About MCTS
Mission Statement
Mercer County Technical Schools’ mission is to produce a community of inspired, compassionate learners who are knowledgeable, skilled, and possess the competencies that will prepare them for success in an ever-changing technological world. We provide our students with educational opportunities to prepare for careers in business and industry while emphasizing a culture of personal attention that focuses on the individual learner. Our goal is to foster a school climate that emphasizes the importance of the teaching-learning process and provides youth and adults the opportunities to maximize their potential, reflect, and offer solutions to challenges posed by society.
To fulfill this mission, the faculty and staff will:
- Embrace the belief that every student can learn
- Continuously emphasize that learning is a life-long process
- Assist students in enabling them to think critically, analyze problems, and develop solutions
- Assist students in becoming productive citizens in a global society
- Help students make career decisions
- Identify how specific courses correspond to particular careers
- Improve students’ skills and increase their potential for employability, further training, and education.
Mercer County Technical Schools have developed both Shared-Time and Academy Programs of Study to develop appropriate college and career pathways. Both pathways facilitate the pursuit of advanced educational options through dual enrollment credits and prior learning assessment credits. Academy students, accomplish this through automatic dual enrollment at Mercer County Community College (MCCC), beginning with their freshman year and continuing throughout their four years in high school. Shared-Time students, accomplish this through prior learning assessment credit that is awarded after completion of the program and enrollment at Mercer County Community College within three years of graduation.
Although there are many similarities between a Shared-Time Program of Study and an Academy, one significant difference exists. Enrolling in a Shared-Time Program of Study (i.e., Automotive Technology, Cosmetology, HVAC-R) will give students the credentials to begin a career directly after high school graduation. Shared-Time Program of Study graduates will be prepared to join their field full-time and pursue advanced training and certification. However, Academy courses (i.e., Culinary Arts, Health Science, STEM-Engineering Pathway) are intended for students who plan to continue their education at a two or four-year institution.
Mercer County Technical Schools has established the following three (3) Academy offerings to facilitate the exploration of future careers.
- Culinary Arts Academy
- Health Science Academy
- STEM Academy - Engineering Pathway
Each of the above Academy pathways correlates to one of the following sixteen (16) nationally recognized career clusters: Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources, Architecture & Construction, Arts, A/V Technology & Communications, Business, Management & Administration, Education & Training, Finance, Government & Public Administration, Health Science, Hospitality & Tourism, Human Services, Information Technology, Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security, Manufacturing, Marketing, and STEM. https://careertech.org/career-clusters