From the commercial-grade kitchens and the body shop to the full-fledged radio station,  this school’s classrooms appear more as workplaces. These facilities are a part of this school’s 27 career pathways, in which students take a principles course, two advanced courses and a capstone course (or internship) to gain career-specific skills in fields including accounting, nursing, construction trades and journalism. 

These pathways aim to create an authentic sense of what the day-to-day of working in a specific industry would look like, whether it be actually building a house in a construction class or witnessing emergency situations first-hand in the emergency services capstone. Most students enter high school with little or no idea of what career they want to pursue, so rather than simply requiring students to take the general high school courses, or have them wait until college applications to decide on a profession, this school allows students to explore these specialized courses. Spending actual time in the workplace environment presents students with answers as to whether or not it is suitable for them.

According to research from Carnegie Mellon University, students achieved greater academic performance when prepared with interactive activities over traditional lectures and readings. Through the various graduation pathways, students are not only experiencing more enhanced and engaged learning, but exploring future career possibilities in real-world scenarios. Students can explore their strengths and weaknesses through these hands-on experiences, something in-class presentations rarely help students realize. Additionally, whereas traditional classroom learning concludes with a test, the projects incorporated into graduation pathway programs produce tangible results, which are far more rewarding for students.  

Not only are graduation pathways beneficial for students, but they benefit local communities who receive help from students through the work-based learning program. Students can participate in internships their senior year, during the school day, for businesses in Carmel such as Jurs Insurance and Financial Services, Blue & Co and Brightworks. 

By working in a professional setting, students gain new insight into an industry from those actively working in one. Besides giving back to the local community and developing employability skills, these opportunities allow students to create connections and build a professional network, leading to possible job referrals in the future. Whereas most students struggle with creating a resume, applying for jobs, interviewing and navigating the workplace, this school excellently sets students up for success for these tasks, and equips them with the experience necessary to land a job. 

This school’s expansive (and expanding) campus should be celebrated. High school, as a bridge from adolescence to adulthood, marks a time of both play—exploring one’s interests—and maturity—immersing themselves in professional environments. By allowing them to immerse themselves in the demands of a career through a vast number of classes, capstone projects and work-based learning internships, students get a head-start on their professional life, with opportunities otherwise only found at the college-level.