Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School

Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, also known as “Whittier Tech” and/or “Big Whittier,” was founded in 1972. Located in the city of Haverhill, MA, United States, the school currently serves about 1400 students, with a 12:1 student-teacher ratio. It serves many surrounding cities and towns primarily in the northern section of Essex County, accepting students from Haverhill, Newburyport, Newbury, West Newbury, Rowley, Amesbury, Merrimac, Georgetown, Groveland, Ipswich, Salisbury, Lawrence and Methuen. The school was named in honor of local resident, Quaker poet, and slavery abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier. Alongside this school, there is also a middle school called “J. G. Whittier Middle School” located in haverhill also named after the poet.

Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School
Address
115 Amesbury Line Road

Haverhill
,
MA
01830

United States
Information
TypePublic secondary/Technical
Open enrollment[1]
Established1972
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,338 (2015-16)[2]
CampusSuburban
Color(s)Maroon & Gold   
Athletics conferenceCommonwealth Athletic Conference
MascotWildcat
Budget$23,767,184 total
$18,220 per pupil
(2016)[3]
Websitehttp://www.whittiertech.org

Demographics[4]

According to Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education annual statistics, for the 2018-2019 academic year, the demographic enrollment distributions for race, gender and grade level at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School are as follows:

Total number of enrolled students: 1,246
Total number of full-time equivalent educators: 113.2
Therefore, the student to teacher ratio for this school is 11:1

Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity (2018-2019)[5]
Race Enrolled Pupils* % of District
African American 29 2.3%
Asian 12 1%
Hispanic 260 20.9%
Native American 4 0.3%
White 896 71.9%
Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander 0 0%
Multi-Race, Non-Hispanic 44 3.5%
Total 1,246 100%

* Number of enrolled pupils calculated based on total number of students in district and reported percentage, rounded to nearest whole student.

Enrollment by Gender[5]
Gender Pupils Enrolled Percentage
Male 973 78.09%
Female 573 45.99%
Non-Binary 0 0%
Total 1,246 100%
Enrollment by Grade[5]
Grade Pupils Enrolled Percentage
9 320 25.68%
10 284 22.79%
11 324 26%
12 318 25.52%
SP* 0 0%
Total 1,246 100%

* SP = Special Education Beyond Grade 12[6]

Academic program

Whittier's academic program is designed and offer students a broad base in fundamental skills through its core curriculum in English, Math, Science & Technology, Social Studies, World Languages, Physical Education/Health, and Elective subjects and to afford students with varying abilities the opportunity to succeed.

Courses are designed in a sequential format and are integrated with the vocational-technical areas, wherever practicable and mutually beneficial. All academic courses offer advanced sections for students who desire to further their education. Moreover, a Tech Prep program is offered to eleventh and twelfth grade students which parallels the College Prep program and provides students with the opportunity for college credit and/or advanced college placement.

Student activities

Whittier Tech has an extensive number of student activities. They include the Key Club, SADD, Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (SkillsUSA-VICA), Multicultural Club, Model United Nations, Performing Arts, FICI club, Chess Club, a talent show,[7] school newspaper and Student government.

Another annual tradition Whittier Tech takes part in is the building and donation of a parade float for Haverhill, Massachusetts's annual Santa Claus Parade held every year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving Day. (In the judging of the floats, it has become the norm for the impressive Whittier floats to win each year.)

The school administration prohibited mention of climate change in a 2019 student graduation speech.[7]

School athletics

Whittier Tech's athletic teams are nicknamed the "Wildcats". The school's colors are Maroon & Gold. They are a member of the Commonwealth Athletic Conference. The Wildcat Football team has recently won its first state championship title with a perfect 12-0 season. Whittier athletes attending big-name schools have included football players Jay Pena (at Delaware) and Nicholas Mazzone (at Stetson University). Whitter grad Justin Reyes of St. Thomas Aquinas College was named ECAC Basketball Rookie of the Year. Sports offered include football, cross country, cheerleading, track & field, volleyball, soccer, basketball, wrestling, baseball, lacrosse, and softball.

Vocational Courses

Whittier tech offers many different career training options:

Co-Op

Whittier Tech offers a comprehensive service for Cooperative Programs, part-time and full-time employment. Cooperative Education is a trade-related work program designed to provide a learning/work experience in which eligible seniors and juniors are placed in jobs during shop week. On alternate weeks the students will return to school for their academic and related subjects.

Seniors in good academic standing are eligible for Co-op employment. Students selected for Co-op will receive "on the job" training during their shop schedule along with compensation for services provided.

Cooperative Placement requires a formal agreement in concert with the school, Department of Labor, employer, and student employee. The shop instructor, Vocational Coordinator, and Placement Director will approve individual student eligibility. The office of Cooperative Director supervises Cooperative training. Students under 18 years of age must obtain a Co-op Permit to allow them to participate in certain hazardous occupations.

OSHA

Every shop at the school goes through a 10-hour OSHA training program. This program is mandatory for Co-Op and is free of charge.

MCAS

Whittier's MCAS Enrichment Program has been developed to improve students performance on the MCAS. Whittier states that they have assumed a proactive role in this endeavor and their goal is to work with students to develop the skills necessary for successful MCAS results.

References
  1. "School Choice Receiving District Status" (PDF). Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
  2. "Whittier Regional Vocational". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  3. "Massachusetts Department Of Elementary And Secondary Education - Per Pupil Expenditures Statewide Report". profiles.doe.mass.edu.
  4. "Enrollment Data (2018-19) - Whittier Regional Vocational (08850605)". profiles.doe.mass.edu. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  5. "School and District Profiles". profiles.doe.mass.edu.
  6. "Profiles Help-About the Data". www.profiles.doe.mass.edu. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  7. Milman, Oliver (2019-06-07). "US schools accused of censoring climate crisis message in graduation speeches". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-06-07.

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