DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT

It's important to step outside your comfort zone and try something new during your high school journey.

10th, 11th and 12th grade students... you have the opportunity to DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT at Middleton High School. We have several programs that offer innovative ways to earn your credits. 

Check out the ways you can DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT here!

CAPS PROGRAM

GAME DESIGN

EDUCATION ACADEMY

CAPS: CENTER FOR ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) programs are nationally recognized, innovative high school programs. Students fast forward into their future and are fully immersed in a professional culture, solving real-world problems, using industry-standard tools, and are mentored by actual employers, all while receiving high school and, sometimes, college credit. CAPS is an example of how business, community, and public education can partner to produce personalized learning experiences that educate the workforce of tomorrow, especially in high-skill, high-demand jobs.


- Real-world, project-based learning experiences through collaborations with business and community partners;  preparing students for college and career

- Opportunity to develop industry networks, mentorships, mini-internships

- Students will spend part of their day at a business or community site and the other portion of their day at MHS in their

    other scheduled classes

- Students will work in teams on challenges provided by both their instructors and business and industry partners while earning

    high school credit

- Students can work toward industry-specific certifications

CAPS: CAREER LAUNCH

Prerequisite: None Grade(s): 11,12 Semester Course: Two Blocks per Semester

Credit: 1.0 Career & Tech Ed.

Students in the CAPS Career Launch course will experience multiple careers by working on projects for real business and community partners. Students will be a real professional collaborating with a mentor from outside of the school.  Students will discover their strengths and passions by exploring and experiencing potential professions.  Students will learn professional skills such as design thinking, project-management, and problem-solving strategies that will provide a competitive advantage in their post-secondary education and professional careers.  Students will receive 1.0 credits through two academic blocks (1 credit). Students will be offsite for a portion or all of the course experiences.

NOTE: To register, please sign up for BUS10505: CAPS: CAREER LAUNCH

CAPS: BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

Prerequisite: None Grade(s): 11,12 Semester Course: Two Blocks in a Single Semester

Credit: 0.5 Career & Tech Ed. + 0.5 English

Students (associates) enrolled in CAPS Business Solutions will engage in profession-based experiences in a dynamic business like setting working on authentic community partner-driven projects.  Additional skills include application of business strategies, working in collaborative teams, and communicating results to business and industry partners in the Middleton area.  Associates will learn fundamental concepts of economics, research best practices, persuasive techniques, public speaking and effective communication.  In addition, skills will be gained in the following areas:  innovation, entrepreneurship & sales, project management, teamwork, and data analysis; all designed for preparation for 21st-century workplaces. Students will earn a 0.5 CTE credit and 0.5 English elective credit.

NOTE: To register, please sign up for the following 2 courses:

             BUS10405 CAPS: BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

             ENG10405 CAPS: COMM FOR BUSN & INDUSTRY

CAPS: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY RESEARCH & DESIGN

Prerequisite: Biology, Chemistry Grade(s): 11,12 Semester Course: Two Blocks in a Single Semester

Credit: 0.5 Science (Life) + 0.5 English

Student associates enrolled in CAPS Molecular Biology Research & Design will experience real-world, project-based learning opportunities through collaborations with business and community partners;  preparing associates for college and career in a science laboratory field. Associates will also have an opportunity to develop industry networks, mentorships, and mini-site visits to different biotech/pharmaceutical/medical facilities in the area. Curriculum will be built based on partner opportunities and student interest but will focus on how to properly execute a research project in a lab. Part of the day will potentially be at a business or community site while the other part of the day would be at MHS. In molecular biology research and design, associates will even have the chance to work towards laboratory skill proficiency certifications to compete for desirable positions after high school.

NOTE: To register, please sign up for the following 2 courses:

          SCI10405 CAPS: MOLEC BIO RSRCH & DSGN 

          ENG10405 CAPS: COMM FOR BUSN & INDUSTRY

GAME DESIGN

GAME DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

Prerequisite: English 9 and One Art or Computer Programming course

Grade(s): 10,11,12 Year Course: 2 blocks per semester

Credit: 1.0 English (Cannot be used to replace English 10 and Com. Studies),0.5 Fine Arts, 0.5 Career & Tech Ed (Computer Programming)

Students in this program will dive deep into the world of video game design! Working collaboratively with peers, they will have the chance to build a real-life game development team and blend their skills and expertise to make something amazing. Students will strengthen their skills of analysis, visual art, computer programming, and written communication. Together, we will discuss the purpose, impact, and social context of video games as students work to design interactive experiences. Students should be ready to challenge their assumptions about video games and bring their ideas to life.

