At most high schools, every student follows the same schedule. At Purdue Polytechnic High School, every student follows their own path. Here, no two student schedules look exactly alike. That’s because learning is built around each student’s interests, goals, and growth.
Some students start the day designing robots. Others head to internships, work on Passion Projects, meet 1:1 with a coach, or tackle a math challenge with support from a coach.
Whether they’re catching up, moving ahead, or discovering something new, every student’s day is built with purpose.
Scroll down to see what a day can really look like — for students just starting out, students finding their voice, and students getting ready to take on the world.
A PURDUE POLYTECHNIC HIGH SCHOOL
Student Experience
A Day in the Life
A Day in the Life:
Natalie
Natalie starts her day at PPHS Lab with Success, a quiet block of time dedicated to organization and goal setting. She uses this time to plan her day, schedule meetings with her advisor, check project deadlines, and set weekly goals. It’s a moment to breathe, map out what’s ahead, and take ownership of her learning before the pace picks up. With her priorities in place, she’s ready to tackle the day.
Next comes STEM, where Natalie dives into subjects like math and science. Some days she works independently; other days she collaborates with classmates to solve problems and ask questions. The calm, focused environment helps her stay on task and push through challenges. It’s a space that encourages critical thinking and deeper understanding.
One of Natalie’s favorite parts of the day is Community Engagement. While some classmates, like Matthew and Jacob, help stock donated food at local pantries with a community partner, Natalie participates in weekly mentoring sessions with Jordan from Eskenazi Health. These sessions focus on self-reflection and self-advocacy, skills that connect directly to life beyond the classroom. For Natalie, this part of the day is a powerful reminder that what she learns in school can have a real impact in the world.
In Advisory, Natalie explores skills that go beyond academics. Lately, she’s been thinking seriously about life after high school and the steps she needs to take to reach her goals. A recent book study on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens got her reflecting on time management and decision-making. Advisory gives her tools and mindset shifts she knows will stick with her well into the future.
For lunch, Natalie and her peers ride the bus to the larger PPHS campus. The trip offers a change of pace, more food options, and time to connect with friends from other programs. By the time they return to PPHS Lab, she’s recharged and ready for the afternoon.
In Humanities, Natalie explores subjects like history and literature. Whether working independently or participating in group discussions, she appreciates how the class connects big ideas to everyday life. The quiet, structured setting helps her stay focused and thoughtful.
Her day wraps up in Acceleration Lab, a flexible space for personal academic progress. Every student works on something different: Gabriel is filming a short movie, Jude is studying for a CLEP exam, and Natalie is progressing through her Algebra 2 course. It’s a time for focused, individualized learning that helps each student move forward on their own path.
No two days at PPHS Lab are exactly the same, but for Natalie, each one is designed to help her grow—academically, personally, and as a future leader.
A Place Where You Can Be You
Whether a student is outgoing or quiet, artistic or analytical, focused on college or still figuring things out, there is a place for them at PPHS.
Our goal is simple: help every student feel like they matter. Because they do.
Want to see what life at PPHS looks like? Schedule a tour or visit one of our campuses to experience it for yourself.