Leominster Center for Excellence highlights internships, portfolio work and a 100% EmpowerED graduation rate
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Summary
Principal John VanSallett told the committee the Center’s Innovation and Career Academy emphasizes project‑based learning and internships (freshmen 250 hours; other grades ~275 hours) and said EmpowerED credit‑recovery reported a 100% graduation rate for 2024–25 and improved average credits this year.
Principal John VanSallett presented an overview of the Leominster Center for Excellence (LCE) and its two programs — the Innovation and Career Academy (ICA) and EmpowerED credit recovery — at the March 2 meeting.
VanSallett described ICA as a project-based, advisory-driven program where students complete interdisciplinary portfolios, participate in sustained internships and present exhibitions three times a year. He said students use an online platform called Emblaze to log internship hours and that more than 85% of ICA students were actively engaged in internships as of Feb. 25. VanSallett listed sample internship sites including the Leominster Public Library, an alpaca farm and automotive shops and said some students have received job offers tied to internships.
On EmpowerED, VanSallett reported that 35 students were enrolled in 2024–25, with 30 seniors and 26 graduates that year; he said four additional students have since completed requirements, bringing the program to a reported 100% graduation rate for that cohort. He described average credit totals and early-semester credit gains compared with the previous year.
Committee members asked about post‑graduate follow-up; VanSallett said the program does not currently run a five‑year follow-up but agreed it would be useful and feasible to develop a survey or tracking process.
What happens next: VanSallett will consider a follow-up tracking mechanism for graduates and continue to report internship engagement and portfolio outcomes to the committee.