Project Lead the Way is a not-for-profit organization that partners with public schools and other educational institutions across the country to bring pre-engineering courses to middle and high school students. (Teachers in the program are required to take an 80-hour training course at the Rochester Institute of Technology.)

This structured yet flexible high school program offers students in-depth, hands-on knowledge of engineering and technology-based careers. The three-tiered approach to learning flows from foundation courses, to specialization courses, to a capstone course.

This curriculum prepares students for demanding two-and four-year college engineering programs. College credit is available for seven of the eight high school courses, the exception being Engineering Design and Development. Students and schools must meet certain qualifications to be awarded college credit.

Roughly 90 percent of the students currently taking the PLTW introduction course are freshman, and it is estimated that 65 to 75 percent of the students in this class will take more PLTW courses.

Through the program, every student produces a professional portfolio. This portfolio is beneficial when students decide to apply to engineering school or seek a technically related job after high school.

For more information, contact Joseph Nares at Gloversville High School.

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Once a major is declared the student's schedule is created to expose them to as much of the area of interest as possible over the next four years, while still meeting the state's graduation requirements. For example, an incoming freshman interested in Environmental Conservation would declare Adirondack Studies as his/her major. Over the next four years, the student would take courses to prepare him/her to excel in the Environmental Conservation program at the HFM Career and Technical Center. In addition to State and Regents requirements, the courses for an Adirondack Studies Major at Northville would include: Career and Financial Management, Marine Science, Outdoor Living, Adirondack Science, and Hospitality & Tourism of the Adirondacks. Courses for a Health Services Major, on the other hand, would include: Human Development, Parenting, Biology, Family Dynamics, Psychology, Food & Nutrition and Chemistry.

Currently, Northville offers seven career majors ranging from Adirondack Studies to College Prep (see below for a complete list and descriptions of the Career Majors offered at NCS).

Students are never locked into a major; rather they are encouraged to explore many electives while at NCS. For more information or questions about the Northville Career Majors Program, contact Michael Healey, High School Principal at 518-863-7000, ext. 5208 or go to northvillecsd.k12.ny.us/Guidance/guidance.asp

Northville Central School Career Majors

Adirondack Studies
ADK Studies was created for students planning on pursuing a career in the Adirondacks. Students in this major are exposed to the many wonderful opportunities the Adirondacks have to offer.

Arts and Humanities
Professionals in the field of Arts and Humanities engage in literacy, cultural, artistic, athletic, and entertainment activities. This major encourages students to interpret and communicate concepts and ideas through writing, painting, drawing, speaking, musical expression, and a wide medium of current communication techniques.

Business and Information Systems
Professionals in this field often manage people and/or information for public or private enterprises. The range of responsibilities includes planning, training, promoting, consulting, researching, and reporting. Work in the field of Business and Information Systems result in the creation, storage, retrieval and distribution of information. Career options in this field include an exciting variety for people who enjoy buying, selling, finance, banking, and international trade.

College Prep
The College Prep program is for students who are planning on attending college after high school, but are unaware of what they are interested in as a career. Students in the College Prep program will be exposed to many different college level courses and career paths. Students in this major have the opportunity to earn up to 36 college credits from a combination of college level courses from SUNY Albany and FMCC offered at NCS.

Health Services
Students in the Health Services Major learn the importance of providing services and support to address the physical, mental, and emotional needs of their clients. Using scientific, technical, social and interpersonal skills, students learn to diagnose and treat illness, document care, provide a therapeutic environment and maintain the health of their clients.

Human and Public Service
Students majoring in Human and Public Services study protective, social, educational, and community services. Typically, the careers in this field involve providing assistance to individuals, families, or communities. Human and Public Services careers represent the largest sector of the job market in the United States.

Natural and Agricultural Services
Natural and Agricultural Service majors study technical and scientific content relevant to the earth, its elements and frontiers. Students learn to care for and protect the environment, harvest natural resources, and raise animals. Careers in the field of Natural and Agricultural Services are usually related to agriculture, aquaculture, horticulture or animal sciences.

Engineering/Technology
Students studying in the field of Engineering or Technology use technical knowledge and skill to assemble, inspect, design, maintain, and repair. Study in this major prepares students to use scientific and diagnostic skills to maintain and repair automobiles, buildings, roads, bridges, and manufacturing machinery. The careers in Engineering and/or Technology are typically hands-on. The Engineering/Technology Major is science, math, and technology intensive.

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On Mondays and Wednesdays the students work from the text, learning about entrepreneurship and they begin to write their own Business Action Plans for a business they are interested in starting in the future. We have worked with the Chamber of Commerce and Workforce Solutions. The owner of Plato's Closet spoke with the students about Business Action Plans, marketing, franchising, etc.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays the students operate a bakery. They are responsible for all aspects of the bakery. They are required to interview for their jobs, such as inventory clerk, baker, transporter, cashier, salesperson, general manager, accountant, bookkeeper, payroll clerk, statistician, site set up and clean up, advertiser, and domestic engineer (laundry!). Students must "call in" if they are going to be absent from work. The GM must create a schedule, find replacements, write letters of violation, etc. All students are provided with and sign an employee company policy book. We have every day problems as any business does and the students have to work together as a team and individually, using problem solving and critical thinking skills to solve the problems.

The students routinely use English skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening), math, Excel. They need to work with other students and adults in the building and must call our supplier to place orders.

On Fridays the students hold Board Meetings at which they have a chair and a secretary. The STUDENTS make all decisions regarding the operation of the bakery. We use Roberts Rules.

In June, the students leave with a Business Action Plan, high school credit, possibly college credit, and a paycheck!

For additional information on our program, please contact the program's teacher, Laura Bellinger, at 853-4239.

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