Essex Agricultural and Technical High School 
presently offers majors in :

Agribusiness
Horse Management
Veterinary Technology
Floriculture
Ornamental Horticulture
Natural Resources 
Environmental Technology

Our program majors have been designed to give students a broad-based understanding of plant, animal and environmental  sciences, plus the necessary information and experiences to choose a vocational department in which to expand their future studies. Students begin their vocational experience by taking survey courses in Grade 9.

Once a student chooses either Plant Science or Animal Science, the Grade 10 courses are considered introductory and students study four major aspects of the department. Our Environmental Technology program consists of courses dealing with water testing,  aquaculture, marine biology & hydroponics.

At the end of this grade, students have both the knowledge and the skill to choose one  of the vocational majors that are further developed through in depth courses in Grades 11 and 12.  

Click Here for a complete listing of course offerings

TECH PREP
 

·          Tech Prep is a federally funded program under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act of 1990. Under this act, grants have been made to local educational agencies and colleges for the development of career pathways to a two-year associates degree, a two-year certificate or further post secondary education.

·            Tech Prep is a program of study that begins in high school is linked to and continues at a post secondary institution and culminates in an associates degree, two-year certificate or further post secondary study in a career and technical field.

·            Tech Prep is a way for students to earn up to nine college credits for taking and passing high school courses with a B or better average.

·            Essex Agricultural and Technical High School currently has four courses with articulation agreements with North Shore Community College: Floral Design II, Landscape Construction, Small Engines and Chainsaws, and Grooming I and II.

·            Articulation is a process for granting college credit to high school students for course work that has given them competencies taught in introductory college courses.

·            The Tech Prep Program offers students a core set of activities that ensure student’s personal, academic and career success: Career Awareness Days, Student Leadership Academy, College Placement Testing to assess college readiness and Student Recognition.

 

        How Does Tech Prep Work?

 

·                                Students enroll in Tech Prep in the sophomore and junior years Enrollment is necessary for students to take full advantage  of Tech Prep services. Enrollment occurs in High school classes where articulation agreements exist or where they are being developed. Once enrolled, Tech Prep students are eligible to receive the various services Tech Prep offers.

 

 

         What’s in it for the Student?

 

·                        You can receive college credit for articulated courses in which you earn a “B” as a high school student. This saves time and money for you and prevents  you from repeating high school work.  These credits can fill requirements for a specific course or fill general elective requirements.
         

·                       You can attend various Career Days sponsored by North Shore Tech Prep at NSCC and other institutions. These career days familiarize you with college  life  and  give you an understanding of the various programs NSCC offers.

·                        You are eligible for the Tech Prep leadership academy, which is offered each year. Leadership and team building skills are presented to students in a three-day workshop.

·                       You are eligible for one of the Tech Prep scholarships offered each year to High school graduates that enter NSCC.

·                        Tech Prep graduates receive mentoring and counseling from North Shore tech prep staff when they enter NSCC.

·                        Tech Prep is a pathway to a four-year degree. All NSCC students are eligible to apply for Joint admissions. This program allows the students to transfer to many excellent four-year colleges at significant cost savings.

 

For example, our Tech Prep program with North Shore Community College includes 
direct transfer credits to the following college level courses at NSCC:

FLR102 - Floral Design II Floral Design I, #6422 February-
03 HRT108 - Equipment Operations Chain Saw (#6345) and Small Engines #6346) February-03
HRT106 - Landscape Installation and Maintenance Landscape Construction, #6444 February-03
ANS122 - Fundamentals of Grooming 5323 Grooming I/5423 Grooming II January-04

To find out more about Tech Prep, please consult the following websites:

Massachusetts Tech Prep Network
www.techprepma.org

North Shore Community College Tech Prep page
http://www.northshore.edu/departments/dept_no_pos.php?depcode=techprep&term=200409

or contact our school's Tech Prep coordinator, Joy White at :
email -jwhite@agtech.org or phone-978-774-0050 ext. 265