Talent & Workforce

Training high school students for a successful future career

Construction Technology
LaPorte County’s CTE program provides hands-on training in carpentry, electrical, heating, air conditioning, painting, drywalling, plumbing and masonry. The curriculum is bolstered by community-based projects and classroom lab experiences. A partnership with the Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters connects second-year students to an apprentice program.

Technology and Coding
MCAS has been recognized for its technology programs and is fully 1:1, with all students K-12 issued Chromebooks or Chrome Tablets. A community WIFI program is in its initial stages, providing access for students in need from home via school devices. Coding is emphasized along with the Unity Foundation and La Porte County Library through a Week of Code in December

Energy Academy
In partnership with NIPSCO, the LaPorte County CTE Energy Academy program prepares students for high-demand jobs in the electronics, energy and utility industries. Students work with state-of-the-art equipment in class and hands-on out in the field and during internships. Upon completion, students earn NCCER certifications in Electrical and Alternative Energy, giving them a head start.

Robotics
Founded in 2012, the MCAS’ Safe Harbor program offers a FIRST Robotics Team that constructs a competition robot each year for contests across the region and state. In 2018, the team was a member of the Indiana State Championship alliance, advancing to the World Championships in Detroit. The program also offers a FIRST Tech Challenge for middle school students and a FIRST Lego League and Junior FIRST Lego League for elementary school students.

STEM Certified Schools
Michigan City’s Lake Hills Elementary and Barker Middle School are both Indiana-certified STEM schools, offering curricular and extracurricular programming in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Both schools utilized the Project Lead the Way curriculum for engineering studies and are partner schools with Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry.

Elementary Magnet Schools
Two state-of-the-art elementary schools in Michigan City, Lake Hills and Pine, serve students as magnet schools. Lake Hills is a magnet school for STEM and Pine is for the Visual and Performing Arts. Students within neighborhood boundaries are served along with a limited number of district students who apply through a lottery system each spring. Teacher specialists, community partners and after-school opportunities engage students and families.

Training high school students to enter the compressor/vacuum industry

The EDCMC has teamed with Ivy Tech, local employers and the high school on the Michigan City High School Compressed Air Academy. The academy was launched in 2019 with a goal of providing lucrative careers as well as add to the local industry’s workforce. The two-year program results in industry certifications and eligibility for an apprenticeship or readiness to enter the workforce. The education is hands-on providing essential experience, and students are able to visit area facilities for first-hand knowledge of job opportunities. The Academy is the first of its kind in the U.S. and has been named a State “Earn and Learn” (SEAL) program.

Supporting post-secondary educations for local students

Launched in 2017, the scholarship program supports students’ academic endeavors. Eligible high school seniors can receive up to $5,000 per year to pursue educational opportunities at any accredited college, university, post-secondary educational program or vocational school in Indiana. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years.

Real-world life experience

The high school curriculum is centered on real-world work experience through hands-on learning, internships and field experiences. Students can learn with training programs for health careers, welding, automotive services technology, construction and technology, culinary science, engineering and more. Each program offers high school students both technical certifications and dual college credit.