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Mission Statement: |
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Mercy Vocational High School is a private, urban vocational
high school sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy. The school's
mission is to provide a Catholic education to those whose educational
and career goals are best served by a quality, comprehensive
academic/vocational secondary school program. Students acquire
marketable skills to enter immediately into their career
vocation or to pursue post-secondary education. As a Catholic
school community, with a primary mission to transmit the Gospel
message in word and action, we place the highest priority on the
spiritual and moral development of our students and on their
service to the less fortunate.
The Sisters Of Mercy Of The Americas
www.sistersofmercy.org
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Building the Workforce of the Region!
Mercy Vocational High School is the only four-year co-educational Catholic
vocational high school in the United States.
Mercy Vocational High School's primary purpose is to provide a values-based
education to those students whose educational and career goals are best
served by a quality, comprehensive vocational/academic secondary school
program. Students acquire marketable skills that enable them to enter into
their career vocation immediately or to pursue post-secondary education.
Moreover, their values-based education helps students to develop an attitude
of service to others in the workplace.
Vocational Shops
MVHS offers students vocational training in one area of one of our three academies – Building Trades, Service and Technology.
Building Trades Academy
Students in this program gain real world experience throughout their time at MVHS through the execution of projects at the school and even throughout the city.
The Carpentry program offers a sequential learning experience that provides students with a solid theoretical and technical foundation for pursuing a variety of career options in the building trades. Carpentry students are being prepared for job placement on construction sites as well as with interior woodworking. Students are prepared for above entry-level positions in their chosen field.
The Electricity curriculum prepares students for continuing education and/or entry-level employment in the residential, commercial or industrial areas. Electricity students are trained to support the infrastructure of a variety of industries in the Philadelphia area.
After a year in the Electricity Shop, students have the option to branch off into the Heating, Venting, Air Condition, and Refrigeration (HVAC/R) program. This program prepares students for entry-level positions in this growing field. The program’s goal is to prepare graduates for technician certification for the Environmentally Responsible Use of Refrigerants. Aspiring HVAC/R technicians can receive their EPA Core Curriculum Certification in equipment use.
Service Academy
The Cosmetology curriculum, providing both classroom theory and hands on practical training, is a three year state board regulated program in which the students are required to obtain 1,250 hours that will allow them to obtain certification and practice with an operator’s license. Mercy cosmetology students are encouraged to earn their state board required hours and are required to register to take the state board exam before they graduate. Upon passing the exam, students will receive the Pennsylvania State Cosmetology License that will allow them many career opportunities in the beauty industry including professional Hairstylist and nail care, hair care, and skincare technicians.
The Culinary Arts curriculum is designed to prepare students to pursue post-secondary education in Culinary Arts and/or to enter the hospitality industry at an above entry-level position. Culinary Arts students have the opportunity to earn a ServSafe Certification through the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation which acts as a tool to help students gain easier employment because of their sanitation expertise.
The Nursing Assistant Training Program (NATP) prepares students with an academic and experiential foundation for post-secondary education in selected healthcare careers. Mercy students have up to 4 times as much hands-on experience and coursework as many state programs offered at facilities in a 4 or 6-week model. NATP students are given the opportunity to sit for the PA nursing assistant certification examination. Once passing this exam, students are licensed by the state of Pennsylvania to give care to patients in health care and receive their CPR certification. At Mercy Vocational High School the pass rate is 100%. MVHS is one of only two schools in the Commonwealth with a perfect pass rate! Seniors are eligible for immediate employment as certified nursing assistants in a variety of health care settings, including long-term care, acute care, rehabilitation, hospitals and home healthcare.
Technology Academy
The Business Education curriculum offers extensive coursework designed to enable students to acquire skills and work habits essential for success in the business environment. It is intended to prepare students for the competitive business environment prevalent in today’s workplace. The goal for the Business Education program is to enable students to earn core level MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) Certification in these areas - PowerPoint, Word, Access and Excel – which provide future employers and educators with an important indicator of the student’s level of expertise.
The Computer Technician curriculum is designed to provide a foundation for continuing education or entry-level employment in computer technology. The goal of this course is to have the students CompTIA A+ certified by the end of their junior year. Each student is also encouraged to earn his/her CertiPort IC3! Internet and Computing Core Certification. This certification is the standard for the industry’s entry-level technicians. In the senior year, upon successful completion exam, students may begin working in a co-operative employment position in a local business. Computer Technician students will graduate with the skills to be effective and efficient computer service and repair technicians.
