P-Tech High School

New York's Education Department and IBM

The school specializes in vocational teaching for the tech industry. The course lasts for four years, which is equivalent to the duration of high school. Following that, if students enroll for two more years, they can graduate with a college diploma. The school was established via a partnership between the Department of Education of New York, IBM, the New York City College of Technology and the City University of New York.

The school specializes in vocational teaching for the tech industry. The course lasts for four years, which is equivalent to the duration of high school. Following that, if students enroll for two more years, they can graduate with a college diploma. The school was established via a partnership between the Department of Education of New York, IBM, the New York City College of Technology and the City University of New York.

Country: USA
Visit Website

Problem: The USA has a large proportion of university graduates. This does not necessarily mean that these graduates find employment easily, considering that many new jobs require knowledge that many graduates do not acquire during college, especially in the fields of science and technology. P-Tech, which was established in Brooklyn, New York, in 2011, aims to bridge this gap by offering vocational education during high school that focuses on the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics. The project was established via a partnership between the Department of Education of New York, IBM, the New York City College of Technology and the City University of New York. P-Tech operates on the premises of the Paul Robeson Educational School.




Solutions: The curriculum was prepared in conjunction with IBM, which also participates in the academic process. The central concept is that what is learned in school must be relevant to the real world. Professors are also in constant contact with their counterparts at partner universities, and the human resources staff at IBM informs the school regarding the qualities it seeks in the professionals it is looking to hire.

Some of the courses involve applied sciences in the fields of computational information systems and electromechanical engineering technology. Students attend class from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. They remain in high school for four years, and, afterwards, can obtain a college diploma after only two more years of study. During the first year, students study English, mathematics, technology, arts, American history and vocational studies every day. Beginning the second year, the curriculum becomes more personalized. The lesson calendar is organized according to modules, which include regular classes and online activities. Students have access to various educational platforms and are encouraged to use them to learn, especially while studying at home. Upon completion of each module, professors prepare a progress report for each student. It is at this point that the student and the professor can evaluate the learning process and make the necessary adjustments. This periodic evaluation is a central aspect of this school's teaching methodology. 

Students are also encouraged to engage in tutoring and supplementary studies after school, between four and six p.m. Robotics and computing classes, peer mediation and student counselling are all offered as extracurricular activities. Each student has a mentor at IBM and can earn an internship at the company or at another company upon completing their third year of study.

Outcomes: As a result, students become more engaged in their studies and tend to plan more for their futures. Recent graduates have a chance of getting jobs in the tech field that pay competitive salaries. Schools that were inspired by P-Tech have also been set up in other states and cities in the United States, such as Chicago, for example.