Synergy School offers fast-track to careers or college

Culinary arts are just one track that students may follow at the Synergy School of Tomorrow.

The Synergy School, an innovative vocational and college preparatory educational institution in Fort Pierce, prides itself on being on the leading edge — of technology, of education, and of ideas.

School founder Donnelyn Khourie and her team bought the former Virginia College property at 2810 S. U.S. 1 in Fort Pierce in 2019 after its parent company, the Education Corporation of America, shuttered it, along with 70 other properties. The school had just undergone a $3 million remodel, including a full commercial kitchen, state-of-the-art classrooms, and even a medical operating theater.

“We’re the only high school that I know of in the United States with an operating theater,” Khourie said. “Incredible.”

The plan was to do more than just provide vocational training, as Virginia College had done, she said. “We’re watching the trends — what are the future jobs going to look like? Things are evolving so quickly.”

The campus’s 700 or so students can certainly plan on acquiring the knowledge and skills to find a good-paying job right after graduation, Khourie said. Or they can take what they’ve learned from about 100 full-time faculty members and expand on it at college. They can even do both — dual enroll at the school and in classes at Indian River State College so they can leave Synergy with an AA or AS degree or with credits they can apply at another college.

The school is accepting students in grades 6–12. Its feeder school, Florida State Christian Academy, located on Oleander Ave. in Fort Pierce, accepts students grades K-5. It is nationally accredited and its teachers are certified in Florida, Khourie said.

Vocational pathways include the culinary arts, pre-med, construction, cosmetology, multimedia production, technology, and esports — a burgeoning multi-billion-dollar industry in which millions of competitors from around the world face off in video games at live online events in real time.

Argent Associates will be partnering with the school to create and beta test a smart kiosk at the school, Khourie said. “Our students will create a game with Argent instructors that will connect with smart technology and be interactive in the community.”

The school also provides apprenticing programs so students can get hands-on experience not only at the school but in the field.

“It’s totally workforce — we even hire alumni,” Khouri said. “There’s no doubt that the buzzwords are vocation training and apprenticing. Not everyone is going to college.” The school places many of their students into jobs using CareerSource Research Coast in St. Lucie County, she said.

Synergy’s construction program is accredited by the National Center for Construction Education and Research . They’ll be adding a track in auto mechanics this fall, as well, Khourie said. “Right now there is a shortage of diesel mechanics. Right now you can just name your price,” she said.

For those students who do wish to go on to college, the Synergy is articulated with the Historically Black Colleges and Universities network as well as IRSC. “Our kids are really blessed,” Khourie said.

Tuition is $9,700 per year but there are state and private scholarships available and 90% of Synergy students qualify for some form of assistance, Khourie said. Donations from foundations and other supporters provide financing for students in need, she said.

For more details about programs, scholarships, and applying, click here .