College Credit in High School?

This week at Flintolabs, we announced something that fundamentally changes what's possible for high school students learning AI with us.

Students can now earn college credit through our program - real, transferable college credit from an accredited institution while building hands-on AI skills in high school.

Think about that for a moment. A middle or high schooler spends just one hour a week learning to build AI-powered apps, developing critical thinking skills, and solving problems they care about. And now that same experience counts towards college credit.

When we founded Flintolabs, we knew high schoolers needed real AI skills - not just to understand AI, but to use it as a tool for innovation, experimentation and creativity. AI when taught this way becomes a perfect catalyst. Now, with formal recognition from an accredited university, those skills have a tangible value that will matter when college admissions and career opportunities come knocking.

Something that happened this week reinforced why this matters so much.
Our students were learning about AI and Computer Vision while building a hands-on app. I asked them to explain, in their own words, what we were trying to build, focusing on the steps in our framework. It challenged them to see beyond the end goal, to break a big problem into smaller, solvable parts. And that, when you zoom out, is exactly what’s needed in today’s AI-driven workforce: the ability to deconstruct challenges and understand where and how to leverage AI effectively. A PwC study confirmed this - while AI radically changes the world of work, young people who learn to harness it can open up enormous opportunities.

It was school newspaper time this week at my daughter’s elementary school and one of the opinion pieces from a 5th grader caught my eye. The student talked about AI use for students - “Students are not taught to use AI over concerns of cheating…but by not teaching proper AI use, schools are denying students a great learning tool.” That single line perfectly captures the dilemma schools face today. The solution isn’t to keep AI away, it’s to teach ethical, responsible, and thoughtful use of it.

And that’s exactly what we’re committed to at Flintolabs.

-Janani

Competition Period: October - February

What: An inquiry-based challenge inviting high school students nationwide to tackle real-world sustainable development problems using open data and AI. Teams develop innovative solutions to local and global issues through data analysis and present findings in scientific manuscript format.

Who: Teams of up to four high school students from across the country

Format: Students define their own research topics within the competition theme, receive workshops and mentorship, access example datasets and analysis tools, and submit findings as scientific manuscripts

Prizes:

Perfect for: Students interested in data science, AI, and sustainable development - no previous programming experience required (training provided!)

At the Nvidia tech summit, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang answered a question many parents and students are asking: "Is AI going to take your job?"

Huang's response cuts through the anxiety: "No, but someone using AI might take your job."

This statement reveals a crucial truth about the AI revolution we're living through. The threat isn't AI itself - it's being left behind while others learn to harness its power. The World Economic Forum's 2025 Future of Jobs Report confirms this: analytical thinking combined with AI literacy tops the list of fastest-growing skills employers need.

But here's what makes this moment different from previous technological shifts: AI isn't just another tool to learn. It's a capability amplifier that works differently depending on who's using it. A student who understands how to effectively prompt an AI, validate its outputs, combine multiple AI tools strategically, and apply AI to real problems will have fundamentally different capabilities than one who doesn't.

Every industry is being reshaped. From healthcare to education, from agriculture to entertainment, AI is changing how work gets done.

The question isn't if a student should learn AI. It's whether they'll learn to use it as a tool for innovation or watch from the sidelines as others do. Because the future will be divided between people who can work with AI effectively and those who can't.

Read the full article: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on AI and jobs

Here's a troubling statistic: 79% of high school students express interest in work-based learning experiences, but only 2% actually complete internships during high school. Meanwhile, employers increasingly demand that entry-level candidates arrive with real-world experience - creating an impossible paradox for graduates.

Work-based learning (WBL) bridges this gap by integrating classroom education with real-world application. The benefits are substantial and well-documented.

Students who participate in work-based learning make more informed decisions about their academic courses and career paths. They develop essential employability skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability - capabilities that can't be taught through textbooks alone. Perhaps most importantly, they build the confidence that comes from successfully navigating real-world challenges.

Research shows that work-based learning experiences help students stay engaged in school, strengthen their academic performance, and develop what educators call "21st-century skills" - the ability to adapt, learn continuously, and apply knowledge in new contexts. These students don't just perform better academically; they graduate with clearer career direction and stronger professional networks.

For students interested in STEM careers, the impact is even more pronounced. Work-based learning allows them to see how physics applies at the amusement park, how biology comes alive at the local hatchery, how algebra matters in insurance pricing, or how AI transforms computer science. These connections between classroom theory and real-world application ignite passion and fuel long-term interest in STEM fields.

The challenge? Traditional school structures often inhibit WBL expansion. But programs that successfully integrate hands-on learning - like Flintolabs' approach of having students build real AI applications - demonstrate that high schoolers don't need to leave school to gain meaningful work-based experience. They just need authentic projects that mirror real-world problem-solving.

Because at its core, work-based learning isn't about where learning happens. It's about ensuring students develop transferable skills through meaningful work that prepares them for whatever comes next.

Learn more about work-based learning benefits: What is Work Based Learning in High School?

Ever opened your planner with the best intentions… only to abandon it two weeks later? Or downloaded one of those fancy calendar apps that looked great but was so complicated you gave up?

This week, we're highlighting Fadhil, a 12th grader who decided to solve this universal student problem: staying organized without the overwhelm.

The problem? Most planning tools are either too simple (basic paper planners that don't sync anywhere) or too complicated (apps with so many features you spend more time learning the app than actually getting organized). Students need something in between - powerful enough to actually help, simple enough to actually use.

So Fadhil built AI Calendar, a super simple, student-friendly planner that actually works.

As Fadhil puts it: "Organization shouldn't feel like another assignment."

He's right. The best productivity tools are the ones you actually use, not the ones with the longest feature list. AI Calendar demonstrates that sometimes the smartest solution isn't adding more - it's removing everything that gets in the way.

Watch Fadhil's pitch and comment to support: Student Pitch - AI Calendar

Our November cohort is off to an incredible start - students are already building their first AI applications and discovering what they're capable of.

December cohort enrollment is now open!

Give your student the opportunity to:

Students actively build capabilities, one project at a time. The future belongs to students who can work with AI effectively. The question is: are you willing to spend an hour every week to prepare for your future?

Enroll for December cohort →

Our program has a 5-star rating with reviews from both students and parents. If you have questions before signing up, email us at [email protected].

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Found this valuable? Forward this newsletter to other high schoolers and parents who want to be informed about AI trends and what is needed to prepare for an AI-driven future. Every student deserves the chance to build real skills before college.

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