final Results , United States Academic Decathlon. Accessed August 17, 2011.O'Keefe, Daniel. "Another award-winning year for Rutherford Academic Decathlon", South Bergenite, April 14, 2011. Accessed August 17, 2011.
The theater arts program puts out two performances each school year; a play in November, and a musical in March.
Athletics
The Rutherford High School BulldogsRutherford High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. participate in the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference, which is comprised of small-enrollment schools in Bergen, Hudson, Morris and Passaic counties, and was created following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).Mattura, Greg. "Small-school NJIC may debut its own league championship", The Record, January 9, 2017. Accessed August 30, 2020. "The small-school North Jersey Interscholastic Conference may debut its own boys basketball tournament this season, one season after introducing its girls hoops championship. The NJIC is comprised of schools from Bergen, Passaic and Hudson counties and the event offered to the 36 boys teams would serve as an alternative to likely competing against larger programs in a county tournament."Member Schools, North Jersey Interscholastic Conference. Accessed August 30, 2020.League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. Prior to the realignment that took effect in the fall of 2010, Rutherford was a member of the Bergen County Scholastic League (BCSL) American Division.New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association League Memberships – 2009-2010, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 24, 2011. Accessed October 18, 2014. With 568 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group IV for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 486 to 758 students in that grade range.NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020. The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group II North for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 484 to 683 students.NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
Interscholastic sports that are offered by the Rutherford athletic program include:
Fall Sports: B/G Cross Country, Football, Girls' Tennis, B/G Soccer, Volleyball, Cheerleading Winter Sports: B/G Basketball, B/G Swimming, B/G Track & Field, Wrestling, Coed Bowling Spring Sports: Baseball, Boys' Tennis, Softball, B/G Track & Field
The school’s main rival is Becton Regional High School in neighboring East Rutherford. During games, students sometimes repeatedly chant “Why is it called East Rutherford if it’s north of Rutherford?”
The boys track team won the Group IV spring / outdoor track state championship in 1922 and 1923.NJSIAA Boys Spring Track Summary of Group Titles, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
The boys' cross country team won the overall public school state championship in 1926.NJSIAA Boys Cross Country State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
The boys' basketball team won the Group III state championship in 1940 (defeating Bound Brook High School in the tournament final) and 1942 (vs. Merchantville High School), and won the Group II title in 1985 (vs. Burlington City High School).NJSIAA Boys Basketball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022. The 1940 team pulled ahead by 23-12 at the half and held off a late rally to upset Bound Brook by a final score of 42-33 in the championship game.via Associated Press. "Bound Brook Upset 42 to 33 By Rutherford; Seven Consecutive Points at End Give Somerset 5 Group 3 Crown Wildwood Also Wins", Asbury Park Press, March 17, 1940. Accessed February 8, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Rutherford, another underdog, whipped Bound Brook, 42-33, to win the Group 3 title In the other evening game.... Rutherford's triumph was a minor upset against Bound Brook which had shown brilliantly in the previous rounds. Paced by Capt. Palmer Zitzmann, Art Stein and Ted Ryder, Rutherford jumped into a 13-4 lead in the first quarter and held a 23-12 margin at the half."
The boys' track team won the Group I / II state indoor relay championship in 1969.History of the NJSIAA Indoor Relay Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
The baseball team won the Group II state title in 1992 (vs. Kingsway Regional High School), 2004 (vs. Sterling High School) and in 2005 (vs. Seneca High School).Baseball Championship History: 1959–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
The girls volleyball team won the Group II state championship in 1991 (against runner-up Mahwah High School in the final match of the playoffs), 1992 (vs. Dumont High School) and 1994 (vs. Elmwood Park Memorial High School).NJSIAA Girls Volleyball Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
In 2007, the girls' soccer team, seeded #3, won the North II, Group II state sectional championship with a 5-4 win on penalty kicks over top-seeded Summit High School in the tournament final, the team's first title in this section.2007 Girls Soccer - North II, Group II, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 15, 2007."Ramapo buzzing over latest crown", The Record, November 9, 2007. Accessed November 15, 2007. "The third-seeded Bulldogs had just won their first North 2, Group 2 title, defeating No. 1-seeded Summit on penalty kicks, 3-2, after a 4-4 tie through double overtime."