The Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering

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Academy for Math, Science, and Engineering
Location
520 West Main Street
Rockaway, NJ 07866
Information
School district Morris County School of Technology
Enrollment

71 (as of 2005-06)[1]
Faculty 3.0 (on FTE basis)[1]
Student:teacher ratio 23.7[1]
Type Magnet Public high school
Grades 9 - 12
Information 973-664-2301
Homepage School website

The Academy for Math, Science, and Engineering is a four-year magnet public high school program meant to prepare students in Morris County for careers in Math, Science, and Engineering, as part of the Morris County School of Technology. The school is located in Rockaway, New Jersey (a suburb of New York City). Organizations involved with the Academy include New Jersey Institute of Technology, County College of Morris, The Research & Development Council of New Jersey, Verizon, and the Morris / Sussex / Warren Workforce Investment Board.

As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 71 students and 3.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 23.7.[1]

In 2005-06, the Academy averaged a 1982 combined SAT score, third highest of all public high schools statewide. The Academy was also tied for highest in SAT Mathematics (695).[2]

Currently, the class of 2008 has an average Math SAT of 765, with a mean Composite score of 2145, and a mean 2-section Critical Reading + Math composite of 1455.

Contents

[edit] History

The Academy for Math, Science, and Engineering was created along with three other Academies by the Morris County School of Technology. 2007-08 marks the eighth year of the school's existence.

[edit] Campus

The Academy is held on the campus of Morris Hills High School, for reasons of space efficiency and to allow students to have some normal high-school interaction. However, multiple Academy classes are held in the Dr. James J. McNasby Technology Center, a small, modern building on the Morris Hills campus that is separate from the main Morris Hills facility. Students enrolled in the Academy attend classes in both buildings.

[edit] Students

As part of the selection process, students must pass a rigorous examination and interview process to be accepted. Because of the workload and challenge of the curriculum, no class has the full 23 members due to several drop-outs (who return to their home district) and fail-outs (who are forced out if they do not maintain at least a "C" average in all classes or fail two classes). The first 2004 graduating class began with 24 students and only graduated 12. The second graduating class began with 21 students and graduated 14 students. The class of of 2005 only graduated 14 students, having started with 21. The 2009 graduating class had lost 8 members in the first 2 quarters of their freshman school year and another at the end of their sophomore year, leaving tied for the current lowest class size of 14 students. Only two of the 2009 graduates were female. Meanwhile the 2010 class has the next-lowest, with 16 students. Multiples of 22/23 will be accepted if, and only if, 44/46 people meet the qualifications demanded. All eighth grade students in Morris County are eligible to take the admission test, only after getting specific teacher recommendations. The Academy for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering is typically the most popular academy in terms of student interest, thus the selection process is particularly competitive.

[edit] Extracurricular activities

Although it is not allowed for there to be an activity that only academy students can participate in, Academy Students are responsible for founding many of Morris Hills High School's activities, such as the Astronomy Club which was formed in 2006 by the members of the class of 2009. There is also an Academy Physics club which consists of the five Freshman academy students with the highest first marking period average.

[edit] Curriculum

Academy students must accumulate 30 credits to graduate. Students must also abide by multiple requirements of the Morris Hills curriculum. For example, students must take 1.5 quarters of physical education and 1 quarter of health (worth .25 credits). In addition, students must take at least 3 years of a foreign language, 1 and a half year of fine arts class, 2 practical arts classes, and 1 class that involves computer proficiency.

Freshman Year:

Sophomore Year:

Junior Year:

Senior Year:

  • Macroeconomics
  • Biotechnology
  • Science Inquiry and Technology III (Half of this course is fulfilled by a mandatory internship in the student's field of interest)
  • Technical Writing
  • Math electives at the County College of Morris (Recently, Calculus 3 was made available to the students on the Morris Hills Campus)
  • and other advanced English, Social Studies etc.

Senior Year internships have been done with: Picatinny Arsenal, Novartis, Smith Aero-Space, Century Flight School, Telcordia, Mount Olive Soccer Club, Granite Financial Corporation, Lucent Technologies, St. Claire’s Hospital, Pfizer, Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine (jointly administered by Rutgers University and UMDNJ), Automatic Data Processing, Inc., Cisco Systems, Morris County Parks Commission, Madison Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Parsippany Volunteer Ambulance Squad,and the Research and Development Council of New Jersey

As a result of the high level courses, students earn college credits while in high school. There is a range of 3-53 college credits earned by graduating seniors. Most of these credits are earned through courses approved by the New Jersey Institute of Technology (all graduates are awarded an official college transcript) and/or by achieving high scores on Advanced Placement exams.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed January 27, 2008.
  2. ^ 2005-06 School Test Score Rankings, The Star-Ledger. Accessed June 19, 2007.

[edit] External links