Orange High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Orange in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as part of the Orange Board of Education. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1928.Orange High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed April 26, 2022.

As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,370 students and 83.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 16.4:1. There were 788 students (57.5% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and none eligible for reduced-cost lunch.School data for Orange High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.

Awards, recognition and rankings The school was the 305th-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 232nd in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 315th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed August 27, 2012. The magazine ranked the school 308th in 2008 out of 316 schools.Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed March 30, 2011. The school was ranked 276th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 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.

History The current building housing Orange High School is the fourth site used for the school, in three different parts of the city. The first, dedicated on September 13, 1869, was located next to the First Church of Orange (Presbyterian). The second site was located at Main and Cleveland Streets. The third is now being used as Orange Middle School. The fourth, and current site, was dedicated on October 7, 1973, after opening to students on September 5 of that year.A brief History, Orange High School. Accessed December 16, 2022.

Athletics The Orange High School TornadoesOrange High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. compete in the Super Essex Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Essex County and was established following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. Prior to the 2010 realignment, the school had been in the Skyline Division of the Northern Hills Conference, an athletic conference that included schools in Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.Home Page, Northern Hills Conference, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 9, 2009. Accessed November 23, 2014. With 941 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.NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020. The football team competes in the Freedom White division of the North Jersey Super Football Conference, which includes 112 schools competing in 20 divisions, making it the nation's biggest football-only high school sports league.Cooper, Darren. "Here's what we know about the new Super Football Conference 2020 schedule", The Record, July 23, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2021. "The Super Football Conference (SFC) is a 112-team group, the largest high school football-only conference in America, and is comprised of teams from five different counties."Cooper, Darren. "NJ football: Super Football Conference revised schedules for 2020 regular season", The Record, July 23, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2021. "The Super Football Conference has 112 teams that will play across 20 divisions." The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group IV North for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 893 to 1,315 students.NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024. The school colors are orange and black.

The boys' basketball team won the Group IV state championship in 1948 (vs. Atlantic City High School), in Group III in 1968 (vs. Emerson High School) and 1994 (vs. Camden High School), in Group II in 1977 (vs. Pleasantville High School), 1979 (vs. Pleasantville) and 1988 (vs. Delran High School), and in Group I in 1974 (vs. Burlington Township High School) and 1976 (vs. Glassboro High School); the eight state titles are tied for third-most among public school programs.NJSIAA Boys Basketball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020. The team won the Group IV title in 1948 with a 47-31 win against Atlantic City in the championship game after starting the game with a 14-0 run."Orange Snags Group 4 Title; Defeats Atlantic City; Weehawken Beaten", The Record, March 22, 1948. Accessed January 28, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Orange High School walked off with the Group Four title in the 30th annual N. J. S. I. A. A. tournament Saturday night by crushing Atlantic City 47-31 at the Elizabeth Armory. Orange took a 14-0 lead and was never headed." Coached by Hoddy Mahon, the 1968 team finished the season with a record of 27-0 after winning the Group III state title with a 64-56 win against Emerson in the championship game played in front of a crowd of nearly 7,000 at Atlantic City's Convention Hall.Ruskie, Mark. "St Peter's '5', Orange Champs", The Morning Call, March 30, 1968. Accessed February 20, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Emerson of Union City's bid to become Hudson County's 43rd NJSIAA basketball champion fell short last night as the Bulldog title express was derailed by unbeaten Orange, 64-56, before 6,913 at Convention Hall. In annexing their first Group 3 diadem, the Hoddy Mahon-coached Tornadoes reeled off their 27th win in a row." The 1976 team held off a late rally from Glassboro to win the Group I title by a score of 82-77 and finish the season with a record of 25-7."Plainfield ends Neptune streak", The Record, March 21, 1976. Accessed February 1, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Orange raced to a 50-34 half-time lead and held on to beat Glassboro, 82-77, for the Group 1 championship....The Tornadoes, who played Group 4 opponents in the Big 10 Conference most of the regular season, finished 25-7 in relegating Glassboro to runner-up status for me second straight year. Orange has won the Group 1 title twice ln the last three years." The 1977 team finished the season with a 26-3 record after winning the Group II title by defeating Pleasantville by a score of 76-65 in the championship game.McLaughlin, Marty. "Orange Completes the Cycle, Captures Group 2 Crown", New York Daily News, March 20, 1977. Accessed January 3, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "We finally completed the cycle," said Orange coach Cliff Blake, after his team racked up an impressive 76-65 win over Pleasantville to win the Group 2 state championship at Princeton. The Tornadoes (26-3) would have never made it without the outstanding play of 6-2 senior guard Bob Butler who pumped in a game high 31 points with some fine outside shooting." The 1994 team held off a late charge to win the Group III title with a 65-63 win against Camden in the playoff finalsKurland, Bob; and Schwartz, Paul. "Greer's 32 pace Middle over Hillside", The Record, March 14, 1994. Accessed January 20, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Orange blew a 12-point second-half lead, but rallied to win the Group 3 boys State championship Sunday with a 65-63 victory over Camden. Trailing 43-31 midway through the third quarter, Camden switched to a man-to-man defense midway through the third quarter and got back in the game." and moved on to capture the Tournament of Champions to finish the season with a 25-3 record, winning by a score of 73-62 over sixth-seeded Glassboro High School in the quarterfinals, against number-two seed Bergen Catholic High School by 88-57 in the semis and won vs. top-seeded Paterson Catholic High School in the championship game by 64-56, giving the Tornadoes a No. 1 ranking in NJ, and national rank of No. 11 in USA Today.Narducci, Marc. "Orange Drops Paterson Catholic To Win Tournament Of Champions The Tornadoes Prevailed, 64-55. The State Group 3 Champions Went Home With The Overall Title.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 21, 1994. Accessed August 30, 2011. "The Tornadoes became the first team not seeded first or second to win the Tournament of Champions boys' title, defeating top-seeded Paterson Catholic, 64-55, yesterday at Princeton University. Orange finished 25-3, losing all three games to Clifford Scott, a team the Tornadoes also beat once this season. Paterson Catholic, which hadn't lost to a New Jersey team all season, finished 26-3."NJSIAA Boys Basketball Tournament Of Champions History , New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.

Music Orange High School is home to the Mighty Marching Tornadoes marching band and a choir, Voices in Harmony, in addition to local musical rap group that wrote a song about an Orange High School teacher.Bondy, Halley. "Students record tribute to Orange teacher being laid off", The Star-Ledger, May 13, 2009. Accessed August 30, 2011.

Administration The school's principal is Jason Belton. His administration team includes three assistant principals.Administration, Orange High School. Accessed March 7, 2025.

Notable alumni

Jay Alford (born 1983), former defensive tackle for the New York Giants drafted in the 3rd Round of the 2007 NFL draft (81st overall)Giants Select Penn State DT Jay Alford in Third Round, New York Giants, April 28, 2007. Accessed May 1, 2007. Cory Boyd (born 1985), running back for the Edmonton EskimosCory Boyd profile , South Carolina Gamecocks. Accessed October 30, 2007. Richard Codey (1946–2026), politician who served as the 53rd governor of New Jersey from 2004 to 2006Bergmann, Randy. "Former governor pulls few punches in book", Courier-Post, June 5, 2011. Accessed January 24, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "He speaks with candor and humor about his academic shortcomings. He attended three high schools, all beginning with the letter 'O' Orange, Our Lady of the Valley and Oratory. (He says his father wanted him to be true to his Irish heritage.)" Pete D'Alonzo (1929–2001), fullback who played in the NFL for the Detroit LionsPete D'Alonzo , profootballarchives.com. Accessed March 28, 2015.