Learning never stops, even during summer break! This summer, more than 300 of our high school students took part in STEM camps, internships, job shadowing, field trips and other educational opportunities. More than 100 businesses in the region hosted student interns.

The summer internship program is a great way for students to gain hands-on experience, build confidence, expand their networks, and learn about jobs that may not have been on their radar, said Claire Minto, Supervisor of Academies and Work-Based Learning at MCPSS. “We've seen students completely change their planned college major after an internship, because they discovered a career they never knew existed and fell in love with it,” she said. “These experiences give students the clarity, confidence, and hands-on knowledge to make informed decisions about the path that's right for them."

The MCPSS Career and Technical Education Department worked with business and industry partners and the Mobile Chamber to plan these workforce development initiatives.

Career enrichment summer camps at the school system’s three career tech centers gave middle schoolers hands-on activities, new skills, and insight into numerous CTE fields. The students visited Flight Works Alabama and toured Airbus, where they learned how the CTE programs available in high school connect directly to well-paying jobs in local industries, including aviation, advanced manufacturing, engineering, and technology. During a field trip to Bishop State Community College, the campers learned about coursework and training to prepare students for exciting careers in manufacturing, welding, technology, cosmetology, automotive repair, electrical engineering and more.

STEM Leadership Academy: More than 130 campers tackled a wide variety of mental and physical challenges during the 11th annual JROTC STEM Leadership Academy at Spring Hill College. The students visited industry sites to learn about career opportunities throughout the region, and competed in a robotics competition, working in teams to build a clawbot. They also learned the typical skills of a power line repair technician, thanks to a partnership with Alabama Power and Bishop State Community College.

Job sharing: During the 2025-26 school year, more than 525 students from the 12 high schools visited workplaces to view daily job duties in a wide variety of careers, including health care, engineering, public service, skilled trades and business. These real-world opportunities were made possible by more than 70 industry and community partners – an impressive show of support for workforce development.

MCPSS would like to thank the many businesses, organizations, and professionals who opened their doors and invested their time in our students. Your support helps bridge the gap between the classroom and the workforce and helps our students make informed decisions about their futures.

Here are the school system’s major career clusters:
Agriculture, food and natural resources
Architecture and construction
Arts, A/V technology and communication
Business management and administration
Education and training
Finance
Government and public administration
Health sciences
Hospitality and tourism
Human resources
Information technology
Law, public safety and security
Manufacturing
Transportation and logistics
STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)