Students test drive their future in STLCAPS

Students test drive their future in STLCAPS
Posted on 01/30/2020
Health sciences student at SSM St. ClareSt. Louis Centers for Advanced Professional Studies (STLCAPS) allow Mehlville High School and Oakville High School juniors and seniors to work in professional environments and make valuable industry connections before graduating high school.

“STLCAPS is a partnership with various school districts throughout St. Louis,” said John DeWalle, Director of Career and College Readiness for Mehlville School District. “In that program, students are test-driving their futures.”

STLCAPS courses currently include Global Business and Entrepreneurship; Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing; Medicine, Health and Bioscience; and Technology and Solutions and Logistics. The 2020-2021 school year will also feature a Teaching Careers in Education pathway.

“I thought it would provide good exposure to different fields of engineering, since I’m not sure which one I want to branch into yet,” Oakville High School student Kyle Gokin said. “It will get me out there to see what different engineers do.”

Instead of being based in a classroom, students learn in a place of business. For example, the engineering students often visit companies in St. Louis to explore different engineering careers available to them, and health and bioscience students are based at local hospitals.

“It has given me a more well-rounded education,” Oakville High senior Allyson Turner said. “While it’s focused on medical and health sciences, I’m also learning how to speak, prepare a presentation and engage an audience.”

Students should speak to their counselors if they’re interested in enrolling in an STLCAPS course for the 2020-2021 school year.


Student Choice Program Night

Parents and students can learn more about STLCAPS and our other choice programs at our Student Choice Program Night. The event will be held Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. in Nottelmann Auditorium (3200 Lemay Ferry Rd).
The Mehlville School District strictly prohibits discrimination and harassment against employees, students or others on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or sex including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity and other characteristics protected by law. The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: contact Adam Smith at 314-467-5006 or [email protected].