Academy releases statistics report
Nearly half of students in co-op program entering local workforce
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LEWISTOWN -- Nearly half of the students at the Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology, who were placed in cooperative education agreements with area employers, ended up working there, according to statistics released by the school on Thursday.
During the 2024-25 school year, a total of 50 Academy students were placed in cooperative education arrangements. Of those 50 students, 24, or 48 percent, became employed. Of those 24 students, 22 ended up becoming employed where they were placed in the co-op. Additionally, eight went on to post-secondary education.
These numbers were presented by Academy Principal Mark Crosson to the Academy's Operating Committee during its monthly meeting on Thursday night at the school, located at 700 Pitt St. in Lewistown.
"We are very pleased with where we are," Crosson explained. "We have some fine tuning to do."
While Academy administrators said the co-op program fell just short of their goal, the future seems extremely bright.
"We were hoping to hit our goal of 40," said Academy Administrative Director Laura Hicks, who was still pleased with the numbers. Next year already looks very promising due to students working at jobs this summer where they will be placed at once the new school year starts.
"We have students that are working this summer, who will be rolling right over into the school co-op program as seniors. They will go full-time after the school year starts. So we are ready to hit the ground running for next year."
Of the 50 students placed in co-op, the students were from the following programs:
Electrical installation -- 13
Auto mechanics technology -- 10
Construction trades -- 6
Health professions – 6
Early childhood education -- 5
Precision machining -- 5
Cosmetology – 2
Collision repair -- 2
Mechatronics, robotics and automation -- 1
Of the 24 students who became employed, the students were from the following programs, and how many became employed at the co-op placement:
Electrical installation -- 9/9
Auto mechanics technology -- 4/3
Precision machining -- 3/3
Construction trades -- 3/2
Early childhood education -- 2/2
Collision repair -- 1/1
Cosmetology 1/1
Health professions -- 1/1
"That is very, very high," Crosson said. "What we're most pleased with is the 22 of 24 students who got positions at their co-op."
A total of 32 businesses participated in cooperative agreements during the 2024-25 school year, including 12 for the first time.
Additionally, there were 65 participants in the Academy's job shadow program, including a total of 18 locations and six new locations.
The Academy also held career readiness activities. A total of 146 participants took part in the career fair, with 65 doing the same in job shadowing, 50 in the co-op, 42 in post-secondary school visits, 34 in industry tours, 25 in internships and nine in special events.
Personnel
The Operating Committee approved the following personnel hires:
Elizabeth Harvey as a health room aide, effective Aug. 20, 2025, at an hourly rate of $21.00. She replaces Kimberly Walters, due to retirement.
Alston T. McCloskey and Oake N. Molek as summer maintenance apprentices, effective pending new hire documentation, at an hourly rate of $14.00 for the summer months.
Charles R. Culbertson as the maintenance assistant, effective pending new hire documentation, at an hourly rate of $18.36.
Next Meeting
The Operating Committee will hold its next meeting on Thursday, Aug. 14, at 6 p.m. There is not a meeting scheduled for July.