Pathways Available
Students in the pre-college program are organized into classifications first, and then into pathways. This structure ensures that students in the same pathway remain together throughout high school while still engaging with peers across their classification and occasionally with the larger pre-college group.
Engineering
Structural engineering, computer engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, robotics, chemical engineering
Mathematics and Applications
Physics, mathematics, chemistry
Business
Business analytics, IT, supply chain, economics, strategic management, accounting, finance, marketing, sales, human resources
Liberal Arts
Foreign language, pre-law, history, preparation for college-level teaching
Medicine
Pre-medical studies
Admissions Requirements
Students must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA throughout middle school or receive special permission from the dean.
Freshman Year (9th Grade)
All students in pre-college take a shared set of courses during their first year. This year condenses the majority of eighth-grade material and the entirety of ninth-grade content from today’s system into one accelerated curriculum.
Freshman year functions as a “weed-out” stage, designed to challenge students’ capacity for memorization and higher-level concepts. Only those who demonstrate the ability to handle this rigor will continue. Straight A’s are rare, even for high-performing students. Pathway-specific classes do not begin until later.
Sophomore Year (10th Grade)
By sophomore year, students divide into categories but not yet into specific pathways. For example, mathematics and engineering students will share certain classes, though some courses may overlap with medicine. Business and liberal arts students will follow a similar pattern.
This structure allows flexibility for students who wish to switch categories. At the end of the year, each student chooses a pathway. By this point, students will have completed the equivalent of tenth grade and half of eleventh grade in today’s system, thanks to the faster pace.
Schedules run from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM each day.
Junior Year (11th Grade)
In their junior year, students split fully into their pathways. About 10 percent of courses involve all pre-college students, 40 percent are category-specific, and 50 percent are pathway-specific.
This is when specialized, hands-on learning begins. Engineering students use real tools and labs, pre-med students study biochemistry, and pre-law students conduct mock trials.
Every junior participates in both an SAT preparation class and a college admissions preparation class, held from 4:00 to 5:00 PM daily. This extends the school day to 5:00 PM but replaces the time many students would otherwise spend on outside tutoring or college applications. By the end of junior year, every student completes their college applications, freeing the summer for work, further study, or rest.
Senior Year (12th Grade)
Senior year focuses intensely on each student’s pathway, while also ensuring practical readiness for adulthood. The schedule returns to 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, though many students stay later for research or extracurricular activities.
In addition to pathway courses, seniors take life skills classes such as cooking, personal finance, and civic literacy. The goal is to provide broad, essential knowledge without reducing focus on advanced academic preparation. All students completing civic literacy will also register to vote.
Sports and Physical Education
Each school day includes a 30-minute physical education period. Students alternate between eating lunch and exercising, ensuring that everyone gets both. The PE program follows a consistent weekly routine: three days of weight training and two days of cardio. This structure encourages students to build lifelong habits of fitness and wellness.
College Preparation
During the final semester of junior year, all students complete a guided college admissions class. Instructors introduce students to a variety of colleges, help them select a balanced list of reach, match, and safety schools, and teach them to navigate the admissions process with confidence.
This systematic approach reduces the guesswork that often leads students to apply based only on cost or amenities. Instead, they learn how to choose colleges that fit their strengths and ambitions.
What Happens if a Student Fails Out?
Pre-college programs are intentionally rigorous. Not all students will succeed, and that is part of the design. Much like how only 75 percent of first-year engineering students at Purdue continue past their first year, pre-college will demand resilience.
Failure does not mean the end of opportunity. Students who leave pre-college can still pursue vocational training or general education pathways that lead to rewarding careers. Second chances and exceptions will exist, but the primary goal is to provide the right education for each student rather than force everyone into the same mold.
Transfers from General or Vocational Schools
Students may transfer into pre-college up until the beginning of sophomore year.
- Transfers at the winter semester must complete an accelerated “crash course” over the break.
- Transfers at the start of sophomore year must attend intensive summer school to catch up.
After this point, transfers are allowed only with principal approval.
State Elite STEM Pre-College (SES)
Each state will host at least one State Elite STEM Pre-College school. These institutions admit only sophomores through seniors and focus exclusively on mathematics and engineering.
SES schools function as public boarding schools with advanced resources, research opportunities, and rigorous programs rivaling private prep schools. Admission is merit-based and free, ensuring access for gifted students regardless of family income.
Access for Students Without a Local Pre-College
Students in areas without a pre-college option may:
- Apply to SES schools and attend as boarders.
- Join a host family program, where local families volunteer to house pre-college students in exchange for compensation and regular inspections.
This ensures that qualified students, even in rural areas, have access to pre-college education.