Purdue Polytechnic High Schools
Charter School Network
Indianapolis, IN
About
This university-based charter school was initially fueled in 2015 by the vision of Purdue president Mitch Daniels to connect high school to college and careers in critical industries. Since then, thousands of students have received a highly individualized course of study with a focus on engineering and the sciences. Strong industry partners work with teachers to design projects and curriculum, mentor and support students and teach them about career opportunities available in the Indianapolis market, opening their workplaces for student tours and internships, helping students complete their projects and providing feedback on student work. Students leave high school with college credit, in-demand industry credentials as well as preferred admission to 9 out of the 10 colleges at Purdue University. With three schools now, founding leader Scott Bess is now on a mission to reinvent high school, seeking not only to grow its own but to assist as many schools that are willing to take on their innovative approach to student learning.