The History of East Orange High School

East Orange High School garnished it’s reputation as one of the best schools in the United States!  This included the quality of the faculty, students, facilities, sports and the school’s ability to prepare young adult to become responsible adults to make a positive impact to the World.  To possess a diploma as a student or hold a prominent position as faculty at East Orange High School is to be a person of sound reputation and standing in the community.
 
The City of East Orange, New Jersey was established March 4, 1863.  Prior to 1889, there was no high school located in East Orange High School; only several isolated grammar schools with a two-year or three-year high school course.  That same year the schools were consolidated and a board of education was established.  In the Board’s first annual report, a recommendation was made to build a high school.  Land was purchased and a high school costing $120,000 was erected.  The building, called East Orange High School, located on Winans Street (between Main and William Streets) was completed in December 1891 and contained ten classrooms, two study halls, a drawing room, a chemistry laboratory, and a gymnasium.  The School enrolled 150 students, with support of 4 teachers.  Superintendent of Schools Vernon L Davey served as the first principal.
 
Enrollment in the new school grew rapidly and steadily.  In 1911 a new building was erected on Walnut Street and connected to the old building.  In 1923, a new addition on Winans Street was erected, which included 45 classrooms, 14 laboratories, three large study halls, an auditorium (capacity 1,200 people), a library, three health inspection rooms, an infirmary, two gymnasiums, a swimming pool, and a lunchroom capable of feeding the entire school. 
 
In 1958, the original School on Winans Street was torn down and a new addition was erected in it’s place at a cost of $12 million.  And after 110 years for faithful service, School was closed on June 2, 2001.  The new East Orange Campus High School opened in September 2002 on the old campus of Upsala College on Prospect Street; combining both East Orange High School and Clifford Scott High School.  Demolition of the old East Orange High School began in 2005.
 
In September 2009, a new $143 million, 309,000-square-foot facility opened on the site of the former East Orange High School.  Consisting of an elementary school and middle/high school, the new Cicely Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts was among the largest and most technologically advanced schools ever built in the State of New Jersey, with extensive performing arts facilities which meet or exceed the highest professional standards.
 

East Orange High School Principals
Name	Tenure	Years Served	Notes:
Vernon L. Davey	1891-1898	8
Lincoln E. Rowley	1898-1900	2
Charles W. Evans	1900-1911	11
Ralph E. Files	1911-1942	31	Longest Serving
Galen Jones	1942-1945	3
Louis B. Knight	1945-1956	11
Robert B. Redman	1956-1961	5
Morgan T. Loesch	1961-1969	8
Harry Veal	1969-1972	3
Carson Carr	1972-1973	1
Bertram Coppock	1973-1974	2
Frank T. Penn	1974-1984	10	Our Beloved Principal
Barbara S. Darden	1984-1988	4	Only Woman to Serve
Andrew P. Brown	1988-1991	3
Lawrence Pijeaux	1991-1992	1
Stephen Cowan	1992-1995	3	EOHS Alum
Robert B. Morgan	1995-2001	6
		112

East Orange Public Library Local History, including Yearbooks from 1906 - 2009.
https://www.eopl.org/localhistory.htm