Does anyone know how UM views Vocational High schools? Our Engineering program is incredible but wondered what colleges think.
While I can’t speak for UMich, most colleges know that vocational high schools can be excellent schools. My DS went to what we call a CTE program, career technical program, the new name for vocational schools out here at least. The education provided in that program was intense and because it was CTE the students learned both the regular high school curriculum that was required by the state AND they learned a CTE program curriculum, which was intensely difficult.
The students in the school ranged from not so good to excellent academically. The college acceptances reflected those results. Students were accepted into the entire range of schools, from apprentice programs, at one end of the academic scale, to Ivy-level schools such as top New England LACs, some Ivies, and West Point.
In other words, most colleges know or at least come to know the high schools of the applicants. It’s the business of the Admissions Committee members (adcoms) to know those schools.
If your school has sent students to UMich in the past, the adcoms probably know your school and the quality of the education.
Best of luck to you.