Students involved in the Career and Technical Education program at Lowry and McDermitt High schools are more engaged and perform better, Humboldt County School District Superintendent Dave Jensen said.
In addition, those students who do complete the program have a 90 percent graduation rate nationwide. The average national graduation rate for students not involved in a CTE program is 74.9 percent.
"It's a tremendous statistic and the reason we focus on CTE," Jensen said.
That is why it is important February has been proclaimed CTE Month, he said.
The program includes classes like drafting, auto, welding, wood working, accounting and computer-based programs and Jensen said the district is looking to expand its CTE program. That's why the district is continuing its feasibility study for a high-tech center, he said.
According to the Association for Career and Technical Education, the program "prepares both youth and adults for a wide range of careers and further educational opportunities."
Jensen said there is an increasing importance for secondary education and students who complete the CTE program are more likely to enter into a continued education program.
"Approximately 70 percent enter into some form of post-secondary education - college or trade school," he said. "They start the training necessary to provide them with a beneficial career."
According to the ACTE, the program equips students with: core academic skills, employability skills and job-specific and technical skills. Students at schools with CTE programs have significantly higher achievement in reading, mathematics and science than do students at schools with less integrated programs, ACTE says.
CTE is directly aligned with the goals in the school district, according to Jensen, and one of those is to provide additional opportunities for students.
According to the ACTE website, CTE programs encompass 94 percent of high school students and educate for a wide range of career options. The program is designed to integrate with academics and curriculum.
Gov. Brian Sandoval listed several reasons for proclaiming February CTE month in Nevada:
• Profound economic and technological changes in our society are rapidly reflected in the structure and nature of work, placing new responsibilities on the education system.
• CTE provides Americans with a school-to-careers connection and is the backbone of a strong, well-educated workforce.
• CTE gives high school and college students experience in practical and meaningful applications of basic skills, thus improving their quality of education.
• CTE offers individuals lifelong opportunities to learn new skills, which provide them with career choices.
• The ever-increasing cooperative efforts of career and technical educators helps business and industry stimulate the growth and vitality of our local economy and the entire nation.[[In-content Ad]]
