Brick Memorial High School


Brick Memorial High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades in Brick Township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States, operating as a part of the Brick Public Schools. The school opened in 1980 as the second of two secondary schools in the district, the other being Brick Township High School.

Student statistics

As of the 2018–19 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,482 students and 120.2 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.3:1. There were 291 students eligible for free lunch and 83 eligible for reduced-cost lunch.
;Test scores
Student test scores for the Class of 2014 were:
;Graduation and post-graduation
Brick Memorial has a 91% graduation rate. A survey of the Class of 2010 reported that post-graduation plans were:
The school was the 188th-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. The school had been ranked 269th in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 251st in 2010 out of 322 schools listed. The magazine ranked the school 261st in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 239th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.
Schooldigger.com ranked the school 182nd out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics and language arts literacy components of the High School Proficiency Assessment.
Chemistry teacher Maria DeBruin was one of 45 teachers in the country selected as a Milken Educator of the Year in 2017.

History

The school was constructed and opened in 1980 due to the large number of students enrolled at Brick Township High School. It was uncertain that the school would ever built because some community members felt that a new school would divide the town.
In addition to the required course work in English, history, math, science, and physical education, there are numerous selections in fine arts, foreign language, business and Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps. The school offers Advanced Placement and honors courses in English, history, math, and science as well as in many elective courses within all subject areas. The academic program aims to prepare students not only for a competitive college career, but also for a vocational career.
Brick Memorial provides the opportunity to attend the Ocean County Vocational Technical School system. This program of study offers students training in transportation technologies, building trades, electronics, allied health services, and specialized trades in keeping with the industrial and employment opportunities available in the school's area. Brick Memorial includes technology as an integral part of every department and subject area. It also offers a wide range of extracurricular activities that appeals to the varied interests of the student population.

Extracurricular activities

Athletics

The Brick Memorial High School Mustangs compete in the Shore Conference, an athletic conference made up of private and public high schools centered at the Northern Jersey Shore. All schools in this conference are located within Monmouth County and Ocean County, and the league operates under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. With 1,192 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2015-16 school year as South Jersey, Group IV for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 1,082 to 1,934 students in that grade range. For football, the school was classified by the NJSIAA as South Jersey Group IV for 2018-20.
Brick Memorial offers 20 interscholastic sports programs, including baseball, basketball, bowling, cheering, cross country, dance, field hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, marching band and wrestling.
Team championships:
The Brick Memorial Marching Mustang Band, under the direction of Andrew Penrod, placed first in the 36th annual Tournament of Bands Group II Atlantic Coast Championship in 2008. The band's show, "A Knight's Pledge: The story of a Knight's Journey through Commencement, Adversity, and Triumph," earned a score of 97.4, placing them above the 110 other bands at the championship. This was the first time the Marching Mustangs won the Atlantic Coast Championships. The Marching Mustangs also broke the school record for most trophies won and highest score.
In 2009, the band placed first in the 37th annual Tournament of Bands Group II Atlantic Coast Champions. Their show, "The Gallery: Modern Art at the Speed of Life," won best music and was given a score of 96.85. This score was above the scores of 26 other bands in their group.
In 2010, the band placed first for their third consecutive year in the 38th annual Tournament of Bands II Atlantic Coast Champions. Their show. "Greetings From The Jersey Shore," won high music and high visual. They also broke their record set in 2008 and scored a 97.85.
In 2015, the band placed first after four years in the 43rd annual Tournament of Bands Group III Open Atlantic Coast Champions. With their show entitled, "Orchestrated," it featured the music of Benjamin Britten and Edward Elgar Their score of 97.85 tied their highest score record from 2010.
In 2016, the band placed first again in the 44th annual Tournament of Bands Group III Open Atlantic Coast Champions. With their show entitled, "In Our Hands," it featured the musical arrangements of Pharrell's "Happy," and Danny Elfman's "Ice Dance" by composer Ben Lee. The band broke their record highest score from 2010 with a 98.10.
In 2017, the band placed first again in the 45th annual Tournament of Bands Group IV Open Atlantic Coast Champions. With their show entitled, "Bloom," it featured the musical arrangements of Celine Dion's "Prayer", Eric Whitacres "Fly to Paradise" and John Rudder's "Gloria" They won the captions "Best Brass", "Best Auxiliary" and "Best Music". The band broke the schools' record for highest score from 2016 with a 98.25.

Clubs

There are 44 clubs at Brick Memorial, including the American Sign Language Club, Animal Advocacy Club, Art Club, Bible Club, Brick Memorial Studios, Chess Club, Chorus, Creative Writing, DECA, Drama Club, Equestrian Club, French National Honor Society, Garden Club, Gay Straight Alliance, Go Club, Graphic Novel Club, Habitat For Humanity, Holistic Health & Wellness Club, Honors Club, Italian Club, Italian National Honor Society, Interact Club, Junior State of America, Key Club, Knitting/Crocheting Club, Literary Magazine, Math Team, Mock Trial, National Honor Society, PALS Club, Paranormal Society Club, Recreation, Robotics Club, AFJROTC, School Newspaper, Sirens of Reading, Society of Influences & Game Changers, Spanish Honor Society, STRONG, Student Government Association, SURF, VOICES, Yearbook Club, and Yoga Club.

Administration

The school's principal is Jonathan Barresi. His administration team includes three assistant principals.

Notable alumni