In coastal Virginia, there are 53,000 jobs in the transportation and shipbuilding sectors, yet a 2019 Hampton Roads Workforce Development study identified “severe shortages” of qualified local graduates in our workforce. To address this need, Newport News Public Schools (NNPS) and Old Dominion University (ODU) have initiated a lab school partnership to launch the Maritime Engineering and Environmental Studies Academy (MEESA).
Housed at the ODU Brooks Crossing Innovation Lab, MEESA will be a two-year educational experience for students during grades 11 and 12. They will attend half day at the program site and half day at their high school.
Coursework subjects will include engineering analysis and applications, engineering concepts and processes, renewable energy, marine biology, global logistics and advanced placement environmental science. MEESA students will participate in hands-on projects, using cutting-edge technology and labs and will have the opportunity to earn up to six college credits with ODU and engage in the university’s School of Supply Chain, Logistics & Maritime Operations. In fact, Old Dominion University is a 2024 Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education designee by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration.
Through partnerships with local industries, students will have access to internships, job shadowing opportunities and cutting-edge resources to equip them with the skills needed for success in the maritime field. MEESA students will also earn industry certifications and develop an electronic portfolio.
Current NNPS 10th graders are eligible to apply for MEESA. Applications for MEESA and other specialty programs for the 2025-2026 school year will be available November 1; the deadline for applications is December 16. Interested students and parents are encouraged to talk with their school counselor for more information.
The Maritime Engineering and Environmental Studies Academy was made possible by the 2022 Virginia General Assembly, which appropriated $100 million to support College Partnership Laboratory Schools and $5 million for planning grants. The funding was approved to support public institutions of higher education in the development and implementation of lab schools. NNPS and ODU filed a joint application for MEESA, which was approved by the Virginia Department of Education.
Lab schools, operated by a university or college, serve a dual purpose: educating local students, which benefits school divisions and the community, and training future teachers at the university often with hands-on, engaging work experiences. Lab schools also help develop a robust teacher pipeline and can generate research that focuses on inter-organizational collaboration, teacher professional learning and student learning and engagement.
With the addition of the Maritime Engineering and Environmental Studies Academy, Newport News Public Schools now boasts 13 magnet schools and specialty academies, ensuring numerous educational options for our students and families. Magnet schools and academies offer students engaging teaching and learning in such areas as environmental science; marine science; communication and performing arts; aviation; global studies; university studies; International Baccalaureate; health sciences; science, technology, engineering and math; and virtual learning.
NNPS is proud to partner with Old Dominion University to launch MEESA. The academy will serve our students and our region well.
