Connecticut's Largest High School System Has New Name, Updated Mission as Part of Overall Upgrade

The Connecticut State Board of Education, by unanimous vote, has renamed Connecticut 's largest high school system and revised its mission. 

The former Regional Vocational Technical School System is now the Connecticut Technical High School System.  The action is part of an overall effort to restructure and modernize the course offerings, programs, equipment and facilities of these seventeen high schools that provide an "applied and integrated curriculum" of academics, and trade/technologies as part of a high school education.

The system has roots in the 1910's when trade schools were created in several regions of the state.  The Regional Vocational Technical School System was formed in 1947 by state legislation.

"We are upgrading our curriculum and our facilities to address the changing needs of our students, communities and Connecticut 's economy," said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Abigail L. Hughes. "We have been making many improvements to our system from bricks and mortar to high technology to requiring all of our 9^th graders to take Algebra or Geometry and we are building on a tradition of providing relevant career skills for our students."

Over the years, these unique high schools have educated thousands of Connecticut 's students in the construction trades, occupational-specific training and apprenticeships, manufacturing technologies, automotive technologies, culinary arts and hospitality skills.

In addition to expanding and improving these programs, the Connecticut Technical High Schools will also focus on such programs as Information Systems Technology,, health technology, bioscience environmental technology and other technical fields.