Penn Hills School District is offering a new pathway for students’ education.

Among multiple initiatives planned for the district, the biggest change seems to be PHorge Academy.

“It’s almost going to be interest-driven,” said Matthew Dado, the district’s director of technology and innovation. “It will also address problem-solving, critical thinking and communication.”

PHorge gives students an opportunity to follow one of four career paths while in school: business, robotics, information technology and health care.

Officials this year opened applications for PHorge to current sophomores and juniors, who will be juniors and seniors next year. Juniors Mya Patterson, 16, and Xavier Nicholas, 17, were the first students accepted into the program, according to the district. Both students will be following the robotics pathway.

Dado will oversee the robotics section of the academy.

“You can study and have an interest in robotics but not want to do that for the rest of your life,” he said. “We’re here because we’re learning transferable skills. I’ve had students that have gone to pursue business degrees and health care degrees.”

PHorge will kick off for students next school year. The district will begin the Ninth Grade Academy at the same time. Through the Ninth Grade Academy, all freshmen will take a sampling of each of the possible tracks for one nine-week quarter.

“When they become 10th graders, they can stay (in the academy) or not pursue any of those subjects,” Dado said.

If a student is interested in a particular subject, they can apply to PHorge and take courses in their chosen field starting their sophomore year. They will follow that path through their senior year and earn certifications or college credits depending on the subject area.

The program will continue to expand to all grade levels until it is offered to all high school students. In the 2026-27 school year, PHorge will expand to include sophomores, Dado said.

Renel Williams, assistant to the superintendent for teaching, learning and assessment, said the health care track will be a continuation of a nursing-based program offered at Linton Middle School.

The high school program, which currently is based around an anatomy class, will feature a partnership with the Minority Pre-Nursing Initiative, which promotes the nursing profession to students. At Linton, eighth graders receive foundational knowledge and hands-on experiences.

“It was very exciting to be able to take and focus our efforts on a support system for students to be prepared for the workforce or college,” Williams said. “We’re giving kids a step ahead.”

Williams said, as a parent, she realizes it takes students a bit to define what they want to do for a career. She said PHorge is an outlet for them to explore those options.

Superintendent John Mozzocio said the district’s “vision” is to remain competitive in the region. He said in the future the district hopes to be able to give students an opportunity to earn an associate degree before they leave the school.

“We want to keep our students local, and we want to give them what they need to succeed,” Mozzocio said.

The academy will be taught by current members of the high school staff, he said. Everything will be on campus, and the high school’s previous media center space will be used as the PHorge headquarters, Dado said.

The robotics program is considered Pennsylvania’s first dedicated robotics academy, Mozzocio said.

Dado said the program also is great because it’s optional.

“If high school is the way a student likes it, it won’t change for them,” he said.