People across Massachusetts have known for years that technical high schools have become the benchmark for post-secondary education. Now, the rest of the country is starting to take notice.
The Wall Street Journal in December published an article on the popularity of vocational-technical education in Massachusetts, highlighting Nashoba Tech as one of three schools in the state that are seeing rising enrollment.
A Wall Street Journal reporter and photojournalist spent two hours touring Nashoba Tech to get an idea of what technical schools have to offer.
As the Journal article states, technical schools “were long seen as places to silo academic underperformers into blue-collar work.”
These days, however, according to the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators, thousands of students are on wait lists for technical schools across the state.
Thanks to the Wall Street Journal, which has more than 400,000 print subscribers and another 4.1 million online, the entire country knows about the quality technical education awaiting students at Nashoba Tech, which features 19 technical programs from which students can choose.
And while the trades – from electrical to automotive repair to plumbing – are still popular, Nashoba Tech is seeing increasing enrollment in programs that require further education, including Veterinary Science, Engineering Technology, and Programming & Web Development.
Charlie Ellis, chairman of the Nashoba Tech School Committee, has known of the school’s unique qualities for quite some time. He’s a graduate, matriculating with the first graduating class in 1971. Ever since, he has been extolling the school’s virtues.
“It is great to see Nashoba Valley Technical High School get national recognition in the Wall Street Journal,” said Ellis, who represents Littleton on the committee. “This article highlights what our community has known for a long time: When a student chooses Nashoba Tech, every door opens for them. Whether they are planning to start an apprenticeship for an electrician license or are headed to college to become a nurse or veterinarian, our students graduate with a head-start.
“We've always known that Massachusetts vocational schools offer the gold standard of education, and it's wonderful to see the rest of the country catching on,” he added.
The Wall Street Journal article highlights two Nashoba Tech students on differing career pathways.
Jillian Hecking, a junior from Chelmsford, is studying Veterinary Science with a goal of becoming a veterinarian. As the Journal article notes, that means college then veterinary school.
Meanwhile, Mariyana Lords, a junior from Westford, studies Electrical Technology and plans to continue in that field and earn her journeyman license.
The Wall Street Journal states that, though following different paths, both students will graduate ahead of their peers in traditional high schools when it comes to continuing their chosen pathway.
As Nashoba Tech Superintendent Dr. Denise Pigeon told the Journal reporter during the tour of the school, “More families are seeing the value of a technical education.”
Nashoba Tech is currently accepting applications for the 2026-2027 school year. Call 978-692-4711, or visit www.nashobatech.net for more information. The district includes Ayer, Chelmsford, Groton, Littleton, Pepperell, Shirley, Townsend and Westford.
