Four of Monmouth County's career academies are listed in the 2008 U.S. News &World Reportmagazine's list of America's best high schools.

High Technology High School in Lincroft is ranked No. 7 overall out of 18,790 public high schools and is included on the magazine's goldmedal school list.

Allied Health and ScienceHigh School in Neptune and the Marine Academy of Science and Technology at Sandy Hook were recognized as silver medal schools, and Communications High School in Wall received bronze medal honors.

"Wow!" Monmouth County Freeholder Barbara J. McMorrow said. "Four of Monmouth County's career academies continue to be models of excellence and achievement."

She continued, "Day in and day out, the staff work to educate and elevate our youth. These students excel because they are interested and engaged in education. I am so glad the county began the career academies as a way to provide more opportunities for students and as a way to enhance our vocational school district."

According toU.S.News&World Report, the America's best high schools methodology was developed by School Evaluation Services, a K-12 education data research business run by Standard & Poor's. The methodology is based on the "key principles that a great high school must serve all its students well, not just those who are bound for college, and that it must be able to produce measurable academic outcomes that show the school is successfully educating its student body across a range of performance indicators."

All four Monmouth County schools are part of the Monmouth County Vocational SchoolDistrict, a programof theMonmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders.Afifth career academy, Biotechnology High School in Freehold Township, opened in 2005 and was not eligible for consideration by U.S. News &World Report because it had not yet graduated its first class of students.

"The students at all five of Monmouth County's career academies are very focused and committed to a rigorous course of study," BrianD.McAndrew, superintendent of theMonmouth County Vocational School District, said. "This community of learners is ready to move on, as is evidenced by the high preparedness rankings given. I look forward to Bio-Technology High School graduating its first class of students in 2009 and being able to join this group."

The Monmouth County Vocational School District prepares students for an evolving workplace and further education through specialized academic, career and technical programs and lifelong learning opportunities. The district's career academies prepare students for higher education through a rigorous programof study and for the evolving workplace through relevant, structured learning experiences and collaborative partnerships.

For more information about the vocational school programs, visit www.mcvsd.com.