Bergen County Academies facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bergen County Academies |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Address | |
|
200 Hackensack Avenue
, , 07601
United States
|
|
| Coordinates | 40°54′08″N 74°02′05″W / 40.902203°N 74.034742°W |
| Information | |
| Former name | Bergen Academies |
| Type | Public magnet high school |
| Established | 1991 |
| Founder | John Grieco |
| School district | Bergen County Technical Schools |
| CEEB code | 310118 |
| NCES School ID | 340147000250 |
| Principal | Russell Davis |
| Faculty | 93.6 FTEs |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Enrollment | 1,116 (as of 2022–23) |
| Student to teacher ratio | 11.9:1 |
| Color(s) | Black Vegas gold White |
| Athletics conference | Big North Conference (general) North Jersey Super Football Conference (football) |
| Team name | Knights |
Bergen County Academies (BCA) is a special public high school in Hackensack, New Jersey. It's a "magnet" school, which means students from all over Bergen County, New Jersey can apply to attend. BCA is tuition-free and serves students from 9th to 12th grade. John Grieco, who also started the Academies at Englewood, founded the school in 1991.
BCA is known for being one of the best public high schools in America. In 2021, Niche ranked it as the #1 public high school in the country. The Washington Post also called BCA one of the top-performing high schools in the U.S. It's a National Blue Ribbon School and has had many successful students in science competitions.
The school has seven different specialized programs, called "academies." These include programs for science, business, culinary arts, engineering, medical science, computer science, and visual and performing arts. As of the 2022–23 school year, BCA had 1,116 students and about 94 teachers. This means there are about 12 students for every teacher.
Contents
History of Bergen County Academies
Bergen County Academies was first imagined by John Grieco. It started with the idea of helping students prepare for careers in math and science. The goal was to teach students how to solve problems and learn through hands-on projects. Over time, the school changed to focus more on preparing students for college.
The school began in 1992 with just one program: the Academy for the Advancement of Science and Technology (AAST). It shared its campus with another technical high school. The first students graduated in 1996.
Expanding Academies and Programs
In 1997, more academies opened. These included the Academy for Business and Computer Technology (ABCT), the Academy for Engineering and Design Technology (AEDT), and the Academy for Medical Science Technology (AMST). The next year, three more programs started, which soon became academies: the Academy for Culinary Arts (ACA), the Academy for Power and Transportation (APT), and the Academy for Visual Arts and Graphic Communications (AVAGC). All these programs began to focus on preparing students for college, while still specializing in their chosen fields.
Over the years, some academies changed. In 2002, APT was removed. ABCT split into two new academies: the Academy for Business and Finance (ABF) and the Academy for Telecommunications and Computer Science (ATCS). Later, ATCS became the Academy for Technology and Computer Science. ACA added hotel administration and became the Academy for Culinary Arts and Hospitality Administration (ACAHA). AVAGC grew to include performing arts and became the Academy for Visual and Performing Arts (AVPA).
The school's name also changed a few times. It was called "Bergen County Regional Academies," then "Bergen Academies," then "Bergen County Academy," and now it is "Bergen County Academies." In 2004, BCA became one of the few schools in New Jersey to offer the IB Diploma Programme, a challenging international program for high school students.
How BCA School Day Works
BCA has a longer school day than most schools, running from 8:00 AM to 4:10 PM.
The school day is currently made up of 9 periods, each lasting 50 minutes. There are 4 minutes between classes to get to your next room.
Classes and Projects
All students at BCA take four years of English, mathematics, social studies, and physical education. They also take three years of science (like biology, chemistry, or physics) and a world language (such as Spanish, French, or Mandarin).
Students also spend time on projects and clubs. Projects happen on Wednesdays during certain periods, and clubs meet on Wednesdays in the last period. All seniors (12th graders) take part in "Senior Experience." This is an internship program where they work and learn outside of school every Wednesday instead of being on campus. To graduate, students need to complete 40 hours of community service.
BCA students can also work on special research projects. These projects can be in many areas, including cell biology, chemistry, nanotechnology, stem cells, agriscience, and optics.
Current Academies at BCA
BCA has seven main academic programs, often called "academies." Each academy focuses on a different area of study. Even though there are different academies, BCA is considered one high school.
- The Academy for the Advancement of Science and Technology (AAST), or "Science," started in 1992. It focuses on deep learning in sciences and how scientific ideas are used in real life. Students take biology, chemistry, and physics by their sophomore year. Many AAST students also do their own research projects.
- The Academy for Business and Finance (ABF), or "Business," began in 2002. Students in ABF learn about economics, marketing, finance, and business ethics. To graduate, ABF students must complete a senior project and take part in the full IB Diploma Programme. They can also join DECA and use a special Financial Markets Lab with Bloomberg technology.
- The Academy for Culinary Arts and Hospitality Administration (ACAHA), or "Culinary," started in 1998. It focuses on hospitality management, starting a business, and culinary arts. Students can get certifications from the National Restaurant Association. They often compete in culinary and hospitality events.
- The Academy for Engineering and Design Technology (AEDT), or "Engineering," was founded in 1997. It's like an extension of the science academy, but with a focus on engineering and design. Students learn about computer science, architecture, and biomedical engineering. They often compete in robotics competitions and other projects like the Solar Car Challenge.
- The Academy for Medical Science Technology (AMST), or "Medical," started in 1997. Students learn about different medical fields, such as epidemiology, pharmacology, neuroscience, and anatomy & physiology. Many AMST students do their own research projects and can even work towards NREMT certification.
