Communications High School
Encyclopedia
Communications High School (CHS) is a four-year magnet
public high school and career academy as part of the Monmouth County Vocational School District
in New Jersey
. CHS is located in Wall Township
next to Wall High School
. The school opened in 2000 with its first freshman class, and graduated its first class in 2004. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Commission on Secondary Schools since 2004.
As of the 2009–10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 283 students and 28 classroom teachers (on an FTE
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.11.
administration offices. They accept 80 applicants via a highly competitive points system. The total amount of points possible is 100 and the minimum to be considered is 75. The point scoring is as follows:
CHS accepts the top ranking student from each school district. After the 1st round, all left over positions go to the highest scoring applicants from every school district. There are, generally, no more acceptances after this, as there is overenrollment in anticipation that some students will not accept the invitation.
Classes operate on block scheduling. Each day is divided into 4 class periods and a lunch/activity period. The classes run for 85 minutes each. The lunch/activity period is placed between periods 2 and 3, and lasts for approximately 1 hour. Students eat lunch and participate in school clubs during that time period.
The school year is divided into two semesters. Students will attend a 5 credit class 5 times a week for one semester. Classes worth 2.5 credits will be attended every day for half the semester and then swapped with another class half way through the semester; classes worth 2.5 credits are rarely given every other day. Students who pass every class will acquire 40 credits each school year. Students must have 160 credits in order to graduate. However, the state of New Jersey only requires 120 credits to graduate from high school.
CHS requires that students explore many options during their first two years at the school. The only language offered at CHS is Spanish, and students must take at least 3 courses of the language. Students are required to take 4 years of Math, English, History, and Science. Gym and Health classes are required every year, but seniors must fulfill class requirements outside of the school setting.
Also, students must choose 2 electives form the following:
All senior students must take:
Also, seniors must take 3 electives either from junior year or from the following:
Seniors are also required to fulfill a mentorship. For one quarter of the school year, students spend periods 3 and 4 at the mentorship site of their choice. Mentorship sites in the past have included the Asbury Park Press
, Lab Volt, architectural firms, graphic design firms, and schools. Students have freedom choosing where they are mentored, but it must be related to the communications field.
, Digital Video Club, Photography Club, Broadcast Club, and the Newspaper Club, which produces the school newspaper Inkblot.
s.
Magnet school
In education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
public high school and career academy as part of the Monmouth County Vocational School District
Monmouth County Vocational School District
The Monmouth County Vocational School District is a vocational public school district in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, serving the need to provide area students with relevant skills to implement technology and to develop as lifelong learners.As of the 2007-08 school year, the...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. CHS is located in Wall Township
Wall Township, New Jersey
Wall Township is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 26,164.Wall Township was formally incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 7, 1851...
next to Wall High School
Wall High School (New Jersey)
Wall High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Wall Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Wall Township Public Schools....
. The school opened in 2000 with its first freshman class, and graduated its first class in 2004. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit association dedicated to educational excellence and improvement through peer evaluation and accreditation...
Commission on Secondary Schools since 2004.
As of the 2009–10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 283 students and 28 classroom teachers (on an FTE
Full-time equivalent
Full-time equivalent , is a unit to measure employed persons or students in a way that makes them comparable although they may work or study a different number of hours per week. FTE is often used to measure a worker's involvement in a project, or to track cost reductions in an organization...
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.11.
Awards and achievements
- In 2005–06, the school averaged a 1888 combined SAT score, fifth highest of all public high schools statewide.
- Principal James Gleason was awarded a Milken Family FoundationMilken Family FoundationThe Milken Family Foundation is a private foundation established by Lowell Milken and Michael Milken in 1982. Lowell Milken serves as chairman and co-founder of the foundation.-Goals:...
National Educator Award in October 2007.
- In 2008, the school was awarded the Silver Medal for Broadcast News Production at the annual National Leadership and Skills Conference and SkillsUSASkillsUSASkillsUSA is a United States career and technical student organization serving more than 320,000 high school and college students and professional members enrolled in training programs in technical, skilled, and service occupations, including health occupations. Since 2010, SkillsUSA has had Thomas...
Championships.
- In 2011, CHS took home 12 state-wide titles at the New Jersey SkillsUSA Championships, including Gold in Broadcast News Production, Audio Radio Production, Video Product Development, and Web Design.
- In 2011, CHS took home three national titles from the annual Student Television Network convention in Orlando, FL- second in Overall Broadcast, second Short Film, and first in Weather Reporting.
Mission statement
"Communications High School, a small, personalized academy with a career focus, provides a theme-based integrated curriculum in conjunction with community and industry partnerships. Monmouth County students interested in the field of communications acquire knowledge, skills, and ethics in a unique and challenging educational environment."Admissions
All admissions are through the Monmouth County Vocational School DistrictMonmouth County Vocational School District
The Monmouth County Vocational School District is a vocational public school district in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, serving the need to provide area students with relevant skills to implement technology and to develop as lifelong learners.As of the 2007-08 school year, the...
administration offices. They accept 80 applicants via a highly competitive points system. The total amount of points possible is 100 and the minimum to be considered is 75. The point scoring is as follows:
- 7th Grade Academic Scores (All four marking periods): 15 points
- 8th Grade Academic Scores (Only first marking period): 15 points
- Math Portion on Admissions Exam: 35 points
- LA Portion on Admissions Exam: 35 Points.
