Heartland Career Center was formed pursuant to the Acts of 1936, as amended and came into being in 1965 with an agreement between four school corporations. These corporations included: Manchester Community School, Metropolitan School District of Wabash County, Peru Community School and Wabash City School. This included all of Wabash County and the area surrounding Peru. The school was originally called Upper Wabash Vocational School. The name was changed to Heartland Career Center to more accurately describe the area and training for students. Other schools within reasonable distance have been invited to join the cooperative program. North Miami Community School legally joined the cooperative in 1969. Huntington North began to send students to Heartland in 1990 on tuition basis. Oak Hill began to send students to Heartland in 2002 on a tuition basis. Established with approval of the General Commission of the Indiana State Board of Education, Heartland Career Center functions as a public school in the State of Indiana. The current facility was opened in 1971 providing classroom and workshop space in a central location. Prior to that time classes were held in a variety of locations around the area. Heartland is a cooperative school operating as an independent school corporation but with no taxation power. Heartland is governed by a Board of Managers who have the power under joint contract to set policy and operate the school.
MSD of Wabash County serves students in five townships (except that portion of Noble Township which comprises Wabash City Schools) of southern Wabash County, covering 292 square miles in a beautiful, rural/small town environment. The district consists of seven schools with about 2600 students. There are four elementary schools and three junior-senior high schools. One of the high schools is White's Jr.-Sr. High School which provides education for about 150 students from across the state who are residents at White's Residential and Family Services as a result of a court placement. In addition, the district is the LEA for special education services to students in four school districts. The district offers a comprehensive curriculum featuring Reading Recovery, Early Prevention of School Failure, Writing to Read, Counseling/Remediation program, Title I program, Hands-On Science, gifted/talented program, Advanced Placement courses, distance learning via IHETS, Tech Prep, cooperative Fine Arts program, and an expansive summer school curriculum.
Manchester Community Schools engages students in relevant activities that ensure students will learn to think critically at progressively higher levels.
A community's schools are a reflection of that community's values. So the fact that Wabash's schools also have a tradition of innovation, quality, and looking out for the needs of all its students should not come as a surprise. Like the City of Wabash, Wabash City Schools refuse to subscribe to the notion that you have to be big to be excellent. Whether it's equipping those students who have the talents and ambition to "reach for the stars," or providing for the needs of that student with a special, challenging condition, Wabash is committed to providing the very best educational experience possible for all its students. Today Wabash City Schools are a unique blend of past and present. While they benefit from the foresight and generosity of those who've gone before, they're also determined to stay at the forefront in providing the very best in an overall educational experience.