Carmen is: a college preparatory high school with a liberal arts curriculum that emphasizes science and technology and requires students to work or intern in local corporations or nonprofit organizations.

Carmen’s mission is to ensure all students:

• Take college prep courses in high school
• Become critical thinkers and self-directed learners
• Go to college
• Are prepared for meaningful careers
• Are involved in their communities

To ensure this mission is accomplished Carmen is adopting a model created by Alverno College that helps students develop critical thinking and life skills and apply them in academic courses and "real world" settings. The model describes "8 Abilities" students must achieve over the course of a liberal arts education:

• communication
• analysis
• problem solving
• valuing in decision making
• social interaction
• developing a global perspective
• effective citizenship
• aesthetic engagement

The emphasis on science and technology in the curriculum responds to community calls for greater numbers of scientists and the need for all students to develop scientific “habits of mind” such as communication, problem solving, and analysis.

The Student Work/Internship Program will find students jobs or internships at area corporations or nonprofit organizations. Students may choose to work or intern. Students who work will earn wages and receive incentives for saving their earnings for college. Students in the internship program will intern at nonprofit organizations and be eligible to apply for college scholarships. Every student will either work or intern one day per week all year.