Science/Engineering Specialized Learning Center
| Science & Engineering Magnet Program at Manalapan High School | |
|---|---|
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| Information | |
| Type | Public magnet high school |
| Established | 1985 |
School district | Freehold Regional High School District |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 100-200 |
| ROR ID | 03ewtwj48 |
| Website | https://sites.google.com/frhsd.com/seopenhouse/home |
The Science/Engineering Specialized Learning Center, S&E or SnE, is a public high school magnet program housed within Manalapan High School, located in Englishtown, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. The program, started in 1985, is designed for students with an interest in focusing on mathematical and scientific subjects.
The program has had 10 to 60 students in each class, which has recently been changed to a maximum of 60 per class, and the curriculum consists largely of courses related to engineering, science, and high level mathematics. The program has many Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which can provide college credit with appropriate scores (3, 4, or 5). A member of the Freehold Regional High School District, the learning center serves no more than 240 students at any time.
Applicants, drawn from the communities in the Freehold Regional High School District, take an entrance exam in the eighth grade that tests their abilities in mathematics and English. In addition, there is also a personal statement portion of the application which allows students to write an essay on why they wish to go to the school as well as telling of their extracurricular activities or awards. Parents have been known to move into the district just so their children may have a chance to be accepted into S&E.
The program has knowledgeable and helpful teachers[citation needed]. Most students score very highly on standardized tests (AP, SAT, ACT Exam, PSAT/NMSQT, High School Proficiency Assessment). In 2006, the average SAT score was 2,185: 713 Verbal, 770 Math, and 702 Writing, and more recent SAT scores have been similar.[1] If this center was ranked as a separate high school, it would rank #2 out of more than 27,000 U.S. high schools based on SAT scores.[2] However, as a STEM focused school it would place higher than top schools like High Technology High School. It also performs well in competitions such as the American Mathematics Contest or the Science League.
The program also provides students with the opportunity to get involved with internships and research, through the Honors Engineering Research course[3][4] students take their senior year. For each half of the year, students can work on a research project or an individual supervised learning experience (SLE). For research projects, students can choose from eight topics: astronomy, computer interfacing, fluid statics and dynamics, laser art and communication, magnetic forces and fields, mathematical models, robotics, and alternative energy and environmental concerns. During these projects, students are encouraged to set and meet goals, and keep a log of their progress. For SLE's, the program helps place students at internships at local companies, including engineering firms, manufacturing firms, software development firms, telecommunications firms, solar energy installation companies, and public utility companies. Students are also able to pursue opportunities they find on their own. At the end of each half of the school year, students give final presentations summing up their work to their peers.
Facilities
[edit]In addition to classrooms for mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics, the program has a fully equipped and networked CAD and computer science classroom, an electronics lab, and is developing a makerspace in the school's former auto shop. The makerspace currently houses a laser cutter, several 3D printers, a tabletop CNC mill, a vacuum thermoforming machine, and various other tools, as well as workbench space, electronics prototype and test area, two robot arms, and a wide range of materials for multirotor and fixed wing drones, underwater robotics, and ground robotics. It is also a physical home for part of the Science and Engineering Library.
Scientific journal and library
[edit]The program operates a peer-reviewed open access scientific journal Journal of Science and Engineering that publishes high quality original research by promising students of science and engineering. The ISSN is 3066-7623 (online) and 3066-7607 (print). The Journal is indexed in Crossref and in Google Scholar and published articles are assigned digital object identifiers.
The program also has a Science and Engineering Library that houses college-level science and engineering references for student use. Special collections include Senior Project Logs (with holdings dating back to 1985) and the physical archives of the Journal of Science and Engineering,
Required courses
[edit]As of October 15, 2025, the Science and Engineering program recently changed its curriculum for the incoming class of 2030, which is as follows (note that AP Computer Science A or AP Statistics are highly recommended / expected except in rare cases with good reason):
Freshman year
[edit]Freshman year is often regarded as the easiest year of the four in the program.
- Honors Algebra 2 Engineering - A full-year course in which students learn Algebra 2, as well as AI-required and engineering-required concepts such as matrices.
- AP Biology
- Honors Geometry (1/2 year) - Students who have completed Geometry in the 8th grade can choose between Financial Literacy and AP Microeconomics to occupy their first semester, both of which satisfy the financial literacy requirement for graduation.
- Intro to Programming (1/2 year) - An introductory course in programming where students will learn Python, the most popular language for AI development and research.
Sophomore year
[edit]- Honors Precalculus
- AP Chemistry
- Engineering Design & Physical Computing
- AP Seminar (satisfies 2nd year English requirement)
Junior year
[edit]- AP Calculus BC
- AP Physics C: Mechanics
- Honors Electronics & Applications
- AP Research (satisfies 3rd year English requirement)
Senior year
[edit]- AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
- Honors Multivariable Calculus (dual enrollment with Seton Hall University)
- Honors STEM Capstone
Previously-required courses
[edit]Freshman year
[edit]Freshman year is often regarded as the easiest year of the four in the program.
- Honors Algebra II/ Honors Geometry - A combined course in which two classes usually offered separately are taught at an accelerated pace over the span of one year. Typically, Geometry is taught the first semester then Algebra II the second semester. Students who have completed Geometry in the 8th grade can choose between Financial Literacy and AP Microeconomics to occupy their first semester, both of which satisfy the financial literacy requirement for graduation.
- AP Biology
- Computer Programming & Engineering Design - Also a combined course in which the first semester concentrates on computer science which is mostly of the programming language C++. The second semester focuses on engineering design or drafting.
Sophomore year
[edit]- AP Statistics
- Honors Precalculus
- AP Chemistry
Junior year
[edit]- AP Computer Science A
- AP Calculus BC
- AP Physics C: Mechanics
- Honors Electronics
Senior year
[edit]- AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
- Honors Multivariable Calculus (dual enrollment with a local university)
- Honors Engineering Research (with internship)
References
[edit]- ↑ FRHSD S&E Learning Center Brochure, Accessed June 24, 2011.
- ↑ America's Best High Schools Newsweek, Accessed June 24, 2011.
- ↑ "The Science and Engineering Learning Center / Home". Archived from the original on July 17, 2015.
- ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 18, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)