Program at Jacksonville high school offers student opportunities for STEM careers

A high school is expanding its early-college program by providing opportunities to train in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)-related work settings in Jacksonville before graduation.

Duval County Public Schools, along with JEA, Deutsche Bank and FSCJ, will launch program at Sandalwood High School.

Students in the program will have an opportunity to earn their high school diploma and associate in science degree by the time they graduate.

Students in the program will also receive mentoring, job shadowing, summer internships available within STEM careers through the two companies: JEA and Deutsch Bank.

“It leads to workforce experience at JEA and Deutsche Bank in cybersecurity, which is relevant and open right now as far as workforce opportunity,” Duval County School Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti said.

Student Jasmine White is a freshman at Sandalwood and said she jumped at this opportunity. “It’s a really good opportunity for me to be out there and to get a head start in my college degree,” White said.

She also said the program offers her something to study that she’s actually interested in. “I thought it was pretty interesting because I like computers and dealing with technology and things of that nature,” she said.

By the time the students finish 10th grade, they will have completed their high school requirements. During this time, the students would take trips to the companies’ sites and spend the day learning about the industry and its opportunities after graduation.

By the start of 11th grade, students then work towards their associate in science degree at FSCJ while receiving training at JEA or Deutsche Bank on STEM career fields.

When students graduate from high school, they also will be offered priority interviews for a position within the companies. Students are also eligible for paid summer internships, where they can gain knowledge in a real-world setting.

Cox Media Group