Communications High School

Communications High School
Location
1740 New Bedford Road
Wall, NJ 07719
Information
Type Magnet public high school
Established 2000
School district Monmouth County Vocational School District
Principal James Gleason
Faculty 29.0 (on FTE basis)[1]
Grades 9–12
Enrollment 335[1] (as of 2012-13)
Student to teacher ratio 11.55:1[1]
Hours in school day 6 Hours, 45 Minutes
Color(s)           Navy Blue, Silver
Newspaper Inkblot
Website School website

Communications High School (CHS) is a four-year magnet public high school and career academy serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as part of the Monmouth County Vocational School District in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. CHS is located in Wall Township next to Wall High School. The school opened in 2000 with its first freshman class, and graduated its first class in 2004. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools since 2004.[2]

As of the 2012-13 school year, the school had an enrollment of 335 students and 29.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.55:1. There were no students eligible for free lunch or for reduced-cost lunch.[1]

Awards, recognition and rankings

Mission statement

"Communications High School, a small, personalized academy with a career focus, provides a theme-based integrated curriculum in conjunction with community and industry partnerships. Monmouth County students interested in the field of communications acquire knowledge, skills, and ethics in a unique and challenging educational environment."[8]

Admissions

All admissions are through the Monmouth County Vocational School District administration offices. They accept 85 applicants via a highly competitive points system. The total amount of points possible is 100 and the minimum to be considered is 75. The point scoring is as follows:

CHS accepts the top ranking student from each school district. After the first round, all left over positions go to the highest scoring applicants from every school district. There are, generally, no more acceptances after this, as there is over-enrollment in anticipation that some students will not accept the invitation.

Academics

CHS is the building in the lower part of the image.

Classes operate on block scheduling. Each day is divided into four class periods and a lunch/activity period. The classes run for 85 minutes each. The lunch/activity period is placed between the second and third periods, and lasts for approximately 1 hour. Students eat lunch and participate in school clubs during that time period.

The school year is divided into two semesters. Students will attend a 5 credit class five times a week for one semester. Classes worth 2.5 credits will be attended every day for half the semester and then swapped with another class half way through the semester; classes worth 2.5 credits are rarely given every other day. Each course is taught at an honors level even if the course name is not denoted with that designation. Students who pass every class will acquire 40 credits each school year. Students must have 160 credits in order to graduate, though the state of New Jersey only requires 120 credits to graduate from high school.

CHS requires that students explore many options during their first two years at the school. The only language offered at CHS is Spanish, and students must take at least three courses of the language. Students are required to take four years of Math, English and Science. Gym and Health classes are required every year, but seniors must fulfill class requirements outside of the school setting.

Junior and senior year

Junior year students must take:

Also, students must choose two electives from the following:

All senior students must take:

Also, seniors must take 3 electives either from junior year or from the following:

Seniors are also required to fulfill a mentorship. For one quarter of the school year, students spend periods 3 and 4 at the mentorship site of their choice. Mentorship sites in the past have included the Asbury Park Press, Lab Volt, architectural firms, graphic design firms, radio stations, and schools. Students have freedom choosing where they are mentored.

Student activities

Student activities include Student Government Association, Drama Club, National Honor Society, Digital Video Club, Photography Club, Broadcast Club, Skills USA/National Technical Honor Society, Yearbook, National Art Honor Society, and the Newspaper Club, which produces the school newspaper, "The Inkblot."

Other career academies

There are four other career academies in the Monmouth County Vocational School District. These are referred to as sister schools.[9]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 School Data for Communications High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 24, 2015.
  2. ↑ Communications High School of Monmouth County, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools. Accessed September 2, 2011.
  3. ↑ 2005–06 School Test Score Rankings, The Star-Ledger. Accessed June 19, 2007.
  4. ↑ James Gleason, Principal: 2007, Milken Family Foundation. Accessed September 2, 2011.
  5. ↑ CHS wins a National Medal!, SkillsUSA, June 30, 2008. Accessed September 2, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Communications High School Wins Top National Award", accessed October 30, 2013.
  7. ↑ New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2010-2011, Schooldigger.com. Accessed February 20, 2012.
  8. ↑ Communications High School, accessed December 20, 2006.
  9. ↑ Full-Time Specialized Schools, Monmouth County Vocational School District. Accessed September 2, 2011.

External links

Coordinates: 40°10′10″N 74°03′46″W / 40.16951°N 74.062911°W