Academy of Allied Health & Science

Coordinates: 40°12′53″N 74°02′16″W / 40.2147°N 74.0378°W / 40.2147; -74.0378

AAHS logo.

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 provides students with hands-on training in a hospital setting. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Secondary Schools since 1999.^[2]

The school admits top students from Monmouth County, accepting about 70-75 per year.^[3] All classes taken by students within the school are accelerated, honors-level classes. Students who attend this school tend to score in high percentiles on most standardized tests and the SAT, and nearly always attend four-year colleges (usually 98-100%).

As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 288 students and 27 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.67.^[1]

Mission statement

"The Monmouth County Academy of Allied Health and Science prepares and motivates students to pursue further education towards a career in the medical sciences through a rigorous specialized curriculum and community based partnerships, inspiring students to serve society with compassion, skill and vision."^[3]

Admission criteria

The Academy is a selective school and will only take those who score well on 7th and 1st marking period 8th grade report cards, and on an acceptance exam, normally held in January or February, after applications to school are submitted. To take Geometry in the freshman year, students successfully pass an Algebra I test. To take Spanish II in the freshman year, students must successfully pass Spanish I test, which includes an "interview". Each town' has the two highest ranked students admitted automatically. Not all towns have more than two students apply. All other students are chosen based on rank. There is also a waiting list. It is used not only when students decline their admission, but also when students "drop out" to return to their home high schools.

Schedule

The school uses a block schedule. There are four classes in a day, and periods are an hour and twenty-five minutes long. School begins at 7:35 A.M. and ends at 2:25 P.M. The first four to five classes are taken in the first half of the school year, and the next four to five are taken in the second. The some classes, including electives, alternate with Fitness.

Curriculum

Freshman year

The following classes are required during freshman year: Foundations of Healthcare, Computer Applications, Math: Algebra I or Geometry, Foreign Language: Latin I or Spanish I or II, Biology, Intro to Anatomy and Physiology, Fitness, Financial Literacy, English I, and World Cultures.^[4] There are nine total. There are no electives in freshman year. The "Foundations of Healthcare" course, which incorporates learning about medical terminology, health insurance, asepsis, legal terms, healthcare facilities, professional behavior, and medical history. Students formerly took another health-related class before the State of New Jersey instituted the required "Financial Literacy" class. Instead of taking an art class, students must complete a "Visual & Performing Arts" assignment.^[4]

Sophomore year

The following classes are required during sophomore year: Anatomy and Physiology I, Math: Algebra II or Geometry, Foreign Language: Latin II or Spanish II or III, English II World History.^[4] There are no electives in sophomore year. In Anatomy and Physiology I course, students volunteer two hours on Fridays for six weeks at Jersey Shore University Medical Center at a different department each week. Departments that can be assigned include NICU, occupational therapy, laboratory, patient transport, and various nursing floors. At the end of the Anatomy course, students take a UMDNJ test for college credits in Anatomy I and Foundations of Healthcare.

Junior year

Students take two electives out of three choices: Forensic Science, Creative Arts Therapy, Medibotics.^[4] During junior year, students continue their learning in Anatomy and Physiology II.^[4] Students will again take college level test for college credits for the Anatomy II course and for Medical Terminology.^[4] Students also participate in the Grant Writing/Service Learning 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

Students take a "mentoring" course. Students choose a "mentor," and must relate their mentorship to the medical field. The following medical courses are available: Nutrition, CPR, EMT, Physical Therapy, Sign Language, and Alternative Medicine.^[4] Other required courses include: Biology, Pre-Calculus or Calculus, and Chemistry.^[4] Foreign Language is not required, and can be replaced by an elective.

Awards and recognition

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

• Blue Ribbon School, awarded by the DE, 2001–02,^[5] 2006-07. The highest honor an American school can achieve.
• 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.^[6]
• The school was recognized by Governor Jim McGreevey in 2003 as one of 25 schools selected statewide for the First Annual Governor's School of Excellence award.^[7]
• National Service Learning Leader School 1998-1999, 2005
• Intel / Scholastic School of Distinction 2005
• Ranked 74th best high school in the country in 2009 by U.S. News & World Report.^[8]
• Ranked one of 16 schools tied for first out of 381 public high schools statewide in 2011 (unchanged from the 2010) by schooldigger.com. 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).^[9]

History

The school opened in 1996. The school's early development, including construction and curriculum creation, was overseen by Timothy M. McCorkell, who was the school's first principal until the end of the 2001-02 school year, when he was promoted to Assistant Superintendent at MCVSD.^[10] He was later Superintendent in 2009. Following McCorkell was Scott Taylor. Taylor resigned after the 2004-05 school year to take a position at the Little Silver School District. Robert V. Cancro took the position after Scott Taylor left.

In 2004, the first "Color Wars" took place. It is a battle of the classes event, with the freshman and senior classes (taking the school color blue) pitted against the sophomore and junior classes (taking the school color gray) in a week-long series of competitive events, which include ultimate frisbee, pudding eating, tug of war, a medical challenge, and one or more "mystery events". It takes place in late May. Beforehand, the teams must choose a team name incorporating the color. As of the 2011-12 school year, the blue team has won four times, and the gray team has won four times. Furthermore, no class has won all four years. Teacher Chris Benson and the Student Council are in charge of planning and managing the events.^[11]

Starting in the 2004-05 school year, the school began phasing out its French Language program, due to core curriculum conflicts. The final French students graduated in 2008.

Following Robert Cancro's retirement at the end of the 2010-11 school year, Paul Mucciarone became principal. As of June 2012^[update] He is the principal.^[12] He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1981,^[13] and is a retired Lt. Commander of the US Navy.^[13] He served, primarily as an engineer, on several ships.^[13] He became teacher of Naval Science at the Marine Academy of Science and Technology in Sandy Hook in August 2001.^[13]

In late 2011, the principal removed the ban and the web filter entry for Facebook, after MAST removed theirs.

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

• Academy of Allied Health and Science, official website
• Monmouth County Vocational School District, official website
• Monmouth County Vocational School District's 2010–11 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
• Data for the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics
• AAHS Color Wars 2008 Bluebonic Plague Skit, YouTube

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