Ashlee Upchurch, 16, a junior from Mount Airy, is
studying cosmetology in high school while her classmate Chase Kelsey, 16, of
Fairmount, is learning about business.
And Brian Ehly Jr., 18, a senior from Upper Darby, is
getting hands-on experience in the building trades and using his expertise in
carpentry at a paid co-op position at a company that manages off-campus
apartments near Penn.
All three are students at Mercy Career & Technical
High School in North Philadelphia and are confident the knowledge and skills
they are gaining at the Catholic school will launch them toward success.
"I knew [Mercy] would open up a lot of opportunities
for me," said Ehly, who arrived at the school as a sophomore. "It was
the greatest decision of my life because I no longer resent going to school. I
enjoy what I do here. School is fun again."
Mercy is the only coeducational Catholic vocational high
school in the country, offering training in six areas, including computer
technology and culinary arts. But it has been flying largely under the radar
since the Sisters of Mercy founded it in 1950.
"A lot of kids don't know about Mercy," said
Kelsey, who plans to study international business in college after he graduates
in 2018. "I think . . . the shops are going to give us a leg up in the
workforce, and especially in college."
But Mercy has been putting up impressive stats for years:
a 97 percent average daily attendance rate; a 99 percent graduation rate. And
nearly all who earn diplomas leave with professional certifications or
licenses.
In fact, nearly 100 percent of students in Mercy's nurse
aide training program hold Pennsylvania Nurse Aide and CPR certificates when
they graduate; 85 percent of cosmetology grads have state cosmetology licenses
and are ready for immediate employment.
The school is so successful administrators say they
cannot meet the demand of employers who want to provide paid work experience
for seniors studying computer tech and business.
Officials hope a recent name change from Mercy Vocational
High School to Mercy Career & Technical High School will convey the
school's focus on 21st-century careers and raise the school's profile.
" 'Career & Technical' is a more modern name for
us because our mission is to really help our students with careers we may not
even know about yet," said Catherine Glatts, a former systems engineer at
Lockheed Martin, who is vice principal for career and technical education.
"I think that the name change does better reflect
the mission of the school," agreed George Matysik, a 1999 Mercy grad and
trustee who serves as executive director of the nonprofit Philadelphia Parks
Alliance.
"I'm someone who believes in the importance of a
trade education," said Matysik, who parlayed his Mercy electrical training
into an immediate job in the University of Pennsylvania's housekeeping department.
As a Penn employee, Matysik was able to take classes for free. Ultimately, he
earned a Penn degree in urban studies.
Sister Rosemary Herron, Mercy's president, said the
school aims to equip students with the skills, work ethic, and foundation they
need to be successful for life.
"What we say is our students take a nontraditional
path to higher education," she said. "Sometimes they really want to
begin their career right away, and then they see - which is what we've been
telling them - that they need to continue, to be lifelong learners."
Mercy's 328 students mostly come from the city.
As a Catholic school, Mercy offers a faith-based
education that includes theology classes and extensive community-service
opportunities. Nearly 60 percent of students are not Catholic.
About half the students attended Catholic elementary
schools; the others come from public and charter schools.
The student body is 57 percent African American, 20
percent white, and 17 percent Hispanic.
"We are a microcosm of the city," Herron said.
Thanks to benefactors, support from the Sisters of Mercy,
and others, the school actually spends $12,500 to educate each student and
charges an annual $8,500 tuition. More than 90 percent of students receive
financial aid.
"Most people would call our students 'at-risk,'
which I guess they are," said Sister Susan Walsh, the principal. "But
I like to say 'at-promise.' "
Prospective students take an entrance test. Those who are
admitted spend their freshman year taking academic courses and learning about
Mercy's career programs. They begin their chosen shop classes as sophomores.
While Philadelphia and other districts operate public
career and technical schools that are free, Herron said parents select Mercy
because they want a faith-based education and a safe school.
Students and parents say that Mercy's classes are small
and teachers and staff are supportive.
"Because it's a small school, it's like your second
home," said Upchurch, who is student body president.
"There's a really strong family vibe," Kelsey
said.
Brenda Ehly said that as a result of the success her son
Brian Jr. had achieved, his brothers Joe, 16, and Bradley, 14, followed him to
Mercy.
"Sitting at a desk getting the academics is
great," she said. "But as kids get older, they want to work. I think
it's so important to be teaching them a skill."
She said Mercy helped with financial aid. "They work
with families," she said.
Brian Ehly discovered his talents for finished carpentry
at Mercy. But his building-trades classes exposed him to plumbing, electrical,
and other fields, and he found another career he wants to pursue after he
graduates in June.
"From the small amount of work I've done with
boilers, water heaters, and gas lines, I like doing that," said Ehly, who
hopes to study that field at the Williamson College of the Trades in Media.
He and his family credit Mercy. "The shop teachers
are just so good with the kids," Brenda Ehly said. "I recommend the
school to everybody."
Source: Philly.com
No comments:
Post a Comment