The Centers for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) is a network of tuition-free, industry-led, career-themed high schools in San Antonio. CAST’s innovative school model allows students to learn by doing and gain real world experience through internship, job shadowing and mentorship opportunities, and is among the first of its kind in the state of Texas. Each CAST school focuses on a set of high-demand, high-wage industries. Students choose a school based on career interest, setting personal goals and mastering learning concepts at their own pace. Students tackle real-world projects designed by local employers and work in teams alongside industry mentors. CAST students graduate from high school with a diploma and up to two years of college credits, plus the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certificates and an associate’s degree in addition to work experience. The tuition-free schools offer a combination of blended learning, project-based learning, and work-based learning, freeing teachers to act as coaches and mentors, with class time structured around research, labs, and offsite experiences in the workplace.