Ohio is America's #1 state for business. Lorain County JVS (LCJVS) is helping develop the talent to keep it there.

LCJVS has once again earned an overall five-star rating on the Ohio School Report Card—reinforcing the district's commitment to high performance, career readiness, and an employer-connected workforce strategy designed around the needs of Ohio's evolving economy.

For LCJVS, five stars represents more than a state rating. It reflects measurable outcomes: students gaining real-world experience, employers accessing emerging talent, and young people earning wages while building their careers.

During the 2025-26 school year, that impact included:

• 5-Star Rated School District
• 179 Students Signed Up for the Summer Internship Program
• 130+ Summer Internship Completers
• 100+ Employers and Industry Partners Engaged
• 47,000+ Hours Worked
• $640,000+ in Gross Payroll Earned by Students
• 100% | Met 9 out of 9 Indicators
• Acheivement 4 out of 5
• Graduation Rate 5 out of 5
• Career & Post Secondary Readiness 5 out 5 
• Post-Program Outcomes 5 out of 5

"Five stars is an incredible recognition, but what makes this achievement meaningful is what it represents for our students, families, employers and communities," said Dr. Glenn Faircloth, Superintendent and CEO of Lorain County JVS. "Our students are gaining skills, earning credentials, building professional networks, and contributing directly to Ohio's economy. That is workforce development in action."

"This five-star rating reflects the commitment of our students, staff, leadership, families, and partners across Lorain County. As a Board, we are proud to support a district that is not only delivering exceptional outcomes for students, but also responding to the workforce needs of our employers and the economic opportunities taking shape across Ohio. LCJVS continues to demonstrate that investing in career-technical education is an investment in our students, our communities, and Ohio's future."

— Rex Engle, President, Lorain County JVS Board of Education

Five Stars—and a Workforce Ready Student Experience

The Ohio School Report Card provides communities with important measures of school and district performance. At LCJVS, those measures are reinforced by career-connected experiences designed to prepare students for what comes next.Students learn alongside industry professionals, earn credentials, participate in pre-apprenticeships, and work-based learning, and apply their technical and professional skills in real workplaces. During the summer internship program alone, LCJVS students logged more than 47,000 hours with employers and collectively earned more than $640,000 in gross payroll.

Those figures represent more than workforce-development statistics. They represent experience, economic mobility and connections between emerging talent and Ohio employers.

"Our five-star rating validates the exceptional work taking place across LCJVS, but the real impact can be seen in the opportunities our students are creating for themselves," said Megan Champagne, High School Principal. "They are connecting their skills to real careers, working alongside professionals, and demonstrating to employers that they are ready to contribute. That combination of achievement, experience and opportunity is incredibly powerful."

Ohio is Setting the Pace

LCJVS's five-star performance comes at an important moment for Ohio.

In 2026, CNBC named Ohio America's #1 State for Business, marking the first time the state has earned the top position since the rankings began.

Ohio's competitive advantages include:

#1 State for Business — CNBC
#1 Cost of Doing Business — CNBC
#1 Infrastructure — CNBC
#10 Economy — CNBC
#10 Access to Capital — CNBC
One day's drive from approximately 60% of the U.S. and Canadian population

Ohio's central location provides businesses access to more than 143 million people within a day's drive, creating a powerful advantage for manufacturing, logistics, and supply-chain operations.

But infrastructure, location and investment alone do not create economic growth.

Growth requires talent.

And that makes career-technical education an increasingly important component of Ohio's economic-development strategy.

"Ohio's career-technical education system is a tremendous economic asset because it connects students directly to the skills, experiences, and opportunities employers need. Lorain County JVS's five-star performance demonstrates what is possible when high expectations, strong leadership, and industry partnerships come together around student success and workforce readiness."

— Maggie Hess, Executive Director, Ohio Association of Career-Technical Superintendents

Career-Technical Education is Economic Development

As businesses invest and expand across Ohio, the state's career-technical education system is helping build the workforce necessary to support that momentum.

LCJVS is part of that statewide network—connecting students with credentials, work-based learning, internships, pre-apprenticeships, and employers before graduation.

