A Journey of Transformation: Discovering the Power of Pathways at Edison High School

When Ohio’s graduation requirements began shifting in 2018, Edison High School didn’t just adapt; it completely transformed how it prepares students for the real world. Partnering with EnvisionEdPlus on pathway design, Edison has spent the last eight years aligning coursework and expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) and College Credit Plus (CCP) offerings. Situated in a rural, 208-square-mile stretch of northern Jefferson County, the district serves an estimated 1,400 to 1,600 students. Although the predominantly white community faces economic challenges, with many high school students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, the district remains fiercely dedicated to providing cutting-edge educational opportunities for every learner.

The result? A dynamic learning environment that truly shows the power of educational pathways in preparing students for life after graduation.

A Blueprint for Student Success. What makes Edison’s approach so impactful is its intentional, step-by-step progression. The journey begins early; during 7th and 8th grade, students take career exploration courses to discover the high school pathways available to them. By 9th and 10th grade, they dive into introductory courses in their areas of interest.

As juniors, students go deeper into their chosen fields, engaging in hands-on, work-based learning experiences. Finally, all 12th graders complete a capstone project, which frequently involves a pre-apprenticeship or further work-based learning. Edison currently boasts five dedicated career and college-ready pathways, four of which are CTE programs focused on Biomedical, Engineering, Agriculture & Trades, and Interactive Media. Edison uses Project Lead the Way as their primary curriculum for the Engineering and Biomedical pathways. 

Seeing the Pathways in Motion. A visit to Edison High School was the first stop on the EnvisionEdPlus Pathways in Motion Road Trip. The transformative power of these pathways was on full display. Visitors from three schools in Ohio and Pennsylvania witnessed students actively engaging in work that mirrors real-world careers:

• Hands-on Healthcare and Engineering: Students confidently shared their work, demonstrating skills in robotics, circuit design, creating physical therapy plans, and even practicing how to insert IV lines.
• Student-Led IT Initiatives: In the IT pre-apprenticeship program, managed by the district’s IT department (Apprenti is the registered apprenticeship program sponsor), students manage the district help desk and teach other students how to become IT interns.
• Cultivating the Future: Even middle school students are getting their hands dirty, working in raised-bed gardens alongside agriculture teachers as part of an agribusiness course.
• Real-World Entrepreneurship: Perhaps the most striking example of student readiness is a student who has already earned his unmanned aircraft pilot license and is currently building his own LLC to provide drone-based roof assessments for a local roofing company. 

The students don’t just feel the impact. As engineering teacher Derek Gulling remarked during the visit, “This is what teaching was supposed to be”. By leveraging EnvisionEdPlus PDPlus courses, they plan to offer students experiences in communication and conflict resolution and create an education pre-apprenticeship. 

Innovating for the Future. Edison continues to push the boundaries of traditional education. Recognizing the limitations of being a small, rural district that cannot provide pathways for every single career field, they participated in the 2025 EnvisionEdPlus Pathways Incubator. Through this, they are reimagining their idea of a public service pathway as a new Community Impact pathway focused on engaging students in career-readiness experiences rather than CTE. By leveraging EnvisionEdPlus PDPlus courses, they plan to offer students experiences in communication and conflict resolution and create an education pre-apprenticeship. The pathway will also include a Mock Trial course and competition for students interested in law and public safety. The Edison team is also in the process of designing its sixth and final pathway, Entrepreneurship, which they hope to start in the 2027-2028 school year.  

Edison Local’s Career Counselor Leah Eft shared that the high school is completely reenvisioning the final month of the school year as they pilot “Maymester”. Starting May 4th, the traditional schedule will be replaced by four 90-minute blocks. Teachers in grades 7-12 are designing active, hands-on mini-courses aligned with both their personal passions and content standards, and students have registered for four courses that genuinely interest them. Seniors who have already completed their capstone projects won’t even be required to attend. What a great way to keep students and teachers engaged all year long in learning and growing!

This first stop on the EnvisionEdPlus Road Trip 2026 served as a powerful reminder of what is possible when schools commit to building purposeful pathways. By providing students with early exploration, deep hands-on learning, and real-world application, Edison isn’t just helping students graduate—they are equipping them to thrive. We even made the local news. Check out this Herald Star article to see more.