Administration also announces STEM Summit to take place May 7 at Gillette; Innovation Career Pathways will be offered at nearly 30 percent of Massachusetts public high schools next year

Boston - The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today new Innovation Career Pathway designations to 37 high schools, including 20 that are receiving a designated pathway for the first time. These new designations also expand the administration’s Clean Energy pathway to five additional schools. Innovation Career Pathway experiences enable students to explore careers and participate in applied technical and advanced courses. The program gives students the opportunity to participate in work-based learning in high demand industries they may want to pursue, while also bolstering workforce pipelines to meet the needs of employers in areas such as advanced manufacturing, information technology, environmental and life sciences, and health care. This all comes at no cost to the students.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration also announced today that the 2025 Massachusetts STEM Summit will be held on May 7 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, which will feature a panel on Innovation Career Pathways with a student, teacher, and employer partner from Carver High School’s pathways. The annual STEM Summit brings together students, educators, and employers to promote innovative access points and pathways to STEM education, recent investments to expand college and career readiness, effective policies for workforce recruitment and retention, and new opportunities for industry partnership and work-based learning.

“Innovation Career Pathways have a positive impact for our high school students and for the future of our workforce. By expanding access to applied learning in fields like clean energy, life sciences, and information technology, we’re preparing young people for successful careers in some of the fastest-growing industries in our state,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our administration will keep investing in pathways that empower students to discover their passions and build a strong, equitable economy for Massachusetts.”

“We’re thrilled that nearly 30 percent of eligible high schools will be offering Innovation Career Pathways by next school year. These programs don’t just give students real-world experiences — they connect them to the industries that are driving Massachusetts’ future,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “The STEM Summit will be a powerful opportunity to showcase how schools, employers and communities are working together to unlock potential and open new doors for our students.”

Starting in school year 2025-2026, Innovation Career Pathways will be offered in nearly 30 percent of eligible high schools across Massachusetts. With these new designations, there will be over 8,500 students enrolled in one or more of the 262 Innovation Career Pathways in 117 high schools. Today’s announcement builds on the $1,387,000 the administration awarded over the past year to 51 school districts through planning and implementation grants.

In 2023, the administration announced a new Clean Energy pathway, which will be in a total of 10 schools next school year. Further, under this administration, Innovation Career Pathways have expanded to 82 more high schools, adding 132 additional pathways for students.

“We want to transform the high school experience, and expanding Innovation Career Pathways is one crucial way we are working to do just that. I am excited that the program will reach nearly 30 percent of high schools across Massachusetts as we work to Reimagine High School, increasing student engagement for thousands of students and creating new opportunities for them to find their own paths to successful futures,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler.

The STEM Summit is hosted by the STEM Advisory Council. The STEM Advisory Council was established to expand access to high-quality STEM education for students across Massachusetts, and is currently co-chaired by Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, U.S Congressman Jake Auchincloss and Chairman, President and CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Dr. Jeffery Leiden.

High Schools Receiving Designations

• Apponequet Regional High School (Freetown-Lakeville) - Healthcare and Social Assistance*
• Athol High School (Athol-Royalston) - Information
• Bellingham High School - Information 
• Blackstone Millville Regional High School - Environmental and Life Sciences*
• Bourne High School - Information
• Brockton High School - Clean Energy
• Central High School (Springfield)- Manufacturing*
• Clinton Senior High School - Manufacturing*
• Dedham High School - Healthcare and Social Assistance*
• Drury High School (North Adams)- Healthcare and Social Assistance*
• Framingham High School - Healthcare and Social Assistance*
• Franklin High School - Business Finance, Healthcare and Social Assistance*
• Greenfield High School - Manufacturing*
• High School of Commerce (Springfield) - Manufacturing*
• Holliston High School - Business Finance
• Hopedale Junior Senior High School - Manufacturing
• Hopkins Academy (Hadley) - Healthcare and Social Assistance, Manufacturing
• King Philip Regional High School - Business Finance*
• Maynard High School - Business Finance
• Medway High School - Clean Energy, Information, Manufacturing
• Milford High School - Clean Energy*
• Minnechaug Regional High School (Hampden-Wilbraham) - Healthcare and Social Assistance*
• Mount Everett High School (Southern Berkshire)- Clean Energy
• Nashoba Regional High School - Information
• Newburyport High School - Healthcare and Social Assistance, Manufacturing
• Nipmuc Regional High School (Mendon-Upton Regional) - Environmental and Life Sciences, Healthcare and Social Assistance
• North Brookfield High School - Manufacturing*
• Old Rochester Regional High School - Business Finance, Manufacturing*
• Oxford High School - Business Finance*
• Sandwich Middle High School - Business Finance, Healthcare and Social Assistance
• Sheperd Hill Regional High School (Dudley-Charlton) - Clean Energy
• Veritas Preparatory Charter School - Manufacturing*
• Wachusett Regional High School - Healthcare and Social Assistance
• Walpole High School - Manufacturing
• Westfield High School - Business Finance
• Westport Middle-High High School - Healthcare and Social Assistance, Manufacturing*
• Wilmington High School - Business Finance, Environmental and Life Sciences*

*First time a high school has received a designee(s).