Wichita Public Schools opens technology Future Ready Center; district now runs three centers

Wichita Public Schools announced the opening of a third Future Ready Center focused on technology and computer science pathways, district staff told the Board of Education.

The district said the program expands a set of industry-focused centers already operating in manufacturing and health care. "This program is open to all of our juniors and seniors in the district," an FRC staff member said, adding that the center offers two pathways — computer programming and cybersecurity — and that college credit is available through Excel/CTE funding.

District presenters said the technology center held a ribbon-cutting around Oct. 16 and that initial recruitment is slower than for the other centers: "We started with a very small group, around 25 students," the presenter said, while noting the other two centers grew rapidly after launch. Total enrollment across the Future Ready Centers was cited at about 453 students.

Officials described the cybersecurity pathway as including CompTIA Network Essentials and Network+ coursework and the programming pathway as covering introductory JavaScript, Python and C# fundamentals. A possible third pathway in data analytics remains under review and depends on Kansas Board of Regents approval before the district can proceed.

District staff said the program covers transportation and internship support and emphasized the initiative is provided at no cost to students. Board members praised the centers as important workforce and career-readiness investments for secondary students.

Public-facing details and registration information are available through the district; board members encouraged community tours of the centers to see the work students are doing.