The Bronx STEAM Center is giving students hands-on learning opportunities designed to build creativity, problem-solving skills and real-world experience, with a new home planned at the Hutchinson Metro Center atrium.

Program leaders say the goal is to better prepare students for the workforce through strong community and industry partnerships.

"What makes it amazing is that deep-rooted partnership and community that we've established...with our 10 partner schools, to make sure that the work students are doing is aligned to what the community wants and what industry needs," said Maha Hasen, principal of the Bronx STEAM Center.

Students can join the program in 11th grade, split their day between their home high school and the STEAM Center, where they focus on career-connected learning.

"We're a shared instructional program, which means that our students actually split their day between one of 10 partner high schools and the STEAM Center," Hasen said. "At the STEAM Center, they get to focus only on career-connected learning."

Students say the program offers opportunities they might not otherwise have.

"We are going to be walking out of this program with certifications," said Kaylin Strachn, a STEAM Center student. "That is so unheard of for our school communities and for students nowadays."

Educators say the program is helping students leave high school with more than a diploma by giving them both credentials and a clear path toward future careers.