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Career Academy High School recognized as top five finalist for ESEA Distinguished School Award

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (12/20/2023) — Career Academy High School (CAHS), located in South Bend, Indiana, was selected as one of the top five finalists for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Distinguished School award out of hundreds of schools across the state.

The ESEA Distinguished School award recognizes qualifying federally funded schools based on an analysis of student achievement, attendance, behavior and other innovative educational advances. The award is a way of acknowledging the work of schools from across the country that utilize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act funds to improve achievement levels of students.

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) visited CAHS to learn about the school environment and visit classrooms to help make the decision. CAHS was a nominee for this award and will receive recognition at TitleCon in April 2024 for being a top five finalist, along with a certificate to acknowledge the accomplishment.

Becky Barlett, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, shared "We were honored to be nominated for the ESEA Distinguished School Award and beyond thrilled to have placed in the top five throughout the state of Indiana. This is due to all of the hard work by our teaching staff, administrators, students, and families."

Bartlett continues "Our principal, Mr. Gartska, has worked diligently to create partnerships with families in order to support the students at Career Academy High School. Professional development is aligned throughout our network and focused on best practices in teaching and building professional learning communities. This combined effort has led CAHS to achieve great results in academic growth, increased attendance, and increased graduation rates."

Career Academy High School, authorized by Education One at Trine University, serves students 9-12, with a focus on Career Pathways, Project-Based Learning, and STEM. CAHS currently offers Pathway programming at CAHS, which allows students to explore two pathways to receive dual credits, industry certifications and internships that prepare students to join the workforce or seek higher education.

Current pathways offered include entrepreneurship, healthcare, welding technology, precision making, and engineering. CAHS also offers a Homeschool Partnership, Online Learning, and Core Classes centered around 11 academic programs. CAHS, a fully certified STEM school, serves students in the community by providing access to high- quality educational resources and skilled teachers.

To learn more about Career Academy High School, visit their website: https://careeracademysb.com/

Media Attachments

Students work at Career Academy High School in South Bend, Indiana. The school was selected as one of the top five finalists for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Distinguished School award.

A student welds at Career Academy High School in South Bend, Indiana. The school was selected as one of the top five finalists for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Distinguished School award.

Trine University

Lindsay Omlor, (260) 665-4600

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