# John E. Dwyer Technology Academy

The John E. Dwyer Technology Academy is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades in Elizabeth, in Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, as part of the Elizabeth Public Schools. The Technology Academy shares one large building with the Admiral William Halsey Leadership Academy, the Peter B. Gold Administration Building, and the Thomas Dunn Sports Center, which together form the Main Complex most commonly known as "The Main" to students and teachers. The Main complex holds more students, teachers, and administrators than the other high school in the city. It is known as the heart of all Elizabeth Academies.
The ninth-grade students of John E. Dwyer are housed in the Annex Building, which was originally located at 501 Union Avenue. Beginning in September 2022 the Annex Building will be moved to St. Anthony’s, located at 853 Third Avenue.
The school was named in honor of John E. Dwyer, an Elizabeth educator for many years who served as a teacher and guidance counselor, as well as vice principal, principal and as Superintendent of Schools.
The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 2013.
As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,404 students and 101.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.8:1. There were 978 students (69.7% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 143 (10.2% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.

## Awards, recognition and rankings

The school was the 329th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology. The school had been ranked 306th in the state of 328 schools in 2012. This school has several national honor societies including: National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, and Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society.

## Curriculum

Students enrolled in the John E. Dwyer Technology Academy, in addition to completing a rigorous college preparatory program, will also be given the opportunity to explore careers in areas such as computer science, architectural design, and urban planning. The school program will also guide the participating students in pioneering the ways and means by which to integrate environmental technology into the world we live in. Honors and AP classes will be offered to all interested students. All John E. Dwyer Academy students will be expected to comply with the rules, regulations, and policies of the Academy and the school district.
Each John E. Dwyer Academy student will be given the opportunity to participate in one of the two strands of study offered:
* Students enrolling in the Industrial Technology Strand will participate in school and community activities that will give them a strong knowledge base regarding various fields that are relying more and more on technology and innovation every day. Courses offered will include classes in process technology, mechanical drafting, and architectural drafting
* Students enrolling in the Information Technology Strand will participate in classes and real-world activities dealing with such fields as robotics, computer science, and Cisco, Microsoft and other language and software systems. Participants in this strand will also learn about hardware design and computer infrastructure design and implementation. They will master the latest in computer management systems and data management operations
The Elizabeth Public Schools is partnering with The National Academy Foundation and is currently engaged in a Year of Planning - Academy Development Process to establish the Academy of Information Technology as a career academy at the John E. Dwyer Technology Academy in September 2010. The Academy of Information Technology prepares students for career opportunities in programming, database administration, web design and administration, digital networks, and other areas in the expanding digital workplace. Further, the district will be submitting a proposal to The National Academy Foundation to implement a new Academy theme in engineering in September 2011. The Academy of Engineering educates high school students in the principles of engineering, and providing content in the fields of electronics, biotech, aerospace, civil engineering, and architecture.

## Graduation requirements

Subject Class of 2010 Class of 2007/2008/2009
Language Arts 4 Years 4 Years Social Studies 4 Years World History U.S. History I U.S. History II 1 Elective 3 Years World History U.S. History I U.S. History II Math 4 Years Algebra I Geometry Algebra II Higher Math 3 Years Algebra I Geometry Algebra II or Higher Science 4 Years (Minimum of one science with a lab) 3 Years World Language 3 Years World Languages 1 Year World Languages Literature 2 years Fine/Performing/Practical Arts 2 Years 2 years Phys Ed & Health 16 Credits 4 Years - One year for each year in attendance Personal Finance 1 Credit
Career and Consumer, Family, Life Skills or Vocational-Technical Education 5 Credits
Community Service 60 Hours - 25 Hours of which is due during Senior year
Latin (Gifted and Talented only) 10 Credits
Credits 160 130
Testing Pass HSPA/SRA Pass HSPA/SRA
College Requirements: All students who graduate from EHS will have taken the appropriate coursework to meet college entrance requirements.
The colleges (4 year colleges) require students to take 16 Carnagie Units in high school. A unit is considered a year of study. Units are taken from the major subject areas of Language Arts, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science and World Language.
4 years of English = 4 units 3 years of History = 3 units 3 years of Mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II) = 3 units 3 years of Science = 3 units 2 years of World Language = 2 units Total Units = 15 units
The additional unit is obtained by taking elective courses in Language Arts, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science or World Language.
EHS students are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular activities, take college entrance exams, and Advanced Placement Tests to strengthen their college applications.

## Connection to the Main Complex

Some extracurricular activities and sports teams are found in Dwyer Academy. The building functions as a hub central as other students from the other Elizabeth Academies and Elizabeth High School come here during the after school hours. The Main Complex also holds Elizabeth High School's swimming pool where the swim team practices and meets are held. The Main Complex campus is the only one of the Elizabeth Academies to have a courtyard accessible to its students.

## Athletics

Students from John E. Dywer Technology Academy and all the Elizabeth Academies (including Elizabeth High School) compete together on one consolidated set of sports teams against other schools outside the city.

## Administration

The school's principal is Sulisnet Jimenez. The core administration team includes three vice principals.