Mission

  • The mission of the Edison Academy Magnet School is to offer a rigorous, comprehensive curriculum that provides the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge that are prerequisites for success in engineering.
  • building                             science lab                             building - front

History

  • The Edison Academy Magnet School operates under the auspices of the Middlesex County Magnet Schools.  In the mid-nineties, the Middlesex County Magnet Schools conducted an investigation of their ability to provide the type of career preparation needed for the next century. With the approach of the 21st century and the revolution in technological advancement, it is imperative that students are prepared with the workplace readiness skills they will need to succeed in the future.  One of the major factors assessed was the academic and technical level of vocational and technical career programs.  

    It became clear that higher level technical and academic courses needed to be offered in the district if we were to serve the career preparation needs of the college-bound student who would enter STEM careers. Therefore, in September 2000, the Edison Academy Magnet School opened its doors and provided county residents with a program that addressed rigorous academic requirements leading to a career path in a STEM area.

    All graduates have been accepted at very prestigious colleges and universities. While our students indicate they enjoy learning about careers in their chosen career field, a number of seniors express an interest in changing career fields or pursuing other interests in college. Because the curriculum is broad and academically challenging, they are well-prepared for many careers and have many options. Edison Academy Magnet School graduates have been accepted and are attending many post-secondary colleges and universities, including:

    • Albright College, Pennsylvania
    • Arcadia University, Pennsylvania
    • Boston University, Massachusetts
    • Belmont Abbey College, North Carolina
    • Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania
    • Claremont McKenna College, California
    • Columbia University, New York
    • Cornell University, New York
    • C.W. Post-Long Island University, New York
    • Drew University, New Jersey
    • Drexel University, Pennsylvania
    • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida
    • Florida Institute of Technology, Florida
    • Franklin Pierce College, New Hampshire
    • Full Sail College, Florida
    • George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
    • Georgia Institute of Technology
    • Hofstra University, New York
    • Lehigh University, Pennsylvania
    • LeTourneau University, Texas
    • Long Island University, New York
    • Manhattan College, New York
    • Marist College, New York
    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • Massachusetts College of Pharmacy 
    • Middlesex College, New Jersey 
    • Montclair State University, New Jersey
    • Moravian College, Pennsylvania
    • Muhlenberg College, Pennsylvania 
    • New Jersey Institute of Technology
    • New York University 
    • Pennsylvania State University
    • Polytechnic University, New York 
    • Princeton University, New Jersey
    • Purdue University, Indiana
    • Quinnipiac University, Connecticut
    • Ramapo College of New Jersey
    • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York
    • Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
    • Rider University, New Jersey 
    • Roanoke College, Virginia
    • Rochester Institute of Technology, New York
    • Rose-Hulman Institute, Indiana
    • Rowan University, New Jersey 
    • Rutgers, The State University, New Jersey
    • Saint John’s University, New York
    • Seton Hall University, New Jersey
    • SUNY-Binghamton, New York
    • Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey
    • Syracuse University, New York
    • The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
    • The College of New Jersey
    • Tuft’s University, Massachusetts 
    • Unity College of Maine
    • University of California, UCLA/San Diego/Irvine
    • University of Connecticut
    • University of Delaware 
    • University of Hartford, Connecticut 
    • University of Illinois
    • University of Maryland
    • University of Michigan
    • University of North Carolina
    • University of Rhode Island
    • University of Sciences, Pennsylvania 
    • University of Scranton, Pennsylvania 
    • University of Virginia
    • Villanova University, Pennsylvania 
    • Virginia Polytechnic Institute
    • Wentworth Institute of Technology, Massachusetts 
    • Wilkes Colleges, Pennsylvania

Overview

  • Edison Academy Magnet School is modeled as a small school with a curriculum targeted to a career that meets very high academic standards. The Academy offers high-level academic preparation focusing around career themes for students who qualify.

    Admission to the Edison Academy Magnet School is competitive. Students are selected based on grades, references, standardized test scores, and an interview on campus. Students must also endorse the philosophy of the school, which demands a commitment to a very rigorous program. The Academy has a core curriculum that is supplemented by coursework in the selected career field. A wide range of electives and co-curricular activities are available to students.

    Middlesex County Magnet Schools career academies are designed for students with strong academic skills who plan to pursue a baccalaureate education. The mission of the academies is to provide a challenging curriculum in a technology-infused, structured learning environment. Studies are multi-disciplinary with technology integrated throughout each program. Students are afforded the opportunity to earn college credits through the Middlesex College High School Scholars program, as well as from Rutgers University and other postsecondary institutions.

    Faculty, students and parents are empowered to be actively involved in a collaborative, interdisciplinary process in which students:

    • Develop critical-thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and presentation skills needed for living in the 21st century.
    • Prepare to continue their education at the college level.
    • Acquire a broad background in the humanities and the arts.
    • Experience social, ethical and personal growth.
    • Learn to use technology to access, organize, compile, analyze, and create new information.

