Hoover High School Career Tech Awarded $3.85M for Welding Program

Hoover High School Career Tech will offer the only manufacturing program in the Stark County Career Compact beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. Hoover Career Tech has won a $3.85 grant from Future Forward Ohio and the Ohio Department of Education for Career Tech expansion to add a Welding Career Tech program.

“This has long been a dream for Career Tech,” says Associate Principal Robert White.  “Students have responded in surveys for years that Welding is the program they would like to see added but the resources haven’t been available to make it happen. It’s exciting to finally give them this opportunity for a manufacturing career after high school.”

The application from Hoover High School was one of the more than $450M in requests for the $200M budgeted by the State of Ohio to expand Career Tech programs throughout the state. Northeast Ohio already offers most of the Career Tech programs in Ohio. 

Hoover High School will have existing space renovated and equipment purchased with the grant money to accommodate the new welding program.

“North Canton City Schools is so fortunate and grateful to receive this Career Tech Construction Grant to benefit our students. In addition to Issue 32, our Phase II Facilities Project on the November ballot, these funds will expand our student offerings to provide the education and skills students need to be prepared for tomorrow,” states Superintendent Jeff Wendorf.

Stark County Career Compact is a Career Tech partnership between North Canton City Schools, Plain Local Schools, Jackson Local Schools, and Lake Local Schools and is the largest in Stark County offering Career Tech programs ranging from Cosmetology to Biomedial Sciences. The Compact currently offers Construction Tech at Hoover, Jackson, and GlenOak High Schools, but Hoover will be the first and only to offer a manufacturing track with the addition of Welding. 

Hoover High School offers a series of Career and Technical Education courses focusing on high-demand industries with the goal of strengthening student college and career readiness. It is our mission to ensure that students graduate with skills and abilities that are aligned with the needs of a competitive, high-tech global economy.

The award-winning Career Tech programs from Hoover High School provide students the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of academic concepts by applying them in real-world applications and situations. They incorporate rigorous classroom instruction with hands-on training and experience that inspires, engages and prepares our students for success in life after high school. CT programs offered at Hoover include Video Productions, Interactive Media, Biomedical Sciences, Medical Technology, Pre-Engineering, Business Management, Construction Tech, Culinary Arts and Teaching Professions.