Director of Secondary Education Emily Greenwald presented a comprehensive overview of high-school program options available to Worthington students, emphasizing multiple pathways that accommodate college-bound and career-focused students alike.

Greenwald reviewed state graduation requirements (20 credits, competency via algebra I and English II assessments, and two state or local seals) and described in-school and partnership-based pathways. In-school offerings include the Entrepreneurial Business Academy (a four-year pathway at Thomas Worthington High School), Project Lead The Way STEM coursework (available at both traditional high schools and tied to a state technology seal), and the International Baccalaureate program at Worthington Kilbourne High School. Greenwald said the district currently offers 21 AP courses and will add an English 10 AP Seminar next year.

For college credit options, Greenwald outlined the district's use of College Credit Plus in partnership with Columbus State Community College, noting Columbus State professors teach some courses on-site and that the district offers several math courses for college credit taught by certified teachers. She also explained credit flexibility (state law enacted 2009) and two alternative high-school models: Worthington Academy (a half-day online-supported program opened in 2014) and Linworth (established in 1973 with experiential learning and the semester-long Walkabout senior internships).

On career awareness and work-based learning, Greenwald described district use of the YouScience aptitude inventory to help identify student interests and match them to experiences such as the Central Ohio Healthcare Summit and Build My Future construction-trades events. She reported continued partnerships with Delaware Area Career Center (DACC) for half-day career programs, and pre-apprenticeship relationships that place students with Worthington Steel (Worthington Industries), Performance Columbus Drive Direct (automotive), independent electrical contractors and a paid pre-apprenticeship with Hamilton Parker; most students who complete the Worthington Industries program are offered full-time employment with benefits.

"We have 11 students participating" in the independent electrical contractors pre-apprenticeship after launching it recently, Greenwald said, and she described one paid Hamilton Parker position currently being piloted. She also said the district is working with the ESC and a healthcare partner on a 75-hour certified nursing assistant (CNA) program that could be run in-district (transportation provided), with the goal of starting before the end of the school year or during summer.

Board members asked about communicating options to families and earlier sequencing of career assessments; Greenwald cited ninth-grade curriculum nights, middle-school visits to DACC, Columbus State outreach to middle-schoolers and counselor-led small-group meetings with freshmen and sophomores. The district also surveys recent graduates to track outcomes, though response rates are low. Board members discussed whether Academy-style half-day models should be offered inside traditional high schools; Greenwald said online coursework is already available in both high schools and that the Academy and Linworth offer smaller communities and more wraparound supports.

What happens next: the district will continue working with counselors to integrate YouScience results into scheduling conversations, pursue the proposed CNA pilot with ESC support, and report back to the board as programs evolve.