West Morris Central High School (WMCHS) is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Washington Township, Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is one of two high schools in the West Morris Regional High School District.About West Morris, West Morris Central High School. Accessed February 12, 2020. "The West Morris Regional High School District consists of two high schools: West Morris Central High School, serving residents of Washington Township West Morris Mendham High School, serving residents of Mendham Borough, Mendham Towhship, Chester Borough, and Chester Township."
As of the 2024–25 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,015 students and 82.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.3:1. There were 14 students (1.4% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and none eligible for reduced-cost lunch.School data for West Morris Central High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed January 15, 2026.
History The constituent municipalities—the Chester School District (Chester Borough / Township), Mendham Borough / Township, Mount Olive and Washington Township—approved a referendum in 1956 by a better than 7–1 margin for the construction of a high school to cost $1,961,000 (equivalent to $ million in )."Voters Approve $2 Million School", Courier News, December 13, 1956. Accessed March 6, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The five municipal school districts in the West Morris Regional High School District last night approved spending $1,961,000 for a school. The total vote was 1,332 to 189."
The school opened in September 1958, with 531 students in grades 9–11 in a building with 39 classrooms designed to accommodate 1200 people."531 to Enter New School", Courier News, September 9, 1958. Accessed March 6, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "An estimated 531 ninth, tenth and eleventh grade students will begin classes tomorrow at the partially completed $2,000,000 West Morris Regional High School, Morris County's third regional school. James H. M. Darvie, principal, said construction would not be completed until Dec. 1, but that most of the new building's 39 classrooms were ready. The school serves Chester Township, Mendham Borough, Mount Olive Township and Washington Township..... The brick and glass building has a capacity of 1,200."WMRHSD Now and Then, West Morris Regional High School District. Accessed November 17, 2021. "West Morris Central (WMC), built in 1958, is located in, and serves, Washington Township." The school's first hire was a biology teacher named Maria Young.
Academics
Programs The school is accredited by the New Jersey Department of Education.2018-2019 School Profile, West Morris Central High School. Accessed April 8, 2021. The school has offered the IB Diploma Programme, as part of the International Baccalaureate Organization, since January 1998West Morris Central High School, International Baccalaureate. Accessed April 8, 2021. The school was one of 17 high schools in New Jersey to offer the IB diploma program in 2021; along with its sister school West Morris Mendham, it is one of the two high schools in New Jersey to offer both the IB Diploma and Career Programs.Find an IB World School, International Baccalaureate Organization. Accessed April 8, 2021.
Awards History Teacher Rosanne Lichatin, was named the 2005 Preserve America History Teacher of the Year, and was recognized with the honor by First Lady Laura Bush.Mrs. Bush's Remarks at the Preserve America History Teacher of the Year Award Ceremony, Office of the First Lady press release dated October 14, 2005.
Extracurricular activities
Athletics
The school offers programs in baseball, basketball, cheerleading, fencing, women's field hockey, football, men's ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, unified sports, volleyball, wrestling, and track and field.Team Pages, West Morris Central High School. Accessed June 1, 2024.West Morris Central High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
The school's mascots are either the Highlanders or the Wolfpack depending on the team. School colors are Columbia blue, navy blue and gray.About, West Morris Central High School. Accessed August 14, 2019. "Originally known as the Highlanders, many West Morris Central teams have taken on the name Wolf Pack."
Teams compete in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference, an athletic conference comprised of high schools located in Morris, Sussex and Warren counties, which was established following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).Home Page, Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference. Accessed August 27, 2020. "The Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference prides itself on being one of New Jersey's premier high school conferences and is comprised of 39 high schools located in Northwest New Jersey."League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020. Prior to the NJSIAA's 2009 realignment, the school had been a member of the Iron Hills Conference.Home Page, Iron Hills Conference, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 2, 2011. Accessed November 26, 2014. With 919 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 Blue 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 III North for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 700 to 884 students.NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
Football The football team has won 11 sectional championships. The team won the North II Group III state sectional championship in 1982, 1991, 1995, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2021, 2022, 2023,Mattura, Greg. "West Morris football shocks Old Tappan with comeback win in sectional final", Daily Record, November 10, 2023. Accessed November 21, 2023. "West Morris knocked off defending state champion Old Tappan, 21-17, in Friday's North 1, Group 3 sectional final after erasing a 10-point halftime deficit." and 2025 and won a North II Group IV title in 2012.NJSIAA Football Championship History 1974-2022, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 1, 2023. Note that titles in 1982, 1991 and 1995 are listed as "West Morris" (not "West Morris Central", as is shown for 2001, 2004, 2009 and 2012).Havsy, Jane."State of the Program: West Morris football rebuilding around experience", Daily Record, September 4, 2020. Accessed November 4, 2020. "West Morris has won North 2 Group III seven times: 1982, 1991, 1995, 2001, 2004, 2009 and 2012."
