INDIANTOWN, Fla. (CBS12) — The Martin County School District (MCSD) and Indian River State College (IRSC) unveiled their newest charter high school on Wednesday in Indiantown.
The school called Indiantown High School (IHS), is geared toward career and technical education. But it also allows students to be dually enrolled at IRSC and high school starting as early as 9th grade. Students attending can earn their associate's degree before graduating high school.
IRSC President Timothy Moore says the school was built in an underserved region of Martin County because until now, the community of Indiantown didn't have a high school.
"This high school represents a traditional high school pathway, a collegiate acceleration pathway as well as vocational technical training pathways. So basically, this is the gateway for any young person in Indiantown in Western Martin County to be able to get their start," said Moore.
IHS is a 61,700-square-foot college preparedness and workforce education public charter high school featuring technologically advanced, immersive learning spaces.
The Martin County School District (MCSD) and Indian River State College (IRSC) unveiled their newest charter high school on Wednesday in Indiantown. CBS12 News Amber Raub reports.< > (WPEC)
The over $25 million project was built with the goal of those graduating being ready to go directly into the workforce.
To accomplish this MCSD and IRSC are integrating high school curriculum with college courses, all to help fill a need.
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MCSD Superintendent, Michael Maine says students who attend IHS will be able to learn trades and get certifications.
“We need so many vocational positions throughout the community, and this high school is geared towards providing those vocational opportunities for students," said Supt. Maine.
These opportunities include multiple career and technical certifications:
The funds for the $25 million project came from the state of Florida ($5.3 million), Plus Property Lease, from Martin County ($3 million), IRSC Foundation ($15 million), and m Mr. and Mrs. Charles Johnston ($10 million). Johnston's donation played a key role in how the school was able to be built in a little over a year.
“This is a very exciting moment in time for Indiantown. The landscape here is gonna change considerably all for the better," said Johnston.
The school has the following features:
Before the school was built, the closest high school for students in Indiantown was South Fork High School in Stuart.
“This is where they can come, they don't have to ride a bus 45 minutes from Eastern Martin County to come home. They can come home to their hometown school," said Moore.
The school will have a smaller feel, with the student body not exceeding 400 students and a cap of 100 students per grade.
“They will provide all the same math science curriculum that a traditional school would offer. So we just encourage students if you're interested in a smaller feel, atmosphere, high school and you want to be a part of something great, that's just getting started and having a new tradition, then come out and register at Indiantown High School," said Supt. Maine.
Students also have the option to graduate by December of their junior year with the 24/18 CTE & Accelerated Standard Diploma option.
Indiantown High School is one of two public charter high schools that IRSC operates in Martin County in partnership with the Martin County School District. IRSC’s Clark Advanced Learning Center, a public charter high school on the College’s Chastain Campus in Stuart, opened in 2004. Clark is among the top-scoring Treasure Coast schools based on Florida’s school grading system and the top 20 high schools in all of Florida.
The school officially opens its doors to students on August 9.
Traditional high school curriculum is taught alongside workforce and college courses, producing graduates that can directly pursue career opportunities or college upon graduation. Students must register to attend. You can learn how to apply here.