The Future of High School: Diversity, Internships, and Post-COVID Education

On this episode of Career High, host Jeremy Smith speaks with Mitch Gross, Principal of Iowa City West High School in the Iowa City Community School District. Mitch shares how his career started in politics and government before he made the jump into teaching, then leadership. He also breaks down how West High is balancing a highly rigorous academic culture with growing demand for internships, trades, and career exploration.

West High serves about 1,600 students and has been ranked the number one high school in Iowa by U.S. News and World Report for four straight years. Mitch highlights what makes the school stand out. It is a minority majority campus, about 46% white, with a 32% poverty rate. Students and families speak 17 languages. Mitch says the school aims to reflect the real world and treats diversity as a strength.

The conversation also digs into post COVID shifts. Mitch points to attention span, lingering academic gaps, and a new need to reset expectations around attendance and showing up even when you do not feel great. He notes that behavior and culture are stabilizing, but academic impacts may last for a full generation.

On career connected learning, Mitch shares how West High is expanding internships for credit, leveraging proximity to major healthcare institutions, and building stronger partnerships with a top tier community college system. He also discusses a key challenge. With a traditional 7 period day, students often have more interests than scheduled slots. That creates tradeoffs between core requirements, electives, and work based experiences.

Key Moments

03:05 Rise in Lax School Attendance

08:37 Educational Diversity in Iowa

11:25 "Rethinking Career Paths and Trades"

14:21 Shift in Attitudes Toward College

18:39 Career Academies and Dream Accelerator

19:33 Junior Achievement Career Readiness Program

25:04 Beyond Traditional Education Systems

27:24 "Schools as Society’s Safety Net"

30:37 Education Systems: Stagnation Across Borders

Why You’ll Love This Episode

You will hear a practical view of what career connected learning looks like inside a high performing, university town high school. Mitch shares real tradeoffs around scheduling and graduation requirements, plus what has worked to expand internships, dual credit, and exposure to careers without weakening strong academic outcomes. The episode also gives an honest look at what changed after COVID and what schools are still rebuilding.

Connect with Mitch Gross | Principal, Iowa City Community School District

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-gross-b0023a3a1
Company Website: https://west.iowacityschools.org/

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About Career High By Pega6

Career High is the podcast that spotlights principals transforming high schools into launchpads for real-world success through career-connected learning, industry partnerships, and innovative pathways.