Stark High School offers alternative learning for Stark students
CANTON – Stark High School is adapting to the needs of today’s students.
They can now cook up tasty creations in the school’s newer culinary lab, learn to drive and take part in the school’s first certified nurse assistant classes.
The community school is the former Life Skills Center that opened in 1977. In 2017, the school that caters to high schoolers seeking drop-out prevention and credit recovery was renamed Stark High School and moved to its 1379 Garfield Ave. SW location.
Principal Carly Hart said any Stark County student is welcome to attend, including those who are not behind in credits. Stark High School provides a different learning environment with a variety of programs aimed at preparing for adulthood.
About 100 14- to 21-year-olds are enrolled in the high school, with an additional 23 people in the 22 Plus program that caters to older students with online courses to meet their schedules.
Traditional high school students attend classes Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, students can come in and work individually with teachers. It also allows teachers to have professional development and planning time, Hart said.
Like traditional public schools, Stark High School falls under the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and receives a state report card.
Students must achieve the same number of credits and participate in exams just like their peers at traditional public schools.
Last school year, 37 students graduated, one of its largest classes.
What does Stark High School offer?
Besides offering traditional classes, students can explore different pathways to reach graduation.
The school introduced a culinary arts program as a club four years ago. It has grown into a career-tech culinary arts program with 28 students, Hart said.
“We wanted to build off that and stay career-tech education focused,” she said. “There is a lot of opportunity for our students.”
The school has added a health science lab, offering a state-tested nursing assistance program, phlebotomy and sports medicine. In the future, students will be able to obtain their personal training certification.
Stark High recently added a full weight room and wellness center.
“We have a career readiness mindset,” Hart said. “We want them to be completely ready for the future.”
Building student bonds with their families and the community is another goal.
The school partners with local organizations to provide training and skills as well as provide assistance to families.
Students visit the Martin Center in Canton to play basketball, and a partnership with the YMCA provides mentoring.
The Salvation Army is providing an art journaling program this year, Hart said.
Among their partnerships is paid training program through Project Rebuild. Through the Youth Building America program students learn hands-on construction trades skills while working alongside professionals.
Free driver’s education course
This school year, teens can take a free driver’s education class.
Students learn in the classroom as well as get time behind the wheel with an instructor.
Hart said many young people cannot afford the driving classes required to get a license, as it can cost up of $500, which is a barrier to obtaining work or attending post-secondary education or training.
Hawk’s Nest Community Support Agency
The school also offers an in-house agency that focuses on the whole student, not just their education.
Spearheaded by Rachel Gaul, the school’s family and community liaison, the in-house Hawk’s Nest Community Support Agency’s goal is to provide assistance to not just the student in the school setting but also their family, whatever the need.
Hart, Gaul and three other staff members have social workers backgrounds.
“This is where our original heart is and it bleeds into the education piece,” Hart said. “We can’t get them education unless we can help them with all their needs.”
Sometimes those needs are more complex, but school leaders hope providing assistance or pointing families in the right direction can ease some of the burdens and allow kids to focus on studying.
Throughout the year, the agency has hosted a variety of events, including Narcan training, career fairs and community resource fairs.
Families have been able to get free haircuts and take home bags of clothing.
“We love including our families in these events,” Gaul said. “We are trying to build up engagement with the kids and the community and morale. We want our kids to be here and we want our families to be here, too. We take pride in building up our services and support for our families.”
Many of the staff have been with the school for more than a decade, Hart said, and they are committed to students and the vision of the school.
“Our vision is to support students holistically in school and community,” Hart said. “We are driven by that mission. We have been around (for some time). We are quiet but mighty. Our students know where we are and come to us if they need something. And we wrap ourselves around them and take care of them.”
Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or [email protected].
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