“Imagine a school that felt like a family” someone once said when they talked about Queen of Peace High School. Queen of Peace High School served students in North Arlington. It was a Roman Catholic school. The Sisters of St. Joseph and the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools co-sponsored it.
Queen of Peace High School operated for 86 years. Sadly, it closed in June 2017. The reason was declining enrollment and financial problems. But its legacy lives on.
Queen of Peace High School received the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program award twice. This award is the highest honor an American school can get. It shows the school’s commitment to excellence.
In 1999, William “Sonny” Connors passed away. He was Derek Jeter’s grandfather. He also worked at Queen of Peace. The Jeter family created the Connors/Jeter Scholarship Fund to honor him. This fund helps Queen of Peace students with academic and community achievements.
In 2007, Queen of Peace students sang for Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. This was a special moment for the school community.
Queen of Peace High School made headlines in 2013. The school asked girls to pledge not to curse for 30 days. The goal was for “ladies to act like ladies”.
In 2016, Queen of Peace needed to raise $1 million to stay open. The community raised over $1,035,000 in one month. This effort allowed the school to stay open for one more year.
The Queen of Peace Golden Griffins competed in the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference. They had a strong athletics program. The boys cross country team won state championships in 1970 and 1971. The boys track team also won several state championships. In 1980, the boys’ soccer team won the NJSIAA Boys Non-Public A state championship. The softball team won the Non-Public Group A state championship in 1988.
Many notable people attended Queen of Peace High School. Kathleen Donovan served in the New Jersey General Assembly. Frank Iero played guitar for My Chemical Romance. Clifford Omoruyi plays basketball for Rutgers.
Even faculty members like Ryan Grant went on to achieve great things. He later played for the Green Bay Packers.
Queen of Peace High School closed its doors. However, it will be remembered for its community. It will also be remembered for its commitment to education and its many achievements. The spirit of Queen of Peace lives on in its alumni and the memories they carry.