The Industrial Arts Department is MTHS's home for making things real — four pathways spanning PLTW engineering, computer science and cybersecurity, skilled trades, and broadcast media, all taught hands-on in real labs, shops, and studios.
Showcases, competitions, and deadlines from around the department. Tap a card for details — and add it straight to your calendar.
May 14, 2027
Our biggest night of the year — student projects from every pathway, open to the whole community.
ShowcaseWalk the gym floor and try student-built demos: working prototypes from the Capstone teams, robotics drive stations, live broadcast desks, and shop projects you can pick up and inspect. Free admission; families welcome.
Apr 17–18, 2027
The Robotics Club takes its competition bot on the road. Spectators welcome!
CompetitionMonths of design, fabrication, and driver practice come down to two days of matches. Follow the club's site for the livestream link and final venue details.
May 3–14, 2027
Exam window for AP CSP, AP CSA, and AP Cybersecurity students.
AcademicCheck your College Board account for your exact exam date and room assignment. Teachers run review sessions in the weeks beforehand — watch Google Classroom for the schedule.
May 21, 2027
Capstone teams present and defend their prototypes to a panel of real engineers.
ShowcaseThe final milestone of the Capstone course: each team demos its prototype, walks through its design documentation, and fields questions from an external review panel. Underclassmen considering the pathway are encouraged to attend.
Apr 2, 2027
Last call for Video Production students to lock picture and submit their short films.
DeadlineExports must meet festival specs (resolution, runtime, and closed captions). See your Video Production teacher for the submission checklist and studio sign-up times for final edits.
Every Industrial Arts course belongs to one of four pathways. Start anywhere — each one runs from a no-experience-needed intro to advanced, college-level work.
Design, prototype, and test like a working engineer — from IED through the senior Capstone.
Explore the pathway →Write real code, build apps, and defend networks — with three AP courses on the menu.
Explore the pathway →Wood, metal, engines, and framing — build skills (and projects) you keep for life.
Explore the pathway →Run cameras, cut film, and broadcast live to the whole school on The Morning Show.
Explore the pathway →What current students and recent grads say about their time in the department.
MTHS '26 · NJIT '30
“Taking IED and POE completely changed how I approach problem-solving. The hands-on prototyping experience gave me a huge head start in my mechanical engineering program. I still use the CAD skills I learned in Mr. McLaughlin's class every week.”
MTHS '27
“The PLTW curriculum is a unique experience that is of great value to all students. Its hands-on assignments keep students engaged, and make the class fun for everyone. The introductory courses like AP Computer Science Principles and Introduction to Engineering Design, give students a strong base to build upon, and draw students into those specific fields. I recommend students to take these classes whenever possible.”
MTHS '25 · Penn State '29
“Cybersecurity was unlike any class I'd taken before — we actually broke into virtual networks to learn how to defend them. Between that and AP CSA, I felt completely prepared walking into my college cybersecurity courses on day one.”
MTHS '24 · NJIT '28
“Materials & Methods gave me a real understanding of how things are built from raw materials to finished products. Cabinetmaking was the highlight of my four years — I designed and built a full entertainment center that my family still uses today.”
MTHS '23 · NYU Tisch '27
“Video Production I through III taught me everything from lighting to post-production editing. We submitted our short film to a state competition and placed third. That portfolio piece is what got me into Tisch's film program.”
MTHS '24 · Stevens '28
“The Honors Capstone was the most challenging and rewarding experience of high school. Our team built a working prototype from scratch and presented it to real engineers. That experience taught me more about teamwork than any textbook ever could.”
MTHS '22 · Rowan '26
“I came into Construction Tech not knowing which end of a hammer to hold, and left with real skills in framing, electrical, and project planning.”
Browse the course flowcharts to map your four years — or jump straight into a course page to see what you'd actually make.