Newark School of Data Science & Information Technology
Career & Technical Student Organization
SkillsUSA
Build your skills. Show what you can do.
SkillsUSA connects classroom learning with technical challenges, leadership, and career preparation. At Data Science, students can explore how their interests in cybersecurity, computer science, and engineering translate into professional skills and competitive opportunities.
Understand the opportunity
What is SkillsUSA?
SkillsUSA is a national career and technical student organization, often called a CTSO. It helps students develop career readiness through technical learning, leadership, service, and opportunities to demonstrate skills. Chapter participation includes more than preparing for a contest.
Personal skills
Build your habits
Develop responsibility, adaptability, integrity, and the confidence to respond to challenges.
Workplace skills
Work well with others
Practice communication, teamwork, planning, and problem-solving in the work you undertake.
Technical skills grounded in academics
Apply what you learn
Connect technical knowledge with academic foundations and the practices expected in a career field.
These three areas come from the SkillsUSA Framework. Explore the SkillsUSA Framework
A strong connection to our school
Cybersecurity: prepare to protect systems.
The Cybersecurity competition uses a two-student team to demonstrate secure configuration and protection of computing systems, operating systems, network devices, and servers.
Technical preparation
Strengthen the foundations
Use your coursework as a starting point. Ask the advisor which networking, systems, and security topics to practice for the current event.
Careful practice
Work through decisions
Explain what you changed, why it matters, and how you checked the result. Build a habit of accurate notes and repeatable troubleshooting.
Professional habits
Stay within the task
Use only school-approved practice environments and the permissions provided for the activity. Follow the contest scope and advisor’s instructions.
Match your interests with a challenge
Competition areas to explore.
Explore these examples from New Jersey SkillsUSA’s published competition list. School entries vary by year and student eligibility. Clive Pellew can confirm which events our chapter is entering and how students can prepare.
Cybersecurity & networking
Competition example
Cybersecurity
Secure systems and demonstrate defensive cybersecurity skills.
Competition example
Internetworking
Configure and troubleshoot network devices and connections.
Competition example
Information Technology Services
Solve technical support problems across computing systems.
Computer science & digital creation
Competition example
Computer Programming
Develop working programs from specifications and requirements.
Competition example
Web Design and Development
Build usable, accessible websites through technical challenges.
Competition example
Interactive Application and Video Game Development
Create and present an interactive application or game prototype.
Engineering & applied STEM
Competition example
Engineering Technology and Design
Present an engineering project and solve a design challenge.
Competition example
Electronics Technology
Build, test, and troubleshoot electronic circuits.
Competition example
Additive Manufacturing
Apply CAD and design choices to 3D printing.
Competition example
Principles of Engineering Technology
Demonstrate and explain an applied science or engineering concept.
From interest to performance
How SkillsUSA competition works.
Students prepare through their chapter and may progress through local or regional opportunities to state competition and, for qualifying events and competitors, the national SkillsUSA Championships. State-only contests have a different endpoint. Confirm the route for your selected event with the advisor.
01
Choose with the advisor
Match your course background, interests, and readiness to an eligible event.
02
Study the requirements
Use the current technical standards, NJ contest scope, and published updates.
03
Practice & document
Set a preparation schedule, use feedback, and check required submissions.
04
Represent Data Science
Follow event instructions and demonstrate technical skill, teamwork, and professionalism.
Current students
Ready to get involved?
Start by speaking with Clive Pellew. Share the CTE courses you are taking and the skills you want to develop. Ask about chapter activities as well as competition preparation.
01
Introduce yourself
Share your name, grade, interests, and experience. Explain what you hope to learn and ask how new students can begin.
02
Get a current plan
Confirm meetings, time commitments, participation steps, materials, and any forms or permissions before making plans.
03
Follow through
Attend consistently, practice with purpose, communicate conflicts, and meet the expectations agreed with the program staff.
Bookmark your next steps
Your SkillsUSA resource hub.
The organization
SkillsUSA national website
Learn about the organization, student opportunities, leadership, and career readiness.
New Jersey
State events and contest scopes
Use the official NJ hub for schedules, event lists, scopes, and contest status. Confirm details with the advisor.
Choose an interest
Competition descriptions
Explore national categories and descriptions, then discuss eligibility and chapter entries with Clive Pellew.
Know the rules
Technical standards
Use the official route to the current competition rules and requirements with your advisor.
Stay current
Competition updates
Check for revised instructions and announcements affecting the event you are preparing for.
Connect your learning
School career academies
Explore our technical pathways and discuss how coursework can support your preparation.
Prospective students & families
Find a place to build your future.
Explore Data Science’s academic pathways and the student opportunities that bring learning to life. During your visit, ask students and staff how they began, what they are working on, and where their interests have taken them.
Good questions
Know your next step.
Do I have to compete to ask about joining SkillsUSA?
Ask Clive Pellew about chapter participation, membership, and current opportunities. SkillsUSA connects leadership and career readiness with technical learning; your next step depends on the chapter’s current plan.
Are all the competitions listed here offered by our school?
The list gives examples relevant to our school’s technical interests. School entries, team selection, eligibility, and event availability vary. Clive Pellew can confirm the current options for our chapter.
Does every event lead to nationals?
No. Advancement depends on the event and its rules, and New Jersey also offers state-only contests. Ask the advisor to explain the qualification route for the event you select.
Where do I get exact rules, deadlines, and equipment requirements?
Use the current technical standards, the NJ contest scope, and official updates with Clive Pellew. Confirm membership and registration deadlines, eligibility, equipment, submissions, and any costs before making plans.
Do AP courses or certifications automatically qualify me for a competition?
Coursework and credentials may support your preparation, but each contest has its own eligibility and registration requirements. Your advisor reviews those requirements and the school’s entries with you.
Who can help me find the program contact?
Ask for Clive Pellew at school. The main office can help you connect: 973-350-5088. Confirm current meeting days, location, participation requirements, and any permissions with the program staff.