MCVSD Awarded $50,000 NJDOE Elevate CTE Innovation Grant to Advance Allied Health and Science Education
FREEHOLD, NJ — This is the first in a six-part series exploring how New Jersey’s education system, particularly its vocational, trade schools, and, in some instances, public and private schools, and how they’re evolving to meet the demands of a changing economy.
As the nation moves toward a new era of domestic manufacturing, cleaner-energy expansion, high-skilled technical industries and service industries requiring more technology, educators and policymakers face a pivotal challenge: how to equip and scale today’s students for the jobs tomorrow’s economy will demand.
Over the next three months, this series will examine how schools, employers, and state agencies are re-imagining what it means to prepare students for success — not just in college, but in career pathways that fuel America’s onshoring movement and reindustrialization efforts.
And in New Jersey, nowhere is this transformation more visible than in Monmouth County, where the Monmouth County Vocational School District (MCVSD) is already leading the way.
The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners recently recognized MCVSD for being awarded a $50,000 Elevate Career and Technical Education Innovation Grant from the New Jersey Department of Education. The funding will enhance health sciences instruction at the Academy of Allied Health and Science (AAHS) in Neptune, one of the district’s five specialized academies.
“Congratulations to the MCVSD for being awarded this grant, which will support the transformation of health sciences instruction at the Academy of Allied Health and Science,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. “With cutting-edge technology and interdisciplinary curriculum enhancements, this funding will enhance student learning. MCVSD was one of only six school districts selected statewide, and we’re excited to see the impact this investment will have on students’ learning experiences.”
Commissioner Dominick ‘Nick’ DiRocco, liaison to MCVSD, added: “The MCVSD provides exceptional opportunities to students from across the County through its rigorous curriculum, dedicated educators, and engaged student body. The Academy of Allied Health and Science equips students with a strong academic foundation, and this $50,000 grant will further enrich their experience by creating authentic, data-driven clinical learning opportunities in Clinical Skills, Dynamics of Healthcare, Nutrition, and Anatomy and Physiology courses.”
Proof of Concept: A State and National Model for Vocational Education: MCVSD continues to stand among the top-performing public school districts in New Jersey and the United States. According to U.S. News & World Report’s 2025–2026 Best High Schools Rankings, four of its specialized academies rank among the top 15 in the state:
- High Technology High School – #1 in New Jersey
- Biotechnology High School – #6 in New Jersey
- Marine Academy of Science & Technology (MAST) – #11 in New Jersey
- Academy of Allied Health & Science (AAHS) – #15 in New Jersey
SchoolDigger’s 2025 rankings list all MCVSD schools among the top 25 statewide for SAT performance — a testament to their rigorous academics and advanced technical curricula.
These results position MCVSD not only as a Monmouth County success story but as a national benchmark for career and technical education, blending academic depth with hands-on, industry-specific learning.
Admission into any of MCVSD’s five academies is highly competitive. Each year, thousands of eighth-grade students across Monmouth County apply for limited seats, with acceptance rates often between 8 % and 12 % depending on the academy.
To be considered, students must meet a rigorous set of criteria:
- Academic excellence: Most successful applicants maintain A averages in core subjects such as math, science, English, and social studies.
- Entrance exam: All applicants complete a district-wide exam assessing math, language arts, and reasoning skills.
- Teacher recommendations: Evaluations highlight a student’s work ethic, creativity, and curiosity.
- Attendance and conduct record: Consistency and accountability are key.
- Essay or interview: Students express their motivation and interest in the school’s specialized focus area.
Each academy tailors its coursework to a professional discipline — from biotechnology and communications to engineering, marine science, and health studies — preparing students for both college and career pathways that align with New Jersey’s emerging workforce needs.
“MCVSD attracts students who want to be challenged and who already think about the future,” said Commissioner DiRocco. “These programs don’t just prepare kids for college — they prepare them for meaningful, sustainable careers in industries that are growing right here in New Jersey.”
Preparing Students for the Future of Healthcare and beyond: The new $50,000 Elevate Grant will allow the district to integrate emerging medical technology and experiential learning models into health-sciences courses. Students at AAHS will gain exposure to simulated clinical environments, modern diagnostic tools, and interdisciplinary projects bridging anatomy, nutrition, and healthcare dynamics.
“This funding aligns perfectly with MCVSD’s mission — to prepare students for real-world success through applied learning,” DiRocco said. “It’s about giving Monmouth County students a competitive edge in the most in-demand and rapidly evolving industries.”
About MCVSD: The Monmouth County Vocational School District serves more than 1,500 students across specialized academies and career programs in biotechnology, engineering, communications, health sciences, and marine studies. Graduates consistently rank among the state’s top performers on standardized tests, AP exams, and college admissions outcomes.
With initiatives like the Elevate Grant and a continued focus on innovation, MCVSD stands as a model for how New Jersey is rethinking education for a new economic era — one in which hands-on learning, technical expertise, and real-world readiness will shape the state’s next generation of workers.
Looking Ahead: As New Jersey redefines how education aligns with its economic future, programs like those offered through MCVSD are setting the pace for what’s possible when academics, technology, and workforce readiness intersect. The district’s continued investment in innovation — supported by state and county partnerships — demonstrates how local initiatives can have statewide impact.
This story marks only the beginning of our exploration into New Jersey’s evolving vocational and trade education system. In Part 2 of this series, we’ll look into how local public and private schools have begun to adjust their models and course offerings to better prepare students for the growing demand for skilled trades, advanced manufacturing, and technical training programs that will power the state’s next generation of jobs.
This story originally appeared Nov. 10, 2025 on TAPinto.
