Years ago, Larry Garatoni and Steve Hartz recognized a deficit in South Bend education: Students were falling behind due to lack of access to quality educational resources and passionate, skilled teachers.
So they built Career Academy—a charter school in South Bend that would provide students with access to high-quality education in a positive and inspirational environment where they could feel accepted and encouraged.
But they didn’t stop there. Career Academy is continually evaluating its approach and striving to create an educational experience that is challenging, inclusive, and provides students with opportunities to grow through real-world experience.
Fully-certified STEM high school
Fully-certified STEM high school
Project Lead the Way programming
Project Lead the Way programming
Dual Credit Courses
Dual Credit Courses
Internships
Internships & Career Development
Barriers removed. Skills improved.
By creating an exceptional academic environment that both nurtures and challenges, Career Academy empowers students to maximize their talents and pursue their dreams. Here are just a few of the ways we do that:
We are open to all—regardless of ZIP code. Our students are here by choice—and our community is stronger as a result.
We don’t charge tuition, and free or reduced-price lunches are available to qualifying students.
Small and safe. Your student will know—and be known by—their classmates and teachers. Our student to faculty ratios of 9.8 to 1 in the Career Academy High School and 11.3 to 1 in our Middle School are well below the state average of 13.6 to 1.
There’s no substitute for real-world experience.
Through project-based learning, job-shadowing, and meaningful internships, your student will engage with real-world problems in environments that prepare them for high-demand, high- wage jobs opportunities.
Career Academy is one of only a few fully certified S.T.E.M. High Schools in South Bend.
Project Lead the Way Programming. Research demonstrates that students participating in Project Lead the Way outperform their peers in school, are better prepared for college, and are more likely to consider S.T.E.M. careers than other students.
Dual Credit Courses. Your student can earn college credit in high school, saving money and time, and preparing your child for the demands of higher education.
Career Academy students have completed internships with the following companies, to name a few:
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