Quick Facts

• Location: Greenwood, Indiana
• Address: 1999 U.S. 31 South, Greenwood, IN 46143
• School Type: Public Area Career & Technical Education Center
• Programs Offered: Automotive, Diesel, Aviation, Construction, HVAC, Welding, Precision Machining, Cosmetology, Healthcare, IT, Culinary, Criminal Justice and more
• Training Style: Hands-on high-school CTE with modern labs, industry credentials, college credit and workforce experience
• Tuition Range: No private-school tuition for eligible high-school students; adult workforce classes are separately priced
• Program Length: High-school pathways generally taken during junior/senior years; adult courses vary from short certification classes to multi-week training
• Online Programs Available: Adult Education offers some flexible learning; core technical high-school programs are primarily in person
• Hybrid Learning: Program-dependent in Adult Education
• Financial Aid: Traditional FAFSA does not apply to regular high-school CTE; adult workforce grants may make selected courses free to qualifying students
• Class Options: Secondary CTE plus Adult Education
• Industry Credentials: Varies by pathway
• Average Rating: ⭐ 4.5 (58 Reviews)
• Website: central9.k12.in.us

Overview

Central Nine Career Center is a large public CTE institution in Greenwood that has served south-central Indianapolis-area students since 1972. It provides hands-on career education for students from multiple surrounding school corporations and emphasizes industry certifications, college credits and real-world career preparation.

For TradeSchoolScout, Central Nine is especially notable because of the breadth of its traditional trade programs. Current 2026–27 pathways include Automotive Service, Automotive Collision Repair, Diesel, Construction Trades, Construction HVAC, Welding Technology, Precision Machining and several aviation programs.

Programs Offered

Current pathways listed for Central Nine include:

• Automotive Collision Repair
• Automotive Service Technology
• Aviation Flight
• Aviation Maintenance
• Aviation Operations
• Biomedical Science
• Construction Trades
• Construction Trades: HVAC
• Cosmetology
• Criminal Justice
• Culinary Arts & Hospitality
• Dental Careers
• Diesel Service Technology
• Early Childhood Education
• Emergency Medical Services
• Fire & Rescue
• Health Science Education
• Athletic Training
• Medical Assisting
• Nursing
• Information Technology
• Landscape Management/Horticulture
• Precision Machining
• Veterinary Careers
• Visual Communications
• Welding Technology

Automotive & Diesel

Central Nine offers separate pathways for:

• Automotive Service Technology
• Automotive Collision Repair
• Diesel Service Technology

This allows students to specialize in mechanical repair, body/collision work or heavy-duty diesel systems rather than receiving only a general automotive introduction. The 2026 school year included active automotive programming and hands-on cross-program activities.

Construction & HVAC

Central Nine distinguishes between general Construction Trades and Construction Trades: HVAC, giving students a more direct route into heating and cooling if that is their career goal.

Students interested in electrical, plumbing or other construction occupations should ask the school which certifications and apprenticeship connections are currently embedded in each pathway.

Welding Technology

Welding Technology is a dedicated current CTE pathway rather than merely one component of another manufacturing program.

Students should ask about:

• Welding processes taught
• AWS testing opportunities
• OSHA credentials
• Dual-credit options
• Local manufacturing employer partnerships

Precision Machining

Precision Machining provides another strong industrial option, particularly for students interested in CNC machining, manufacturing and production technology.

Central Nine’s broader mission includes preparing students for high-demand fields through modern equipment, industry-recognized credentials and project-based learning.

Aviation

Central Nine has an unusually strong aviation lineup for a high-school career center:

• Aviation Flight
• Aviation Maintenance
• Aviation Operations

That gives students multiple ways to explore aviation rather than a single general course.

Adult Education

Central Nine also operates a substantial Adult Education division at the same Greenwood campus.

Its adult program reports:

• 48 courses
• Approximately 256 students
• High School Equivalency education
• English-language education
• Workforce certification training

Certified Nurse Aide Example

A published Central Nine Adult Education CNA course has been structured as:

• 10 weeks
• Monday and Wednesday evenings plus clinical Saturdays
• $1,025 self-pay
• Free for qualifying grant-funded students
• Books, state exam and other supplies included in the published course cost

Because adult offerings and prices change by semester, applicants should verify the current schedule.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Eligible high-school students attend Central Nine through their participating public-school district rather than paying private career-school tuition.

Participating school systems include districts serving areas such as:

• Perry Township
• Franklin Township
• Clark-Pleasant
• Center Grove
• Franklin
• Greenwood
• Nineveh-Hensley-Jackson
• Beech Grove

Adult programs are separately funded and priced. Some workforce courses may be free for applicants who qualify for grants, as demonstrated by Central Nine’s CNA workforce-training model.

Why Students Choose This School

• Automotive Service and Collision Repair
• Diesel Technology
• Construction and HVAC
• Dedicated Welding Technology
• Precision Machining
• Three aviation pathways
• College-credit opportunities
• Industry certifications
• Public-school CTE structure
• Adult workforce education

Career Opportunities

Depending on pathway and additional credentials, students may move toward:

• Automotive Technician
• Collision Repair Technician
• Diesel Technician
• HVAC Technician
• Construction Trades Worker
• Welder/Fabricator
• CNC Machinist
• Aviation Maintenance Worker
• Emergency Medical Technician
• Nursing Assistant
• Medical Assistant
• IT Technician

Regulated occupations may require additional state certification, testing, licensing or apprenticeships.

Student Reviews

Based on your supplied listing data:

⭐ Average Rating: 4.5 (58 Reviews)

That is a solid rating for a public career center. Prospective students should still judge individual pathways based on current instructors, credential options and equipment.

Enrollment Tips

• Students should work through their home high-school counselor because Central Nine is a regional CTE center
• Apply early because popular pathways can have limited capacity
• Ask which dual college credits are available for your program
• Welding students should ask which AWS credentials are currently offered
• Automotive students should ask about ASE-related training
• Aviation applicants should carefully compare Flight, Maintenance and Operations
• Adults should check workforce-grant eligibility before self-paying
• Ask about work-based learning or employer placements during the second year

Bottom Line

Central Nine Career Center is one of the strongest public trade-school-style options around Indianapolis because of its unusually broad lineup of automotive, diesel, construction, HVAC, welding, machining and aviation programs. Students can receive hands-on training and industry credentials while remaining in high school, which can make it substantially less expensive than attending a private trade school after graduation. Its Adult Education division also extends the campus’s usefulness to adults seeking short-term workforce certifications.