The result is a talent strategy that benefits both students and businesses.

"Career-technical education is preparing Ohioans for opportunity while giving employers access to the skilled talent they need to grow. Lorain County JVS continues to demonstrate the power of connecting rigorous career preparation with meaningful industry experiences. Five stars, coupled with strong workforce outcomes, is something worth celebrating."

— Dee Smith, Executive Director, Ohio ACTE

Where State Performance Meets Economic Performance

Across Northeast Ohio, access to skilled talent increasingly influences where businesses invest, expand, and create jobs.

LCJVS is responding by connecting career-technical programming with industries driving the regional economy—including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, construction, transportation, technology, and other high-demand sectors.

Through its broader network of 200+ industry partnerships, LCJVS is creating an ecosystem where employers help shape talent and students gain earlier access to opportunity.

"Talent is fundamental to Northeast Ohio's ability to compete and grow. Strong career-connected institutions help create clearer pathways between people, skills, and opportunity. Lorain County JVS's sustained performance demonstrates the importance of aligning talent development with the current and future needs of the regional economy."

— Jacob Duritsky, Vice President, Strategy, Research and Talent, Team NEO
 

Lorain County's Talent Strategy in Action

Ohio's economic momentum is creating opportunities across Lorain County—and talent is central to capturing them.

The LCJVS Summer Internship Program provides a powerful example of what happens when education, employers and economic-development partners align around workforce development.

179 students signed up. More than 130 completed internships. More than 100 employers and industry partners engaged. Students worked more than 47,000 hours and collectively earned more than $575,000.

"Businesses consistently tell us that talent is essential to their ability to grow and remain competitive. Lorain County JVS is an important part of that equation. When students are gaining real experience, earning wages, and building relationships with employers before graduation, we are strengthening both individual opportunity and Lorain County's economic future."

— Lisa Hutson, President and CEO, ONE Lorain County

Connecting Talent to Northeast Ohio's Growth Industries

LCJVS's workforce strategy extends beyond Lorain County through partnerships connecting students and programs with Northeast Ohio's aerospace, aviation, advanced manufacturing, technology, and other growth industries.

Those connections matter as Northeast Ohio competes for investment and employers seek workers capable of succeeding alongside rapidly evolving technology.

"Regions compete on talent, innovation, and the strength of their partnerships. Lorain County JVS understands that connection. Giving students earlier exposure to industry and meaningful workplace experiences strengthens the entire talent ecosystem and helps Northeast Ohio prepare for continued growth in aerospace, aviation, advanced manufacturing and technology."

— Hrishue Mahalaha, Executive Director, Aerozone Alliance

Employers Are Part of the Strategy

Employers are not simply the destination at the end of a student's LCJVS experience. They are partners in developing the pathway.

Businesses participate through advisory committees, internships, work-based learning, pre-apprenticeships, employer collaboratives, industry engagement, and hiring pipelines.

Students gain experience and professional connections. Employers gain earlier access to emerging talent. And Lorain County strengthens its workforce pipeline.

"A strong business community requires a strong talent pipeline. Lorain County JVS continues to demonstrate what happens when students and employers are connected earlier and more intentionally. Five-star performance coupled with real workforce outcomes sends a powerful message: Lorain County is developing talent that is prepared to contribute."

— Nico Samaniego, President and CEO, Lorain County Chamber of Commerce

Five Stars. Real Outcomes. Ohio Momentum.

Ohio is #1 for business.

LCJVS is a five-star school district.

More than 100 employers and industry partners participated in the summer internship initiative.

Students worked 47,000+ hours.

And they earned more than $575,000 while developing their careers.

These outcomes are interconnected.

Ohio's continued economic competitiveness requires a strong talent strategy—and LCJVS is helping build it.

"Five stars is something our entire community should celebrate, but it also raises the bar for what comes next," Faircloth said. "Ohio is growing, industries are transforming and employers need talent. Our responsibility is to continue evolving, strengthening partnerships and creating opportunities that prepare our students to succeed in that economy."

Five Stars. Real Experience. Real Earnings. Real Opportunity.

Workforce Ready. Ohio Focused. Shaping Careers Through Bold Collaboration.