Mercy Vocational High School

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Mercy Vocational High School
Building the Workforce of the Region!
School type	Private High School
Established	1950
Principal	Sister Rosemary Herron, RSM
Faculty	est.
Students	(2006 415 est.)
Assistant Principal	Sister Susan Walsh, RSM
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19129
Information	+1 215-226-0225
Website	http://www.mercyvocational.org

Mercy Vocational High School is a private high school in the Philadelphia. It is only four-year co-educational Catholic vocational high school in the United States.

Founded in 1950 by the Sisters of Mercy, the school has educated thousands of young men and women from North Philadelphia and the surrounding neighborhoods. MVHS offers the finest in vocational education and training in an environment that promotes spiritual values, moral development, and service to others.

Conceived originally as Mercy Technical School, the school moved in 1972 from its original location at the corner of Broad Street and Columbia Avenue to its present location at 2900 West Hunting Park Avenue. At that time, the Sisters of Mercy and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia recognized that the school must not only change its physical site but also adapt to changes in the marketplace by offering a high school diploma to its graduates.

In 1973, Mercy Vocational High School was born and has since grown in its reputation for excellence in teaching workplace values and vocational education.

In 1982, the school was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for American Private Education as one of sixty exemplary private high schools in the nation.

Since 1998, Mercy has been recognized by the PA Cooperative Vocational Education Association for having been the recipient of more post-secondary scholarships than any other vocational high school in Pennsylvania.

Mercy Vocational High School has been fully accredited by The Middle States Association since May 1, 2000.

In 2006, Mercy Vocational High had a record low of 18% of students with part time or full time jobs. This is incredibly lower than the national average of 76%, primarily becasue of the catholic background of the school, and the focus on academic success.

Mercy is recognized by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as a valuable alternative to a comprehensive academic program, providing an environment that is safe and conducive to learning.

1 Vocational Shops
2 Other Facts
3 Notable Alumni
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Vocational Shops

Eight vocational programs are currently offered at Mercy:

Business Education
Carpentry: Framing & Woodworking
Computer Technician
Cosmetology
Culinary Arts
Electricity: Commercial & Residential
HVAC/R (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration)
Nursing Assistant Training Program

[edit] Other Facts

The daily attendance rate at MVHS is 97%, showing not only that the students come to school, but also have the motivation to be conscientious and reliable employees.

Mercy Vocational High School is a co-educational institution which represents the region's diversity, enrolling young men and women from all areas of the City of Philadelphia and some suburban locations representing a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds:

Current enrollment of 415 students.

Females 51%
Males 49%
64% of the student body is Catholic
36% of the student body is non-Catholic
African-American 42%
Asian 1%
Hispanic 8%
Multi-Racial 1%
White 47%

The average academic class size is 25; the average vocational/technical class size is 15.

A profile of the Class of 2005 reveals that following graduation:

31% directly entered full time employment
54% continued their education in two and four-year colleges
14% continued their education in trade and technical schools
18% continued their education while also holding down full and part time jobs
Of those who continue their education, some 30% receive scholarships or grants.

Enrollment for the 2006-2007 Academic Year is projected to be 424 students.