Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, along with the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), presented Fitzgerald High School College and Career Academy with a grant of $3 million to build a workforce engine for Ben Hill County Schools.

Lt. Governor Cagle praised the partnership between local school systems, technical colleges, and industry, which has proven effective in increasing student achievement and workforce development across our state. Because of Lt. Governor Cagle’s initiative, there will be 47 College and Career Academies in Georgia. Over 20,000 students are already enrolled in College and Career Academies throughout Georgia, boasting graduation rates as high as 99%.

“Our students deserve every opportunity for academic success – and with the creation of Georgia’s next four College and Career Academies, we are one step closer to ensuring students across our state have access to these world-class learning institutions,” said Lt. Governor Cagle. “These school systems have embraced innovation in the classroom, bringing business and community leaders together to ignite economic growth for many years to come.”

“Ben Hill County is responding to the needs of industry in our community - and the Fitzgerald High School College and Career Academy will make a big difference in our region,” added Senator Tyler Harper. “I am confident that our students will continue to gravitate toward careers in high-demand industries as this academy allows more individuals to gain hands-on career experience that will be critical for success in growing our workforce.”

College and Career Academies are effectively developing programs to train high school students for in-demand careers. Students find that challenging, hands-on programs provide greater relevancy and value, which not only lead to higher graduation rates but also rewarding professional opportunities. The specified training for students is attractive to local businesses, and communities prosper from the highly-trained and skilled workforce.