BELLEVILLE, Ill. — If your family is on the fence about college, there are other options to making a good living without a college diploma. That's what educators in Illinois are showing students while making an impact on their community.
Administrators at Belleville Township High School District #201 are dedicated to preparing students for the real world. They realized a traditional college isn't meant for everyone and that's part of the reason they created 'The CAVE' in Aug. 2022.
Superintendent Brian Mentzer said the goal of the center is to show students there's more than one path post-graduation by providing a different perspective.
"Our goal here is to just really expose kids, make sure they understand what the world offers," he said.
'The CAVE' gives students a preview of what real life might be in a trade or career by offering a variety of programs including early childhood education, culinary arts, welding, machining, carpentry, automotive and construction trades. Director Jacob Strausbaugh said giving students a plethora of opportunities is important, so they don't feel like they're being 'pinned in a quarter.'
"This provides not only the atmosphere and the opportunity, but it really gives them a feeling of being justified in their academics in high school and approaching high school graduation with more of a solidified plan put in place," he said.
According to Mentzer, the center has already grown in just two years and added more programs like healthcare and aviation.
"Both of those programs are flourishing. Next year, we're going to add some additional programming which will be trades in the area of aviation, and then some additional pathways for kids in the areas of business, computer, and technology skills," he said.
Not only has the center grown, but according to Strausbaugh, so has the interest from students.
"We're seeing student growth in the programs that were immediately put in when the building was constructed, but now we've also added additional programming, and so that has drawn a lot more student attention as well," he said.
It's attention, that Mentzer said, has also caught the eye of the community.
"They've really embraced it; they really feel like this is a unique way to approach education for high school kids and provide them with some really unique opportunities," he said.
Right now, Strausbaugh said 'The CAVE' is working with about 40 companies and students are currently in the workforce.
"We want to continue to build meaningful relationships between the students and the companies that are agreeing to partner with us," he said.
Mentzer said they want to show the students there are three main pathways once they graduate: college, tech school or straight into the workforce.
"Some of our programs are different in terms of their focus, but at the end of the day, it's at a young age with very low risk. Here's an opportunity," he said.
While it's impacting students greatly, according to Mentzer, it also has a major impact on the community because it's filling workforce gaps.
"That is a huge piece of it because there's obviously a need for skilled labor," he said.
At the end of the day though, Strausbaugh said, it's all about showing students there's an opportunity for everyone.
"Being able to prepare kids, whether it be the four-year college route or two-year junior college or now being able to say that we are equally preparing kids that aren't going to necessarily go that path. It's good to say that we're providing opportunities to touch every single kid regardless of what their future plans are," he said.
According to Mentzer, 'The CAVE' wants to set kids up for success by setting them up with a job that has a livable wage, good health insurance and a retirement plan so they can build a career, and a life based on things they've learned there.
'The CAVE' is only open to juniors and seniors but the district recently put in an 'expedition to THE Cave,' so that freshman and sophomores can see what's offered there.