CHS accepts the top ranking student from each school district. After the 1st round, all left over positions go to the highest scoring applicants from every school district. There are, generally, no more acceptances after this, as there is overenrollment in anticipation that some students will not accept the invitation.
Academics
The school year is divided into two semesters. Students will attend a 5 credit class 5 times a week for one semester. Classes worth 2.5 credits will be attended every day for half the semester and then swapped with another class half way through the semester; classes worth 2.5 credits are rarely given every other day. Students who pass every class will acquire 40 credits each school year. Students must have 160 credits in order to graduate. However, the state of New Jersey only requires 120 credits to graduate from high school.
CHS requires that students explore many options during their first two years at the school. The only language offered at CHS is Spanish, and students must take at least 3 courses of the language. Students are required to take 4 years of Math, English, History, and Science. Gym and Health classes are required every year, but seniors must fulfill class requirements outside of the school setting.
Junior and senior year
Junior year students must take:- English III
- US History II
- Chemistry
- Spanish III or IV
- Algebra II/Trig or Pre-Calculus
- Health III/Fitness
- Media Writing
Also, students must choose 2 electives form the following:
- Animation
- Digital Video II
- Intermediate TV/Audio Broadcasting, also known as Broadcast News Production
- Photojournalism
- Illustration and Design
- Web Design
- Introduction to Computer Programming with Java
- Character Animation
All senior students must take:
- English IV (Creative Writing)
- Research Paper
- History through Film
- Pre-Calculus or Calculus
- Advanced Physics, Biology, or Forensics
- Mentorship (See below)
- Public Relations
- Fitness/Health
Also, seniors must take 3 electives either from junior year or from the following:
- Advanced Digital Video (Electronic Field Production)
- Advanced TV/Radio (Advanced Studio Production)
- Advanced Digital Imaging
- Advanced Graphic Design
- E-Commerce
- Advanced Web Design
- Statistics
- Spanish IV or V
- Advanced Journalism
Seniors are also required to fulfill a mentorship. For one quarter of the school year, students spend periods 3 and 4 at the mentorship site of their choice. Mentorship sites in the past have included the Asbury Park Press
Asbury Park Press
The Asbury Park Press is a daily newspaper in Monmouth and Ocean counties of New Jersey and has the third largest circulation in the state...
, Lab Volt, architectural firms, graphic design firms, and schools. Students have freedom choosing where they are mentored, but it must be related to the communications field.
Student activities
Student activities include the Drama club, National Honor SocietyNational Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
, Digital Video Club, Photography Club, Broadcast Club, and the Newspaper Club, which produces the school newspaper Inkblot.
Other career academies
There are four other career academies in the Monmouth County Vocational School District. These are referred to as sister schoolSister school
The term sister school has several meanings:*a definite financial commerce between two colleges or universities*two schools that have a strong historical connection...
s.
- Academy of Allied Health & ScienceAcademy of Allied Health & ScienceThe Academy of Allied Health and Science , 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...
(AAHS) in Neptune TownshipNeptune Township, New Jersey-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 27,690 people, 10,907 households, and 6,805 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,366.8 people per square mile . There were 12,217 housing units at an average density of 1,485.4 per square mile... - Biotechnology High SchoolBiotechnology High SchoolBiotechnology High School is a comprehensive magnet public high school in Freehold Township, New Jersey, operating as part of the Monmouth County Vocational School District ....
(BTHS) in FreeholdFreehold Township, New JerseyFreehold Township is a Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 36,184. Freehold Township was first formed on October 31, 1693, and was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21,... - High Technology High SchoolHigh Technology High SchoolHigh Technology High School, or HTHS, founded in 1991, is a four-year Magnet public high school located in Lincroft, New Jersey, operated as a cooperative effort between the Monmouth County Vocational School District and Brookdale Community College...
(HTHS) in LincroftLincroft, New JerseyLincroft is a part of Middletown Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the Lincroft census-designated place had a population was 6,135.-Geography:Lincroft is located at .... - Marine Academy of Science and TechnologyMarine Academy of Science and TechnologyThe Marine Academy of Science and Technology is a coeducational four-year magnet public high school located in Sandy Hook, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in ninth through twelfth grade. The school offers learning in all subjects, specializing in marine technology...
(MAST) in Sandy HookSandy Hook, New JerseySandy Hook is a barrier spit, approximately 6.0 miles in length and varying between 0.10 and 1 miles wide in Middletown Township in Monmouth County, along the Atlantic Ocean coast of eastern New Jersey in the United States. The barrier spit encloses the southern entrance of Lower New York Bay...
External links
- Communications High School
- Monmouth County Vocational School District official website
- The Inkblot School Newspaper Online
- Data for the Monmouth County Vocational School District, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...