Culinary Arts

Get a head start with ProStart and Milwaukee Public Schools

Culinary careers and the hospitality industry are hot! Jobs are growing faster than any other employment sector except health care. Higher wages are predicted in the hospitality industry, which includes restaurant management and food service. In Wisconsin, restaurants account for one in ten jobs.

Culinary jobs are not just first jobs — they can help lead students on a career path to success, especially if young people have the right training in high school.

Culinary arts training in MPS

Four MPS high schools launched the new two-year culinary program this year. The ProStart program will help students get a head start in the growing and exciting culinary arts and hospitality fields.

ProStart is a hands-on curriculum created by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation for high school students. It features real-world culinary arts and food service management opportunities that help students learn skills that can last a lifetime. Students also earn a certificate when they complete the program as well as college credits while they’re still in high school.

Milwaukee Public Schools is fortunate to have outstanding local partners who share the district’s excitement about how ProStart can help young people prepare for success. The Bartolotta Restaurants, Hospitality Democracy, SURG Restaurant Group, and other prominent local restaurant groups are joining with the Wisconsin Restaurant Association Education Foundation to support the expansion of ProStart in MPS.

ProStart will build on the unique strengths of each participating school:

• Bay View High School, which launched a partnership with Arts @ Large and local restaurant Honeypie to connect students to culinary arts
• James Madison Academic Campus, which offers a NAF Academy of Finance that can help students better understand the business aspects of fields such as culinary arts
• Harold S. Vincent High School, which offers an agriculture program, including connections to the food and beverage industry
• Washington High School of Information Technology, which offers a NAF Academy of Hospitality and Tourism

A fund-raising campaign is expected to be announced in the spring to help fund the cost of launching and operating the ProStart program for these four schools.

Get your career in the culinary arts started now!

Students can learn more about any of the participating schools or they can enroll in these programs at mpsmke.com/enrollmps.