Community College of Beaver County

The Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) High School Academies are providing Western Pennsylvania's young people with high-impact educational experiences to prepare them for careers that address the priority workforce needs of the region. Launched in 2025 with the Aviation Academy, the CCBC High School Academy program now educates more than 170 students from 40+ school districts throughout western Pennsylvania. CCBC's innovative dual enrollment model allows students to explore careers while receiving hands-on instruction from college faculty in labs & classroom environments that stimulate critical thinking & problem-solving skills. 

Students who devote two years of study to the program will have the opportunity to graduate from high school having completed up to one year (28 college credits) of credits toward CCBC’s associate degree programs, or they can transfer the credits to other colleges and universities. High-school students can choose from various academies and pathways to high-demand careers.

List of Available Academies

Aviation Academy 

Are you ready to start the exciting journey of becoming an aviation professional? Let your future take flight by joining the CCBC High School Aviation Academy. Through the Academy, high school students in grades 11 and 12 at participating school districts can spend a portion of their high school day on a CCBC campus or virtually, online live preparing for professional pilot, air traffic control, or aerospace management careers. Students who attend during their 11th and 12th grade years will be able to complete up to 28 college credits toward CCBC’s associate degree programs or transfer the credits to other colleges and universities.

Business Academy

Do you see yourself leading teams, launching ideas, or shaping the future of business? Are you interested in exploring careers in management, entrepreneurship, finance, or marketing? CCBC’s High School Business Academy is designed for high school students in grades 11 and 12 at participating school districts and provides the opportunity to begin a business pathway while earning college credit. Through a cohort-based experience, students complete foundational business coursework during their junior year and select from elective business courses during their senior year to further develop their knowledge and skills. Students who attend during their 11th and 12th grade years may graduate from high school with up to 25 college credits toward a business-related degree. Depending on the courses completed, students may also earn a business-related micro-credential. Students who complete the Business Academy will be well positioned to matriculate to CCBC after high school to complete an associate degree and transfer to a partner four-year institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree in a business-related field.

Business Academy
Do you see yourself leading teams, launching ideas, or shaping the future of business? Are you interested in exploring careers in management, entrepreneurship, finance, or marketing? CCBC’s High School Business Academy is designed for high school students in grades 11 and 12 at participating school districts and provides the opportunity to begin a business pathway while earning college credit. Through a cohort-based experience, students complete foundational business coursework during their junior year and select from elective business courses during their senior year to further develop their knowledge and skills. Students who attend during their 11th and 12th grade years may graduate from high school with up to 25 college credits toward a business-related degree. Depending on the courses completed, students may also earn a business-related micro-credential. Students who complete the Business Academy will be well positioned to matriculate to CCBC after high school to complete an associate degree and transfer to a partner four-year institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree in a business-related field.

Criminal Justice Academy

Do you want to serve and protect your community ? Are you interested in a career in law enforcement, probation and parole or social justice? Take custody of your future by joining the CCBC Criminal Justice Academy. Through the Academy, high school students in grades 11 and 12 at participating school districts can spend a portion of their high school day on a CCBC campus or virtually, online live preparing for a career in the Criminal Justice field. Students who attend during their 11th and 12th grade years will be able to complete up to 28 college credits toward CCBC’s associate degree programs or transfer the credits to other colleges and universities.

Education Academy
Do you want to inspire learning? Do you desire to empower lives through a career in teaching? CCBC’s High School Education Academy is for high school students in grades 11 and 12 at participating school districts and provides the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in diverse educational settings and learn how to prepare developmentally appropriate lessons and learning environments. Students can choose to follow the PreK-4th grade or Secondary Education pathways while attending the academy. Students who attend during their 11th and 12th grade years can graduate from high school with up to 28 credits toward their associate degree in PreK- 4th grade education or Secondary Education or purse transferring credits to other colleges and universities.

Health Academy
Are you ready to start an exciting journey as a healthcare professional? The CCBC Health Academy is for high school students in grades 11 and 12 at participating high schools who are interested in careers in nursing, practical nursing, radiologic technology, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, nurse anesthetist, and physician and more Students who attend during their 11th and 12th grade years can graduate from high school with up to 28 college credits completed toward CCBC’s associate degree programs. Students who successfully complete all the coursework will be prepared to continue their studies toward an associate degree in nursing, radiologic technology, a diploma in practical nursing at CCBC, or pursue transferring credits to another college or university for other healthcare professions of their choice.
Students who attend the health academy maintain the required GPA and successfully meet all admissions requirements can qualify for early admission into the CCBC RN program in the fall after high school graduation. Early admission has designated criteria for students to meet. Students will not need to take an admissions exam as part of these criteria.

STEM Academy
Are you ready to start an exciting journey in a STEM related career pathway? The CCBC STEM Academy is for high school students in grades 11 and 12 at participating high schools, who are interested in a career in the Engineering, Computer Science and Cybersecurity fields. Students have opportunities to explore careers in these fields and receive engaging STEM instruction from college faculty members in in-person or virtual online live labs and classroom environments while acquiring critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students who attend during their 11th and 12th grade years will be able to complete up to 26/28 college credits toward CCBC’s associate degree programs or transfer the credits to other colleges and universities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is it? CCBC High School Academies allow Peters Township High School students to enroll in one of six college and career pathways. The six High School Academy pathways available are as follows: Aviation Academy, Health Academy, STEM Academy, Criminal Justice Academy, Business Academy and Education Academy. Students who attend during their 11th and 12th grade years will be able to complete up to 28 college credits, depending on the academy pathway, toward CCBC’s associate degree programs or transfer the credits to other colleges and universities. Through premier partnerships with 4-year colleges, many academy graduates can complete a bachelor's degree in three years or less.

What grade do I have to be in to participate in CCBC High School Academies? Students must be rising 11th or 12th graders to participate in the High School Academy programming, and each academy has its own distinct admissions criteria. Students are accepted into the Academy programs for a fall semester start.

Are the classes available in-person or online? Participating students will be able to select if they will attend in-person or virtually (synchronously) each day. The student will then work with their high school counselor to sync their CCBC schedule with their PTHS schedule. 
How many college credits can I earn participating in the CCBC Academies? Students can earn up to 28 credits.

Will the CCBC courses count towards the Peters Township High School graduation requirements? Student will earn credit at PTHS for their curriculum at CCBC.

Will I receive weighted credit on my PTHS transcript for my CCBC courses? Students will receive the same weight as AP and CHS course that are offered at the High School.

What is the cost of participating in the academies at CCBC? Tuition rates can be found HERE

How can I participate in the academies? Students and families must complete the online CCBC application that requires a counselor and administrator signature. Applications are reviewed in the beginning of March and then on-going as they are received. Students are accepted into the Academy programs for a fall semester start.

Who should I contact if I have specific questions about an academy? Each program has a champion who monitors student progress and contacts home if concerns arise. Champions can provide specific information for their specific program.

If I have general questions about CCBC, who should I contact? Always reach out to your high school counselor if you are considering CCBC. You can also reach out to Lia Hazelwood (Dual Enrollment and Retention Specialist) or collegehereandnow@ccbc.edu.