First Year for Computer
Science Students is Underway
The school year has begun for the inaugural class of the Computer Science and Software Engineering Academy. The Academy is the first full-time four-year school operated by Hunterdon County Vocational School District (HCVSD) and aims to prepare students for careers in the rapidly growing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.
Funded by a grant from the NJ Department of Education, the Academy is run through a partnership between HCVSD and Delaware Valley Regional High School (DVRHS). Students enroll in academic courses offered through DVRHS, as well as computer science courses created by Project Lead the Way (PLTW), which is the nation’s leading provider of STEM programs. According to PLTW, the U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that jobs in STEM fields will grow 17 percent by 2018—nearly double the growth for non-STEM fields. Despite projections that the STEM job market will grow substantially, it is believed that more than 1.2 million STEM jobs will go unfilled due to a lack of qualified workers. The Academy is designed to ensure Hunterdon’s students will be prepared to fill jobs in STEM fields and meet the needs of an evolving workforce.
Over the course of the four-year program, students will cover topics such as computer software applications, software and modeling, artificial intelligence, and cyber security. Currently, students are learning the basics of programming and establishing the foundation on which their future studies will be built.
Jessica Cangelosi-Hade, Director of the Academy, communicated her excitement and belief in the program, saying, “The first cohort of Academy students are some of the best and brightest in Hunterdon County, and I am confident that this program will help to develop our students into leaders in the STEM field."
HCVSD is currently in talks with Rutgers, Rowan, NJIT, Kean, and Raritan Valley Community College to determine how students can apply these courses towards college credits. An internship program is also being established that will allow students to intern with local companies during their senior year. Providing students the opportunity to acquire real world experience is a major aspect of the Academy, and one the district believes will make our students more appealing to colleges and employers.
All eighth grade students throughout Hunterdon County are eligible to apply to the Academy. Admissions will be based on placement test scores, attendance, discipline records, middle school GPA at time of application, and an interview. For more information on the Academy, visit us at www.hcvsd.org or contact Jessica Cangelosi-Hade at .