Orion High School presents a career-focused high school model emphasizing hands-on learning
Summary
A presenter described Orion High School as a small, career-focused high school emphasizing interdisciplinary projects, signature programs in health science, engineering and advanced manufacturing, and pathways to industry certifications and internships for upperclassmen.
Speaker 1, identified in the transcript as the presentation’s speaker, described Orion High School as a small, innovative high school designed to prepare students for future careers. "Orion High School is a high school that's focused on preparing students for their future careers," the speaker said.
The presenter framed the school as a regional experiment in redesigning secondary education to make learning more engaging and relevant. "What if we were able to completely redesign how education looks to better engage, to provide more relevance," the speaker asked, arguing the model addresses local workforce needs.
Orion's instructional model combines academic content with project-based, real-world problem solving rather than siloed classes. "Our signature programs are health science, engineering, and advanced manufacturing," the speaker said, noting those tracks guide students toward industry opportunities.
A typical school day is organized into a morning block and an afternoon block; one block focuses on core academic classes such as geography, physics and English language arts while the other allows integrated, applied learning. The presenter emphasized times when "all of the doors are opened up" to facilitate overlap across subjects.
The speaker said ninth and tenth grades concentrate on exposure and exploration of careers—"Every ninth grader takes our introduction to engineering class"—while eleventh and twelfth grades shift to experience, offering chances to earn industry-recognized certifications, participate in hands-on internships and engage in work-based learning.
According to the presenter, the design allows graduates to either enter the workforce directly or continue with postsecondary education equipped with a head start in relevant training. The speaker closed by noting that students at Orion have "found their passion" and regularly show up to give their best.
The presentation concluded with the speaker expressing pride in the program and its students; no formal action or vote was recorded in the transcript.
