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 2900 West Hunting Park Avenue - Philadelphia, PA 19129.1803 - Phone: 215.226.1225 - Fax: 215.228.6337
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About Mercy
 

Mission Statement
and
Belief Statements
  

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 students 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 school Community we seek to live the Gospel in word and action. We place the highest priority on the spiritual and moral development of our students and their service to others.

  • We believe that every individual has inherent worth and dignity.
  • We believe that moral and spiritual development is absolutely essential.
  • We believe that our students are blessed with gifts that are better served through vocational education.
  • We believe that risk taking is essential for school improvement.
  • We believe that within a culturally diverse environment we can build tolerance, respect, and understanding.
  • We believe that life-long learning is a shared responsibility of students, teachers, family, and community.
  • We believe that all students are an investment in the future.
  • We believe that we are called to serve others.


    The Sisters Of Mercy Of The Americas
    www.sistersofmercy.org

  •   
      Building the Workforce of the Region!

    Mercy Vocational High School is the only private Catholic co-ed academic/career and technical education 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 career and technical education/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 Business.

    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.


  • 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.


  • Business 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.

    56% of the Class of 2009 were offered full time employment in the areas of their vocational training.

    Employers of our graduates include:

  • Albert Einstein Medical Center
  • All State
  • American Infrastructure
  • American Kitchens
  • Caddick Construction
  • Cutting Edge Wood Shop
  • Cutting Point
  • Wm. J. Donovan Co.
  • Fox Chase Cancer Center
  • Iron Workers Union
  • Leone Computer
  • Phelan, Hallinan, & Schmeig
  • Philadelphia Gas Works
  • Philadelphia Insurance Companies
  • Philadelphia University
  • The Protestant Home
  • Reliable Printing Co.
  • Temple Health System


  • 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 50%
  • Males 50%
  • 64% of the student body is Catholic
  • 36% of the student body is non-Catholic
  • African-American 39%
  • Asian 1%
  • Hispanic 12%
  • Multi-Racial 2%
  • White 46%


  • The average academic class size is 25; the average vocational/technical class size is 15.

    Class of 2009 Achievements

    MVHS graduated 75 students in 2009:
  • 92% of these students had successful outcomes after graduation
  • 45% went on to post-secondary education, including trade schools and training programs
  • 25% went to work
  • 18% are working and continuing their education
  • 4% entered the military


  • The Class of 2009 has been awarded approximately $525,000 in scholarships and merit awards to attend career and technical schools, community colleges and 4 year institutions of higher learning.

    Building Trades Academy: Carpentry and Electricity (with an introduction to HVAC)
  • 100% Building Trades Graduates have earned certifications issued from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (N.C.C.E.R.) in Core Curriculum and Carpentry Level 1
  • 100% of the Electricity Graduates have achieved N.C.C.E.R. Certifications in Core Curriculum
  • 1 Electricity Graduate achieved N.C.C.E.R. Certifications in Electricity Level 1


  • Service Academy: Cosmetology; Culinary Arts; and Nursing Assistant Training Program (NATP)
  • 100% of the NATP Graduates have successfully completed the Nursing Assistants Training Program and are certified by the State of Pennsylvania
  • 100% of the Cosmetology Graduates have successfully completed their 1,250 hours of Cosmetology Training
  • 50% of the Culinary Arts Graduates have successfully passed the Serve Safe Certification
  • 1 Graduate in Culinary Arts received the Presidential Academic Scholarship to Johnson & Wales University and 1 graduate received the Campus Award to Johnson & Wales University


  • Technology Academy: Business Education and Computer Technicians
  • 100% of the Business Ed Graduates have received Microsoft Certification in Word and PowerPoint
  • 88% of the Business Ed Graduates have received Microsoft Certification in Excel
  • 18% of the Business Ed Graduates have received Microsoft Certification in Access
  • 90% of Computer Tech Graduates achieved IC3 Certification
  • 1 Computer Tech graduate obtained ComPTIA A+ Certification in hardware and software


  • 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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