- The Academy for Technology and Computer Science (ATCS), or "Computer Science," began in 2002. It focuses on computers and the internet. Students prepare for jobs like computer programming and software engineering.
- The Academy for Visual and Performing Arts (AVPA), or "Visual Arts, Theater, Music," was founded in 1998. This academy has three different areas of focus: Visual Arts, Music, and Theater.
How to Apply to BCA
Applying to Bergen County Academies involves three main steps: an online application, an admissions test, and an interview.
Application Process
The online application is usually submitted in December. To apply, you must be an eighth grader living in Bergen County. You will need to:
- Write a 400-word essay.
- Write an optional 100-word essay about your activities and awards.
- Get recommendation letters from your 8th-grade math teacher, and your 7th or 8th-grade English and science teachers.
- Submit your middle school grades and standardized test scores.
- Choose your first and second choice of academy.
Admissions Exam
In January, all applicants take an admissions exam. This test has two parts:
- A 45-minute essay where you write about a given passage. It's graded on how well you understand the passage, your ideas, organization, and grammar.
- A 60-minute math test with 40 multiple choice questions. These questions focus on basic math skills and word problems.
Interviews
If you do well on the exam, you'll be invited for an interview. Teachers and guidance counselors conduct these interviews. The interview might be different depending on which academy you applied to. For example, if you apply to AVPA for Music or Theater, you'll have an audition. If you apply for Visual Arts, you'll do an art workshop and show your portfolio.
In 2021, BCA shared that about 15% of applicants were accepted.
Clubs and Activities at BCA
BCA has a very active student life with over 130 clubs during the 2019–2020 school year.
Clubs
- Model United Nations: BCA has a strong Model UN team. They even host their own conferences for high school (AMUN) and middle school (JAMUN) students. The team has won many awards at conferences held by top universities. It's the largest club at the school.
- Math Team: BCA's math team often competes in major math competitions. They have won first place at the Princeton University Mathematics Competition and the ARML Local competition. Many students qualify for the USAMO (United States Mathematical Olympiad).
- Quiz Bowl: The junior varsity and varsity quiz bowl teams have qualified for national competitions like the National History Bowl.
- Robotics: The school has a robotics club that competes in the FIRST Tech Challenge. In 2020, both of their teams qualified for the state competition.
- DECA: This club is for students in the Academy of Business and Finance. Members participate in business competitions at regional, state, and international levels. It's the second-largest club at BCA.
- Amnesty International: This student group organizes events about human rights and attends conferences.
Sports
BCA students play sports as part of the Bergen Tech Knights. They team up with students from other Bergen County Technical Schools. They compete in the Big North Conference against other high schools in Bergen and Passaic counties.
Some sports achievements include:
- In 2006, the football team made it to the playoffs. The boys' soccer team also reached the state tournament semifinals.
- In 2009, both the tennis team and baseball team advanced to the playoffs. The tennis team even won their sectionals and continued to the semifinals.
BCA Campus and Facilities
Bergen County Academies is located on the Dr. John Grieco Campus in Hackensack. The school has a large main building and a separate Environmental Science Center (ESC) with a greenhouse. There's also a big auditorium that can seat 1,200 people. Behind the school buildings, you'll find the baseball/softball field, football field, and track.
In 2008, the school's cafeteria was greatly expanded, growing from 1,500 to 11,000 square feet.
Specialized Labs
BCA has many advanced science laboratories:
- The nanotechnology lab (opened 2009) has special tools for studying tiny materials.
- The cell biology lab (opened 2004) has equipment for analyzing cells.
- The stem cell lab (opened 2006) includes tools for DNA sequencing and studying stem cells.
- The optics lab (opened 2008) has powerful microscopes, including a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a transmission electron microscope (TEM).
There are also labs for specific academies. The Business Academy has a dedicated Bloomberg workstation for financial research. The Visual Arts Academy has two studio art labs with printing equipment. A video lab with professional cameras and a bluescreen is used for broadcasting. The Culinary Arts Academy has a professional, restaurant-grade kitchen for teaching.
Awards and Top Rankings
Bergen County Academies has received many awards and high rankings.
In 2015, the United States Department of Education named BCA a National Blue Ribbon School. This award recognizes schools that are high-performing. That same year, Newsweek ranked BCA as the fifth best public school in America and fourth in New Jersey.
Inside Jersey magazine ranked BCA first among New Jersey's top high schools in 2014. The Daily Beast ranked BCA 15th nationally among magnet and charter schools. Niche ranked BCA as the #1 public high school in the nation in October 2020. They also ranked it as the #1 magnet school and #3 college prep public high school in America.
During the 2019-2020 school year, Bergen County Academies had the best graduation rate and SAT scores in New Jersey.
Notable alumni
- Harry Altman (Class of 2005), featured in the 2002 documentary Spellbound about the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
- Shakira Barrera (born 1990, Class of 2008), dancer and actor in the Netflix series GLOW.
- George Hotz (born 1989, Class of 2007), known for computer and device hacking.
- Sachin H. Jain (born 1980, Class of 1998), CEO of CareMore and former Chief Medical Information Officer of Merck.
- Sarah-Nicole Robles (born 1991, Class of 2010), voice actress, known for voicing Luz Noceda in The Owl House.
- Kaavya Viswanathan (Class of 2004), author of the 2006 novel How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life.
