Beverly High students describe career benefits of ‘After Dark’ partnerships with Essex Tech and Salem High

Beverly High School students and district leaders on Jan. 21 outlined how the district’s “After Dark” partnerships with Essex Tech and Salem High give juniors and seniors half-day academic schedules at Beverly and half-day vocational shop experience at partner schools.

School Committee members heard from guidance director Miss Ferrara and three students who attend the programs, and from Erin Brown, the district’s director of operations, who described funding and capacity constraints.

The After Dark model sends students to partner schools for shop classes in junior and senior year while they remain enrolled at Beverly High for academics. "They're in the classroom, but they also have the opportunity to go out and do a co-op," Miss Ferrara said. She added that students earn about 900 hours toward certification in their field and can graduate with a career-ready credential as well as a high school diploma.

Why it matters: Committee members and administrators said the programs offer an alternative pathway to college that places career credentials "in a student's pocket" at graduation. Superintendent Sue Trocak and…