Biotechnology High School

Biotechnology High School
Location
5000 Kozloski Road
Freehold, NJ 07728
United States
Information
Type Public, magnet, vocational
Established 2005
School district Monmouth County Vocational School District
Principal Sean Meehan
Faculty 23.0 (on FTE basis)[1]
Grades 9-12
Enrollment 311[1] (as of 2012-13)
Student to teacher ratio 13.52:1[1]
Website School website

Biotechnology High School (nicknamed Biotech) is a comprehensive vocational public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades in Freehold Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Monmouth County Vocational School District (MCVSD). Its curriculum boasts a rigorous science course which consists of eight different science classes over four years, designed to prepare students to pursue further education in biotechnology. Emphasis is placed on research, laboratory skills, critical thinking, problem solving, technology, and teamwork. Over 90% of the 2009 graduates selected college majors in the life sciences.[2] The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools since 2005.[3]

As of the 2012-13 school year, the school had an enrollment of 311 students and 23.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.52:1. There were 3 students (1.0% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 1 (0.3% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]

As of April 2007, it became an official International Baccalaureate Organization school, offering the IB Diploma Programme.[4] Most of the courses taken in the junior and senior years are IB courses, which are comparable to Advanced Placement (AP) courses.[5] In their junior year, students declare for either IB Chemistry or IB Physics concentration which requires two full years of study.[2][6]

Mission

"Biotechnology High School, an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, integrates life science, technology, and engineering into a rigorous curriculum that inspires students toward open-minded participation in the global community and prepares them for higher education and leadership in an increasingly demanding workplace through scholarly research, original investigations, and interactive partnerships."

Awards, recognition, and rankings

The school was recognized by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program in 2014, as one of 11 schools to be honored in the state that year.[7]

Biotechnology High School was ranked the eleventh best high school in the United States and 1st in New Jersey by U.S. News and World Report in 2014 and 2015.[8] In 2015, the school was ranked nineteenth in the nation while still retaining its spot at the top of the list of best high schools in New Jersey.

In its 2013 report on "America's Best High Schools", The Daily Beast ranked the school 24th in the nation among participating public high schools and 2nd among schools in New Jersey.[9] The school was ranked 20th in the nation and first in New Jersey on the list of "America's Best High Schools 2012" prepared by The Daily Beast / Newsweek, with rankings based 25% each on graduation rate, matriculation rate for college and number of Advanced Placement / International Baccalaureate courses taken per student, with 10% based on average scores on the SAT / ACT, 10% on AP/IB scores and an additional 5% based on the number of AP/IB courses available to students.[10]

In 2011, Biotech was ranked 25th out of more than 27,000 U.S. high schools by Newsweek, using a six component rating system: graduation rate (25%), college matriculation rate (25%), AP/IB tests taken per graduate (25%), average SAT/ACT scores (10%), average AP/IB scores (10%), and AP courses offered per graduate (5%). It was ranked 18th for average SAT scores (2008–2010) and 26th for number of AP/IB tests given per graduate in 2010.[11]

In 2010, Biotechnology High School was categorized as a "Public Elite" by Newsweek.[12] In September 2010, Biotechnology High School entered into a partnership with Monmouth University, which allows graduates to enter into the University's bachelor of science program, in addition to allowing students to participate in research projects with MU faculty.[13]

2009-2010 average SAT scores were 654 reading, 674 math, and 680 writing.[2]

Schooldigger.com ranked the school as one of 16 schools tied for first out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (unchanged from the 2010 rank) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the language arts literacy (100.0%) and mathematics (100.0%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[14]

On October 29, 2009, the school was featured in an Asbury Park Press special feature "A Day in the life of Biotechnology High School", which went into the classroom to examine the day-to-day life of some of the students.[15]

Administration History

Faculty

Biotech's faculty includes four teachers holding doctorates in their fields from graduate schools such as UNC Chapel Hill and Princeton University. Other staff members hold bachelor's and masters degrees, many from Rutgers-New Brunswick.

Architecture

The Biotechnology High School facility was completed in December 2005 and cost approximately $16.9 million to construct.[16] Designed by The Thomas Group, the building consists of two floors which account to more than 76,000 total square feet and can hold a maximum student population of 280. It meets all requirements for LEED certification[17] and features:

Admission criteria

As with all of the career academies in the Monmouth County Vocational School District, a student wishing to attend Biotechnology High School must apply in a competitive admissions process. Only those who possess high 7th grade final scores and 8th grade first semester scores (based on the core subjects, mathematics, English, science, and history), and achieve high scores in an admission exam that encompasses language arts literacy and mathematics, as compared to others applying, will be offered admission. Monmouth County students may only apply to one of the five MCVSD schools, so they must consider their application choice carefully.

Paperwork must also be submitted in the admissions process, including an application that is received upon visiting the school during a designated open-house day. The application includes a short writing task that is not considered in the admissions process.

Curriculum

All students at Biotechnology High School study under a rigorous curriculum that includes eight mandatory laboratory science classes. All students enter the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program upon starting junior year, at which point they declare for either an IB Physics or an IB Chemistry concentration. All students must take a biology course each four years, in addition to at least one more science class. Four years of humanities are also taught. In all career academies in the Monmouth County Vocational School District, 160 credit-hours are required to graduate.

Monmouth County Vocational School District

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

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 School Data for Biotechnology High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 24, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 BTHS Profile, Biotechnology High School. Accessed Jun 24, 2011.
  3. ↑ Biotechnology High School, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools. Accessed June 28, 2011.
  4. ↑ Biotechnology High School, International Baccalaureate Organization. Accessed June 24, 2011.
  5. ↑ AP vs. IB?, College Confidential. Accessed June 24, 2011.
  6. ↑ Institutional Members NCSSSMST. Accessed June 24, 2011, but BTHS not currently on their list of NCSSSMST Institutional members.
  7. ↑ 2014 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Private, United States Department of Education. Accessed November 17, 2014.
  8. ↑ Biotechnology High School, U.S. News & World Report. Accessed February 25, 2014.
  9. ↑ Streib, Lauren. "America's Best High Schools", The Daily Beast, May 6, 2013. Accessed May 8, 2013.
  10. ↑ Staff. "America's Best High Schools 2012", The Daily Beast / Newsweek, May 20, 2012. Accessed May 21, 2012.
  11. ↑ "America's Best High Schools", Newsweek, Accessed June 24, 2011.
  12. ↑ America's Best High Schools, Newsweek. Accessed June 24, 2011
  13. ↑ Monmouth University partners with Biotechnology High School, Monmouth University. Accessed June 24, 2011.
  14. ↑ New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2010-2011, Schooldigger.com. Accessed February 20, 2012.
  15. ↑ A Day in the life of Biotechnology High School, Asbury Park Press, October 29, 2009. Accessed 2013-04-26.
  16. ↑ NEEP: High Performance Schools Exchange: Case Studies: New Jersey, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships. Unable to access June, 2011.
  17. ↑ LEED Certification. Unable to access in June 2011.

External links

Coordinates: 40°15′58″N 74°14′42″W / 40.26618°N 74.245059°W / 40.26618; -74.245059

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