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Preparing Students for Career Success
Integrated project-based learning and real-world internship experiences build the crucial link between academic achievement and future economic success.
Overview
Not Your Traditional High School
MC2 STEM High School is an unusual year-round public school of about 270 students, located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school emphasizes integrated project-based learning, partnerships with business professionals, and real-world internship experiences to help students understand the crucial link between academic achievement and their future economic success.
Students attend classes at campuses embedded in business and school sites around the city -- the Great Lakes Science Center, General Electric Lighting's Nela Park campus, and various college campuses. At any given time, you may see freshmen and sophomores immersed in workshops with tutors from NASA or in rigorous projects and mentorship programs with engineers from GE Lighting, or juniors and seniors stepping up to demanding internships at a variety of local businesses.
While STEM is the school's emphasis, teachers cover all subjects required by Ohio's state standards through integrated, transdisciplinary project-based learning.
How It's Done
Tutoring and Mentorship Brings Authentic Learning
MC2 STEM High School receives students from all over the district by lottery; it is not a school for the elite. At the beginning of the school year, the performance expectations are made clear to every student. The success of the school is founded upon the following three principles:
Transdisciplinary Project-Based Learning
Transdisciplinary project-based learning means integrating the content of academic subjects across school and non-school settings. Each 10 week project called a “Capstone” is designed thematically to meet the Ohio state standards, make connections to Higher Ed and be relevant to industry needs and includes one to two deliverables for assessment. Clear performance rubrics are provided so students know exactly what is required for mastery.
Real-World Experiences
The MC2 STEM High School campus embeds real-world experiences by existing on district school sites (Health Careers Center), several college campuses and the Freshman and sophomore campuses are even embedded on business sites around the city. On any given day, students will be immersed in workshops with tutors from NASA, working on rigorous projects and mentorships with engineers from GE Lighting or participating in internships at various local businesses.
Every grade level provides opportunities for students to interact with businesses. In 9th grade, students are at the NASA Glenn Research Center four times a year. 10th grade students attend classes at the General Electric Lighting Campus and are paired with a “GE Buddy”. There is a mandatory sophomore project which GE business leaders assess. Grades 11-12, students can participate in internships at local businesses.
High Expectations With Comprehensive Support
The MC2 STEM High School uses a mastery assessment system for grading instead of letter grades A-F. Every student, 9-10th grade, must achieve 90% on benchmark assessments before receiving an “M” for mastery and credit is given for the course.
Following the “Master your own path” motto, students are supported with tutors, mentors, differentiated instruction, and additional study time with the teachers. Students who are academically ready in grades 9 through 12 can also take college-level classes at the university or community college campuses
Behavioral expectations of professionals and maturity are strictly enforced because students attend classes on business property are surrounded by business professionals every day. At the same time the school has the feeling of family that students can rely on for support.