Thomas Jefferson High School was an all-boys public high school in Elizabeth, in Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, which operated as part of the Elizabeth Public Schools. When the school opened in 1929, Battin High School became an all-girls school. The school operated on a single-sex basis for 48 years until the end of the 1976–77 school year, ending its status as one half of the state's only pair of public high schools operated separately for male and female students.Hatala, Greg. "Glimpse of History: When Battin was co-ed", The Star-Ledger, June 11, 2012. Accessed October 24, 2015. "Both male and female students in grades 9 to 12 attended Battin until 1928, when Thomas Jefferson High School was built for high school-age boys in the city at what is now Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza. According to research by Kristin Kulick, director of special projects for the Elizabeth Board of Education, the academic year 1976–77 was the last year male and female students attended classes separately."
In 1977, district officials stated that the inability to determine attendance zones for the two comprehensive high schools after Thomas Jefferson High School opened in 1929 combined with the expansive shop facilities in the new building, led the district to decide to split students by sex, with girls at Battin and boys at Thomas Jefferson.
The school closed at the end of the 1976–77 school year, after the Elizabeth High School complex was completed and all of the district's students, male and female, were accommodated at the new four-building facility, ending the city's status as "the only community in the state with separate public high schools for boys and girls". The $29.3 million project included renovations to Thomas Jefferson High School, which was integrated into the new complex. The Battin High School building, together with the four existing junior high schools, was repurposed as a middle school for grades six through eight.Horowitz, Ben. "Elizabeth Awaits Coed High School", The New York Times, July 10, 1977. Accessed November 2, 2019. "Elizabeth's 48-year role as the only community in the state with separate public high schools for boys and girls will end in September with the opening of a new four-building complex at the corner of South Pearl and South Streets."
The building now hosts the Admiral William Halsey Leadership Academy and the John E. Dwyer Technology Academy.
Athletics The boys' basketball team won the Group IV state championship in 1931 (against runner-up Neptune High School in the finals of the playoffs), 1946 (vs. Central High School of Newark), 1952 (vs. Emerson High School of Union City) and 1954 (vs. Bloomfield High School).NJSIAA Boys Basketball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2022. The 1931 team won the state title in Class A (since recategorized as Group IV) with a 28-19 victory against Neptune in the tournament final."Hun Five Captures Jersey Title Final; Triumphs in Class A of Prep School Tourney--Kingsley Scores in Class B. Jefferson Quintet Wins; Elizabeth Team Victor in Class A of High School Division--Crown in Class B to Princeton High.", The New York Times, March 22, 1931. Accessed February 4, 2021. "Thomas Jefferson of Elizabeth tonight defeated Neptune High of Ocean Grove, 28 to 19, for the State Class A High School championship." In the 1952 playoff finals, the team defeated Emerson High School of Union City by a score of 72-59 to win the Group IV title."Jeffs Capture Group IV Title; Elizabeth Team Downs Emerson Five, 72-59", The Record, March 24, 1952. Accessed March 2, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Thomas Jefferson of Elizabeth mauled Emerson of Union City, 72 to 59, to capture the Group IV title in the 34th annual N. J. S. I. A. A. tournament here at the Armory Saturday night." The 1954 team defeated Bloomfield by a score of 59-46 in the Group IV final at the Elizabeth Armory."Cella's Cagers Lose To Jeffs; Bloomfield Five Fails To Retain Crown", The Record, March 22, 1954. Accessed February 1, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "St. Mary's of Elizabeth, Weehawken, and Thomas Jefferson of Elizabeth captured championships in the 36th annual N. J. S. I. A. A. basketball tournament here at the Armory.... St. Mary's successfully defended its Catholic B title by halting St. Joseph's of Camden, Weehawken repeated as Group II titlist with a 71-60 decision over Sayreville, and Jefferson knocked out the defending Group IV champ, Bloomfield, by a 59-46 count."