NOTE: To register, please sign up for the following 4 courses:

             ENG10101 + ENG10102 (GAME DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT)

              ART10105 (GAME DESIGN AND DEV -ARTS)

             BUS10105 (GAME DESIGN AND DEV -PROG)

ACADEMIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MADISON COLLEGE

THE EDUCATION ACADEMY

Prerequisite: Must be a senior and on track to graduate on time

Grade(s): 12

In partnership with Madison College, high school Juniors can apply to join the Education Academy at Madison College. Through a mix of successful completion of Advanced Placement courses, Dual Credit courses (college courses taught at the high school) and classes at Madison College, the Education Academy allows current MHS students to complete a dual enrollment program and earn a high school diploma and half of an Associates Degree in Education from Madison College at the same time. Students in the Education Academy will attend Madison College full time in their senior year.  Interested Juniors are encouraged to take Introduction to Education (GEN9611/2) and/or Teaching in a Pluralistic Society (GEN9711/2) at MHS in their Junior year.  The Education Academy at Madison College is aligned with transfer programs to finish your teacher training. This program is at no cost to students.

Students interested in the Education Academy should complete the scheduling process as usual AND complete an application for the Education Academy. Applications are available online at https://madisoncollege.edu/academics/college-credit-in-high-school/classes-at-mc/academies/education and are due by February 1, 2024  

Student schedules may be re-worked once a student is accepted into the academy.

If you have any questions, please contact your school counselor.

GEN9611/GEN9612: INTRO TO TEACHING & EDUCATION

Grade(s): 11,12 Prerequisite: None

Credit: 1.0 Elective Year Course

Students in Intro to Teaching and Education will explore topics in education as well as complete 50 hours of classroom observations in elementary schools throughout the Middleton Cross Plains Area School District.  This course is designed to introduce students to education and teaching through a combination of practical experience in school settings, group discussions, and individual reflection.  Students will explore the various relationships among education, curriculum, and instruction across contexts of home, community, and school.  Our focus will be observing and documenting school practices and connecting this experience to studies of philosophical perspectives of education and current ideas and questions in education.  This course is a dual credit enrollment between Middleton High School students and Madison College.

GEN9711/9712: EDUCATION IN A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY

Grade(s): 11,12 Prerequisite: None

Credit: 1.0 Elective Year Course

Students in this class will explore how the most effective teachers strive to understand the cultural backgrounds of their students and utilize that cultural knowledge to anchor learning. They also constantly educate themselves on how the historical legacies of privilege, oppression, and opportunity still exist in their own schools, classrooms, and practices and actively work to dismantle it. They are constantly looking for ways to learn more about people from different backgrounds in order to challenge their own misconceptions and to celebrate the assets of all of their students.This course will help you understand how we arrived at the US school system we currently have, what its limitations are, and what you can do to improve it so that you can be the best possible teacher for all your future students.  This course is a dual credit enrollment between Middleton High School students and Madison College.

NextGen Responders Academy:

Emergency Medical Responder & Fire Recruit

In partnership with Madison College, high school Juniors and Seniors can enroll in the Fire Academy at Madison College. 

Upon completing both the EMR and Fire Recruit Academies students will be certified for the following:

- Firefighter 1 (students qualify for a $500 state payment award upon successful completion)

- Firefighter 2 (students qualify for a $500 state payment award upon successful completion)

- Hazardous Materials Operations Level

- Nationally Registered Emergency Responders (students qualify for a $500 state payment award upon successful completion)

- CPR and Early Defibrillation


Students will attend coursework at the Madison College Truax Campus. Students who successfully complete both the Fire Recruit Academy and the Emergency Medication Technician (EMT) courses will earn a Madison College Fire Service Certification Technical Diploma and high school credits. Students are not required to complete both Fire & EMT courses; however, academy program selection may take into consideration if a student is planning to enroll in both semesters. Students must be on track to graduate with strong attendance to enroll in the program. This program is at no cost to students through the Start College Now application process.


Visit https://madisoncollege.edu/academics/college-credit-in-high-school/classes-at-mc/academies/nextgen-responders to learn more about the program requirements, view student experiences, and review enrollment steps including course forms.  

Course forms are due to your support center by March 1st.  


Contact Dave Thomas, Career & Technical Education Coordinator, or your School Counselor for more details.  Student schedules may be re-worked once a student is approved to participate in the academy.