Sollers Point Technical High School in Baltimore County offers a unique educational experience, accommodating students across the county with ten diverse programs and numerous certification and trade opportunities. However, the school’s exclusivity, serving a minimal number of students (160 from Kenwood alone), presents challenges as these students navigate high expectations and manage the demands of attending two different schools.
Life as a Sollers Point student is a distinctive journey, different from the typical high school experience. Whether AM or PM Sollers, students must travel between schools, have an entirely new set of teachers and classmates, and face different workloads. While Sollers Point offers numerous opportunities, students encounter struggles, such as their schedule being completely altered during delays, feeling out of the loop on specific events at their home school, or not fully identifying with their peers at their home school.
Incoming 8th-grade students often see Sollers as an opportunity explore and excel in a chosen field of interest but may need to fully understand the nuances and challenges of this pathway. High school is great opportunity to be begin exploring career pathways and like with any choice students should consider all challenges and positives before committing to a program for the next four years of their academic journey.
Kenwood school counselor Ms. Kramer explains, “Sollers is your completer program, so Sollers students are almost ahead of the game. Sollers students are set up really nicely for success after high school.” She highlights that most programs, for example, cosmetology and diesel, enable students to start working immediately after high school, launching from high school to career.
Zara Ahmad, a Sollers and Kenwood senior in the Biomedical Sciences program, emphasizes the importance of organization and working hard, stating, “Managing Sollers and Kenwood isn’t hard as long as you have a set organization schedule and make sure to do your work on time; the opportunities of Sollers really pays off if you work hard and have determination.”
Victoria Abatai, a sophomore in the Academy of Health Professions program at Sollers and Kenwood, adds her perspective, saying, “I don’t think it’s Sollers is easier because of the content, but more it’s a hands-on experience like the program for Allied Health. Doing labs, lab reports, and hands-on medical training is a different experience than a normal school. One may call it harder or about the same, but it’s not easier.”
Sollers Point offers a variety of programs, including PLTW Biomedical Sciences, Academy of Health Professions, Automotive Services Technology, Building and Construction Management, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry, Med-Heavy Duty Truck Tech, IT- Computer Science & Cybersecurity, and IT- Networking & Cyber Security.
Sollers Point Technical High School offers students a unique educational opportunity. It comes with advantages and challenges, making it crucial for prospective students to thoroughly consider whether it aligns with their goals and expectations. Sollers Point can be a stepping stone for young individuals looking to achieve great things, but requires a dedicated and organized approach. To learn more, visit the official Sollers Point Technical High School website.