Students At 'Food And Finance High School' Put Down Their Books And Learn To Cook

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A local high school has developed a recipe for success that has students putting aside their books and learning to become cooks.

As high school graduation season winds down and millions of teens enjoy the start of their summer vacation, Wednesday will mark the next step for about 80 New York City seniors who found their passion in the kitchen rather than in a classroom.

As CBS News' Michelle Miller reported, Food and Finance High School is changing lives by swapping out pens and pencils for knives and whisks.

"Honestly, if I had never found this place I think I would've been just a low life kid," Jason Urena said.

Urena, 17, found his salvation in the heart of Hell's Kitchen.

His mother Dora has been paralyzed since he was a baby. She was his inspiration for going to Food and Finance. He's been cooking for her since he was 9 years old.

"She loves to eat. Every time I cook for her, she's like:'Oh Jason, what is that?' Like, like, 'I want some, you better give me some,'" he said.

Some 400 students from across the city come to Food and Finance to create their own recipes for success. Subjects like knife skills and precision in baking are added to traditional courses like English and math.

Chef Geoffrey Tulloch teaches culinary arts to the junior class.

"It's about making this become a rounded skill. You have to learn how to speak. You have to learn how to do business. You have to learn how to function in an environment that is crazy and still keep a level head," Tulloch said.

Eighty-percent of students at the school are considered economically disadvantaged, so kids rely heavily on scholarship competitions to further their education.

Senior Darwin Acosta is headed to one of the best culinary schools in the world

"I currently just won a full ride to the CIA, to Culinary Art Institute of America," Acosta said, "Think it was my crepes that knocked it out of the park."

By senior year students must leave behind their classroom test kitchens for internships in local eateries. Celebrity Chef Marc Murphy who owns four New York City restaurants has hired six Food and Finance students.

"I mean for me it's, it's also a business decision. I need cooks. And you know what I got, a willing and able body that wants to cook, and wants to learn and work for me. It's great," he said.

Shania Thomas graduated from Food and Finance in 2012.

She was the first ever Teen Champion on the popular Food Network show "Chopped."

"It's not like what you see on TV. It's sleepless nights, giving up weekends, time hanging out with friends, going to family functions, all of it. But I don't, I can't see myself doing anything else," she said.

Jason and Darwin will graduate on Wednesday. They will leave high school with more than just a diploma, they will also have scholarship money for culinary school.