A Year of Transformation: PHorge Academy’s First-Year Success

The Vision: Building Futures, Not Just Schedules

At Penn Hills, we set out to do more than modernize classrooms; we wanted to redefine what a high school experience could be.

Too often, students ask, “When will I ever use this?” PHorge Academy answers that question through real-world, hands-on learning across four signature pathways: Information Technology, Entrepreneurship, Robotics, and Healthcare.

Each pathway immerses students in authentic projects, industry tools, and partnerships that prepare them for both college and high-demand careers, turning Penn Hills High School into a launchpad for opportunity.

“This is about giving every student a place to belong and a future to build,” said Dr. John Mozzocio, Penn Hills Superintendent. “We are reimagining high school around opportunity, real opportunity, where every pathway leads to purpose.”

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The Four PHorge Pathways

PHorge Information Technology (IT)

In the IT Pathway, students delve into the digital backbone of today’s world, learning the fundamentals of computer science, networking, cybersecurity, and digital media production.

Students can earn industry certifications and collaborate on real-world tech projects that mirror modern IT workplaces. The pathway equips students with skills that open doors to tech support, software development, and systems administration, all while preparing them for advanced college programs and internships.

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PHorge Entrepreneurship

The PHorge Entrepreneurship Pathway empowers students to become creators, innovators, and problem-solvers. Inside the Entrepreneurship Lab, ideas move from concept to creation, literally. Students design and produce tangible products using laser engravers, DTT printers, and other professional-grade tools, learning firsthand how digital design connects to real-world manufacturing and marketing.

They don’t just brainstorm logos or business names; they build full brands. Students develop marketing campaigns, master social media strategy, and learn the fundamentals of financial literacy, management, and storytelling.

From apparel design to custom-engraved merchandise, students learn how to prototype, produce, and sell real products both within the school and to the broader community. Every project blends creativity with commerce, teaching the entrepreneurial mindset that defines today’s most successful innovators.

The message is simple:
At PHorge, students don’t just dream about running a business; they start building one.

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PHorge Robotics

The PHorge Robotics Academy is the district’s crown jewel, a fully equipped innovation lab where students learn mechanical foundations, electrical systems, and automation.

Through partnerships, students gain access to a track leading to multiple industry certifications as well as a pre-apprenticeship through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor. 

Here, students design and build control systems, program robots, and test prototypes, gaining the kind of hands-on experience that prepares them for technical trades, engineering programs, or direct entry into the workforce.

The Robotics Academy embodies what it means to reimagine High School for the modern era, inclusive, high-tech, and forward-thinking.

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PHorge Healthcare

Penn Hills’ Healthcare Pathway opens doors to one of the fastest-growing fields in the region. Students explore anatomy, patient care, and health sciences, gaining foundational skills that can lead to certifications.

It’s not just a pathway, it’s a calling. The Healthcare Academy empowers students to see compassion and science working hand in hand to build stronger communities, with the potential to lead to future employment opportunities.

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A Year of Success: The First PHorge Cohort

The first year of PHorge Academy has been nothing short of transformative. Classrooms were redesigned into studios and labs, teachers were trained in project-based learning, and students engaged in interdisciplinary work that blurred the lines between school and the real world.

Students are earning industry credentials, creating prototypes, launching businesses, and developing career portfolios all within the walls of their own high school. The program has ignited engagement and pride across the student body.

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Expanding the Vision: The PHorge 9th Grade Academy

Also, this year, Penn Hills took its innovation one step further with the launch of the PHorge 9th Grade Academy, a foundational year designed to expose freshmen to all four pathways before they choose a specialization.

Students rotate through IT, Business, Robotics, and Healthcare modules, exploring careers, completing hands-on mini-projects, and learning transferable skills like problem-solving, communication, and leadership.

“Starting this early gives every student a sense of direction,” said Dr. Mozzocio. “By the time they reach upper grades, they’re not guessing; they have a plan.”

The PHorge 9th Grade Academy is more than an introduction; it’s a mindset shift. It ensures every student has access to career-connected learning from day one.

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Honoring Tradition: Choice and Balance for Every Student

While PHorge Academy represents a new, future-focused approach to education, Penn Hills has also remained intentional about sustaining the traditional high school experience for students who prefer a more conventional academic path.

For those whose interests don’t align with one of the PHorge pathways, the district continues to offer a comprehensive traditional track that includes Advanced Placement courses, core academics, and a wide range of electives.

This balanced model ensures that every student, whether they want to forge their own future through innovation or pursue a more traditional academic journey, can thrive at Penn Hills.

“We’re proud to offer both,” said Dr. Mozzocio. “Reimagining high school doesn’t mean replacing the past it means building a system where every student has a pathway that fits their goals.”

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Looking Ahead: The Future of PHorge

With the success of its inaugural year and the launch of the 9th Grade Academy, Penn Hills is setting a new standard for what public education can be. The next steps include expanding certification opportunities, building new partnerships, and scaling PHorge’s success across the district.

Because when you reimagine high school, you don’t just change classrooms, you change lives.

In Penn Hills, students aren’t waiting for the future to arrive. They’re already building it.