Central Montco Technical High School’s allied health program is one of the pioneers of a practice at vocational schools that is gaining popularity, writes Kathy Boccella for Philly.com.

It is training students not just to work in traditional blue-collar jobs, but also preparing them for further education at some of the nation’s most prestigious schools.

This under-the-radar movement has been in place at Central Montco Technical High School for the last two decades. It has helped many of its students continue their education at Ivy League schools such as the University of Pennsylvania.

The program uses specially developed courses in engineering, computer technology, and health care to help teens take the next step in their education. It also gives them more options on top of the technical skills they learn at Central Montco.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the number of vo-tech students who continue their education after graduation has been steadily rising over the last generation to around 90 percent. Studies have also found that at least one in four then earn either a four-year degree or a professional certificate.

Read more about Central Montco’s program at Philly.com by clicking here.