The Morris Hills Regional District, formally known as the Morris Hills Regional High School District, is a comprehensive regional public school district that consists of two four-year public high schools serving four suburban communities in Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The district serves the residential communities of Denville Township (Denville Township School District), Rockaway Borough (Rockaway Borough Public Schools), Rockaway Township (Rockaway Township Public Schools) and Wharton (Wharton Borough School District).Morris Hills Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Morris Hills Regional High School District, updated August 27, 1990. Accessed May 4, 2026. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades 9 through 12 in the Morris Hills Regional School District. Composition: The Morris Hills Regional School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Denville Township, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township, and Wharton Borough for the limited purpose of providing and operating a high school."About Us, Morris Hills Regional District. Accessed May 4, 2026. "The Morris Hills Regional District accommodates students in grades nine through twelve from Denville, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township, and Wharton, as well as out-of-district students through the New Jersey School Choice Program.... Morris Hills High School receives students from Wharton, the southern-most portion of Rockaway Township.... Rockaway Borough north of Route #46. Morris Knolls High School receives students from Denville, all of Rockaway Township with the exception of White Meadow Lake and the area described above in the southern part of Rockaway Township, Rockaway Borough south of Route #46...."Sending Districts, Morris Hills Regional High School District. Accessed May 4, 2026. "Click on a link below to visit one of our sending districts: Denville Township Public Schools Rockaway Township Public Schools Rockaway Boro Public Schools Wharton Borough Public Schools"
As of the 2024–25 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 2,626 students and 251.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.4:1.District information for Morris Hills Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed January 15, 2026.
History The four constituent communities voted in 1949 to create the regional high school district, which would allow 750 students then served by Boonton High School, Dover High School and Rockaway High School, with a goal of serving a total enrollment of 1,500."Another Regional High School", Herald News, March 31, 1950. Accessed June 10, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Denville, Wharton and the two Rockaways (township and borough) voted overwhelmingly last fall for a regional school to serve a Morris County area 20 miles long. The size of the favorable vote surprised everyone, because it was feared that Rockaway Borough, which has its own small high school, was jealous of Denville and might turn down the regional proposal. Approval by all four communities was required. The Morris Hills Regional High School may be erected near Route 6, on land offered by Denville. It will be large enough to take in the 750 children now scattered in Dover, Boonton and Rockaway and built so that it can be enlarged to accommodate 1,500 from a region that is growing rapidly." Students from Wharton, New Jersey attended Wharton High School, which opened in 1922 and closed when Morris Hills High School was opened in 1953.The Story of Morris Hills, Morris Hills High School. Accessed June 10, 2023. "Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on April 26, 1952 and the cornerstone ceremony was held on May 23, 1953. During the summer of 1953, Miss Dora A. Ames (Mrs. Dora A. Sharp), Director of Guidance, began working to assist the class and student counseling. On September 9, 1953, the Morris Hills Regional High School was opened for the entrance of its first classes. On October 23, 1953, dedication ceremonies were attended by a crowd of over fifteen hundred people."
The district had been classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "GH", the third-highest of eight groupings. District Factor Groups organize districts statewide to allow comparison by common socioeconomic characteristics of the local districts. From lowest socioeconomic status to highest, the categories are A, B, CD, DE, FG, GH, I and J.District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 1, 2024.
Awards and recognition For the 1996–97 school year, both Morris Hills High SchoolStar School Award recipient detail 1996-97 school year, Morris Hills High School, New Jersey Department of Education, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 18, 2006. Accessed June 3, 2013. and Morris Knolls High SchoolStar School Award recipient detail 1996-97 school year, Morris Knolls High School, New Jersey Department of Education, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 18, 2006. Accessed June 3, 2013. were named as "Star Schools" by the New Jersey Department of Education, the highest honor that a New Jersey school can achieve.
