Barringer Academy of the Arts & Humanities (formerly Barringer High School and Newark High School), is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades in Newark, in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as part of the Newark Public Schools. Some consider it to be the third oldest public high school in the United States. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools until July 2031 and has been accredited since 1981.Barringer High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed December 18, 2024.
As of the 2024–25 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,894 students and 110.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 17.2:1. There were 1,048 students (55.3% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 82 (4.3% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.School data for Barringer High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed January 15, 2026.
Awards, recognition and rankings The school was the 327th-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 313th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 311th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed December 1, 2012. The magazine ranked the school 306th in 2008 out of 316 schools.Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed February 12, 2011. The school was ranked 303rd 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 In 1838, Nathan Hedges opened a high school in a building on Bank Street. On January 7, 1853, a three-story building was opened at the corner of Washington and Linden and had an enrollment of 498 boys and girls.Our History, Barringer High School. Accessed July 23, 2019.History of Barringer High School, Barringer High School Alumni Association. Accessed November 15, 2016.
In 1875, William N. Barringer was hired to succeed George B. Sears as superintendent of schools. Barringer oversaw the construction of a second high school building at a cost of $300,000 (equivalent to $ million in ), which is the site of the current faculty parking lot. Construction started in 1878 and was completed in 1899. In 1907, the Newark High School was renamed to honor Barringer.
Athletics The Barringer High School Blue BearsBarringer 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.League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. With 1,115 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 1,060 to 5,049 students in that grade range.NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020. Until the NJSIAA's 2009 realignment, the school had participated in Division B of the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League, which included high schools located in Bergen, Essex and Passaic counties, and was separated into three divisions based on NJSIAA size classification.Home Page, Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 9, 2009. Accessed December 15, 2014. The football team competes in the Liberty 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. This is the first year of the Ivy Division, created for struggling programs that would be ineligible for the state playoffs." The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group V North for football for 2022–2024, which included schools with 1,317 to 5,409 students.NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
The school's football rivalry with East Orange Campus High School, which dates back to a Thanksgiving Day game played in 1897, was listed at 7th on NJ.com's 2017 list "Ranking the 31 fiercest rivalries in N.J. HS football".Stypulkoski, Matt. "Ranking the 31 fiercest rivalries in N.J. HS football", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 27, 2017, updated May 15, 2019. Accessed December 1, 2020. "7-Barringer vs. East Orange: This year marks the 120th anniversary of the inaugural Thanksgiving game and the 105th meeting overall between these two Essex County schools. While the streak of consecutive holiday games was broken in 1986 due to a conference scheduling conflict, it was resumed again in 1988.... All-time series: East Orange leads, 57-39-9" East Orange leads the rivalry with a 63-39-9 overall record as of 2023.Ojutiku, Mak. "Fisher scores 4 TDs as East Orange blanks Barringer in Thanksgiving football rivalry", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 23, 2023. Accessed November 30, 2023. "Kyree Fisher scored four touchdowns to lead East Orange to a 38-0 Thanksgiving Day rivalry game win over Barringer, in Newark. The rivalry, which once held the title of being the longest unbroken rivalry series in the country, dates back to 1897 and is the fifth-oldest of the holiday series still being played in New Jersey. East Orange’s win increased its series lead to 63-39-9."
In 1918, during future major league baseball player Moe Berg's senior season, the Newark Star-Eagle selected a nine-man "dream team" from the city's best prep and public high school baseball players, and Berg was named the team's third baseman.
The boys track team won the indoor track public school state championship in 1930, 1934 and 1939.Boys Winter Track and Field Championship History: 1922-2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated November 2023. Accessed February 1, 2024.
The boys track team won the spring / outdoor track state championship in Group IV in 1933 and 1934.NJSIAA Spring Track Summary of Group Titles Boys, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2021.
The boys fencing team was the overall state co-champion in 1969 with Essex Catholic High School after both teams had overall records of 45–9 in competition; Barringer won the team foil competition.NJSIAA History of Boys Fencing Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020."Indian Hills' Pete Gaylor Takes State Foil Laurels", The News, February 24, 1969. Accessed March 3, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The overall team championship, based on foil and sabre competition, was jointly awarded to Barringer, of Newark, and Essex Catholic. Both teams finished with the same record, 45 wins and nine losses.... Barringer won the team foil title with a record of 23 wins and only four losses while Essex Catholic placed second with 22-5."
The 1975 football team finished the season with a 9–1–1 record after winning the North II Group IV state sectional title with a 14–13 victory against Livingston High School in the championship game played in front of a crowd of 7,500.NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 1, 2022."Livingston Bows to Barringer", The New York Times, December 7, 1975. Accessed January 2, 2021. "A bungled snap from center on an extra-point try prevented Livingston High School from gaining a tie yesterday and the team lost a 14–13 decision to Newark Barringer in the North Jersey Section 2, Group 4, championship football game before 7,500 spectators in Livingston.... Barringer, finishing with a 9–1–1 won-lost-tied record, scored in the first half on Charles White's 1-yard sneak and his 39-yard pass to George Persons."
The 1980 boys basketball team finished the season with a 26–4 record after winning the Group IV state championship, defeating Trenton Central High School by a score of 68–56 in the tournament final.History of NJSIAA Boys Basketball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.Bauman, Greg. "Barringer takes it to Camden, 68-56", Herald News, March 23, 1980. Accessed February 22, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "When Lenny Carmichael succeeded Fran Pinchot as Trenton High School's basketball coach three years ago, he vowed to turn the Tornadoes sagging program around.... Trenton (24-4) reached the New Jersey State Group 4 finals for the first time in 19 years Saturday night, making good on Carmichael's promise.... Barringer (26-4), behind a devastating fourth-quarter comeback, defeated a shocked Tornadoe club, 68-56, in winning the states Group 4 title."
Administration The school's principal is Natasha Pared.Principal's Message, Barringer High School. Accessed January 18, 2026. Her core administrative team includes five vice principals.Vice Principals, Barringer High School. Accessed January 18, 2026.
Notable alumni
Arts and literature Amiri Baraka (1934–2014), poet and playwright, who was New Jersey Poet LaureateMessage from Amiri Baraka, New Jersey and Newark Schools' Poet Laureate, dated July 1, 2003, accessed April 13, 2007. "Now, in an attempt to prevent my appearance at Barringer High School (my alma mater) June 30, to give the Commencement Address, they threatened to picket Barringer and otherwise cause disruption." Hilda Belcher (1881–1963), artist known for her paintings, watercolors and portraitsKlacsmann, Karen Towers. "Hilda Belcher (1881-1963)", New Georgia Encyclopedia. Accessed October 21, 2015. "Upon graduating from Newark High School (later Barringer High School) in 1900, Belcher moved to New York City to further her education." Albert Boni (1892–1981), publisherImholtz Jr., August A. "Albert Boni: A Sketch of a Life in Micro-Opaque", American Antiquarian Society, 2006. Accessed October 21, 2015. "There in Newark he attended Barringer High School and, at the age of sixteen, became the youngest secretary of the local chapter of the Socialist Party."