Profile of Mishawaka High School

Built upon a structural 8-Block Schedule (alternating 85-minute periods over a two-day cycle) featuring an integrated Advisory Block designed for systematic academic tracking, postsecondary counseling, and Graduation Pathway fulfillment.

GPAs are calculated at the completion of each semester. Weighted points are allotted exclusively to honors, Advanced Placement, 
and dual-credit coursework in core classes.

Students in the Class of 2027 must earn a minimum of 40 credits to graduate, with each semester course earning one credit. Students must also satisfy Indiana’s Graduation Pathways requirements by demonstrating employability skills and postsecondary readiness. These requirements may be met through approved experiences and credentials, including work-based or service-based learning, completion of a CTE pathway, qualifying assessment scores, or an industry-recognized certification.completion, test scores, or passing a certification exam.

MHS programs dramatically exceed standard high school curricula, functioning as an intentional pipeline for university credit acquisition:

• Total Ivy Tech Credits (ITCC) Earned: 3,273 credits accumulated by the cohort.
• Total Indiana University (IU ACP) Credits Earned: ~750 credits accumulated via IU Advanced College Project (ACP) courses.
• Advanced Postsecondary Credentials: 
  • 7 Seniors successfully earned the Indiana College Core Certificate (ICC)
  • 4 Seniors successfully earned an associate degree from ITCC.
• Advanced Placement Courses: 12
• Dual Credit Courses in Core Areas: 9 through ITCC and 10 through IU ACP
• Dual Credit Courses in CTE and Electives: 28 through ITCC (including a Technical Certificate in Urban Agriculture) and 6 through IU ACP

Mishawaka High School is officially endorsed and regularly re-evaluated by the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) at the University of Indianapolis as an Endorsed Early College High School. The program explicitly removes financial and academic barriers for first-generation, economically disadvantaged, and traditionally underrepresented college-bound demographics.

Cohort 2026 Early College retention & Outcomes (Initial Cohort: 63 Students):

• 36.5% (23 Students): Earned 15+ milestone college credits prior to university enrollment.
• 27.0% (17 students): Completed the entire 30-hour Indiana College Core (ICC).
• 6.3% (4 students): Earned a full university Associate Degree concurrently with high school graduation.

The Indiana 21st Century Scholars Program is an early-college promise initiative that covers up to 100% of tuition and fees at eligible two- and four-year Indiana public colleges and universities. Eligibility is determined by household income, and students are automatically enrolled at the end of their 8th grade year. Students must graduate from high school with at least a 2.5 GPA and complete college-focused tasks.

Of the 63 total 21st Century Scholars in the 2026 cohort, 33 qualified for the scholarship.

MHS operates a robust career and technical education ecosystem featuring 24 Next Level Programs of Study (NLPS) pathways designed to supply students with industry-recognized certifications and high-demand competencies in career fields that are essential to the local labor market. MHS is also actively expanding its Work-Based Learning (WBL) networks to increase hands-on clinical and workplace placement.

• Cohort 2026 Completion Metrics:
  • 259 Seniors graduated as certified NLPS Concentrators.
  • 59 Seniors achieved elite CTE Completer status.
     
• In-House Technical Education: On-site training labs include Welding, Construction Trades, Culinary Arts, SMART Manufacturing, Biomedical Sciences (PLTW), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA).
   
• Civic & Creative Innovations: Features a custom Agriculture pathway run in cooperation with the City of Mishawaka Parks Department. Offers two locally built pathways specializing in Musical Performance and Public Art.
   
• Vocational Alliances: Strategic off-site partnerships with Vogue (Cosmetology) and the Elkhart Area Career Center (EACC) broadly expand advanced career options not available on campus.