Upper and Lower Academies. In the 2012 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington Post, the school was ranked 2nd in New Jersey and 79th nationwide. In September 2016, Elizabeth High School moved into the newly constructed Frank J. Cicarell Academy, named after the Physical Education teacher who worked for the Elizabeth Public Schools and died in 2007. The location of the new high school, is located directly next to the Jefferson Arts academy. The former location of Upper Academy became the Academy of Finance, The Lower Academy is used as the Thomas Edison Academy's Annex. In July 2021, it was decided that there would be a new Lower Academy for the upcoming 2021-22 school year at the former location of St. Genevieve School. The building would open to students on September 14, 2021 after Hurricane Ida delayed the opening. Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy was the newest house in Elizabeth High School, accommodating lower and upper classmen, bringing a total of eight houses in Elizabeth High School, serving the largest high school population in the United States. Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy integrates a curriculum with the philosophies of the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program. AVID is a research-based instructional model that encourages students to prepare for and participate in a challenging college preparatory curriculum. In addition to enrolling in honors and AP level courses, students will receive academic support through a specially designed AVID elective taught by AVID-trained instructors. The rigorous curriculum prepares students for four-year colleges. Students are required to wear school uniforms during school hours. Each student needs to establish and maintain at least a 2.0 Grade point average to enroll or continue to stay in Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy. Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy's campus is the farthest one from Elizabeth High School's Main Complex. It is located next to Westfield Avenue, close to the borders of other towns. Hamilton Preparatory is the only house in which students must walk outside to classes. They are held in a small separate one-story adjacent building known as "The Portables", which is only a few yards away from the student cafeteria back door entrance and the main teachers' parking lot. Hamilton became the 46th best high school in New Jersey by US News in 2012 Transformation plan From 1979 to 2009, Elizabeth High School was one big high school composed of eight campuses (or houses).