Wildwood High School Celebrates National Award

WILDWOOD — Call it the little high school that could. On second thought, make that the little high school that did.
During the Nov. 21 afternoon assembly that was filled with speeches, song and fanfare befitting such an honor, Wildwood High School celebrated the arrival of a flag noting the school’s being deemed a National Blue Ribbon School.
The city’s high school received the coveted National Blue Ribbon School designation for being among the best of the nation’s 98,716 public schools, including 27,575 high schools.
“Only 236 public and 50 private schools have received the designation of a (2013) National Blue Ribbon School,” said Principal Chris Armstrong. “I am proud of the accomplishments of the staff and the students at Wildwood High School.”
Wildwood High was only one of three comprehensive high schools in the state to receive national recognition and is the only high school in Cape May County to ever be deemed a National Blue Ribbon School.
In his remarks, School Superintendent Dennis Anderson explained the poignancy of receiving the designation of being named a National Blue Ribbon School, the highest award given by the U.S. Department of Education.
“I have been associated with the Wildwood Schools for 32 of my 37 years in education,” said Anderson. “During that time we have weathered some very hard times. One of the most trying days for our district was in October, 2007, when in a national report a man labeled Wildwood High School as a ‘drop out factory.’”
Today, that very man who said those words is the United States Secretary of Education. That very same man this week recognized Wildwood High School as a National Blue Ribbon School for demonstrating exemplary improvement and presented that award to Mr. Armstrong and Mrs. Penrose in Washington, D.C.”
Mayor Ernie Troiano comes from a long line of Wildwood Warriors. He, his brothers, his parents and his children attended the high school. The mayor’s grandchildren currently attend Wildwood public schools and will attend the city’s high school.
“Wildwood has always been looked at in a different light,” said Troiano. “People like to take cheap shots at us. They like to talk about us. There are people right now upset that we are a Blue Ribbon School. To hell with them.”
The mayor told students to always remember to always remember they are Wildwood Warriors. “There is nobody better. Stand strong and stand tall.”
“This is a phenomenal achievement,” remarked State Assemblyman Robert Andrzejczak (D-1). “This is not just a little achievement. This is huge.”
Andrzejczak (D-1) presented the school with a commendation as well as a resolution from the
State of New Jersey honoring the school.
At the conclusion of the assembly, students, staff, alumni, community members and officials made their way outside to the school’s flagpole, where a new flag was raised and will sit beneath Old Glory noting the school belongs to an elite group of National Blue Ribbon Schools.