Cape May High School was a

public high school A state school, public school, or government school is a primary school, primary or secondary school that educates all students without charge. They are funded in whole or in part by taxation and operated by the government of the state. State-f ...

Cape May Cape May consists of a peninsula and barrier island system in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is roughly coterminous with Cape May County and runs southwards from the New Jersey mainland, separating Delaware Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. Th ...

, in

Cape May County Cape May County is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Much of the county is located on the Cape May peninsula, bound by the Delaware Bay to its west and the Atlantic Ocean to its south and east. Adjacent to the Atlantic ...

in the

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New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

that operated from 1901 to 1960 as part of the Cape May City School District. The school was replaced by

Lower Cape May Regional High School The Lower Cape May Regional High School (LCMRHS) is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Lower Township, in Cape May County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as part of the Lower Cape May Regional School District. L ...

, which serves students from Cape May and other surrounding communities.

History

The first Cape May High School, built in 1901, was designed by Seymour Davis and constructed at a cost of $35,000 (equivalent to $ in ).Pocher, Don; Pocher, Pat
''Cape May in Vintage Postcards''
p. 83.

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, 1998. . Accessed February 26, 2025. "Atlantic City architect S. Harry Vaughn designed the high school, which was built on the former site of Colonial Cottage c. 1918. In 1961 it became Cape May City Hall.... W.H. Church & Bro., builders of the Colonial hotel, constructed the school for $35,000 in 1901, following the design of Philadelphia architect Seymour Davis. It became an elementary school when the new Cape May High School was built." In 1917, a new Cape May High School facility was built, with the 1901 building being repurposed as an elementary school. Cape May High School educated students of all races, unlike elementary schools in the district, which were segregated.Salvatore, Joseph E.; Berkey, Joan
''Cape May''
p. 80.

, 1980. . Accessed February 26, 2025. Cape May High School used the city's former convention hall was used as a basketball arena, baccalaureate venue, an auditorium and a graduation hall. Paul S. Ensminger, originally from Palmyra, Pennsylvania, served for 24 years as principal of Cape May High School. Cape May High closed effective December 22, 1960, and

opened in 1961. Circa 1970, the first Cape May High School building was demolished, and an

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location was constructed on the site. In 1961, the second Cape May High School building became the city hall, replacing a structure built in 1899; it also serves as the police station. In August 2005, the State Historic Preservation Office issued a Certification of Eligibility to the Old Cape May High School for inclusion on the state register of historic places.

Notable alumni

* Cliff Anderson (1929–1979), professional football player who played

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in the NFL for the

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and

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* Maurice Catarcio (1929–2005), professional wrestler best known for competing in the Worldwide Wrestling Federation (since renamed as

WWE World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...

) * Louis Purnell (1920–2001), curator at the

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and earlier in life, a decorated

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* Charles W. Sandman Jr. (1921–1985), politicians who served in the

New Jersey Senate The New Jersey Senate is the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. There are 40 legislative districts, representing districts with an average population of 232,225 (2020 figure ...

from 1954 to 1966 and represented southern

in the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

from 1965 to 1975"Sandman, Charles William, Jr."
''

Biographical Directory of the United States Congress The ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress'' (Bioguide) is a biographical dictionary of all present and former members of the United States Congress and its predecessor, the Continental Congress. Also included are Delegates fr ...

''. Accessed February 26, 2025. "Sandman, Charles William, Jr., a Representative from New Jersey; born in Philadelphia, Pa., October 23, 1921; graduated from Cape May High School, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa., and Rutgers University Law School, Newark, N.J."

References

{{Reflist 1901 establishments in New Jersey 1960 disestablishments in New Jersey Cape May, New Jersey Defunct high schools in New Jersey Educational institutions established in 1901 Educational institutions disestablished in 1960 Public high schools in Cape May County, New Jersey