Schools Schools in the district (with 2024–25 enrollment data from the National Center for Education StatisticsSchool data for the Morris Hills Regional High School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed Jn 1, 2024.) are:School Performance Reports for the Morris Hills Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed September 1, 2025.New Jersey School Directory for the Morris Hills Regional High School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024. Morris Hills High SchoolMorris Hills High School, Morris Hills Regional High School District. Accessed May 4, 2026.(1,140, located in Rockaway Borough) serves all students from Wharton, along with some students from Rockaway Borough and Rockaway Township (the White Meadow Lake section and other southern portions of the township).About Us, Morris Hills High School. Accessed May 4, 2026. "Morris Hills High School, located in Rockaway, New Jersey, serves the residential communities of Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township, and Wharton.... MH is home to the Academy of Mathematics, Science and Engineering, a partnership with Morris County School of Technology. MH also offers a Magnet Program that focuses on research in the fields of math and science. The school was first opened for classes on September 9, 1953." The Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, a magnet high school program that is part of the Morris County Vocational School District is jointly operated on the Morris Hills campus.Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering: Overview, Morris Hills High School. Accessed May 4, 2026. "The Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, located at Morris Hills High School, is a rigorous, highly focused four year program for Morris County Students with career interests in mathematics, science, or engineering." Dr. Todd M. Toriello, principalAdministration, Morris Hills High School. Accessed May 4, 2026. Morris Knolls High SchoolMorris Knolls High School, Morris Hills Regional High School District. Accessed May 4, 2026. (1,450, located in Denville) serves all students from Denville, as well as those from parts of Rockaway Borough and portions of Rockaway Township (most of the township, with the exception of White Meadow Lake and other areas in the southern part of the township).School Profile, Morris Knolls High School. Accessed May 4, 2026. "Morris Knolls High School, founded in 1964, is one of two four-year comprehensive high schools that comprise the Morris Hills Regional District.... Morris Knolls High School serves the residential communities of Denville and Rockaway Township." Ryan MacNaughton, principalAdministration, Morris Knolls High School. Accessed May 4, 2026.
Administration Core members of the district's administration are:Central Office Administration, Morris Hills Regional District. Accessed May 4, 2026.New Jersey School Directory for Morris County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024. Nicholas Norcia, superintendentSuperintendent's Welcome, Morris Hills Regional District. Accessed May 4, 2026. Danielle Matovski, business administrator.Business Office, Morris Hills Regional District. Accessed May 4, 2026.
Nicholas Norcia, who had been the chief administrator of the Fair Lawn Public Schools, was selected as the district's superintendent in April 2023, with plans to take office the following July in Morris Hills."Superintendent Announcement" , Morris Hills Regional District. Accessed June 12, 2023. "The Morris Hills Regional Board of Education has announced that at the public Board meeting held on Monday, April 24, 2023 the Board unanimously approved the appointment of Mr. Nicholas Norcia as the next Superintendent of Schools for the Morris Hills Regional District."Noda, Stephanie. "Fair Lawn schools chief Norcia will leave to take position in Morris County", The Record, April 26, 2023. Accessed June 12, 2023. "Nicholas Norcia announced Tuesday that he is resigning effective July 23 and will move on to become superintendent at the Morris Hills Regional District in Morris County."
Board of education The district's board of education, comprised of nine members, sets policy and oversees the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type II school district, the board's trustees are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year held (since 2012) as part of the November general election. The board appoints a superintendent to oversee the district's day-to-day operations and a business administrator to supervise the business functions of the district.New Jersey Boards of Education by District Election Types - 2018 School Election, New Jersey Department of Education, updated February 16, 2018. Accessed January 26, 2020.Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Morris Hills Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2025. Accessed May 4, 2026. "The Board is an instrumentality of the State of New Jersey, established to function as an educational institution. The Board consists of elected officials and is responsible for the fiscal control of the District. A superintendent is appointed by the Board and is responsible for the administrative control of the District." See "Roster of Officials" on page 16.Board of Education, Morris Hills Regional High School District. Accessed May 4, 2026. Seats on the board of education are allocated based on the populations of the constituent municipalities, with four seats assigned to Rockaway Township, three to Denville Township, one to Rockaway Borough and one to Wharton."School board races; Contests for 4 of 5 boards", New Jersey Hills, March 3, 2005. Accessed May 4, 2026. "The board has nine members; three from Denville, four from Rockaway Township, and one each from Rockaway Borough and Wharton."
References
External links Official site of Morris Hills Regional High School District
Morris Hills Regional High School District, National Center for Education Statistics