Kiamichi Tech reports 106 Poteau high‑school students served; high certification and placement rates

Kiamichi Technology Center’s Poteau campus presented its annual partner school report to the Poteau Public Schools Board, reporting enrollment, completion and placement figures for the 2024–25 school year and outlining employer engagement work.

Michael Colwell, campus director, told the board Kiamichi served 106 Poteau high‑school students this year across several career and technical programs, and that 107 new applicants are seeking seats for the next year. He said the campus also tracked adult students from the Poteau district and that roughly 80% of program seats are filled by high‑school students while about 20% are adult students.

Colwell said the campus had a 97% completion or retention rate among last year’s graduates and that 93% of graduates achieved ‘‘positive placement’’ — working in a field they trained for, continuing higher education, or entering the military. He said graduates earned 768 nationally recognized industry certifications and reported an average starting wage of $17.27 per hour last year.

"We had a 97 percent completion and retention rate on our graduates from last year," Colwell said. "Ninety‑three percent of our graduates were considered positive placement."

Colwell described business‑and‑education councils for each program that advise instructors, help keep curriculum current and serve as internship and work‑based learning partners. He told the board an academic memorandum of understanding and bus contracts were in process and thanked Poteau Schools for the partnership.

No formal action was required on the report; board members asked follow‑up questions and expressed appreciation for the partnership.