Baltimore High School Pilots Industry-Grade Cyber Range to Train Next-Gen Workforce
High-profile cyberattacks targeting K-12 school districts and educational vendors have placed intense pressure on education leaders this fall to prepare students for an increasingly urgent cybersecurity workforce shortage. To tackle this challenge, a historic public magnet high school in Baltimore is piloting a professional-grade cybersecurity training environment donated by an industry partner, as GovTech recently reported.
The pilot program at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute (Poly) builds upon existing workforce training initiatives established at Maryland community colleges through BCR Cyber. By extending these opportunities directly into a high school setting, the program aims to give students access to industry-recognized certifications and job placement assistance before they graduate.
Simulating Enterprise Attacks in a Controlled Environment
According to BCR Cyber President and CEO Michael Spector, the donated Series 3000 Cyber Range simulates an industry-grade training environment, allowing students to practice identifying and responding to threats in a controlled environment. Training scenarios cover complex incidents such as ransomware attacks, insider threats, and website defacement. Employers working alongside BCR Cyber help shape these scenarios, updating them with two new exercises annually.
Unlike practicing on an organization’s live network, the simulated environment lets students experiment safely without disrupting real operations. They’re not going to mess anything up,
Spector said, as noted by GovTech. Students go in… learn from their mistakes, and then again, right afterwards, we can push the reset button.
The initial pilot involves approximately 15 students at Poly, with long-term plans to explore expanding the model statewide. The initiative ties into BCR Cyber’s Cyber Workforce Accelerator, which has installed cyber ranges at community colleges across Maryland. Through this framework, students can pursue the company’s security operations credential, backed by a consortium of more than 40 employers that provide training input and hire from the talent pool.
Bridging the Gap Between Education and Employment
For Josh Headley, BPI’s engineering department chair and AP Capstone course coordinator, introducing career-oriented training early is about expanding options and removing traditional barriers to employment. Traditional degree requirements can often create hurdles for young adults who cannot immediately pursue higher education due to financial or family circumstances.
We want to make sure that everyone has access,
Headley said, referring to in-demand career paths. We are not sending people out of high school adrift without a rudder or a keel.
Spector noted that entry-level security operations center positions often require experience that new workers lack. Simulated workplace exercises offer a practical way for students to demonstrate relevant skills to prospective employers. These students will now be able to walk into an interview and say that they have actual experience in the role that they’re trying to hire for,
he explained.
Mark T. Sawyer, principal of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, emphasized the historical significance of the partnership. Poly has spent 143 years preparing students for careers in engineering and technology, and this donation extends that tradition into cybersecurity,
Sawyer stated, adding that the hands-on experience changes what they believe is possible for themselves.
The initiative also aligns with the goals of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, the education legislation enacted in 2021 to transform Maryland’s public education system and improve student outcomes.
Poly Students Log Practice Hours on Cyber Range
While the formal pilot is still developing, Poly students have already logged approximately 25 hours of practice on the cyber range. Headley noted that some participants have voluntarily returned to school on weekends for additional training. Among the first to participate were students enrolled in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, who tackled practice exercises independently after an initial three- to four-hour training session despite having limited prior programming experience.
However, incorporating the technology into the school’s existing curriculum presents practical hurdles. BPI’s schedule is already crowded, leaving little room for an additional formal course. For the current school year, participation remains voluntary while educators test formats such as weekend boot camps and advisory-period activities. Eventually, organizers expect the technology to integrate into existing computer science coursework.
