Guilford Schools Launches Advanced Manufacturing Academy at Southeast High
On January 6, 2026 Guilford County Schools announced a new Signature Career Academy in advanced manufacturing and engineering at Southeast Guilford High School and held a renovation kickoff for the facility. Backed by roughly $2.1 million in grants and philanthropic donations, the program aims to give students hands-on curriculum, credentialing and college credit pathways tied to an industry projected to grow substantially.
Guilford County Schools on January 6 unveiled a Signature Career Academy in advanced manufacturing and engineering to be housed at Southeast Guilford High School, marking the district’s sixth SCA. District officials opened a renovation kickoff for the new facility as part of an effort to expand career-focused education across the county.
The project is supported by roughly $2.1 million in grants and philanthropic donations, including contributions from GMA/FirstPoint Foundation, Bryan Foundation, Toyota USA Foundation, Golden LEAF Foundation and HUD. Work on the Southeast High facility is under way and is expected to be completed in fall 2026, according to district timelines announced at the kickoff.
The academy is designed to immerse students in hands-on curriculum that leads to industry-recognized credentials, opportunities for college credit and direct career experiences. The district emphasized that the program will connect classroom learning to regional employer needs in advanced manufacturing and engineering, an industry the release described as projected to grow substantially.
Southeast’s SCA expands a network of career academies in Guilford County that already includes tracks aligned to AI and cybersecurity, transportation, distribution and logistics, biomedical and health sciences, and other technical career pathways. By adding a manufacturing and engineering pathway, the district positions more high school students to enter technical fields directly after graduation or continue into postsecondary programs with credit and credential advantages.
Local impact could be significant for students, families and employers. For students, the academy offers practical coursework intended to shorten the distance between high school and employment or further education. For local employers, the program represents a potential pipeline of skilled entry-level workers trained to industry standards. For the county, the combination of public school investment and philanthropic support underscores a broader shift toward workforce development strategies that blend education, philanthropy and federal grant funding.
The announcement also raises questions for residents and local policymakers about long-term funding, equity of access across schools, and how apprenticeship or employer partnerships will be structured. As construction proceeds toward the fall 2026 completion goal, school leaders will need to finalize curriculum details, enrollment procedures and partnerships that translate the planned investments into measurable outcomes for students and the local economy.
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