At tonight’s meeting, the Union County Board of County Commissioners proudly presented resolutions congratulating three exceptional schools from Union County that have achieved remarkable recognition in the latest rankings by U.S. News & World Report. These prestigious rankings, released last week, have placed Union County at the forefront of the nation’s best high schools.
“We are incredibly thrilled by the extraordinary achievements of our Union County Vocational-Technical Schools, and are even more proud to acknowledge the exceptional students whose remarkable academic performances have paved the way for these rankings,” said Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “This accomplishment stands as a resounding testament to the dedication of our educators and the endless potential within their students. I would like to thank the Superintendent, Principals, and every single member of their devoted teachers and staff, who remain steadfast in their commitment to delivering a world-class education that empowers our Union County students to reach unparalleled heights of success.”
Out of a staggering 18,000 eligible schools across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Union County has three of its public high schools have secured places in the coveted top 100 list of the best high schools in the United States. In a remarkable feat, one of these schools has claimed the coveted top position statewide.
“As a big supporter of Union County Vocational-Technical Schools, I am proud to witness the outstanding achievements of these three exceptional Union County high schools, securing their rightful places in the top 100 list of the best high schools in the United States,” said Senate President Nicholas Scutari. “This recognition serves as a powerful reminder as to why I worked hard to secure the awarded $33 million earlier this summer to expand this institution further. I applaud the hard work, vision, and commitment of our entire educational community who have contributed to this outstanding achievement, and I look forward to watching your journey towards educational excellence continue.”
The U.S. News & World Report’s rankings take into account a variety of essential factors that reflect the overall quality and excellence of high schools, including college readiness, state assessment proficiency, state assessment performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rate. It is a testament to the dedication and hard work of Union County’s educators, administrators, students, and their families that our schools have excelled in these key areas.
Here are the three Union County high schools that have earned their place in the top 100 nationally:
- Union County Magnet High School in Scotch Plains: Securing an impressive rank of #1 in New Jersey and #26 in the nation, this remarkable achievement showcases Union County’s commitment to providing exceptional educational opportunities for its students.
- Academy for Information Technology in Scotch Plains: With a commendable national rank of #122 and ranking at #9 in New Jersey, Academy for Information Technology has reaffirmed its dedication to academic excellence and innovation.
- Academy for Allied Health Sciences in Scotch Plains: Ranking at #10 in New Jersey and placing at #230 nationally, the Academy for Allied Health Sciences continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing outstanding educational experiences for its students.
“It’s an incredible thing to see all five of our career academies in the top schools in New Jersey and in the Nation. To have three in the top ten in the State, with a number one ranking, speaks tremendously of the work of our students and staff here at the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools,” said Ms. Gwendolyn Ryan, Superintendent of Schools. “Everything that we do is centered around career and technical education, giving students a combination of rigorous academics, work-based learning experiences, access to college credits, and partnerships with local businesses and industries. In fact two of our schools spend their entire final year at Kean University, as both high school seniors and college freshman. We couldn’t be more proud of our placement in these rankings, and of the many accomplishments of our students!”
It is worth mentioning that the Union County Vo-Tech High School (UCTECH) and Academy for Performing Arts (APA) rankings were notably affected by the “college readiness” metric. This impact stems from the unique circumstance where half of UCTECH’s senior students and all APA senior students participate in a program that sends them to Kean University during their senior year. Consequently, they do not enroll in Advanced Placement courses during this period, which does not align with the criteria used by US News and World Report for evaluating “college readiness.” However, it is important to recognize these students for their exceptional achievements. They successfully navigate the demanding dual roles of being high school seniors and college freshmen simultaneously while undertaking credit-bearing, college-level coursework on a college campus and earning well-over 3.5 combined GPA each year. Arguably, they could be considered more “college ready” than any other school on campus.
“This recognition is a great source of pride for the Board of Education. It is the result of the cooperative efforts, dedication and hard work of all of our administrators, staff, and especially our teachers and students,” said Board President, Mrs. Jean Perkins. “The many programs and courses of study offer a most enriching and varied experience. We particularly appreciate the ongoing strong support of the Board of County Commissioners as we continue to work together to provide the best for students in Union County. We look forward to continued excellence.”
For more information on the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools, please visit https://www.ucvts.org/.