Rather than choosing between a traditional college-preparatory education and career readiness, Benedictine delivers both.
The integration of the Beacon Program and Pathways creates a comprehensive educational model that develops the whole young man while preparing him for meaningful work, higher education, military service, entrepreneurship, and the workforce.
The landscape of education is changing. For generations, the measure of a successful high school was simple: acceptance into college. Today, that benchmark is no longer enough.
Rapid advances in artificial intelligence, automation, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, skilled trades, entrepreneurship, and digital technologies are fundamentally reshaping the workforce.
The graduates who thrive over the next decade will not simply possess academic knowledge—they will possess adaptability, technical competence, leadership, creativity, and purpose.
Our goal is not simply graduation. Our goal is preparation.
Benedictine Pathways
Pathways prepares students for their future.
| Occupations | Median Salary | Annual Job Openings | Job Growth (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 | 7,600 | 5% |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists & Technicians | $66,120 | 6,600 | 3% |
| Forensic Science Technician | $72,060 | 2,800 | 13% |
| Operations Research Analysts | $88,940 | 7,500 | 12% |
| Psychologist | $99,110 | 11,300 | 6% |
| Bioengineers & Biomedical Engineers | $109,370 | 1,200 | 8% |
| Data Scientist | $120,230 | 24,800 | 35% |
Drag it or scroll sideways to follow all five stops.
STEM
Clubs in this pathway
Every freshman takes the Indigo assessment. It is not a test and there are no wrong answers — it reports back how he works, what motivates him, and where his strengths already are.
Indigo, explained for parentsSophomores put on a VR headset and spend a day inside the job, practicing real tasks safely before committing to a field.
How Transfr VR worksCCP is a way for our students to gain collegiate experience and college credit while in high school. Taking CCP classes builds comfort with collegiate coursework and saves our students money and time when they attend a college or university that accepts CCP credits.
College Credit Plus summary (PDF)| Occupations | Median Salary | Annual Job Openings | Job Growth (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcast Sound & Video Technicians | $60,150 | 9,800 | 1% |
| Camera Operator & Video Editors | $75,100 | 5,600 | 3% |
| Public Relations Specialists | $74,750 | 23,000 | 2% |
| Lighting Technicians | $68,060 | 600 | −5% |
| Producers & Directors | $90,360 | 12,100 | 4% |
| Special Effects Artist & Animators | $102,030 | 4,200 | 0% |
| Advertising, Promotions, & Marketing Managers | $165,780 | 36,300 | 6% |
| Occupations | Median Salary | Annual Job Openings | Job Growth (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Actor | – | 6,300 | 0% |
| Set & Exhibit Designers | $75,240 | 2,200 | 1% |
| High School Teacher | $72,040 | 63,500 | 0% |
| Music Directors & Composers | $73,710 | 4,200 | 1% |
| Lighting Technicians | $68,060 | 600 | −5% |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 | 3,200 | 1% |
| Producers & Directors | $90,360 | 12,100 | 4% |
| Art Directors | $114,850 | 12,200 | 4% |
Drag it or scroll sideways to follow all five stops.
Fine Arts
Clubs in this pathway
Every freshman takes the Indigo assessment. It is not a test and there are no wrong answers — it reports back how he works, what motivates him, and where his strengths already are.
Indigo, explained for parentsCCP is a way for our students to gain collegiate experience and college credit while in high school. Taking CCP classes builds comfort with collegiate coursework and saves our students money and time when they attend a college or university that accepts CCP credits.
College Credit Plus summary (PDF)| Occupations | Median Salary | Annual Job Openings | Job Growth (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fundraisers | $72,550 | 10,000 | 6% |
| Human Resource Specialists | $75,940 | 73,700 | 6% |
| Market Research Analysts | $78,760 | 82,000 | 7% |
| Accountants & Auditors | $83,680 | 115,300 | 5% |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $105,070 | 17,100 | 1% |
| Financial Analyst | $103,570 | 29,500 | 7% |
| Financial Manager | $166,570 | 65,600 | 10% |
Drag it or scroll sideways to follow all five stops.
Entrepreneurship
Clubs in this pathway
Every freshman takes the Indigo assessment. It is not a test and there are no wrong answers — it reports back how he works, what motivates him, and where his strengths already are.
