Fast Facts

Enrollment (Oct. 2004)

27,000 secondary students
- 18,500 full time
- 8,500 shared time
56,300 postsecondary, adult and continuing education students
7,900 classified special education students
- 29% of total secondary enrollment
8,000 Abbott district students
- Essex – 95%
- Passaic – 85%
- Cumberland – 82%
- Hudson – 72%
- Camden – 54%

Schools and Programs

21 county-based districts
60 schools
44 full-time career academies (career-themed schools that integrate rigorous academics, technical learning, and work experiences to prepare motivated students for college and high-demand careers)
800 approved career and technical programs
Full-time and shared-time programs
- 13 of 21 counties have predominately full-time programs
- 4 counties are converting from shared-time to full-time program

Students

7 of the 12 top-scoring high schools on the SAT are county vocational schools
Over 1950 students earned college credit as part of their secondary program last year
60% of county vocational-technical school graduates go right to college/postsecondary training
36% of graduates are immediately employed in their field
Statewide, two students apply for each available county vocational school seat

Information for Students and Parents

County vocational-technical schools offer exciting programs for students with a wide range of interests and abilities. Many are full-time high schools integrating vocational-technical programs with a full range of academic and extra-curricular offerings.

Access to High School Programs

County vocational-technical school programs are offered free of charge to high school students/parents.

Every student has a legal right to apply for admission. If accepted, the local school district is required by law to pay tuition (if applicable) and provide transportation for students attending a county vocational-technical school district (see NJSA 18A:.54-20.1 and NJAC 6A:19-3.1).

County vocational-technical schools host sessions at local schools and at vocational-technical school sites to provide information directly to students and parents. State Board of Education regulations state that county vocational-technical schools have the right to provide information and recruit students in grades 6-12. (NJAC 6A:19-3.1).

If you need more information or want to visit your local county vocational-technical school, contact the county vocational-technical school superintendent.

Admission

The requirements for admission to a county vocational-technical school vary by district/program. Rigorous programs, such as high-tech career academies and performing arts programs, are designed for highly talented students and admission can be extremely competitive. Each district develops its own admission criteria to ensure that student abilities and needs are well matched with program offerings, and that the county’s overall population is well represented.