Graduating from high school and college

Seven Rocket Academy students earned certificates and technician degrees from Lakeshore College in May, weeks before receiving their Cedar Grove-Belgium High School diplomas.

The seniors have been enrolled in the district’s charter school that teaches skilled trades while providing opportunities to work for area businesses in their desired field, and job shadow and tour area companies.

The academy is open to any student in Wisconsin. Those living outside the Cedar Grove-Belgium School District may join via open enrollment.

“We are incredibly proud of our students who will graduate with technical degrees from Lakeshore College while also having a high school diploma and countless industry certifications,” Cedar Grove-Belgium Supt. Elizabeth Freeman said.

“We are immensely proud of our partnership with Rocket Academy,” Lakeshore College President Paul Carlsen said,  and appreciate how students are getting skills in high-demand, high-wage fields. We appreciate Dr. Freeman’s leadership role in supporting and growing our partnership.”

The seven students earned certificates in  industrial welding, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning installation and HVAC technician.

Carlsen said Lakeshore College has seen a bump in enrollment because of its relationship with the academy.

“The partnership with Rocket Academy means more high school students are earning college degrees, often before earning their high school diploma, and they are set up to help fill the skilled trades pipeline with our regional employers,” he said.

The concept of Rocket Academy came from industry professionals who are having an increasingly difficult time finding qualified employees.

Former Cedar Grove-Belgium Supt. Chad Brakke developed the idea for such a school in 2021.

The School Board supported the plan, and a board of governance, essentially the academy’s school board, was formed. David Friend, an agriculture teacher at Kiel High School who holds master’s degrees in agriculture and consumer science, along with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and agriculture education, was hired as the academy’s director.

The school opened in 2023 in the high school’s technical education area and moved the next year to a new building in Belgium.

Core high school classes such as English are taught through courses called workplace fundamentals, interpersonal skills and career planning and networking, Friend said.

Science and math are oriented more toward a student’s career choice, such as welding, machining and HVAC.

“Rocket Academy’s partnership with Lakeshore College is an excellent example of what school districts and technical colleges can achieve when they share a vision of what’s best for students and support local employers,” Carlsen said.

For more information on Rocket Academy, visit https://rocketacademy.wildapricot.org.