Morris County Vocational School District Students Earn College Degrees Before High School Diplomas

MORRIS COUNTY — A group of Morris County high school students has achieved a remarkable academic milestone, walking across a college graduation stage before receiving their high school diplomas.

The Morris County Vocational School District (MCVSD) is celebrating the first graduating class of its Academy for Business Administration, an innovative early college program developed in partnership with Randolph High School and the County College of Morris (CCM). This spring, the program’s inaugural cohort earned Associate of Science degrees in Business Administration from CCM after completing 60 college credits while simultaneously finishing their high school education.

Launched in 2022, the Academy for Business Administration was designed to provide ambitious students with an accelerated pathway to higher education and career readiness. Beginning in ninth grade, students engage in rigorous college-level business coursework while also preparing for industry-recognized certifications in Microsoft Office and QuickBooks. By their senior year, students attend CCM full-time, immersing themselves in a true college experience before graduating high school.

“This milestone represents an exciting evolution of traditional Career and Technical Education,” said Scott Shaw, Director of Career and Technical Education for MCVSD. “While we remain deeply committed to our essential trade programs, pathways like this show that CTE is for everyone, offering diverse routes to career readiness. Earning an associate degree in high school requires immense dedication, and our students worked incredibly hard.”

Shaw also acknowledged the many partners who contributed to the program’s success, including Randolph High School administrators and staff, CCM deans and department chairs, families, and educators Kris Piirimae and Alyssa Sedlak.

“This achievement reflects what is possible when students are challenged, supported, and given access to innovative opportunities,” said MCVSD Superintendent Dr. Anita Champagne. “We are incredibly proud of this pioneering group and the path they have created for future students.”

The graduates have already secured placements at some of the nation’s most respected colleges and universities, including Rutgers University, Drexel University, The College of New Jersey, Bucknell University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, the University of Miami, Indiana University, Penn State University, and Michigan State University.

The accomplishment marks a significant milestone for the Morris County Vocational School District and demonstrates the growing role of career and technical education in providing students with flexible pathways to academic and professional success.

Additional information about the Academy for Business Administration and the application process is available through the Morris County Vocational School District.