Rebuilding education: Winchester High School’s P-CAP program inspires classroom and community renewal
Winchester Community High School is under construction.
Not just because of the EF-3 tornado that tore through the small town in March 2024 or the tragic loss of a student less than one month prior. The changes go beyond remodeling a Career and Technical Education (CTE) wing and building new project-based learning (PBL) classrooms.
Winchester’s transformation is part of a broader evolution—redesigning how the rural school serves its 415 students.
“Each week it is becoming more likely for me to attend a university or college. Now that I know I can do great things, I might as well use that mindset to my advantage.”
CHAYSE, P-CAP STUDENT at Winchester community high school
The latest innovation is a partnership with the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) at the University of Indianapolis to implement a new educational model, Indiana Pathways to Careers and Postsecondary (P-CAP).
The Winchester Community High School P-CAP program, called WCHS P-TECH, targets underserved students, many of whom never saw themselves graduating, and helps them become career ready. Students leave with a high school diploma, college credits, an industry-recognized credential, and training for in-demand regional jobs.
The impact on students has been transformational.
“Each week it is becoming more likely for me to attend a university or college. Now that I know I can do great things, I might as well use that mindset to my advantage,” said Chayse, a year one P-CAP student.
WCHS’ P-CAP program design prevents students from falling through traditional education cracks. Consider it one more way WCHS is building something better for its students, staff, and community.
Different by Design
Winchester Community High School has always been committed to innovative education models. The school is an endorsed Early College High School and has a thriving CTE program. But the administration realized they were still missing a population of underserved students.
The incoming eighth-grade class included many academically able, but consistently underperforming students. They lacked engagement, a sense of belonging, and a clear vision for their potential. Without help, these students might drop out or face limited job opportunities after high school.
“No matter what you’re doing in a school, if there is something else you can do, you have to take that dive,” said WCHS principal Karla Reed.
The WCHS P-CAP program approaches education in a non-traditional way. Students move through high school as a small cohort. The program uses project-based learning, which addresses academic standards through real-world scenarios and student-led inquiry. Projects come from partnerships with local businesses.
Three career pathways—welding, advanced manufacturing, and agriculture—align with the local community’s biggest employment needs. As a result, students gain a direct route for postsecondary study and long-term employment—all from the moment they start ninth grade.
Small School, Big Outcomes
WCHS P-TECH launched in 2023 with 12 eighth-grade students. The year one results show a powerful transformation in progress.
The redesign of P-CAP classrooms into colorful, open learning spaces is just the beginning. The students are changing too. Once failing middle schoolers now are passing classes, many with A’s and B’s. Quiet, back-of-the-classroom kids are collaborating with CEOs to solve business challenges. Formerly disengaged learners are connecting to their education in more meaningful ways—ones that provide new aspirations and hope.
P-CAP student grades, GPAs, and attendance are all up, and outperforming the rest of the freshmen class.
The model caters to students who learn differently. A young man with dyslexia who struggled in traditional classes has become a top public speaker, creative thinker, and strong leader. The P-CAP program plays to his strengths to help him thrive academically.
But WCHS P-TECH is celebrating more than just academic success. Students are benefiting in social-emotional ways as well.
The cohort connects students as a group. They operate as a family, lending each other support and encouragement. Students feel comfortable speaking up or admitting when they struggle. The group has learned to rely on each other personally and academically. School has transformed from a “must go” daily activity to a “can’t miss” life opportunity.
“We gave the students a marketing problem that the industry has struggled with for the past 20 years. Their presentations were thoughtful and brought insight into new ways that we did not see,” said James.
James Miller, CEO of FRank Miller Lumber
Building Stronger Community Ties
The P-CAP program’s impact extends beyond school walls. WCHS P-TECH has forged more than 50 industry partnerships, becoming a catalyst for community engagement. Classroom projects involve companies like US Aggregates, Randolph Farms, Carvantage, and Old National Bank.
One project teamed students with Frank Miller Lumber to boost red oak lumber sales. They interviewed company leaders, talked to hardwood experts, visited the worksite, and shared ideas with executives, including CEO Steve James.
“We gave the students a marketing problem that the industry has struggled with for the past 20 years. Their presentations were thoughtful and brought insight into new ways that we did not see,” said James.
James’ company supports WCHS P-TECH to educate local students and compete for their employment after high school. Think of it like a basketball coach recruiting promising players. James sees the same opportunity for businesses to build a local talent pipeline.
“The students are put in an atmosphere where growth is not optional, it is required. The students are held accountable and rewarded with positive affirmation. With that as a backdrop, all of these students are impressive,” said James. “The progress is substantial, and you can see it in their confidence. We now have students acting like teachers. It doesn’t get more impressive than that!”
Kristen Weigand serves as the district’s work-based learning coordinator. She develops industry partner collaborations that promote academic and career development.
“Our industry partners provide experiences that our scholars might not normally have. They are able to work alongside them as they move through their four years of high school. This provides them with a look at the upcoming workforce while our scholars gain employment opportunities beyond high school within our own community,” said Weigand.
Classroom learning directly aligned with current business needs and future employability. P-CAP makes it possible.
“When CELL asked who was interested in implementing [P-CAP], we knew we had to go down that road.”
Karla reed, principal at winchester community high school
From New York to Indiana
The Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) model out of New York City inspired Indiana’s P-CAP initiative.
CELL invited schools from its Rural Early College Network to tour New York P-TECH schools in 2022. Randolph Central School Corporation leaders participated, including superintendent Rolland Abraham, WCHS principal Karla Reed, and assistant principal Jaelyn Winkle. Despite differences between the urban schools and the small town of Winchester, the team immediately recognized the potential for their community.
“We saw our kids’ faces on the bodies of those students in New York. When CELL asked who was interested in implementing the model, we knew we had to go down that road,” said Reed.
CELL received a grant from the Indiana Department of Education to bring an expanded version of the school model to the Hoosier state through its P-CAP initiative. WCHS joined the first cohort of pilot schools. Other P-CAP schools include Logansport High School (Logansport, IN), Perry Central Junior-Senior High School (Leopold, IN), and Lincoln High School (Vincennes, IN).
P-CAP builds on the foundational P-TECH concept by bridging the gap between high school and career pathways to address local needs beyond just technology. The initiative targets students experiencing educational disengagement by focusing on relationship-centered learning, hands-on curriculum, and community collaboration.
The P-CAP Promise
WCHS P-TECH will add 12 more incoming freshmen for the 2024-25 school year. As the program grows, Reed and the rest of her staff expect its influence to impact the entire community. The long-term goal is creating a district-wide culture where PBL and career-connected learning transform how students engage with their education.
“When we look forward several years, we want to have turned out students who are thinkers, doers, problem-solvers, and leaders. We want to be responsible for building up this community. WCHS P-TECH is the starting point,” said Reed.
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Indiana Pathways to Careers and Postsecondary (P-CAP) is an initiative of the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) at the University of Indianapolis. Learn more about how your school can implement a P-CAP program.