P-TECH, or Pathways in Technology Early College High School, is a unique public-private partnership between Rochester Public Schools (RPS), Rochester Community & Technical College (RCTC), Mayo Clinic, and IBM.
The overarching P-TECH umbrella was launched in New York. Established with the goal to get disadvantaged kids into STEM programs and, ultimately, a long, successful career, the Brooklyn start-up has expanded into several states where private enterprises invest in local student education. Through an RCTC and RPS partnership, Mayo Clinic and IBM can source qualified graduates locally in nursing and Information Technology (IT).
Unlike traditional high school models, P-TECH offers students a seamless pathway to earn both a high school diploma and an associate's degree or industry certification—tuition-free. By blending rigorous academics with real-world learning experiences, P-TECH equips students with the knowledge, skills, and professional connections needed to thrive in high-demand fields.
P-TECH classroom at the RCTC Main Campus.
The RPS P-TECH program, which launched in 2019, has already seen impressive results. However, the first cohort of graduates who have completed the entire four-year program are set to graduate this spring.
Shabnam Qader is in the first cohort of graduating students that have seen the evolution of P-TECH from freshman year to senior year. She is enrolled in the Nursing Program and is expected to graduate this spring by enrolling in the accelerated track.
“The program looks a lot different now than when I started,” says Shabnam. “I interacted with about 30 people in my freshman cohort, and now my accelerated track has me interact with about seven. It’s an intense program, and they really put a lot on your shoulders to figure out yourself, but that’s how the relationships I have in the program were born.”
In the inaugural cohort of nursing students to make it through all four years of the program, 27 students will walk away with RPS with their Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) diploma.
On the opposite side of the P-TECH Nursing Program, Manal Ali is a freshman in her first year of the Nursing Pathway.
“So far, the program has been great,” says Manal. “I’m learning the culture of the other RPS high schools and I’m getting inside Mayo Clinic hospitals for real experience in the typical day of an LPN [Licensed Practical Nurse].”
Through strategic partnerships with industry leaders like IBM (IT Program) and Mayo Clinic (Nursing Program), students gain hands-on experience and make valuable connections that will serve them well beyond the classroom. One of the standout features of P-TECH is its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The program's unique application process, which awards extra points for factors like English Language Learner status and first-generation college attendance, has resulted in a student body that is remarkably representative of the community it serves.
"The lottery system has successfully diversified the program's demographics, with the latest cohort having 85% students of color," shares P-TECH School Lead & Administrator Kari Kolling Anderson. "This not only reflects the true diversity of our community but also provides students with the opportunity to build lifelong connections and expand their social capital."
Junior P-TECH Nursing student Giselle Rios Victoria said her cohort has stuck together since her freshman year.
“My friends and I heard about the program in 8th grade. We all applied and all of us happened to get in. When we run into a challenging problem, we can lean on each other to get through the work we need to get through,” she shares.
As the first cohort of P-TECH students prepares to graduate, the program's impact is becoming increasingly clear. While some will earn their associate's degrees by the end of high school, others will be well on their way to obtaining industry-recognized certifications, positioning them for immediate entry into the workforce.
"Despite the challenges of getting through COVID, our students have shown incredible resilience and determination," Kolling Anderson said. "As we look to the future, we're confident that the lessons learned and the partnerships forged will only strengthen the program, leading to even greater success for our students."
Students of the Nursing Pathway at P-TECH all acknowledge the intense nature of the program. Despite just her second year in the program, Annie Tipsao Soto says her teachers and counselors frequently quote the mantra, “Choose your hard.”
“What they mean by [choose your hard] is that these classes will be hard, but it would also be hard if you didn't have a degree or you weren't prepared for college,” she said.
Across all of the cohorts of the 2024 P-TECH Nursing Pathway students, they want incoming 8th graders to know that P-TECH has been the best way for students to reach their career goals.
Manal Ali, 9th grade: “It’s not as bad as you think! As long as you dedicate time to get your work done, you’ll find yourself thriving.”
Annie Tipsao Soto, 10th grade: “If there’s a pep fest for a football game or something at your home high school, you can schedule your own transportation to get there and P-TECH will work with you and get you to the things you still want to do in high school.”
Amaya James, 10th grade: “Let go of FOMO [Fear Of Missing Out]. You’ll hear about high school experiences and what they’re supposed to be, but there’s so much opportunity here to not only get ahead of people in a field as competitive as nursing but also engage in clubs and meet people from all over the Rochester area.”
Giselle Rios Victoria, 11th grade: “I would’ve told my 8th-grade self to just go with it! As soon as I stopped trying to make P-TECH feel like a traditional high school, I became immersed in the environment around me. You’ll make experiences just like the ones you’d make in high school.”
Shabnam Qader, 12th grade: “I just want, like students who are thinking of enrolling, to know that it's not the same as high school. I'm looking at colleges right now, and I'm applying, and I did take away from the fact that I didn't take AP classes because I'm doing this full time. Yes, furthering your education is a good thing, but know that this pathway is something you actually want to do for your future before committing to it.”
Thanks to RPS voters who approved the Ignite Student Learning Referendum, the P-TECH program will be able to continue.
Registration of P-TECH is only open to incoming 9th grade students. For additional information, please contact Kari Kolling Anderson via her email address, or visit the P-TECH website at https://www.rochesterschools.org//ptech.
Careers in high demand roles require programs like P-TECH. In turn, fulfilling these roles with young people is essential to leave a path forward for even younger generations. Career Development Month has provided a great opportunity to spotlight the work Programs like CTECH and P-TECH. Look at the photos from CTECH on a Monday, and follow us on social media so you know when our spotlight on the P-TECH IT program drops!