Ice hockey The ice hockey team won the Halvorsen Cup in 2009, 2013 and 2014, and won the Haas Cup in 2010, 2022NJSIAA Ice Hockey State Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020. and 2023.Bobal, Brian. "The beat goes on for West Morris after 8-0 win over Gill St. Bernard's", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, January 14, 2024. Accessed February 10, 2024. "The offensive weaponry was on full display on Saturday, as Rhone Armijo notched his first hat trick and nine different players had at least a point in an 8-0 win over Gill St. Bernard's at Mennen Arena in Morristown."
Clubs
The clubs at West Morris Central have included: three a capella singing groups, Academy of Science, Archery Club, Art/Photography Club, Astronomy Club, Band Front, Book Club, Bowling Club, Volleyball Club, Chess Club, Chinese Club, Choral Club, Debate Club, Diversity Club, Fall Cheerleader, Fashion Design Club, FBLA, Film Club, Future Educators, Fishing Club, Gardening Club, Highlanders for Humanity, International/Cultural Arts Club, Intramurals, Investment Club, Jam Club, Kick Boxing, Literary Magazine, Marching Band, Math League, National History Club, National Honor Society, Newspaper, Project Peace Anti-Bullying Club, Reach (Peer Leadership), Red Cross, Relay for Life, School Store, Science League, Self-Defense Club, Service Learning Club, Ski Club, Sound/Lighting, Spikeball, Stage Craft, STARS, STEM (Technology Club), Student Council, Technology Club, Unified Sports Club, World Language Honor Society and Yearbook.Clubs and Activities, West Morris Central High School. Accessed April 8, 2021.
West Morris participates in the National Honor Society, as well as the French National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society and Chinese National Honor Society.
WMCHS is home to Central Theatre, West Morris' theatre troupe. Since 2016, many productions have been nominated or won theater awards presented by the Paper Mill Playhouse"Paper Mill Playhouse Announces 2019 Rising Star Award Nominations", BroadwayWorld, May 6, 2019. Accessed April 8, 2021.Keller, Ilana. "Paper Mill Playhouse announces Rising Star Award nominations", Asbury Park Press, May 14, 2018. Accessed April 8, 2021. and Montclair State University.
Notable alumni
Tashy Bohm (born 1978/79), former backstroke, freestyle and butterfly competition swimmerShwalb, Bob. "Back where they belong", Daily Record, February 25, 1996. Accessed July 6, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Tashy Bohm backstrokes the length of the pool, 50 yards, in exactly 13 strokes.... At next month's New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Meet of Champions, the West Morris junior will try to win a third consecutive title in the 100-yard backstroke." Michael Burton (born 1992), American football fullback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football LeagueDuggan, Dan. "Rutgers fullback Michael Burton's path from walk-on to the NFL Draft paved by determination", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 2, 2015. Accessed August 13, 2015. "And that dedication is how Burton has transformed from a walk-on out of West Morris Central High into a potential NFL Draft pick." Kyleigh D'Alessio (1990–2006), student at the school whose death in an auto accident inspired Kyleigh's LawHowell Jr., Tom. "News Teen fights for safer roads after friend's death", New Jersey Herald, November 22, 2008. Accessed August 13, 2018. "Kyleigh, a star athlete at West Morris Central High School, died when an Audi TT driven by a 17-year-old boy careened into a tree on Fairview Avenue in Long Valley."