Kimberly A. Hill
Students shouldn't have to choose between college preparation and hands-on vocational learning. At this high school, they don't.
At North Point High School for Science, Technology, and Industry in Charles County, Maryland, students need not choose between career readiness and college preparation. Both pathways converge. Our motto, "The real world starts here. Create your own tomorrow," reminds teachers to use their time with North Point students helping them gain the skills and knowledge they'll need to follow through on their post secondary plans—whether that means starting at a college or directly entering a career.
The courtyard students built in front of our building is an example of our motto at work. This project started after a study that two students conducted as part of their Engineering Applications class revealed an overcrowded hallway in the school. The students concluded that the overcrowding could be circumvented by creating an outdoor sidewalk. They designed and secured funding for a 100-foot-long sidewalk connecting two wings of our building. With guidance, students hired a professional contractor to install the sidewalk and actually assisted in some portions of the work.