Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and the Essex County Vocational Technical School District announced on Monday, November 9th that Essex County Bloomfield Tech earned the coveted designation as a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. The Blue Ribbon School program identifies public and private schools that are either academically superior or demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.
"The Blue Ribbon Award is a symbol of educational excellence and represents a milestone for Essex County and our Vocational-Technical School District," DiVincenzo said. "Receiving this prestigious national recognition is evidence of the first class education provided in our school district, and an indication of the dedication of our students, the commitment of our teachers and the support of the district," he added.
"This distinction for Bloomfield Tech is an indication of what the entire school district is accomplishing," NJ State Senator and Essex County Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz said, referring to the other schools in the district – Newark Tech, North 13th Street and West Caldwell Campus. "There are great things happening in Essex County and a lot of it is occurring in our classrooms. Thank you for stepping up and showing that Essex County can lead the way as a model for New Jersey," she added.
"All of you deserve congratulations for this honor," New Jersey Commissioner of Education Lucille Davy said. "We have worked hard raising the expectations for our students. We have been saying all along that when students and teachers work together, only excellence can happen," she added.
Essex County Bloomfield Tech is one of only eight public schools in New Jersey and among 223 schools nationwide that received the Blue Ribbon Award this year. It is the first time one of the four schools in the Essex County Vocational Technical School District has been chosen for the national recognition. "The students in our schools have to work doubly as hard because of the vocational training they receive and the regular classroom curriculum. They are under a great deal of pressure to succeed because of the demands on their time," Assemblyman and Freeholder Vice President Ralph Caputo said. "This school system and this school have been transformed. The Blue Ribbon Award is a tremendous achievement," he added.
"Success is hard work, but it will take more hard work to stay there," Essex County Vocational Technical School Board President Father Ed Leahy said. "If we want to stay on top, we have to keep reading books, working in our shops and looking out for each other," he added. "We are honored to be designated a Blue Ribbon school and will continue to strive for excellence in our academic and vocational programs," Essex County Vocational Technical School District Superintendent Michael D. Pennella, Ph.D, said. "This school got here because of its ability to be a learning community. This is a school where students and teachers challenge each other," he added.
Essex County Superintendent Lawrence Feinsod described Essex County Bloomfield Tech as "New Jersey’s best high school." "There has never been any who has done so much for our young people as County Executive DiVincenzo. I extend my congratulations to you," he noted.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, Essex County Bloomfield Tech has a significant number of students from low-income backgrounds and consistently shows dramatic gains in closing the achievement gap for these students. For the last six years, the school has achieved its academic goals set by the State of New Jersey and has made Adequate Yearly Progress in Mathematics and Language Arts according to standards set by the No Child Left Behind law.
"I want to thank the students, staff and everyone who puts something into Bloomfield Tech to make it what it is," said Principal Eric Love, an alumnus of Bloomfield Tech. "We won the Blue Ribbon Award but we cannot be complacent. I don’t know what is next, but I know it will be tremendous," he added.
"I have tried to use every advantage Bloomfield Tech has to offer," said Senior ShaQuill Thomas, who is a member of two business clubs and the National Honor Society. "Bloomfield Tech is a perfect school. We are always being encouraged and challenged by our teachers. There is no other place where quality if more important," he added.
Last year, 100 percent of Bloomfield Tech students achieved Adequate Yearly Progress in Language Arts and 93.4 percent of students achieved Adequate Yearly Progress in Mathematics. More than 85 percent of the students at Bloomfield Tech receive a free or reduced lunch. The National Blue Ribbon Award is the latest in a series of accolades received by Essex County Bloomfield Tech. In February 2009, Business Week Magazine, in partnership with Greatschools.net, cited the school as one of the three best high schools in the state and among the top 10 in the nation serving low-income students. It was also one of two schools in the state to be designated as a Distinguished Performing Title 1 School in 2008 and was recognized as a bronze award winner for the second year in a row by U.S. News and World Report in 2009.
The curriculum is designed to meet each student’s academic and career plans for the future through three distinct academic programs: Vocational Studies, Tech Prep and Academy Studies. Each program offers rigorous study to prepare students for either higher education or a career in a technical or vocational field. In addition to the required four years of English and mathematics and either three or four years of science, students can continue with Honors Pre-Calculus and Calculus. Students can choose from a wide range of career options – including Visual and Digital Communication, Building Trades Technology, Business Technology and the Green Energy Academy, which opened in September 2008 in partnership with Public Service Electric & Gas. Two new enhancements to the school include Television Video Production and HVAC.
The Essex County Vocational Technical School District is New Jersey’s oldest and largest Vocational Technical School Systems. Created in 1914, the school system provides both occupational and academic instruction for high school and adult students in the Essex County region. The district has four high schools: Bloomfield Tech, Newark Tech, North 13th Street Tech and West Caldwell Tech. In addition, the system provides adult programs in the evening at Newark Tech, and during the day at its Adult Training Center at 50 South Clinton Street in East Orange. The district has an enrollment of about 2,200 students and provides high level state-of-the-art occupational skill development and academic opportunities in over 25 career areas.
For more information on Essex County’s Vocational Technical Schools, call 973-412-2050 or visit www.essextech.org.