David Brearley Regional High School

David Brearley Regional High School is a comprehensive public high school located in Kenilworth, New Jersey, serving students in grades seven through twelve from the Union County boroughs of Kenilworth and Garwood. The school is part of the Kenilworth Public Schools district and is named for David Brearley, a New Jersey delegate to the Constitutional Convention and the state's first Chief Justice. It is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and has been recognized for its academic and athletic programs.

History

The school was established in 1967 to serve the growing population of the Kenilworth area, consolidating secondary education for students from Kenilworth and the neighboring community of Garwood. Its construction was part of a broader post-World War II expansion of public education facilities across New Jersey. The school is named for David Brearley, a prominent figure from Elizabeth who signed the United States Constitution and later served as a federal judge appointed by President George Washington. The original campus has undergone several renovations and expansions, including significant updates to its science laboratories and athletic facilities in the early 21st century.

Academics

The school's curriculum is structured to meet the New Jersey Department of Education's Core Curriculum Content Standards and offers a range of Advanced Placement courses in subjects such as Calculus, English literature, United States History, and Biology. Students can also pursue vocational-technical education programs through partnerships with the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools district. The school maintains a focus on STEM education, supported by its membership in the Project Lead The Way engineering program. Academic performance is consistently above state averages, with a high percentage of graduates attending institutions like Rutgers University, The College of New Jersey, and Stevens Institute of Technology.

Athletics

David Brearley Regional High School athletes compete in the Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference within the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association's North Jersey, Section 2, Group I conference. The school's teams, known as the Bears, have won numerous state sectional championships, particularly in wrestling, where the program has produced multiple individual state champions and is regularly ranked among the top in New Jersey. Other notable athletic programs include football, which has won NJSIAA state sectional titles, and baseball. The school's facilities include Naimoli Family Athletic Complex, which features a synthetic turf field.

Notable alumni

* Mike Coppola (born 1984), professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Bellator MMA promotion. * Tommy DeVito (born 1997), quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. * Rich Seubert (born 1979), former offensive guard for the New York Giants and member of their Super Bowl XLII championship team. * John Sponauer, former professional soccer player who played for the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League.

Administration and organization

The school is governed by the Kenilworth Board of Education, which includes representatives from both Kenilworth and Garwood. The school's principal is supported by assistant principals overseeing specific grade-level divisions and academic departments. The student body is represented by a Student Council association, and the school's parent-teacher organization is the David Brearley High School PTA. The school operates on a traditional two-semester schedule and follows the academic calendar set by the New Jersey Department of Education.

Category:Educational institutions established in 1967 Category:Public high schools in New Jersey Category:Kenilworth, New Jersey Category:Union County, New Jersey