Skip To Main Content

P/NW BOCES Career & Tech Center

Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES Tech Center offers specialized, career-oriented training programs, which for any one school district would not be economically feasible to offer. Students attend the Tech Center for either the morning or afternoon sessions, and then attend SHS for the second half of their day. Students typically join the Tech Center in grades 11-12, although programs are also available for students in grades 9 and 10. Students interested in this option will engage in a more focused four-year planning process. Busing is provided from SHS, leaving for the morning session at 7:40, and returning at 10:15, and leaving for the afternoon session at 11:40, returning at 2:10pm.

THE TECH CENTER: Grades 11-12, 3 Credits

Programs are available in the areas listed below. These programs prepare high school students for entry-level positions in a wide variety of occupations, or for a pursuing a college degree. For detailed program descriptions, please see the Services Guide on the PNW BOCES web page. All tenth-grade students will attend an info session on these offerings, presented by counselors from the Tech Center. Following the presentation, students will have the opportunity to visit programs they may be considering. Each program requires an application to be completed with your SHS school counselor. Most programs meet for two hours daily and are designed to be completed in two years. Cosmetology in year two, and New Visions programs in Health and Engineering are four-hour, full-day programs. 

Courses offered include the following: 

Most programs are offered through the main BOCES campus in Yorktown. Those programs offered through Tilly Foster Farm in Brewster are noted. Integrated academic credit may also be earned as part of the three credits awarded after year two. 

Applications must be completed in a timely fashion so that enrollment in a program will not be jeopardized.

Cosmetology Career Academy 

  • Cosmetology 
  • Barbering (seniors only) 

Health and Human Services Career Academy 

  • New Visions Health (senior option) 
  • Medical Assistant 
  • Law Enforcement 
  • Child Development & Education New Visions Sports Medicine (seniors only) 
  • Certified Nurse Assistant 
  • Intro to Health Occupations 
  • Sports Medicine 

Hospitality Career Academy 

  • Culinary Arts 
  • Food Preparation Assistant 

Construction Career Academy

  • Architecture/Engineering 
  • Welding 
  • Construction Electricity 
  • Heating/Ventilating/Air Conditioning Carpentry 
  • New Visions Engineering (senior only) 

Communications Career Academy Digital Film & Sound 

  • Graphic Design & Digital Photography
  • Fashion Design & Merchandising
  • Animation & Motion Graphics 

Environmental Business Academy

  • Microcomputer Technology 
  • Veterinary Science 
  • Urban Forestry 

Transportation Career Academy 

  • Auto Body 
  • Auto Mechanics 
  • Intro to Auto Mechanics

CTE at Tilly Foster Farm 

  • Culinary Arts
  • Food Prep Assistant 
  • Food Service Transition to Work
  • Animal Care 

English New Learner Career Academy

  • ENL Immersion
  • ENL GED 
  • ENL Spanish Cosmetology 
  • ENL Urban Forestry 
  • ENL Pre-Nurse Aide 
  • ENL HVAC 
  • ENL Pre-Medical Assistant 
  • ENL Retail Services/Office 
  • ENL Spanish Business & Computer Technology 
  • ENL Auto Body 
  • ENL Auto Mechanics 
  • ENL Carpentry 

Alternative Options 

  • GED
  • Diversified Work Program

4 Year Academic Planner 

Using this Course Selection Guide, map out the courses you will need to take as well as the ones you want to take over your next few years of HS. Through your individual meeting with your counselor and conferences with your teachers, you can strike the right balance of courses that are an appropriate challenge for you, and consider your total schedule, including extra-curricular commitments. For more planning information about standardized testing as well as the college application process, see the SHS Guidance and Counseling web page.