GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A Green Bay area public charter school is now on the grounds of a college campus.
The Northeast Wisconsin School of Innovation moved from Cherry Street in Green Bay to Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.
Students at the school, grades 7-12, now have more opportunities.
What once was the NWTC Agriculture Center now houses 300 NEW School of Innovation students.
The school is proficiency based and measures individual growth rather than grades.
“What we really focus on is students who just haven’t been successful in a traditional model,” said NEW School of Innovation Principal Jason Johnson. “Some of our students weren’t engaged because they didn’t care what they were doing, some students were struggling with mental health,”
The students are exposed to the same standards as traditional schools but in more engaging ways.
“One of our classes is Heroes and Villains — language arts taught through comic books. We have a science class called Alpha to Omega, and it’s literally just looking at the science around you and the math,” explained Johnson.
Senior Michelle Sierra tells FOX she feels like she belongs here.
“I like it, I like pulling up to a college campus rather than a high school campus. I feel different.”
Students in grades 10 through 12 take dual credit courses on campus.
“We have students that are very close to earning industry certifications along with that, so not just taking college classes but having those credentials that they can go out and get a job that next day,” says Johnson.
Some students plan on continuing their education at NWTC after graduation.
“My support is here — I’ve talked to my counselors and my teachers, and they said even though I won’t be in high school, they will still be here to support me next year,” says student Paige Bartol.
Students can work on things such as welding and personal care worker certifications.
“Having the students here on campus, we are able to expose them to careers that they might have not known existed but lead to really high wage, high skilled careers, and they support the industries in the region,” says NWTC Vice President of Learning, Kathryn Rogalski.
Bartol says being here makes her work harder.
“Your surroundings are just so motivating and make you want to be here, make you want to excel, make you want your future to be amazing,” says Bartol.
Most of the students will be first-generation college students, meaning their parents did not earn a bachelor’s degree.
Students interested in applying to the NEW School of Innovation can apply here.
