BHS launches Learning Communities and Pathways

Begins with current freshman

(BATESVILLE, Ind.) – Batesville Schools is unveiling two learning communities that will give students a leg up in the future.

As part of their Bulldog Ready initiative, the school has developed two learning communities which are Innovation & Design as well as Service Industry. 

This will give students, starting with current freshman, opportunities for career exploration and to also prove their readiness for enrollment, employment, or enlistment after graduation. 

Within the two learning communities, career interests will be further broken down so students can narrow their focus to what they're interested in.

“We researched the Batesville area’s workforce needs and the trends in career choices among our students and settled on these two main divisions. From there, we delved deeper and crafted pathways and concentrations. These align with course sequences the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) has outlined that will be part of the high school diploma for the Class of 2029 and beyond,” said Bulldog Ready Coordinator Kyle Laker. 

Current sophomores and juniors will not be included in the learning communities since the new model will be phased in one year at a time, beginning with the Class of 2028.

“As these freshmen students and their parents review the pathway options, some might determine that a particular area of career interest is unavailable.  While the pathways feature courses that lead to credentials, students will still have room in their schedules to pursue other interests during the remaining class periods,” Laker added. 

For students who are in eighth grade or younger, the new Indiana high school diploma will give them opportunities to earn ‘readiness seals’ that align with their ambitions of either going to college, entering the workforce, or entering the military. 

Students can also complete additional courses in an area of interest that enables them to earn an industry-credentialed skill before they graduate. 

“Our new pathways and concentrations will allow students to earn these credentials,” Laker added. “We are attempting to provide pathways for the most common career choices, but we can’t meet every individual student’s desire for a personalized pathway. However, that doesn’t mean students can’t take other classes they are interested in. Our goal is to enhance, not inhibit, the student experience.”

Learning communities, pathways, and concentrations will include:

Innovation and Design Learning Community

• Agriculture Pathway

• Engineering Pathway

• Skilled Trades Pathway

• Transportation Pathway

Service Industry Community

• Human Services Pathway

• Health Sciences Pathway

• Digital Technology

All freshmen and sophomore classes will be taken at BHS. Beginning their junior year, students will have a variety of off-site options. Opportunities include taking classes at Ivy Tech’s Batesville campus and the Southeastern Career Center, as well as participating in authentic work-based learning opportunities, job shadows, and other career exploration activities with local employers.  Students will work closely with professionals in their field of interest, adding relevance to their studies and connecting classroom knowledge to success in the workplace.

“This is our first year offering the pathways model at BHS,” Laker emphasized, “but this has been in the planning stages for a long time. We are confident that students will graduate with increased exposure to career options and a better idea of what they do and don’t want to pursue after receiving their high school diploma. We think it will be beneficial to all students.”