What Is It Known For?
The School for Cooperative Technical Education, founded in 1942, has a rich history of providing vocational training. For over three decades, it has operated on a half-day model, allowing students to split their time between their regular high school or GED program and Coop Tech’s hands-on courses.
Coop Tech offers 17 certification programs ranging from culinary arts to computer networking. With its main campus on 96th and 1st Avenue in Manhattan and additional locations in Brooklyn, Staten Island, and the Bronx, the school serves about 1,500 students across New York City’s five boroughs.
Degrees & Certifications
The School for Cooperative Technical Education provides a range of half-day career and technical training courses.
Here’s a list of the main programs offered:
- Automotive Services
- Electrical
- Unisex Styling
- Construction and Building Trades
- Health Services
- Culinary
- InformationTechnology
Class Schedules
Coop Tech offers two daily class sessions: morning (8:30-11:00 AM) and afternoon (12:20-2:50 PM). The school blends theory and hands-on training in its courses, giving students a well-rounded learning experience.
While information about online classes is limited, some programs include externships or clinical experiences. For specific details about class schedules and formats, it’s best to contact the school directly.
Is It Legit?
Yes. The School for Cooperative Technical Education is a legitimate institution. The school is part of the New York City Department of Education system.
Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate for Coop Tech isn’t publicly available. However, post-graduates can apply if they meet the basic admission requirements and are still within the Department of Education’s age limit.
How Much Does Tuition Cost?
Tuition at The School for Cooperative Technical Education is free.
Programs & Courses
Healthcare
- Medical Billing and Coding
- CNA
- Vision Care Technology
- Medical Administrative Assistant
- Vision Care Technology
Professional Services
- Culinary Arts
- Barbering
Skilled Trades
- Automotive Services
- Construction and Building Skills
- Electrical
- Carpentry
- Welding
- Plumbing
Technology
- Information Technology
- Web Design
- Computer Networking
- Advertising and Design
Campus Locations
Bronx 965 Longwood Ave. Bronx, NY 10459
New York 321 East 96 St. New York NY 10128
Broadway Queens 14-30 Broadway Queens, NY 11106
Queens 142-10 Linden Blvd. Queens, NY 11436
Staten Island 109 Rhine Ave, Staten Island, NY 10304
Brooklyn 1600 Rockaway Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11236
Reviews
Based on local Google reviews, the School for Cooperative Technical Education (Co-op Tech) is a long-standing and impactful institution that offers vocational training to high school students and young adults in NYC. The school is praised for its life-changing education and free programs that lead directly to certifications and city jobs, though there are significant issues with administrative responsiveness and inconsistent quality among the instructional staff.
Overall Score: 4.4/5 Stars
Common Praises
Life-Changing Opportunities and Job Success: The most powerful theme is the transformative effect of the school. Alumni spanning over a decade report that the programs led directly to successful careers, including running their own businesses (e.g., in natural hairstyling) or securing wonderful city jobs with great pay and benefits (e.g., after taking plumbing and electrical courses).
Excellent Trade Skills and Certifications: The education is valued for being hands-on and providing students with real-world skills and industry certifications. Specific programs mentioned positively include welding, plumbing, electrical installation, carpentry, and hairdressing/natural hairstyling.
Supportive and Effective Instructors: Many reviewers praise their instructors (especially in welding and trades) for being highly experienced, patient, and informative. These educators are credited with teaching the material in an easy-to-understand way and inspiring students.
Positive Social Environment: The school is noted for its welcoming and fun atmosphere, with students enjoying meeting interesting people and describing their classmates as inclusive, which they find rare for NYC schools.
Affordable and Accessible: The school is highlighted as a great option for college alternatives because it allows students to learn a skill for free and earn certifications. It serves a wide age range (up to 21) and offers afternoon classes, making it accessible for those already working or attending high school.
Common Criticisms
Inconsistent Instructor Quality: A major point of criticism is that the quality of instruction is highly variable. Several reviewers harshly criticize specific trade program instructors, describing them as unprofessional, having no clear view of the class, or simply having them sit back, play videos, and provide no real lessons.
Administrative Unresponsiveness: A significant frustration is the poor communication and lack of responsiveness from the school’s administration, particularly at the front desk. Reviewers report having trouble getting anyone to pick up the phone or getting information on classes, even after visiting in person.
Misleading or Terrible Program Experience: A few reviewers felt the school was extremely misleading and provided no real guide on the trade they were learning, contributing to a bad experience that caused one student to leave the program.
Momentum
The positive reviews are consistently strong, with recent feedback from current students and parents confirming the school’s high value as a free trade option and a pipeline to a successful career. However, the recent complaints about administrative communication issues (especially phone/info access) and the long-standing, recurring critique of a few underperforming program instructors suggest that while the best of Co-op Tech is excellent, the operational and instructional consistency needs improvement.