Indianapolis’ Purdue Polytechnic High School, an educational institution set to open in August 2017, will focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) classes, which will aim to help low-income students prepare for post-secondary education and the workforce.
Purdue Polytechnic High School will offer classes that allow students to get hands-on experience, while also challenging them to work hard and work in group settings.
Although Purdue is a large university, Gary Bertoline, dean of the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, said Purdue University’s undergraduate body needs more diversity.
“We believe in order to address this issue, we have to be more active on the K-12 level,” said Bertoline. “Indianapolis is a great location. By creating a high school somewhere in downtown Indianapolis, we’re preparing the students to eventually come to Purdue.”
The Indianapolis school will offer concentrations such as robotics and manufacturing, and computer and information technology. By a student’s junior year, they will have the opportunity to earn college credit and begin a path toward becoming a student at Purdue University. During their senior year, they have the opportunity to be directly admitted into Purdue University.
“Some of the students we anticipate may not go to Purdue or may earn a high-value certificate, which will allow them to go directly in the workforce,” added Bertoline.
Not only will students be able to earn college credit, but they will also work with Purdue faculty and staff. Eventually, Bertoline would like high school students to visit Purdue University regularly.
However, students and faculty are not the only ones who benefit from this high school.
USA Funds, an organization focused on supporting college students, awarded the Purdue Polytechnic High School with a $500,000 planning grant. These funds are meant to cover the developmental and legal process of the high school.
Robert Murray, vice president of corporate and marketing communications for USA Funds, said the high school closely aligns with USA Funds’ Completion with a Purpose initiative.
“The program promotes links between education and employment through internal career tracks and experiential learning,” Murray said. “They’re not just sitting in a classroom. There will also be significant involvement of employment. For those reasons, we think it’s a great fit for what USA Funds is trying to advance.”
Brooke Huntington, president and CEO of EmployIndy, also believes the high school can better prepare students for post-secondary education and the workforce, being that by 2025, there will be 51,500 new jobs requiring technical skills.
“We want to bring the employer’s voice to the education process. What’s being taught aligns with what’s needed at work,” Huntington said.
Although Bertoline and others have big plans for the high school, they are still facing challenges in the planning process.
“You’re starting a school from scratch; it’s not that easy,” Bertoline said. “You have to find a building and you need to hire a good principal and good teachers.”
Bertoline mentioned developing the curriculum and going through the charter application process is difficult too. However, Bertoline said they are excited for this high school.
Huntington agrees and said it is a great opportunity for students and Indianapolis.
“I think the important things to really understand about this high school is it just offers so much opportunity to Indianapolis residents who put their hands in the air and say ‘this is a place I would like to attend,’” Huntington said. “I think it’s really being designed in a way that impacts peoples’ lives.”
