Academy of Allied Health & Science

Infobox_School | name = Academy of Allied Health and Science
imagesize = thumb
established = 1996
type = Magnet public high school
district = Monmouth County Vocational School District
grades = 9-12
principal = Robert V. Cancro
enrollment = 277 (as of 2005-06)
faculty = 27.0 (on FTE basis)
ratio = 10.3
colors = Blue, Gray
location = 2325 Heck Avenue
Neptune, NJ 07753
country = USA
information = 732-775-0058
website = [http://www.aahs.mcvsd.org School website]

The Academy of Allied Health and Science, (AAHS) established in 1996, is a small magnet public high school located in Neptune Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The school is currently one of five career academies offered by the Monmouth County Vocational School District. This high school is based upon the expansion of medical knowledge for teenagers who want to pursue medical careers. Proximity to Jersey Shore University Medical Center allows for an enriched learning environment that provides students with hands on training in a hospital setting.

The school admits top students from Monmouth County, accepting about 70-75 per year. It currently has approximately 300 students. All classes taken by students within the school are honors level classes. Students who attend this school tend to score in high percentiles on most standardized tests and the SAT, and almost always attend four-year colleges (usually 98-100%).

As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 277 students and 27.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 10.3. [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3417500&ID=341750000163 Academy of Allied Health & Science] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed August 26, 2008.]

In 2005-06, the school averaged an 1856 combined SAT score, eighth highest of all public high schools statewide. [ [http://www.nj.com/news/reportcard/index.ssf?/str/reportcards/rankings/print.asp?frmsql=select+dist%5Fcod%2C+sch%5Fcode%2Cco%5Fname%2C+ldistric%2C+lname%2Ctested+%2C+allpasse++as+target+from+testcube+where+sgroup+%3D+%27aTotal%27+and+year+%3D+%270506%27+and+testprg+%3D+%27SAT%27+and+subject+%3D+%27SAT+Total%27+and+tested+%3E%3D+0+and+level+%3D+%27s%27+Order+by+allpasse+desc%2C+tested+desc&frmcounty=Statewide&frmgroup=aTotal&frmyear=0506&frmtest=SAT&frmsubject=SAT%20Total&frmdfg=All&frmtested=0&frmmeasure=allpasse 2005-06 School Test Score Rankings] , "The Star-Ledger". Accessed June 19, 2007.]

Admission criteria

The Academy is a selective school and will only take those who test highest in the fields of:

* 7th Grade Subjects
* 8th Grade First marking period subjects
* Grade of acceptance exam, normally held in January or February, after applications to school are submitted
* To get into Geometry, students must test out of Algebra I
* To get into Spanish II, students must test out of Spanish I
* To get into Latin II, students must test out of Latin I

Curriculum

Freshman year

During the freshman year of school, all students take a required Allied Health and Medical Careers Course, which incorporates learning medical terms and taking trips to hospitals and other local medical facilities to get the students to get to know a hospital setting for their sophomore year.Aside from the Allied Health class, there are seven other required classes for freshman year students:Computer Applications,Math - Algebra I/Geometry,Foreign Language (Offered: Latin and Spanish),Biology,Fitness, Personal Growth (students learn about Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Freud, and talked with other students about their social concerns)English I, andWorld Cultures

Sophomore year

During sophomore year, students begin taking their Anatomy and Physiology I course. While in this course, students take on a 7 week Hospital Volunteer Program at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. At the end of each Anatomy course the students take a college level test at UMDNJ for college level credits for the Anatomy I course and Allied Health course.

Junior year

During junior year, Allied Health students continue their learning in Anatomy and Physiology II. At the end of this course students will again take a college level test for college level credits, for the Anatomy II course. Students also participate in the Community Health class, which devotes time to helping the community. Much volunteer work is involved as the class sponsors activities such as coat or book drives.

Senior year

During their final year at the academy, students take a mentoring course based in a medical field, although students do not have to choose a medical based career to do their mentoring. Students also get a variety of medical courses this year including Nutrition, EMT, Physical Therapy, Sign Language, and Alternative Medicines.

Awards and recognition

The Academy of Allied Health & Science has been recognized for many awards, including:

* For the 2001-02 school year, the Academy of Allied Health & Science received the Blue Ribbon Award from the United States Department of Education, the highest honor that an American school can achieve. [ [http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.pdf Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF)] , United States Department of Education. Accessed June 15, 2006.]
* For the 1999-2000 school year, it was named a "Star School" by the New Jersey Department of Education, the highest honor that a New Jersey school can achieve. [ [http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/education/ss/ss3.pl?string=id=071&maxhits=10000 New Jersey Department of Education Star School Award recipient detail 1999-2000 school year, Academy of Allied Health & Science] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 29, 2006.]
* Governor’s School of Excellence 2003-2004 [ [http://www.nj.gov/njded/clear/school/gsoe/03winners.htm Governor’s School of Excellence 2003 Winners] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 15, 2006.]
* National Service Learning Leader School 1998-1999
* National Service Learning Leader School 2005
* Intel / Scholastic School of Distinction 2005
* 2006-2007 the Academy of Allied Health & Science received its second Blue Ribbon Award

History

The school opened its doors in 1996. The development of the school, from architecture to academics, was overseen by Timothy McCorkell, who became the school's first principal and served as such until the end of the 2001-2002 school year, when he was promoted to Assistant Superintendent of the MCVSD (a position he holds still today). Following McCorkell as principal was Scott Taylor. Taylor resigned the position after the 2004-2005 school year to take a position at the Little Silver School District. Robert V. Cancro took the position after Taylor left.

Starting in the 2004-2005 school year, the school slowly started phasing out its French Language program, due to core curriculum conflicts. The final French students graduated in 2008.

Other career academies

There are four other career academies in the Monmouth County Vocational School District. These are referred to as sister schools of the Academy of Allied Health and Science.

* Biotechnology High School (BTHS) in Freehold
* Communications High School (CHS) in Wall Township
* High Technology High School (HTHS) in Lincroft
* Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) in Sandy Hook

References

External links

* [http://www.aahs.mcvsd.org Academy of Allied Health and Science web pages]
* [http://www.mcvsd.org/ Monmouth County Vocational School District official website]
*NJReportCard|25|3260|0|Monmouth County Vocational School District
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3417500 Data for the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District] , National Center for Education Statistics