FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 28, 2026
Contact:
Derek Sands
DSands@BergenCountyNJ.gov
BERGEN COUNTY CELEBRATES OPENING OF NEW CAREER INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL IN PARAMUS
PARAMUS, NJ – Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco III, the Bergen County Board of Commissioners, and the Bergen County Technical School District today celebrated the official opening of the new Bergen County Career Innovation High School in Paramus with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by state, county, and local officials, educators, students, and community leaders.
Located on the Bergen County Technical Schools Paramus campus, the new Career Innovation High School was developed to expand access to Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities and prepare students for careers in high-demand industries through hands-on, workforce-focused learning.
The school, which accepted their first class in fall of 2025, features specialized programs in Fabrication and Design, Logistics, and Dental Science, helping students develop technical and employability skills that can lead directly to the workforce, apprenticeship programs, or postsecondary education.
“This new school represents an investment in the future of Bergen County and in the next generation of students who will help drive our economy forward,” said County Executive Jim Tedesco. “Career and Technical Education gives students real-world skills and opportunities while helping address workforce shortages in critical industries. Bergen County has long been a leader in vocational and technical education, and this new facility strengthens that commitment.”
“The opening of the Career Innovation High School marks an exciting new chapter for the Bergen County Technical School District,” said Dr. Howard Lerner, Superintendent of the Bergen County Technical School District. “These new programs were designed to meet growing student demand for Career and Technical Education while aligning with the evolving needs of employers and industries throughout our region. We are grateful to our county and state partners for helping make this project possible.”
“The Career Innovation High School is exactly the kind of forward-thinking investment we should be making in public education,” said LD-38 Assemblywoman Lisa Swain. “By securing state funding for this project, we were able to help create new opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in growing industries while strengthening New Jersey’s future workforce. This school will serve students and Bergen County families for generations to come.”
“Bergen County has always understood that strong schools and workforce development go hand in hand,” said Commissioner Chairman Steven Tanelli. “This new facility expands opportunities for students while helping meet the growing workforce needs of employers throughout our region. We are proud to support an educational environment that gives students practical skills, hands-on experience, and multiple pathways to long-term success.”
The project was funded largely through the 2021 New Jersey Department of Education Securing Our Children’s Future Grant Program, which provided approximately $25.9 million toward construction costs. Bergen County contributed approximately $8.6 million toward the project.
County officials noted that the school will support approximately 260 students and further strengthen Bergen County’s nationally recognized technical education programs.
The ribbon cutting ceremony included remarks from county, school district, and state officials, followed by tours of the new facility.
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