Science/Engineering Specialized Learning Center
The Science/Engineering Specialized Learning Center, or S&E, is a public high school magnet program housed within Manalapan High School, located in Englishtown, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. The program, started in 1985, is designed for students with an interest in focusing on mathematical and scientific subjects.
The program has had 10 to 40 students in each class, which has recently been changed to a max of 30 per class, and the curriculum consists largely of courses related to engineering, science, and high level mathematics. The program is heavy on Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which can provide college credit with appropriate scores. A member of the Freehold Regional High School District, the learning center serves an enrollment of no more than 100 students at any time in the school.
Applicants, drawn from the communities in the Freehold Regional High School District, take an entrance exam in the eighth grade that tests their abilities in mathematics and English. In addition, there is also a personal statement portion of the application which allows students to write an essay on why they wish to go to the school as well as telling of their extracurricular activities or awards. Parents have been known to move into the district just so their children may have a chance to be accepted into S&E.
The program has an impressive entourage of knowledgeable and helpful teachers. Most students score very highly on standardized tests (the AP, the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT, the High School Proficiency Assessment - HSPA). In 2006, the average SAT score was 2,185: 713 Verbal, 770 Math, and 702 Writing, and more recent SAT scores have been similar.[1] If this center was ranked as a separate high school, they would rank #2 out of more than 27,000 U.S. high schools based on SAT scores alone.[2] They also perform well in competitions such as the American Mathematics Contest or the Science League.
Required courses
Freshman Year
- Algebra II/Geometry (H) - A combined course in which two classes usually offered separately are taught at an accelerated pace over the span of one year. Typically, Geometry is taught the first semester then Algebra II the second semester.
- AP Biology
- Introduction to Computer Science/Technical Drawing - Also a combined course in which the first semester concentrates on computer science which is mostly of the programming language C++. The second semester focuses on engineering design or drafting.
Sophomore Year
- AP Statistics
- Precalculus (H)
- AP Chemistry
Junior Year
- AP Computer Science A
- AP Calculus BC
- AP Physics C Mechanics
- Electronics I
Senior Year
- AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism
- Multivariable Calculus (H)
- Senior Research Projects (H)
References
- ↑ FRHSD S&E Learning Center Brochure, Accessed June 24, 2011.
- ↑ America's Best High Schools Newsweek, Accessed June 24, 2011.
External links
Coordinates: 40°17′16″N 74°20′09″W / 40.287875°N 74.335747°W