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The Essex County Agricultural School was established in 1913,
and the first class of day students in agriculture entered in October of that
year. This class included, in addition to secondary students, a substantial
number of high school graduates who enrolled in a three-year program of study.
In succeeding years, each entering class in agriculture included at least one, and frequently two, divisions of high school graduates. Gradually, separate programs of study were established for secondary and post-secondary students. In 1947, programs of study for the latter group were re-organized and shortened to two years. During these early years, the people of Essex County developed a growing interest in the school, which resulted in the continued growth and expansion of educational programs and services.
In 1962, by Act of the General Court, the name of the school was changed to Essex Agricultural and Technical Institute to better reflect the expanded curriculum. In September of 1972, the Institute was authorized by the Massachusetts Board of Regional Community Colleges to conduct programs leading to the Associate Degree in Applied Science.
Since its founding, the Institute has steadfastly maintained its original educational philosophy and integrity, although a gradual change in emphasis from production and management to the more technical aspects of related business and industry has taken place. In this transition, the administration has ever been alert to adapt the educational programs offered at the Institute to the changing needs of individuals interested in technical careers.
As of July 1,1999, due to the breakup of Essex County government and special state legislation, the College Division of Essex Agricultural & Technical Institute was merged with North Shore Community College. All Essex Agricultural and Technical Institute College Division programs and services continued uninterrupted, but as part of the Massachusetts community college system. The High School division continues under normal operations but as an agency of the Massachusetts Department of Education.
Here is another article on the history of the school that was prepared for the 2002 visiting Accreditation Team:
A
Brief History of Essex Agricultural and Technical High SchoolLocated in Hathorne, Massachusetts, Essex County Agricultural School was established in 1913. Situated on the site of the former Maplewood Farm, the school offered secondary and post-secondary students educational programs in traditional agriculture and homemaking studies.
As part of its early heritage, Essex Agricultural students planted and maintained acres of apple, pear, and plum orchards. Young, future farmers grew corn, pumpkins, new varieties of raspberries, and two crop rotations of strawberries. Students from the school sold the fruits of their labor at a roadside fruit and vegetable stand on Route 1, formally known as the Newburyport Turnpike. As the agricultural school grew, new programs of study were added.
In 1918, a popular farm mechanics discipline of study was introduced.
In 1922, a poultry plant was established as a result of a campus wide egg-laying contest. In 1923, the first campus greenhouse was constructed. It became home to the school’s new Floriculture and Ornamental Gardening Division. In 1924, a herd of twenty-eight dairy cows was added to the Hathorne campus. Students for many years were trained in milking procedures and dairy laboratory practices.At one time, the Essex Agricultural School’s campus was home to eighteen colonies of Italian bees. The school’s apiary provided pollination for its acres of fruit trees and vegetable crops—not to mention providing a generous supply of honey to sell to the local community.
In 1947, Essex County Agricultural School formally re-organized into two distinct divisions; one offering high school diplomas, the other division offering a two-year post-secondary program of study. In 1962, by an act of the General Court of Massachusetts, the school’s name was changed to Essex Agricultural and Technical Institute. In 1972, students in the post-secondary division were granted Associate Degrees in Applied Science.
In July of 1999, due to the dissolution of Essex County government and special state legislation, the College Division of Essex Agricultural & Technical Institute and its Associate Degree programs merged with North Shore Community College. The High School Division continued under the auspices of the Massachusetts Department of Education and was renamed Essex Agricultural & Technical High School.
The dairy cattle that once roamed the pristine 166 acre campus have been replaced with beef cattle. One may still find sheep, llamas, horses, birds, rodents, and reptiles for "Essex Aggie" students to groom and study. A wide variety of perennials and ornamental plants and shrubs now grow replacing traditional vegetable and fruit crops.
This change reflects the growing and changing technical nature
of agriculture in Massachusetts. Essex Agricultural has adopted a modern, scientific direction toward the field of agriculture. Currently, Essex Agricultural & Technical High School offers high school diplomas in Plant Science, Animal Science, and Environmental Science.Essex Agricultural Technical High School is on the cusp of change in the field of agriculture. Within each division there are areas of specialization and concentration. The Plant Science Division offers programs of study in Floriculture, Ornamental Horticulture, and Natural Resources. The Animal Science Department offers specialization in Agribusiness and Horse Management. As an institution devoted to career development, the school announced in 2002 the formation of a new program of study in the Animal Science Division. Students will soon be offered a new Veterinarian Technician concentration. The Environmental Science Division trains future leaders in the world of ecology, conservation, and aqua-culture. In the 2001-2002 school year, the Environmental Science Division introduced an Advance Placement course leading to college credits.
Along with the school’s agricultural programs, Essex Agricultural offers academic disciplines required by the Massachusetts Department of Education. The school’s curriculum is reflective of the state’s most current curriculum frameworks. Academic offerings include: math, history, language arts, science, and health & fitness.
As a growing and changing school, Essex Agricultural enrolls students from 42 Massachusetts communities. Any resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is eligible to attend Essex Agricultural & Technical School. Bus transportation is provided for students within a 20 mile radius of the picturesque Hathorne campus.
Essex Agricultural & Technical High School is a leader in providing quality vocational education to its 425 students. The school is proud of its 92 plus year heritage and looks forward to its centennial celebration in the year 2013.