The Greater Southern Tier STEM Academy is a Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) that opened in September 2016 and enrolls a minimum of 40 students each year. The collaborative partnership of school districts, higher education, and business employers prepares Students in the Greater Southern Tier for high-skills jobs of the future in advanced technical manufacturing, clean energy and health care. This 4-6 year model includes college-level, credit-bearing coursework and allows students to choose their own "pathways" to high-skill jobs.

The GST STEM Academy has redesigned secondary education to offer students opportunities to learn the skills necessary to be successful in STEM careers. The GST STEM Academy provides students with:

• Cost-free, grades 9-14 STEM education (students may complete the program in up to 6 years)
• Cost-free Associate degree or the two-year degree that is the industry-recognized standard
• Workplace learning that includes 1:1 mentoring, worksite visits, job shadowing, internships and apprenticeships
• Intensive, individualized academic support by K-12 and college faculty that enables students to progress through the program at their own pace
• Commitment from participating business partners for students to be first in line for job consideration following completion of the program

The STEM Academy is located at 2634 Goff Road in Corning, NY. Students spend their ninth- and 10th-grade years at the STEM Academy and their 11th- and 12th-grade years are spent at GST BOCES and Corning Community College. Years 13-14 (if needed) take place at CCC.

Rob Sherburne serves as the principal of the STEM Academy.

The school employs an English Language Arts teacher, math teacher, science teacher, social studies teacher, DDP teacher, PE/health teacher, Special Education teacher (beginning in fall 2018) and teaching assistants who work closely together to integrate the subjects in lessons. They are assisted by a part-time STEM instructional coach. The school also has a full-time school counselor on staff and will add a college liaison in July 2018.

Eighth-graders in participating districts can apply. Along with an application and a form that parents fill out, applicants must submit written recommendations from teachers and school counselors. All application materials must be submitted to the offices of the middle school counselor in the student's district of residence. Applicants also will participate in an interview session.

Students who meet the requirements but who are not selected will be placed on a waiting list for their school. Should a slot become available before the start of the school year, it will be offered to a student from the waiting list for that school. If all the available slots for a particular school are not filled, a lottery will be held among students on the waiting lists for all the component school districts.

Yes, home school districts will transport students from their home school to P-TECH in the morning, as well as from P-TECH back to their home school in the afternoon.

Yes, students are bussed back to their home schools in time to participate in sports or other after-school activities.

Yes, students will be able to walk with their peers during graduation, although they won’t actually receive their diploma until they complete their selected program pathway.

• Nearly 30 percent of Americans with an associate degree now earn more than those with bachelor's degrees. (Georgetown University's Center on Education and Workforce)
• A two-year community college degree, at present full rates, costs about $6,262, according to the College Board. A bachelor's degree from a four-year, private residential university costs approximately $158,072.
• The Georgetown Center estimates that 29 million jobs paying middle class wages today require only an associate degree, not a bachelor's degree.
• What makes the P-TECH model so beneficial is that not only are graduates armed with skills to succeed, they pay nothing for the AS and AAS degrees.
• The AS and AAS degrees allow students to continue into a four-year bachelor's degree program if they desire.

The regional business partners are committed to serving as mentors for students throughout their program career, meeting with them in person and by virtual communication, as well as guiding internships and putting graduates in line for jobs within their companies. Participating companies are: Corning Incorporated, Hilliard Corporation, Cameron Manufacturing and Design, Hardinge Incorporated, Vulcraft Group, Dresser-Rand A Siemens Business, Southerntier Custom Fabricators, Guthrie Corning Hospital, Arnot Health, Chemung County Health Department and Hunt Engineers, Architects and Surveyors.