History
The Ridgewood High School Alumni Association was established in 2014 through the shared vision of Principal Tom Gorman ’87 and a dedicated group of alumni who cared deeply about their alma mater. With state funding in decline, they saw alumni support as a powerful way to help RHS grow while continuing its Tradition of Excellence.
RHS Through the Years...
Ridgewood High School (RHS) is one of the most beautiful public schools you’ll find. Its iconic brick façade, sprawling campus, and signature cupola often make you forget it’s a public high school.
Throughout its 125-year history, RHS has continually expanded to accommodate a growing student body and an evolving curriculum. In 1931, the present-day cafeteria was added. In 1937, a second floor was built atop the original structure. In 1960, the library and two rear-facing floors were constructed. And most recently, in 1999, RHS welcomed a new academic wing, gymnasium, fitness center, and campus center. These capital projects were made possible through bond referendums led by the Ridgewood Public School system.
Despite this steady growth, RHS faces its share of challenges. When the original land was purchased in 1916, no one could have predicted the amount of space the school would eventually need. Today, RHS is a large building situated on a small property in a floodplain—an issue that presents significant logistical hurdles. While many areas have been updated over time, key parts of the campus are aging: the Campus Center (1999), Science & Music Wing (1964), and Cafeteria (1930) are all examples of infrastructure in need of attention.
With every challenge comes opportunity. The Alumni Association has been working closely with Principal Jeff Nyhuis, Superintendent Mark Schwarz, and district leadership to identify both large-scale and smaller projects that address these challenges as well as the school’s most pressing, underlying needs: space, storage, and scheduling.
Armed with this understanding, the Alumni Association actively seeks opportunities to support capital improvements through alumni giving that have the greatest impact on the RHS community—especially those projects that benefit the largest number of students.
Inspired by Principal Gorman’s original vision when the Alumni Association was founded in 2014, the goal was clear: take a private school approach to support the needs of our public school. Through alumni giving, we could play a meaningful role in sustaining Ridgewood High School’s long-standing
Tradition of Excellence.
Ridgewood High School Timeline:
1892 - Present
- 1892 RHS was founded with the first 9th grade class.
- 1913 Maroon and White became the official school colors.
- 1916 Land was purchased for construction of the present high school.
- 1919 May 7th was the formal opening of the new school.
- 1929 RHS was organized as a senior high school with grades 10-12.
- 1931 Renovations included a new cafeteria.
- 1937 Construction begins on the second story of the existing building.
- 1960 October 28th top floor fire closes RHS for one week.
- 1963 Addition of library and two floors on backside of RHS.
- 1986 RHS became a four-year high school with the addition of Class of 1990 as freshman.
- 1992 Schedule was modified to a rotating block format with one unit lunch.
- 1999 Addition of a new wing, gymnasium, fitness center, and campus center.
- 2010 Renovation turns the library into Learning Commons.
- 2014 The RHS Alumni Association was formed.
- 2016 RHS celebrated its 125th anniversary as a high school.
- 2018 RHS celebrated its 100th anniversary of the iconic brick school building.
- 2022 Alumni Association delivered the Duffield STEAM Initiative (new culinary lab, tv/recording studio, and innovation space).
Join the Alumni Association
Stay connected to the community that shaped you—reunite with classmates at Homecoming Weekend or your next class reunion, support current students by sharing your time or giving back, and leave a lasting impact. Help inspire the next generation of Maroons. Sign up today!