Indigo, explained for parentsCCP is a way for our students to gain collegiate experience and college credit while in high school. Taking CCP classes builds comfort with collegiate coursework and saves our students money and time when they attend a college or university that accepts CCP credits.
College Credit Plus summary (PDF)| Occupations | Median Salary | Annual Job Openings | Job Growth (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer & Helpers | $47,120 | 120,000 | 7% |
| Semiconductor Processing Technicians | $51,430 | 3,400 | 8% |
| Construction Equipment Operators | $59,600 | 42,500 | 4% |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, & Steamfitters | $63,800 | 42,000 | 7% |
| Electricians | $63,190 | 72,700 | 9% |
| Construction Managers | $114,990 | 49,700 | 9% |
| Occupations | Median Salary | Annual Job Openings | Job Growth (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veterinary Technologists & Technicians | $47,380 | 13,400 | 9% |
| Surgical Assistants & Technologists | $64,700 | 8,600 | 5% |
| Health Information Technologist & Medical Registrars | $68,020 | 3,000 | 16% |
| Radiologic & MRI Technologist | $81,390 | 15,300 | 5% |
| Registered Nurse | $97,550 | 180,800 | 6% |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 | 13,400 | 12% |
| Physician & Surgeon | $275,930 | 22,100 | 4% |
Drag it or scroll sideways to follow all five stops.
Vocations
Clubs in this pathway
Every freshman takes the Indigo assessment. It is not a test and there are no wrong answers — it reports back how he works, what motivates him, and where his strengths already are.
Indigo, explained for parentsSophomores put on a VR headset and spend a day inside the job, practicing real tasks safely before committing to a trade.
How Transfr VR worksCCP is a way for our students to gain collegiate experience and college credit while in high school. Taking CCP classes builds comfort with collegiate coursework and saves our students money and time when they attend a college or university that accepts CCP credits.
College Credit Plus summary (PDF)Earn official certifications and fast track your success.
CompTIA A+ is the foundational certification for technologies ranging from security to networking to virtualization including cloud computing. It is considered the industry standard for launching and growing a career in IT related fields.
AWS Welding Certification is an official credential from the American Welding Society that proves a welder has the skill to make high-quality welds matching industry standards. The Certified Welder (CW) is the basic entry point: it tests hands-on ability with specific processes like MIG, TIG, or stick welding on plate or pipe.
IC3-GS6 Digital Literacy is a series of three certifications that validates an advanced understanding of digital literacy and indicates that the candidate has the technical foundation needed to advance successfully along their educational and employment paths and support the development of more specialized technological skills.
Home Builders Institute provides a Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training (PACT) program, which guarantees every student masters the knowledge needed to be employed in an entry-level job in the building industry. HBI’s PACT curriculum integrates contextual, performance-based learning with vocational and academic skills training in the classroom.
OSHA 10-hr-1 certification teaches basic safety and health information to entry-level workers in construction and general industry. Entry-level workers with this credential have industry-specific knowledge and skills that help prevent injuries and keep workplaces safe and productive.
Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED certification, officially titled Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED, covers how to recognize and care for burns, cuts, sudden illness, head, neck and back injuries, and heat and cold emergencies, and how to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies using CPR and an automated external defibrillator. Students who successfully complete the course earn a two-year Red Cross certification.
Enhanced student engagement & motivation through tailored learning experiences of their choosing.
We want improved academic performance and preparedness for continuous education, along with giving our students ownership in their chosen coursework, creating intentionality in their academic journey.
2026 student survey
We are building our curriculum around the passions/interests of our students!
167
Benedictine High School · Fall 2026
167 new students are participating in STEM or Vocational related coursework in the fall of 2026.
10%
Association for Career and Technical Education
The Association for Career and Technical Education highlights that students in CTE programs have a 10% higher graduation rate than their peers in traditional programs.
$59,229
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics cites that CTE fields offer students a chance to make above median income levels post-high school ($59,229).
FUTURESTUDENT
Be a Bengal for a Day! Experience Beacon Pathways in action and see what it’s all about.
CURRENTSTUDENT
Book a counseling session to explore Pathways and how it fits into your schedule.
“Taking the Computer Repair class at Benedictine gave me skills I can actually use outside of school. Passing my CompTIA A+ certification test on the first try was EXCITING! All 10 of us in the class earned our certifications, which was cool. Now I’ll be able to work over the summer, make some money, and get real experience in IT while I’m still in high school.”
