Biotechnology High School

Biotechnology High School
Address
Map
5000 Kozloski Road

, ,
07728

United States
Coordinates40°15′58″N 74°14′42″W / 40.26618°N 74.245059°W / 40.26618; -74.245059
Information
TypePublic, magnet, vocational
Established2005
School districtMonmouth County Vocational School District
NCES School ID341750006121[1]
PrincipalSharon Bryant
Faculty27.0 FTEs[1]
Grades9th-12th
Enrollment317 (as of 2022–23)[1]
Student to teacher ratio11.7:1[1]
Websitewww.bths.mcvsd.org

Biotechnology High School (BTHS), or commonly referred to as Biotech, is a four-year comprehensive vocational public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades in Freehold Township, Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, as part of the Monmouth County Vocational School District (MCVSD). Its curriculum includes a science program, consisting of eight different science classes spread over four years, designed to prepare students to pursue further education in biotechnology and the natural sciences. Emphasis is placed on research, laboratory skills, critical thinking, problem solving, technology, and teamwork. Over 90% of the 2009 graduates selected college majors in the life sciences.[2] The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 2005.[3]

Since the graduation of its first class in 2009, it has consistently been ranked one of the best high schools on the East Coast and in the United States by national media outlets. According to the national high school rankings report published annually by U.S. News & World Report, the school was ranked fifth in New Jersey and 72nd in the nation in 2023.[4]

As of April 2007, it became an official International Baccalaureate Organization school, offering the IB Diploma Programme to all students.[5] BTHS is the only high school in New Jersey in which 100% of students are IB Diploma Candidates. Most of the courses taken in the junior and senior years are IB courses, which are comparable to Advanced Placement (AP) courses.[6] Courses taken during freshman and sophomore years prepare students for IB. At the beginning of their junior year, students declare either an IB Chemistry or IB Physics concentration, which requires two full years of study accumulated in an exam session. Depending on the course and plan of study, IB exams for other courses are administered in the spring of their junior or senior year.[2][7] Students also complete a full-time senior mentorship under an employer of their choice during their last month before graduation.

As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 317 students and 27.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.7:1. There were 2 students (0.6% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 1 (0.3% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1] The average graduating class size is around 70-80 students.

  1. ^ a b c d e School data for Biotechnology High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  2. ^ a b BTHS Profile Archived August 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Biotechnology High School. Accessed Jun 24, 2011.
  3. ^ Biotechnology High School Archived March 30, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed June 28, 2011.
  4. ^ "Biotechnology High School". U.S. News. 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  5. ^ Biotechnology High School, International Baccalaureate Organization. Accessed June 24, 2011.
  6. ^ AP vs. IB?, College Confidential. Accessed June 24, 2011.
  7. ^ Institutional Members Archived August 10, 2009, at the Library of Congress Web Archives NCSSSMST. Accessed June 24, 2011, but BTHS not currently on their list of NCSSSMST Institutional members.