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Schools

High Tech HS Marks Top Honors

Named by usnews.com as the "Best High School for Math and Science," High Technology High School welcomes students, alumni, parents and staff to celebratory soiree.

If you think that the students at are all work and no play, think again.

They can dance, sing, and frolic like other teenagers especially after seeing their hard work and studying pay off in a big way.

Led by Principal Daniel Simon, nearly 300 technologically savvy teens at the specialized, grade nine-through-12 school in the Lincroft section marked the school's selection by usnews.com as the nation's

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Joined by teachers, staff, parents and some alumni, the students crowded into the building's all-purpose room on Dec. 23, the day before winter break, for a short ceremony marking their victory.

Though students and faculty learned of their top ranking by U.S. News and World Report last fall, school administration decided to hold the official celebration in late December, when graduates would be home from college for the holidays, Simon explained.

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"Our greatest sense of accomplishment is when our alumni come back," said Simon, now in his tenth year of leading the pre-engineering focused school.

Following a brief presentation where Simon displayed a plaque designed to resemble the front page of a newspaper reporting the school's top-ranking honor, the soiree swung into full gear.

Andy Laszlo, a disc jockey hired for the occasion, spun CDs as a buffet featuring submarine sandwiches, fruit and cookies were served.  A sheet cake with the number "1" raised in butter cream icing stood on display before going under the knife. Students began dancing in groups.

At one point, Laszlo surprised Simon by picking him up and carrying him about piggyback-style.

The students cheered and clapped as Simon held on to Laszlo's back.

Being chosen over other high schools focused on technology, engineering, science, is what makes this honor stand out from those HTHS has received over its nearly 20-year history, Simon pointed out.

"We were selected in comparison to our peers," he said. "It gives us a great sense of pride and accomplishment to be ranked number one.

It is what students glean from the curriculum at HTHS, a part of the , that matters, not national rankings, he added. Lessons in creative problem solving, project management, time management are taught along with math, science and the humanities. 

"Rankings are nice, but its not about the ranking. It's about what we are actually producing," Simon said. "When our students are five to ten years ahead of other students, that is our greatest testament."

District Superintendent Anthony J. Schaible pointed to Simon, the school's faculty and staff, parents and students as the true recipients of the honor.

"We are extremely proud of the ranking," Schiable said. "We are equally proud of all of our schools, and we're proud there is national recognition for what we do here."

Housed in a stand-alone building on the campus, HTHS draws students from 50 districts in Monmouth County. The school opened in 1992 and graduated its first class in 1994.

 

 

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