Marysville Early College High School students will choose from three college and or career pathways in Manufacturing, Information Technology, and Health Sciences. In partnership with Honda, the Union Country Chamber of Commerce and area businesses, students will address real- world industry problems, complete internships, and a capstone research project on a chosen pathway. Next year’s ninth graders will take at least one course from Columbus State Community College and with collaborative planning during their four year high school experience, students can complete their diploma, earn stackable certificates, industry certifications and up to 60 college credits.

“Because of our close ties to industry leaders and proven track record of developing relevant industry credentials, Columbus State understands how important the STEM early college high school will be in preparing a new generation for the highly skilled jobs Honda and other manufacturers are seeking to fill in the future,” said President David Harrison. “Graduates of the Marysville Early College High School will have an enormous advantage upon graduation with not only a high school diploma, but also the postsecondary credentials and real world experience that will position them for both college and career success.”

STEM School designation allows Marysville ECHS to have even greater access to and options with public and private funding opportunities; additional resources and teacher professional development; and serves as affirmation of the robust collaborations that Marysville has forged with its community, higher education and industry stakeholders - partnerships that will ultimately provide a stronger connections and relevancy for the students attending the new high school.

“We have been pleased to partner with Marysville on this innovative project,” said Scot McLemore, Technical Development Manager at Honda North America, Inc. “A company like Honda continues to need associates with strong skills in the STEM disciplines, and the STEM school, together with the option to earn college credit from Columbus State, will provide a great opportunity for local students who are interested in these fields,” McLemore continued.

Marysville ECHS has been supported by a planning team from EdWorks, the Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN), and other STEM schools in the region in a number of ways including technical assistance and teacher professional development. In fact, through an OSLN grant, MECHS will be leveraging the expertise of other schools’ STEM educators and leaders to support and train Marysville’s teachers in STEM-related instructional strategies this summer.

“We are proud the Ohio STEM Committee has recognized the extraordinary efforts of the Marysville ECHS and their partners. The STEM School designation not only highlights the tremendous work of the district leaders and educators, but also provides a catalyst for accessing even more resources and collaborations within Ohio and nationally. I am eager to build upon the work and support our network of STEM schools and educators have provided over the past year,” said Dustin Pyles, Director of Operations for OSLN/BattelleEd.

The Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN) is supported and managed by BattelleEd, a nonprofit venture of Battelle Memorial Institute, in Columbus, Ohio. With the 2014 newly designated STEM schools, OSLN is now comprised more than 30 STEM schools and regional training center sites, directly serving more 21,000 Ohio students and an estimated 185,000 students indirectly through the networks seven regional hubs.

Pyles continued, “This STEM school designation is just the beginning as Marysville transitions to a learning environment that celebrates project-based learning and mastery teaching and learning with active early college collaboration with community and industry partners. This will translate to STEM-related projects that continue to provide real-world relevancy that resonates with students, further preparing them to be successful in post-secondary training and careers.”

Marysville Early College High School will open with a freshmen cohort of 145 students with additional freshmen classes joining each year with a four year complement of 400-600 students.