While some schools may choose to narrow down programming outside of the core curriculum, Austintown Fitch is adding to theirs.

The high school secured a $950,746.26 grant from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to expand their career-tech education program, offered to students as an in-house alternative to similar programs at MCCTC.

"Some [students] WHO ARE KIND OF INTERESTED, THEY CAN TAKE A CLASS OR TWO INSTEAD OF COMMITTING THEMSELVES TO A WHOLE PROGRAM AND SEE IF THEY HAVE INTEREST. We've NOTICED A LOT OF THAT," Fitch High school principal, Salvatore Maiorana, says.

The funding will supplement four of Fitch's career-focused programs: Skilled Trades, Drone Education, Business and Marketing, and Family and Consumer Sciences. The administration says they plan to add more advanced equipment and curriculum based in real world experience to these programs, to help prepare students for life after graduation.

James Fisher, instructor of Skilled Trades tells 21News he's looking forward to adding a variety of tools for hands-on learning across numerous specialized careers, including CNC milling machines, and drills.  "Big thing I'm excited about, we're getting virtual reality welding. You put the glasses on and they will practice welding on a tv monitor in 3D before I send them out to the shop to do things," Fisher adds.

The administration notes that they will also be seeking out more credentials to accompany the supplemental tools.