  • Career and College Readiness

    In our technical high school programs, students have the opportunity to embark on a dual career path.  For those who qualify, college preparatory academic subjects will permit entry into college upon graduation.  It is important to understand that technical high school education is not a substitute for an academic education – it is an enhancement and expansion of it.  An increasing number of our graduates are attending college each year, with on average 60% of graduates being accepted to post-secondary schools.

    Job Placement:

    Our most recent placement report validates the relevance and quality of the technical, academic, and career preparation provided by our schools: 

    • 95% of the recent graduates available for employment were employed.
    • Approximately 86% of graduates available for employment were employed in the career area for which they were trained.
    • 150 firms employed more than 235 of our graduates.  Roughly 77% of the employers were in Middlesex County.

    For more information: 

    Please visit the Department of Career and Technical Education at Middlesex County Magnet Schools. 

    Cooperative Education

    • Middlesex County Magnet Schools students are an important part of the Middlesex County community. Our Cooperative Vocational Education Program provides students the opportunity to gain valuable work experience at local business and industry sites throughout the greater Middlesex County area. During the school year, students are employed by approximately 150 local businesses.

      Participating students receive a half-day of academic instruction at their Magnet School and a half day of work experience at a supervised job site. Cooperative education coordinators inspect the work site, supervise the placement, provide related classes, and make worksite visitations.   

     

    Industry Partnerships

    • The five Middlesex County Magnet Schools are proven providers of career and technical education. These innovative schools collaborate with employers to provide a wide range of programs that respond to local, regional and statewide employment and economic needs and prepare students for the technology-driven jobs of today and tomorrow. Our schools work closely with active members of the business community to ensure maximum relevancy. 

      Maximum Relevance Achieved by Consulting Advisory Committees

      Advisory committees, composed of some 250 active members from business, labor, and industry, lead to program effectiveness. Input from the committees helps keep programs and services current. The groups review curriculum and make recommendations for program and equipment modifications. This input keeps programs realistic and closely related to the employment needs in Middlesex County. Committees generally have at least five members who represent employers, organized labor, the business community, and the general public. Many members employ our students.

      “Staying connected to business and industry and the community means staying current. The quality of our programs and students can readily be seen by the number of graduates who either enter employment or continue their education at the postsecondary level.”

      For more information:

      Please visit the Department of Career and Technical Education at Middlesex County Magnet Schools. 

     

    Focus on Technology

    • Middlesex County Magnet Schools believe focusing on technology provides our students, faculty and administration the opportunity to achieve a valuable educational experience. Technology has become an integral part of the educational process, and it is imperative that all our students and staff have secure and ample access to technological tools that will aid in both teaching and learning. The district boasts a near two-to-one computer-to-student ratio, with desktops, laptops, tablets, projectors, and other educational technology consistently and readily available to all members of our learning community.

      Meeting Tomorrow's Challenges

      Technology has fueled a fundamental change that requires a shift in instructional approaches. The daily use of technology in the classroom affords our students the opportunity to make the invaluable connection between their educational experience and real-life applications. This incorporation of assistive technologies, as well as digital resources in the learning process of our students, allows them to develop the necessary skills, knowledge and capacities to ensure they are successful in their post-graduate endeavors. Our purpose is to prepare our students to be active, contributing participants in our competitive 21st century society by providing them with an engaging and empowering learning experience resulting from a rich, technology-driven, student-centered curriculum.

      For more information: 

      Please visit the Department of Instructional Services at Middlesex County Magnet Schools. 

    About the District

    • Established in 1914 by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners as the nation's first vocational-technical high school district, Middlesex County Magnet Schools fulfill an essential need for free occupational training in the State of New Jersey. The district receives high school and adult education applications from nearly 118,000 families throughout Middlesex County. Students in the district benefit from over 30 distinct career program offerings on campuses situated in five local municipalities: East Brunswick, Edison, Perth Amboy, Piscataway, and Woodbridge.

      Middlesex County Magnet Schools are one of the state's 21 county vocational-technical school districts. These high schools are free public schools that offer hands-on, integrated learning opportunities for students in grades 9-12 interested in all types of careers as well as higher education.

      Any student who resides anywhere in Middlesex County's 25 municipalities student may apply to the school district. If accepted, the home school district will permit the student to attend and will organize daily transportation at no cost to the student's family. For more information about career and technical education in the state, please visit the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools to learn how each county school district operates independently with governance by their Board of Education and support from the County Board of Commissioners.

      District Performance Reports

      School performance reports are available for each high school from the New Jersey Department of Education.
      The district's performance report can also be found in the New Jersey School Directory on the NJDOE website.