School Bio

William L. Dickinson is a highly visible urban high school located in the center of the metropolitan area. The school consists of approximately 2,967 students who are composed of 46.9% Hispanic, 17% Black, 11.2% White, 24.2 Asian, and 7% other. The administration and staff at Dickinson High School recognize the cultural diversity and have promoted cultural sensitivity by promoting multiculturalism through extra-curricular activities, student clubs, field trips and curricula. Students participate in 47 clubs, 23 Varsity/Junior Varsity inter-scholastic athletics teams and many service/community organizations.

Dickinson High School also offers a wealth of educational opportunities, which transcend the traditional High School Curriculum. Dickinson boasts of ten additional curricular academic program offerings featured as �Magnets� designed to attract students from the entire city to participate in and perhaps pursue a career path, both academically and pre-vocationally, in an area of interest.

Featured magnet programs at Dickinson High School include Science Research, Agriculture/Bio-Technology, Communication/Art Technology, Academy of Travel and Tourism, Applied Technology/Electronics, Culinary Arts, Business Tech Prep, Marketing Tech Prep, Academy of Information Technology and Air Force Junior ROTC program-featuring courses in Aerospace technology and Leadership development.

The magnet programs at Dickinson are designed to provide students with a comprehensive academic foundation and technical knowledge with skills. This prepares them for entry to a two or four year college program, other post secondary training or direct employment in science, technological, art and travel and tourism field.

Students deemed �at risk� receive support services from the Adolescent Health Center located at Dickinson High School, two (2) Child Study Teams, one (1) Substance Abuse Counselor, five (5) Crisis Intervention Teachers as well as a Pupil Assistance Committee/Core/PAC Team. The students in need of bilingual services receive instructions mainly in Spanish and Gujarati. Parents� participation is supplemented by a Bilingual Orientation Parents� Night where they receive information concerning successful program implementation for their children. Students at Dickinson High School represent 52 countries and speak 38 different languages.

The advent of the computer and technology age has enabled Dickinson High School to increase its course offerings in Business, Mathematics, Science Research and Applied Technology. In addition, we have established an inter-active television studio (ITV) in which we can receive instruction from other high schools as well as transmit instruction to an elementary school. Utilization of ITV gives us access to colleges, vocational schools and other secondary schools throughout our network.

Through the diversity of course offerings, students at Dickinson High School are enabled to pursue areas of particular interest and reach their fullest potential through the services of two transition specialists and a full time job placement coordinator

In its effort to prepare its students for the challenges of the competitive society of the 21st century, the Jersey City Public Schools have developed grade level competencies and student performance standards which are consistent with the current New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards, Cross Content/Workplace Readiness Standards and establish high expectations for all students.

The district has reviewed its curriculum to determine its match with the State Content Standards. The curriculum continues to be realigned based upon the State Standards, Core Curriculum Content, district student performance standards, Curriculum Frameworks and New Jersey State test specifications. State Core Curriculum Standards-are concerned with the knowledge students should acquire and the understanding they should develop as they progress through grade 12.

Cross Content/Workplace Readiness Student Performance Standards � are considered lifelong learning standards expected for students across all subject areas. The curriculum is further developed to provide indicators of student achievement at designated grade levels, called benchmarks, specifically at grade 12. Furthermore, career orientation and workplace readiness standards will be infused across the curriculum. The use of technology, so critical in modern society will also be a major thrust across the subject area.

Complementing the curricular program Dickinson High School also hosts numerous clubs and activities, and an extended day program which provides both curricular, co-curricular and HSPT/HSPA reinforcement. The School Based Health Clinic which is a subsidiary of Horizon Health Care, provides confidential counseling and serves as a referral to appropriate social agencies as student needs dictate.

In its effort to prepare all of the students enrolled in the Jersey City Public Schools for the challenges of the Twenty-first Century�s competitive, global, and technological society, the district has developed comprehensive Grade Level Competencies, Student Performance Standards, and Student Technology Performance Standards which are consistent with the newly adopted and expanded New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and the Cross Content Workplace Readiness Standards.

The New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards delineate the knowledge, skills and dispositions students should acquire and the understandings they should develop as they progress through the grades. The Cross Content Workplace Readiness Standards are broad based �lifelong learning standards� generic to all content areas.

The district has established and upholds high academic expectations for all students at all grades. The districts curricula provide indicators for student achievement at designated grade levels. Additionally, career orientation and workplace readiness standards are infused across the curricula. The use of technology is seamlessly integrated at all grade levels through project-based, thematic interdisciplinary instruction.

The district continually reviews and updates all curricula and educational programs in all content areas to ensure alignment with the State Content Standards, the State Curriculum Frameworks, and the State Test Specifications and HSPA. At the high school level numerous elective courses are designed and offered to students so that they may broaden their educational repertoires and explore new areas of interest.

An array of Advances Placement Courses is offered at all of the comprehensive high schools. The district provides opportunities for middle and high school students to pursue their area of interest by enrolling in one of many magnet programs.

William L. Dickinson High School participates in many local, state and national competitions. Students have received numerous gold, silver and bronze medals in competitive activities in Science and Research, Applied Technology, and Cvulinary Arts. Dickinson students are the recipients of multiple academic scholarships and awards including national recognition from the prestigious Siemens-Westinghouse Scholarship in Science and Research.

Additionally our students from the graduating class of 2002 received almost 1.7 million dollars in financial aid and scholarships for college tuition and expenses. The class of 2003 is anticipated to exceed 2 million dollars in scholarships and grants for their academic achievement.