Welcome to the Precision Machining program at Pike Central High School. In 2010, Pike County School Corporation completed an addition to the high school for Precision Machining and Project Lead the Way.


Since that time, the program has grown and has had many students from the Patoka Valley Schools complete the two-year program and continue their education in the Precision Machining program at Vincennes University. Upon graduation from VU they have successfully gained employment for numerous manufacturing entities in this area.


Perhaps you have heard about the “skills gap” that exists between the skills that manufacturers require in today’s high-tech manufacturing and the knowledge and skills that high school graduates possess. Our P.M. program was implemented in the Fall of 2010 to meet the needs of local and regional industries and to give our graduates additional employment opportunities. This program prepares students for successful entry into the work force or into the Vincennes University programs of Precision Machining (which includes Tool and Die and Plastic Injection Mold Tooling), Advanced Manufacturing, and Industrial Maintenance.


The courses at PCHS are actual VU courses, so students earn both high school and college credits of up to 15 hours at NO EXPENSE. Normally this would cost over $170 per credit hour, which would save students over $2500 if enrolled in the two-year program on campus. Essentially, their core classes for the first semester are completed before they even arrive on campus.

Classes at PCHS meet in a three-hour block in a state-of-the-art facility utilizing both manual and CNC machining equipment. Numerous internship opportunities are also available.

Skilled technicians who are seeking employment in manufacturing have nearly a 100% placement rate. Employment opportunities exist locally, regionally, statewide and even across the United States. Some examples of this include automotive, aerospace, plastics, orthopedic/ health care/ life sciences, stamping, energy, and motorsports.

Those who graduate start out earning $35,000 to $40,000 annually and can quickly increase that to $50,000 to $75,000+ as they gain experience. The program offered at Pike Central gives students a head start into dynamic jobs.

Anyone interested in the Precision Machining program at PCHS and would like more information may Email me at markscott@pcsc.k12.in.us

Friday, February 26, 2016

PCHS Precision Machining Program receives Award for Excellence

The Precision Machining program at Pike Central High School and its instructor, Mr. Mark Scott, has received a 2016 Indiana Career and Technical Education Award for Excellence presented by the Indiana Department of Education.

The Indiana Career and Technical Education Awards for Excellence Program was started in 1984 to recognize Indiana’s outstanding career and technical education secondary and post-secondary programs within the field of career and technical education.  The program is supported by a grant through the Indiana Department of Education and by contributions from the Indiana Dept. of workforce Development, Vincennes University, Ivy Tech Community College, and the Indiana Association of Career and Technical Education Districts.
The Selection Committee criteria includes Program Design, Resource Utilization, and Program Outcomes.
The Precision Machining program at Pike Central High School was implemented in the fall of 2010 as a result of industry input and the lack of a program of this type in the surrounding area. The result is a program to develop a qualified pool of skilled employees and to also give students an additional career opportunity in a high demand field with jobs in this area.

Precision Machining I includes a wide range of classroom and laboratory experiences that develop skills and knowledge in the shaping of metal parts. Emphasis is placed on basic precision machining operations, including the use of lathes, mills, surface grinders, drill presses, and bench work. Basic metallurgy, blueprint reading, and shop math are also incorporated into classroom and laboratory exercises.
Precision Machining II is a more in-depth study of skills learned the first year, but with a stronger focus in CNC setup, operation, and programming. It concentrates on precision setup and inspection work, as well as machine shop calculations. Students develop skills in advanced machining and measuring parts that involve tighter tolerances and more complex geometry, along with a continued focus on safety.

All award recipients were recognized at a ceremony on Tuesday, February 23, 2016, in the Indiana Government Center South Auditorium in Indianapolis. Glenda Ritz, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, was the featured speaker. 
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