First impressions matter. From the minute I walked into Cape May Technical High School, I could sense the pride and enthusiasm. I felt welcomed. Debbie Valletto, admissions director, met me at the front lobby. One of her first comments to me was “Oh great, you wore flat shoes!” Three hours and almost 6,000 steps later, I understood why that was a good thing! Like the resident rooster on campus, I am going to crow a little bit about my latest “gem” in the Cape May County School District.
Cape Tech is more than just a high school – it’s a vibrant, vocationally focused institution that blends career readiness with a full high school experience. With enthusiastic students, passionate teachers and a commitment to hands-on learning, Cape Tech offers a wealth of opportunities for students seeking a unique educational path. Since its inception, it has evolved from a shared-time vocational school to a full-time high school where students will develop the skills necessary to pursue both careers and higher education.
One of Cape Tech’s greatest strengths is its accessibility. There is no tuition or application fee, and transportation is provided by the sending district, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to attend. Family tours are available for prospective students and their families to explore what Cape Tech has to offer.
As John Dewey said, “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” With 16 career programs, through experiential and work-based learning where communication and teamwork are emphasized alongside technical skills, Cape Tech ensures that students gain real-world experience in their fields of interest.
Facilities like the seven-room hotel and the Perch Café, open to the public three days a week, provide hands-on opportunities in hospitality and business management. The Early Childhood Development Lab School & Preschool provides hands-on experience for students interested in early childhood education. In the coming year, programs in Marine Maintenance and Veterinary Assisting will be added.
Junior and senior students, age 16 or older, can secure internships, some of which are paid, further preparing them for their careers. According to Kristen Schaffer, director of curriculum, last year 26 students engaged in a cooperative education experience.
Students also participate in job shadowing, simulated work experiences – a professional comes in and teaches the students a skill, various community service opportunities and school-based enterprises (culinary, cosmetology, automotive, powersports, child care, IT) – take place on school grounds where students are involved in the production of the goods and/or services for sale or by use of the community.
Through on-campus hiring events, employers such as Cooper Hospital, hospitality groups and restaurants actively recruit students, providing excellent employment opportunities within the county. Presenting students with viable career paths in Cape May County will help to keep them in the area as adults. An advisory board, which meets twice a year, helps guide program improvements. The innovative approach to meeting the needs of the whole student ensures that they are well-rounded and ready for today’s workforce.
Athletics Director Dave Smith emphasizes student input when developing programs, ensuring that sports and extracurriculars align with student interests. Most recently, this “Yes, Let’s” attitude has resulted in some new sports being added, namely girls volleyball, boys volleyball (the first team in the county) and intramural bowling. Thanks to the support of the Philadelphia Eagles, girls flag football has also been added. A new state-of-the-art weight room is now available to students, adding another supervised activity for after school.
Another recent addition to extracurriculars is the E-Sports Team. They have just won their second state title. A brand-new gaming center is currently under construction to enhance the experience.
And success abounds! In the fall, girls and boys soccer, cross-country, girls volleyball and E-Sports all advanced to postseason play. E-Sports won their second state title. In the winter season, swimming qualified for state competition, and girls basketball is projected to qualify.
Academically, Cape Tech offers a variety of innovative pathways designed to prepare students for future success. While the school specializes in vocational education, students must still meet all state academic requirements to graduate.
The school provides a well-rounded academic program organized on a traditional nine-period day, with tech courses taught for two periods each day. As freshmen, students are required to take an Exploratory Studies class that rotates them through four career clusters – tech, services, science and mechanics – before choosing a specialization at the end of the year. In world languages, students can pursue French, Spanish, American Sign Language and English as a second language programs.
Course offerings are designed to fulfill all state requirements for graduation and are offered at three differentiated levels: college preparatory, honors/dual credit and advanced placement. Upon graduation, 40% of students go on to a four-year college, 35% to a two-year college, 15% into the workforce, 6% to a trade/technical institute and 4% into the military.
Cape Tech also prioritizes mental health and student well-being. Through a grant from the state Department of Children and Families, youth development specialists from Acenda provide individual therapy sessions focused on behavior and mental health, teaching students essential coping skills. The child study team offers guidance, academic counseling and social-emotional support. ESL services are available for multilingual learners, and the school provides school-based youth services through grants, ensuring all students have access to the resources they need to succeed.
Outside of the traditional school day, evening classes are offered covering career, vocational and technical courses as well as personal enrichment. Susan Jurusz, who directs the postsecondary/adult and continuing education program, has developed a program that includes GED prep, ESL classes, American Red Cross lifeguarding and babysitting classes as well as classes offering career preparation in the medical, dental, skilled trades and cosmetology fields.
Cape Tech stands out as an institution that values hands-on learning, career readiness and a well-rounded high school experience. Faculty members highlight the school’s unparalleled opportunities, emphasizing a mind-set of “Not a ‘NO,’ but a ‘Let’s Find It’” – ensuring every student has access to the resources they need to succeed. Whether through academics, athletics or specialized career programs, Cape Tech is shaping the future workforce while providing students with the tools they need to succeed in life.
For more information about attending Cape Tech, contact Admissions Director Debbie Valletto at 609-380-0200 and schedule a tour. If you visit on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday between 11 and 1, make sure that you include a stop at the Perch Café for a bite to eat. You may find me there having lunch!
A Q&A on Cape Tech
Is Cape Tech more vocational than technical?
Cape Tech is a vocational-technical, also known as career and technical education, high school. This means the high school offers a mix of vocational and technical programs, so students develop the skills necessary and are prepared for both college and careers.
Do students pay tuition?
Cape Tech is a countywide shared-service school funded by the county, local taxes and state and federal aid. There is no cost to families for tuition or transportation.
Every student has the legal right to apply for admission to the school.
If accepted, the student’s home school district is required by law to pay any tuition charged by the vocational-technical school and to provide transportation for the student.
What is spent per student?
Regular ed full-time tuition, $9,430; regular ed shared-time tuition, $4,715; special ed full-time tuition, $9,480; special ed shared-time tuition, $4,740; nonresident/out-of-county fee, $13,500.
