Franklin High School Launches Pre-Apprenticeship Program in Partnership with LEAD Training
Franklin High School Launches Pre-Apprenticeship Program in Partnership with LEAD Training
Franklin High School (FHS) has launched a new pre-apprenticeship program during the second semester of the ‘25–’26 school year, offering students hands-on career exploration and workforce preparation in partnership with Cincinnati-based LEAD Training.
The program currently focuses on two career pathways: Allied Health and Manufacturing, with 27 11th- and 12th-graders participating: 10 in Allied Health and 17 in Manufacturing.
The pre-apprenticeship initiative is designed to provide structured experiential learning, core employability training, and individualized coaching to support students as they pursue postsecondary careers in a specific field. LEAD Training provides the program structure and works closely with the district to ensure students meet the required components.
Participants complete at least 3 experiential learning activities aligned with their chosen pathway. These may include work-site visits, job-shadowing opportunities, supervised volunteer work, or other approved work-based learning experiences.
In addition to hands-on experience, students are required to earn the OhioMeansJobs Readiness Seal, a workplace-readiness certification recognized by employers statewide. The program also includes individual career coaching sessions and employability skills workshops covering topics such as soft skills and problem solving, résumé writing and job applications, and interview techniques.
Coursework is aligned with each pathway to reinforce career readiness. Allied Health students may take classes such as biology or anatomy & physiology, while Manufacturing students may enroll in courses such as Algebra II or Introduction to Engineering Design. Students are also provided the opportunity to earn industry-recognized credentials.
Looking ahead, FHS plans to expand the program for the ‘26–’27 school year. In partnership with Sinclair Community College, the school will introduce a third pre-apprenticeship pathway in Hospitality & Tourism. This move aligns with one of Warren County's largest economic sectors.
School officials say the program is intended to strengthen the connection between classroom learning and career pathways, equipping students with both technical knowledge and workplace-ready skills before graduation.
The pre-apprenticeship program offers students another avenue to demonstrate their postsecondary readiness, as measured on Ohio’s School Report Cards. The College, Career, Workforce, and Military Readiness Component evaluates how prepared Ohio's students are for future opportunities, whether in a technical field, a military career, the workforce, or college. FHS has seen an increase in the number of graduates fulfilling this readiness indicator and looks to build on that momentum to ensure that all Franklin graduates are future-ready.
