Seoul Specialized High School, Once Frowning Over No Freshmen, Sees Dramatic Turnaround with Enrollment Rate Surging 17.5%p

2023 Academic Year 96.9%... Over 90% for the First Time in 6 Years
Highest Enrollment Rate Since 2016 Academic Year 99.4%

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Specialized high schools in the Seoul area, which had seen their freshman enrollment rates drop to the 70% range due to a decline in school-age population and the impact of COVID-19, have finally caught a breather. Not only have they entered the 90% range for the first time in six years, but they have also recorded the highest enrollment rate since the 2016 academic year.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 26th, as a result of the 2023 academic year freshman recruitment conducted by 67 specialized high schools in Seoul, a total of 11,918 applicants applied for 9,908 available spots, and 9,600 were finally accepted on a provisional basis. The application rate was 120.2%, and the enrollment rate was 96.9%, showing a high level, with the enrollment rate rising by 17.5 percentage points compared to 79.4% in the 2022 academic year.

The final enrollment rate will be confirmed at the end of February next year, and since students who fail to enter general high schools, announced on January 6 next year, can apply to specialized high schools, the number of enrolled students may increase slightly.

From the perspective of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, it is encouraging that the enrollment rate of specialized high schools, which had been declining, has turned to an upward trend. The enrollment rate, which was 99.4% in the 2016 academic year, fell to 87.1% in the 2018 academic year, then rebounded to 88.9% in 2019, but subsequently continued to decline, hitting a low of 79.4% in the 2022 academic year.

Changes in the enrollment rate of new students at specialized high schools in the Seoul area over the past 5 years. Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education

This result is interpreted as the outcome of the relentless efforts of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and specialized high schools. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has continuously promoted programs such as the ‘Specialized High School Admission Briefing Sessions Visiting Middle Schools’ for middle school students (and their parents) to provide customized guidance based on students’ aptitudes and talents, as well as ‘Specialized High School Understanding Training’ for teachers, to expand the foundation of specialized and vocational education.

In addition, to improve the overall social perception of specialized high schools, various media such as city buses, YouTube, various social networking services (SNS), apartment elevators, and print advertisements have been used for promotion. Furthermore, admission information, excellent career and academic advancement cases, specialized high school curricula, outstanding educational activities, and benefits of specialized high schools have been consistently provided to middle school students, parents, and teachers through the Seoul Specialized High School Employment Website (HiJob) and Kakao Channel (chatbot).

Specialized high schools have also guided students to select departments suitable for their talents and aptitudes through admission briefing sessions, poster and leaflet production and distribution, and experiential programs.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education recently announced the ‘Seoul Vocational High School Semiconductor Talent Development Plan’ in line with the government’s ‘Semiconductor Talent Development Measures.’ Six semiconductor hub schools have been designated, and the plan actively promotes semiconductor talent development through joint educational courses among schools under the high school credit system centered on these hub schools, as well as discovering out-of-school curricula linked with universities and industries.

A representative from the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education explained, “We plan to continuously support students so that they can find their own talents and aptitudes and grow into leaders of future society, taking this result as an opportunity for a second leap forward.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.