Co-Operative Education Program
In addition, Mercy offers a Co-Operative Education Program that allows
seniors to obtain on-the-job experience as an extension of their educational
curriculum. With 99 percent of its student body residing in Philadelphia,
Mercy Vocational High School remains a "beacon of hope" to its students and,
indeed, to the City of Philadelphia. Mercy prepares young men and women not
only with the technological savvy to respond to the needs of employers in
the Philadelphia region, but also provides them with spiritual and moral
development to enter the Philadelphia area's workforce as conscientious,
reliable employees to impact the economic development of this region.
MVHS Co-Op Program allows seniors to gain professional experience in their chosen career fields. At Mercy we pride ourselves on our ability to keep expanding our students’ job horizons by making sure that our students start with a good base.
7 of the 15 available positions for an extremely competitive 2007 internship program at the Philadelphia Water Department were filled by highly-qualified students from Mercy’s Electrical and HVAC/R Shops.
9 of our Trades students were accepted into the union.
4 of our seniors received 4 of the 20 full scholarships offered each year to the entire City of Philadelphia by the Community College of Philadelphia.
1 senior received a full scholarship to the Williamson Free Trade School.
5 students awarded the Good Citizenship Award by the Union League.
Compelling Statistics
The daily attendance rate at MVHS is 97%, showing not only that the
students come to school, but also have the motivation to be conscientious
and reliable employees.
Mercy Vocational High School is a co-educational institution which
represents the region's diversity, enrolling young men and women from all
areas of the City of Philadelphia and some suburban locations representing a
variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds:
Current enrollment of 350 students.
Females 46%
Males 54%
64% of the student body is Catholic
36% of the student body is non-Catholic
African-American 39%
Asian 1%
Hispanic 12%
Multi-Racial 0%
White 46%
The average academic class size is 25; the average vocational/technical
class size is 15.
Class of 2007 Achievements
The Class of 2007 was awarded approximately $300,000 in scholarships & merit awards to attend vocational and technical schools, community colleges and 4 year institutions of higher learning.
35 Graduates offered full employment in the areas of their vocational training
16 Graduates successfully completed the Nursing Assistant Training Program and are certified by the State of Pennsylvania
3 Graduates successfully passed the state board exam and are licensed cosmetologists
8 Graduates completed their 1,250 hours of Cosmetology training
2 Business Education Graduates received all 4 certifications in Microsoft Office 2000 (WORD; POWERPOINT; EXCEL; and ACCESS)
4 Business Education Graduates attained 3 out of the 4 certifications
15 Culinary Arts Graduates passed the ServSafe Certification
15 Building Trades Graduates earned certifications issued from the National Center for Construction Education and Research
4 Graduates passed the Union Carpentry Test
MVHS graduated its first Computer Technicians: 2 Graduates obtained CompTIA A+ Certification in hardware and software
7 Graduates received IC3 certification
Enrollment for the 2008-2009 Academic Year is projected to be 400 students.
Easily Accessible by Public Transportation
One of Mercy Vocational High School's strengths is that it is readily
accessible from all points in the City of Philadelphia. Students attending
Mercy Vocational High School reside in all areas of the City and some
suburban locations. The school is readily accessible via a number of Septa
routes. Bus lines 1, 32, 48, 60, and R stop at the school. Charter service
is provided at dismissal for routes 32 (Andorra), 60 (Richmond Street), and
R (Frankford Terminal). Private school bus/van service is available at
additional cost from many areas in the City.
History
Founded in 1950 by the Sisters of Mercy, the school has educated thousands
of young men and women from North Philadelphia and the surrounding
neighborhoods. MVHS offers the finest in vocational education and training
in an environment that promotes spiritual values, moral development, and
service to others.
Conceived originally as Mercy Technical School, the school moved in 1972
from its original location at the corner of Broad Street and Columbia Avenue
to its present location at 2900 West Hunting Park Avenue. At that time, the
Sisters of Mercy and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia recognized that the
school must not only change its physical site but also adapt to changes in
the marketplace by offering a high school diploma to its graduates.
In 1973, Mercy Vocational High School was born and has since grown in its
reputation for excellence in teaching workplace values and vocational
education.
In 1982, the school was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and
the Council for American Private Education as one of sixty exemplary private
high schools in the nation.
Since 1998, Mercy has been recognized by the PA Cooperative Vocational
Education Association for having been the recipient of more post-secondary
scholarships than any other vocational high school in Pennsylvania.
Mercy Vocational High School has been fully accredited by The Middle States
Association since May 1, 2000.
Mercy is recognized by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as a valuable
alternative to a comprehensive academic program, providing an environment
that is safe and conducive to learning.
The Sisters Of Mercy Of The Americas
www.sistersofmercy.org
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