Overview of Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Career and Technical Education (CTE) gives high school students, like you, the chance to get a head start on preparing for college and careers. In CTE programs you will learn how core school subjects like math, science and writing are used in real-life. As a CTE student you have the opportunity to participate in hands-on training in your chosen program and gain real world experience through job shadows and internships. Many programs offer you the opportunity to earn nationally recognized certifications which you can use to get a job to pay for college or as the start of your career!

Three years of training providing skills to succeed in fast-growing industries (career fields).

For most CTE programs, in addition to taking all the required CPS core courses, you will take 3 CTE courses.
Sophomore year: Your first course in your program will be in your sophomore year. In this year you will get a basic understanding of the field you have chosen and lay a solid foundation for the more advanced courses you will take.
Junior year: In your junior year, you will take the training level course in your program. In this course you will gain more advanced technical skills used in the field. You may participate in competitions, earn industry recognized certifications and attend a job shadow.
Senior year: The last class you will take in your program is in your senior year. This class is meant to be an advanced training course that will build on all the knowledge and skills you have gained in the previous two years. During this course you will earn certifications, participate in scholarship competitions and hold an internship.