Academy for Information Technology
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The Union County Academy for Information Technology (UCAIT) is a full time four-year public high school located in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, on the Union County Vocational Technical Schools Campus. The school is part of the Union County Vocational Technical Schools (UCVTS), which serves students in all of Union County. The school focuses on education in Computer Science and Computer Engineering with an emphasis on Mathematics and Science.
Students have a very demanding curriculum which is on par with its sister school, the Union County Magnet High School. The Academy for Information Technology offers students the opportunity to become certified as a Microsoft Office Specialist, an A+ Hardware/OS Technician, an Oracle database Designer/Programmer and as a Programmer in the Java programming language.
Based on the performance on the Class of 2006 in the completion of their Oracle 9i exams, the Academy for Information Technology was named an Oracle Academy of Distinction by the Oracle Corporation. Additionally, a team of AIT students were recognized as international "Best of Category" winners in the October 2004 Oracle ThinkQuest competition.
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[edit] The AIT Building
The AIT Building is a large structure with a clock tower, located in the center of the Union County Vocational Technical Schools Campus. After going through several phases of names such as the "New Academic Building" and the "Academic Services Building", the structure was officially dedicated on May 31, 2006, as "Bistocchi Hall - Academy for Information Technology" in honor of the district's superintendent, Dr. Thomas Bistocchi.
[edit] Admissions
Applicants to the high school will proceed through the admission process as follows:
- Attendance at an information session
- Submission of an application to the Principal's office
- Admissions examination
- Notification of acceptance
The following criteria will be considered for admission:
- Grade Point Average (7th and 8th grade)
- Standardized Test Scores (7th grade)
- Admission Assessments
[edit] Scheduling
AIT classes run on a block scheduling system. Two revolving days (A/B) are broken up into five blocks (1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10). Each block is 83 minutes in length. Depending on the student's grade level, periods 5 and 6 are Co-Curricular and the Lunch period, in some order.
[edit] Graduation Requirements
In order to graduate from the Academy for Information Technology, a student is required to have taken:
- Four years of English
- Freshmen: English I - World Literature
- Sophomore: English II - Early American Literature
- Junior: English III - Modern American Literature
- Senior: English IV: Choice of Two Courses (British Literature or AP English Language and Composition)
- Four years of Mathematics. Mathematics courses depend on an individual's skill level, which is determined based on an initial assessment in the 8th grade year. Students are placed into one of the following classes each year:
- Algebra 1
- Combined Algebra (Algebra 1 & 2)
- Geometry/Trigonometry
- Math Analysis (Pre-Calculus)
- Algebra 2/Trigonometry
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Calculus BC
- Higher Level mathematics courses are offered at the Union County Magnet High School.
- Four years of Science
- Freshmen: Biology I, Foundations of Science (1 Semester), Scientific Data Analysis (1 Semester)
- Sophomore: Chemistry I
- Junior: Physics I
- Senior: Choice of: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics C - Mechanics, or Ecology
- Four Years of Fitness/Health
- Four Years of Technology
- Freshmen: Information Technology I - MOS Certifications in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
- Sophomore: Information Technology II - CompTIA A+ Hardware/Software Certification (2006 Version)
- Junior: Information Technology III - Oracle 9i Introduction to SQL (1Z0-007) Certification
- Senior: Information Technology IV - Sun Certified Java Programmer (AP Computer Science A)
- Three Years of Social Studies
- Freshmen: World History
- Sophomore: US History I
- Junior: US History II
- Senior: AP United States History, American Government, Economics/Global Ethics
- Three Years of a World Language
- Spanish I - Spanish IV
- Hispanic Culture & Literature
- Linguistics
- Two years of Arts/Humanities
- One half year of Career Education
- This requirement is integrated into other courses and does not impact scheduling.
[edit] Articulation Agreement with Union County College
In addition to the certifications resulting from the successful completion of each Information Technology level, college credits from Union County College are awarded for the equivalent classes.
- IT I -> CIS 100 - Intro to Computing Applications (3 Credits)
- IT II -> CIS 101 - Intro to Information Systems (3 Credits)
- IT III -> CIS 204 - Database Management (3 Credits)
- IT IV -> CSC 100 - Computer Programming Fundamentals and CIS 106 - Java Programming (6 Credits)
[edit] Student Organizations
- Bridge Building Club
- Chess Club
- Community Service Club
- Drama Club
- FBLA - UCVTS FBLA website
- Forensics Club
- Math League
- Multi-Cultural Club
- National Honor Society
- Newspaper Club
- Robotics Club
- Science Olympiad
- SkillsUSA
- Student Government
- Yearbook Club
[edit] Students
The Academy for Information Technology classes are relatively small with an estimated 50 students per grade and 17 students per class.
[edit] Transportation
Most of the students take school buses home, unless they live in Scotch Plains or another neighboring city. With written permission, some students may take the New Jersey Transit bus from a stop located at the edge of the campus. Students may also choose to drive to school by applying for a parking permit.
[edit] Colleges
Some colleges that students have been accepted to include Brown University, Carnegie-Mellon University, The College of New Jersey, Georgetown University, Kean University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rutgers University and Stevens Institute of Technology.