Notable alumni
Ed Beach (1929–1996), basketball player who played in the NBA for the Minneapolis Lakers and Tri-Cities BlackhawksEd Beach, Basketball-Reference.com. Accessed October 24, 2015. Frank Bruggy (1891–1959), catcher who played five MLB seasonsFrank Bruggy, Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed November 2, 2019. "High School: Thomas Jefferson HS (Elizabeth, NJ)" Gil Chapman (born 1953, class of 1970), punt and kickoff return specialist for the New Orleans Saints during the 1975 NFL seasonStaff. "Chapman Scores 5 Touchdowns As Jefferson Subdues Cranford", The New York Times, November 29, 1968. Accessed November 2, 2019. "Gil Chapman, Thomas Jefferson sophomore halfback, scored five touchdowns as Jefferson erased a 14–0 deficit to defeat Cranford, 32–21, today." Harry Devlin (1918–2001), artist and painter who also worked as a cartoonist for magazines such as Collier'sHorner, Shirley. "About Books", The New York Times, December 31, 1989. Accessed September 11, 2020. "'No,' he said, 'I was a youngster in suburban Elizabeth, where many of the gems of American Romantic architecture that fascinated me had already lost their luster or were about to fall to the wrecker's ball.'... Thomas Jefferson High School followed, where his art teacher was Armando Sozio, a highly respected artist." Drew Esocoff (born , class of 1975), television sports director, who has been the director of NBC Sunday Night FootballKratch, James. "A well-timed homecoming for N.J. native, Sunday Night Football director Drew Esocoff", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 9, 2015. Accessed October 24, 2015. "'We've never had a high school reunion,' said Esocoff, who grew up in Elizabeth and graduated from Jefferson High in 1975." Ron Freeman (born 1947, class of 1965), 1968 Summer Olympics, gold medalist in the 4×400 m relay, bronze medalist in the 400 metersDenman, Elliott. "From Banishment to the Hall", Armory Track, December 7, 2011. Accessed September 11, 2020. "the Hudson and down the 'pike there was Ron Freeman at Thomas Jefferson High School in Elizabeth, N.J." George Gross (1941–2010), American football defensive tackle who played in the American Football League for the San Diego ChargersKlein, Dave. "Pro Football - Ram's new offense: Dare foes to score", The Star-Ledger, September 17, 1967. Accessed October 22, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "George Gross, Chargers' defensive lineman, was a surprising development when he made the team as a free agent rookie... Both boys were born in Austria and live in Elizabeth, having played football at Thomas Jefferson High before going to Auburn." Don Harris (born 1954), former American football safety who played in the NFL for the Washington Redskins and the New York GiantsDon Harris, Pro-Football-Reference.com. Accessed May 19, 2024. "Born: February 8, 1954 in Elizabeth, NJ (Age: 70-101d)... High School: Thomas Jefferson (NJ)" Michael Kasha (1920–2013), physical chemist and molecular spectroscopistFleetwood, Carmen. "Thomas Jefferson High grads share memories", The Star-Ledger, September 7, 1988. Accessed September 12, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "It ook 50 years, butthe Thomas Jefferson High School Class of 1938 finally got together for its first reunion as a large and enthusiastic group at the Town and Campus in West Orange.... As a matter of fact, the two 'class brains' listed in the yearbook, Michael Kasha and John Sopka, were among those who made the trip.... They were among the more than 150 who attended the reunion, including 88 of the 443 men in the graduating class at the school that is now known as Elizabeth High." James M. McGowan (1920–2004), politician who served three terms in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1957 to 1963Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, Volume 187, p. 410. J.A. Fitzgerald, 1963. "McGowan was born in Elizabeth, on January 19, 1920, and has lived in that city the major portion of his life. He attended St. Rose of Lima School in Belmar, Immaculate Conception School, Sacred Heart High School, and Thomas Jefferson Public High School, all of Elizabeth, N. J." Dan O'Brien Sr. (1929–2017), front office executive who served as the general manager of three Major League Baseball teams"Longtime baseball executive Dan O’Brien Sr. dies at 87", TheDeadballEra, January 17, 2017. Accessed September 11, 2020. "A proud native of Elizabeth, NJ, Mr. O'Brien was a distinguished dual sport athlete at Thomas Jefferson High School who was inducted into the Union County Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999." Frederic Remington (1929–2016), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1978 to 1982"Nov. 14, 1929, in Elizabeth." Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual, Volume 78, p. 251. Accessed October 24, 2015. "Assemblyman Remington was born Nov. 14, 1929, in Elizabeth. After graduation from Thomas Jefferson High School, Elizabeth, he attended Temple University." Sidney M. Schreiber (1914–2009), lawyer who served as an associate justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1975 to 1984"Name Schreiber, Abernethy To Natural Gas Co. Board", The Daily Register, April 12, 1955. Accessed March 6, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "Schreiber, who lives at 10 Malden Terr., Elizabeth, was graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, that city, and Yale College, summa cum laude." John Shumate (born 1952), retired professional basketball player and coach who played five seasons in the NBAViggiano, Bob. "Wilson hoops great Sullinger, 58, dies", Courier-Post, December 10, 2010. Accessed October 24, 2015. "The team's toughest test came in the state semifinals, when it went up against Thomas Jefferson of Elizabeth with John Shumate, who later starred at Notre Dame." Gus Stavros (1925–2022), businessman and philanthropist"200 Physically Impaired At Watson Labs", The Daily Record, October 5, 1948. Accessed April 1, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "A typical example of a disabled veteran who experiences some difficulty in obtaining suitable employment in private industry, keeping with an exceptional educational background is that of Gus A. Stavros of 659 Jackson av., Elizabeth, who is employed at Watson as a classification analyst. Graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School, Elizabeth in 1942, tied for third in a class of 440, Stavros entered Columbia University on a scholarship given the Union County Columbia Alumni Association for scholastic proficiency." General John W. Vogt Jr. (1920–2010), flying ace of the United States Army Air Forces in World War II who served as a general in the United States Air Force during the Cold War era"New Air Chief in Vietnam John William Vogt Jr.", The New York Times, April 18, 1972. Accessed September 11, 2020. "Gen. John William Vogt Jr., who is directing the intensified bombardment of North Vietnamese forces in South and North Vietnam, is holding down his first command since he led a fighter squadron over the beaches of Normandy in World War II.... General Vogt was born on March 18, 1920, in Elizabeth, N. J., and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School there in 1938." Bob Ward (1927–2005), gridiron football coach and playerHatala, Greg. "Vintage photos of N.J. football players in the College Football Hall of Fame", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Accessed March 28, 2023. "Bob Ward was born in Elizabeth in 1927 and attended Jefferson High School. He played offensive guard and defensive lineman for the University of Maryland and was inducted into the CHOF in 1980."