The Midtown Manhattan institution outperformed nine other state schools to earn the number one designation, based on its balance of practical instruction and cost-effectiveness. The 600-hour curriculum centers on a commercial kitchen environment at the school's campus near Grand Central, culminating in a mock restaurant service capstone. Beyond the core coursework, students complete a 200-hour externship, a requirement designed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world kitchen demands.

Steve Markowitz, president of Apex Technical School, noted that the recognition validates a model that avoids high price tags and multi-year time commitments. As a nonprofit member of The Fedcap Group, the school maintains both New York State Education Department licensure and accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. The latter organization also recently recognized Apex as a 2024–2025 School of Excellence, placing it among the top 19 institutions selected from a national pool of 265.