Business Technology Early College High School (BTECH)

Business Technology Early College High School (BTECH) is a six-year CTE (career and technical education) school serving grades 9 to 14. It is designed to permit students to graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate's degree earned by taking free classes at Queensborough Community College (QCC). Students learn career-ready skills such as computer programming and information technology, and get hands-on job training through internships and apprenticeships. BTECH opened in 2014 with a 9th grade and graduates its first class in 2020.

The school is off to a strong start. After four years at the school, BTECH students are achieving college readiness skills at a rate that’s well above the citywide average.

BTECH was developed in partnership with SAP, a multinational corporation that develops business management software. Each student is matched with an SAP mentor. SAP also helped develop the business curriculum, supplies students with laptop computers and provides apprenticeship opportunities for qualifying students.

Students may participate in business-themed competitions through the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship.

In the lower grades students take introductory-level courses that focus on the fundamentals of business design and computer coding. In the upper grades students take courses such as macroeconomics, technical math, calculus and CIS (computer information systems) and IIT (information internet technology), either onsite or at QCC. 

The college curriculum starts in earnest in 12th grade, when students may take multiple courses at QCC. Younger students gain some exposure by taking QCC courses in speech (10th grade) and English composition (11th grade). The school also offers several Advanced Placement courses including computer science.

The school uses restorative justice practices that minimizes suspensions and promotes positive behavior through conversation, reflection and corrective action. Students also participate in small group advisories. Instead of traditional parent-teacher conferences, students run the conference reviewing their progress with their teacher and parents.

The school is housed on the third floor of the Martin Van Buren High School. The two schools share the library and auditorium and field many joint sports teams. B-TECH students may also participate in student-run clubs.

SPECIAL EDUCATION: The school has ICT (integrated co-teaching) classes. In addition to leading their academic conference, students with special needs participate in student led IEP conferences in collaboration with IncludeNYC, a non-profit organization that advocates for students with disabilities.

ADMISSIONS: Priority to Queens students. Admissions is based on the educational option formula, which aims to enroll a mix of low-, average- and high-achieving students. (Laura Zingmond, web reports, November 2018)