Western School of Technology and Environmental Science | |
---|---|
Address | |
100 Kenwood Avenue Catonsville , Maryland 21228 United States | |
Coordinates | 39°16′10″N76°42′45″W / 39.26944°N 76.71250°W |
Information | |
School type | Public High School Magnet School |
Motto | "Respect the Tech" |
Patron saint(s) | Home of the Wolverines |
Established | 1970 (Western Vocational-Technical School) 1993 (Western School of Technology and Environmental Science) |
School district | Baltimore County Public Schools |
Superintendent | Verletta White (interim) |
Grades | 9–12 |
Gender | Co-ed |
Enrollment | 931 |
Average class size | 24 |
Campus | Suburban |
Color(s) | Light sky blue, white and black |
Athletics conference | 1A |
Sports | Soccer, football, basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, baseball |
Mascot | Wolverines |
Nickname | Western Tech |
Team name | Western Wolverines |
National ranking | 547 |
Publication | Jostens |
Newspaper | Wolverines Newspaper |
Website | westernhs |
Western School of Technology and Environmental Science (WSTES), also known as Western Tech, is a public magnet high school in Catonsville, Maryland, United States. The school's main focuses are its twelve magnet programs pertaining to specific careers. [1] In December 2013, Western Tech was named one of six public Blue Ribbon Schools in Maryland for 2014. [2] On September 30, 2014, Western earned its status as a National Blue Ribbon School, becoming the seventeenth school in Baltimore County since 1994 to receive this honor. [3] [4]
Western Tech opened as Western Vocational-Technical School in 1970 alongside Eastern Vocational-Technical School, constructed for about $2 million. Students attending a regular high school interested in their school's vocational training programs could attend the schools for more specialized learning in 13 courses, such as automobile mechanics or cosmetology. [5] It accepted students from Catonsville, Woodlawn, and Lansdowne high schools. [6]
In 1993, the school was converted from a technical school to a full high school as a magnet school, alongside several others in the county. It renamed to Western School of Technology and Environmental Science beginning in the 1993–94 school year. It continued its technical programs, with additional environmental science magnets. [7] [6]
On April 11, 2013, at approximately 2:30 a.m., two portable classrooms were engulfed in flames. Over 75 firefighters got the blaze under control by 3:30 a.m. Because smoke entered the main building, the school was closed that day. The cause of the fire is unknown. [8]
Western School of Technology and Environmental Science received a 72.5 out of a possible 82.5 points (42%) on the 2018–2019 Maryland State Department of Education Report Card and received a 5 out of 5 star rating, ranking in the 99th percentile among all Maryland schools. [9]
Western Tech is currently ranked #6 in Maryland, and #517 among high schools nationally. [10]
Students must apply to Western Tech and the school can only accept a limited number of applicants. Therefore, the admission process is selective and competitive. Students must complete an assessment for the magnet program in which they applied to. Admission is based on these assessments among other criteria, including grades and attendance.
The programs offered are Academy of Health Professions, Automotive Service Technology, Business Management and Finance, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management, Environmental Science, Environmental Technology, Graphic/Print Communications Technology, Information Technology (with a choice between the Computer Science or Networking Pathway), Mechanical Construction/Plumbing and Sport Science Academy. [1]
The facilities include a state-of-the-art garage (for Automotive), kitchen (for Culinary), salon (for Cosmetology), and mock hospital (for Health Science).
In 2010, these technologically advanced programs have earned Western the title of "Best School for Hands-on Education" by Baltimore Magazine. [11]
Western Tech currently offers 17 different Advanced Placement courses. Western also offers internships and parallel enrollment for students in the 12th grade.
The 2019–2020 enrollment at the Western School of Technology and Environmental Science was 892 students. [12]
The graduation rate at WesternTech was 89.25% in 1996, 94.96% in 1997, and 94.91% in 1998. From 1999 to 2011, the graduation rate has been greater than 95%. [13] Also, over 95% of students have passed the HSA's. [14] The student enrollment has been as high as 1,070 in 2004 and as low as 434 in 1994.
Ethnicity | Percentage |
---|---|
Asian | 12% |
Black | 69% |
Other | 19% |
Male | Female |
---|---|
48% | 52% |
1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
434 | 639 | 873 | 1,018 | 1,012 | 1,043 | 1,037 | 1,035 | 1,036 | 1,040 | 1,070 | 1,065 | 1,042 | 975 | 936 | 885 | 873 | 890 | 890 | 926 |
Western Tech does not have a field of its own, therefore sports must be played at nearby Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) or at other schools in Baltimore County.
In 2013, the Western Tech girls basketball team won the A1 Girls State Basketball Championship, beating Dunbar High School with a score of 46–40.
Western Tech supports 14 athletic teams in Maryland Athletic Conference 1A.
Volleyball:
Girls Basketball
Girls Indoor Track
Girls Outdoor Track
Boys Outdoor Track
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