Students and staff spotlight growth of Hunterdon Central magnet academies; two new academies planned
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Summary
District staff presented the six magnet academies, student speakers described hands‑on learning and mentorship, and administrators announced two new academies (Learners to Leaders education academy and Performing Arts academy) and a campus showcase on Oct. 28.
Hunterdon Central's supervisory staff and students presented an overview of the district's magnet academies and described plans to expand programming.
Rob Hastings, supervisor of special projects, summarized six academies — architectural design, biomedical sciences, computer science, engineering, media & communications, and robotics — emphasizing 3‑ to 4‑year course sequences, accessible "on‑ramps" (no admissions tests), capstone projects and opportunities to earn college credit or industry credentials through partner institutions such as Seton Hall and NJIT. Hastings said the academies are designed to build cohesive pathways and supportive peer cohorts.
Students joined the presentation with short testimonials. One student in engineering praised a teacher with industry experience who "pushed me to even further" than he expected; an architectural design student said hands‑on projects "opened my eyes to the possibilities that the world of architecture offers;" and Callie Cullerton (media & communications) described the broadcast curriculum as "purposefully curated so that the projects reflect real world industry specific challenges" and offered a shout‑out to a teacher named Lazovic.
Hastings also announced two new academies coming in 2026–27: a Learners to Leaders education academy focused on careers in education, and a Performing Arts academy that will include tracks in theater, instrumental and vocal music. He invited families to a magnet program showcase on Tuesday, October 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the commons.
Why it matters: the magnet academies are positioned as district strategy to increase career and college readiness, retain students on a single campus schedule (avoiding split‑day programs), and expand opportunities for credit and credentialing. Presenters said the programs aim to integrate academic rigor with real‑world projects and partnerships to help students transition to postsecondary studies or careers.
Next steps: the district will continue recruiting and marketing the academies, add a journalism track to the media & communications academy in 2026–27, and host the October showcase for prospective students and families.
