It’s no secret to anyone in Cranford that Cranford High School was recently ranked as the #206 best high school in the entire country, according to Newsweek’s “America’s Best High Schools” rankings released earlier this year.  CHS gained this ranking due to several criteria including a 99% graduation rate, 98% of college-bound students and a 1713 average SAT score. It is well known that CHS is a fantastic school, but do you know any of the history BEHIND this school?

It was 1902 when Cranford High School was first established as a four-year learning institution.   For a number of years only the college preparatory course was offered, and it wasn’t until 1918 that the business education course was added. Originally, the school occupied the second and third floors of Grant School. In 1914 it was moved to the Cleveland School, which, at the time, was brand new (built at the same time as Lincoln School, which still operates as a school).  This was a time of tremendous growth for Cranford and surrounding communities, so it wasn’t long before that building became inadequate for enrollment.

Construction of the present high school building began in 1937, and in January of 1938, the high school moved to its present location. This move enabled the school to expand its facilities and offerings in several departments – art, business education, English, home and industrial arts, health, language, mathematics, music, science, and physical education.

In its new location, CHS was actually organized as a six year school, for grades 7 through 12.  Later, as enrollment continued to increase and logistical changes needed to be made, it operated at one point as only as a two-year senior high school, grades 11 and 12,  until the completion of the additions to the building in 1973. Beginning in September, 1979 Cranford High School returned to being a four-year school, looking much as it does today.

The rest, as they say, is history.  Students of Cranford High School enjoy all of the privileges of an outstanding high school, and most go on to higher education.  It is a school with a proud past, a proud present, and offering its students a proud future.  Go Cougars!!!