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Kai Caldwell
Class of ’27
“Education is changing, and we have to change with it. For a long time, we measured success by whether a student got accepted into college, but today families are asking a bigger question: Will my son be prepared to succeed in the future? At Benedictine, we believe the answer has to be yes. Through the Beacon Program and Pathways, we’re giving our young men the rigorous academics, mentorship, leadership development, career exploration, and technical skills they need to find their purpose and pursue whatever comes next—whether that’s college, the military, entrepreneurship, skilled trades, or a career. Our goal isn’t simply to prepare students for graduation or college acceptance. Our goal is to prepare them for life.”
STAFF
Matt Falk
Director of Innovation and Career Technical Education
Learning Beyond the Classroom
$1 million 2026 The Makerspace
Announced on June 16, 2026, this transformational gift to the BHS100 centennial campaign funds the Makerspace in the new Student Experience Center: a working shop floor built around innovation, experiential learning and workforce development.
$2 million 2021 The Howley Science Wing
Jack and Lorie Howley have funded Benedictine scholarships for more than a decade. In 2021 they committed $2 million toward renovating the science wing, along with additional scholarship support. The Howley Science Wing opened with a ribbon-cutting on September 11, 2023.
Pathways doesn’t replace the college-preparatory curriculum—it helps organize and elevate it. It connects what students are learning in the classroom to their interests, personal goals, and real-world opportunities. Through Pathways, your son can better understand why what he is learning matters and begin exploring how his education can connect to future careers, college programs, and life beyond high school.
A Pathway is an area of focus that allows your son to explore subjects and careers that interest him beyond his core studies. Pathways give students opportunities to go deeper into areas they are curious about while still receiving a strong Benedictine college-preparatory education.
Students begin exploring potential Pathways during their freshman year through core classes, assessments, and introductory experiences. This gives your son time to discover his interests before making decisions about a specific area of focus.
Formal enrollment in a specific Pathway typically begins during sophomore year, but the process remains flexible based on student interest and readiness. All students begin as Explorers, continuing their traditional college-preparatory coursework while using electives and experiences to explore their interests. Students are not required to major in a Pathway.
That’s encouraged! Students can explore multiple Pathways through electives and core courses. This allows your son to discover different interests before deciding whether he wants to pursue a particular area more deeply.
No. Students will continue to complete the core courses required for a Benedictine education. Pathways add opportunities for exploration through electives and specialized courses—they do not take away from the academic foundation your son needs for college and future success.
No. Benedictine remains a college-preparatory school. Pathways broaden that experience by giving students opportunities to explore vocational, technical, professional, and career-related skills while they are still in high school. The goal is to prepare students for whatever comes next—whether that is college, a career, technical training, or a combination of these paths.
No. Pathways are designed for every Benedictine student. Every student deserves the opportunity to discover his strengths, explore his interests, and gain experiences that can help shape his future. Students can choose core courses and electives that align with their interests and goals.
Students will be introduced to Indigo to help identify their skills, interests, and areas of potential. The results can help students, counselors, teachers, and parents have more informed conversations about which Pathways and electives may be a good fit. The goal isn’t to make an early, permanent decision—it’s to help your son better understand himself and his options.
Some Pathway courses may offer industry-recognized certifications, but not every Pathway or class will result in a certification. The focus is on giving students meaningful experiences, skills, and work they can carry forward. When applicable, certifications can provide students with an additional credential that may help them pursue employment, internships, college programs, or other opportunities.
A digital portfolio is an online collection of your son’s work and accomplishments throughout his four years at Benedictine. Rather than simply receiving a diploma, he will have a record that demonstrates what he has learned, created, and accomplished. Over time, this portfolio can become a powerful supplement to his resume when applying to colleges, internships, jobs, scholarships, or other opportunities.
Pathways are designed to help students leave Benedictine with more than academic credits. Your son will have opportunities to better understand his interests, develop practical skills, explore potential careers, build a portfolio of his work, and, in some cases, earn industry-recognized certifications. Most importantly, he will have a clearer understanding of how his strengths and interests can translate into opportunities after high school.
His schedule is still built around the college-preparatory courses he needs to graduate. What Pathways adds is a shape to the four years, so that each one builds on the last. Here is what that progression looks like.
Digital Portfolio Four years of work, gathered in one place he takes with him.
