Starting your CTE Journey

What is CTE?

Career and Technical Education (CTE) is hands-on learning that delivers real-world skills to students.

CTE gives learners technical skills and hands-on experiences, leading to higher graduation rates, career exploration, and direct pathways to career choices. CTE also offers work-based learning experiences, college credit, skill certifications, and credentials that put your student ahead of other prospects.

Why should my student and I care about CTE?

CTE is a gateway offering opportunity and choice. Students prepare for life outside of high school, find careers they are interested in and have an aptitude for, and receive accreditation and training that puts them steps ahead of the competition. Students love CTE coursework– little is more engaging or entertaining than hands-on learning on self-selected topics.

Here’s a glance at the CTE numbers for the 2020-2021 year:

• 172,020 Students Enrolled in CTE Courses
• 96.1% Graduation Rate for Students Who Are CTE Concentrators
• 101,532 CTE Concurrent Enrollment (CE) Credits Earned
• 64,864 CTE Skill Certifications Earned**
• 10,752 Third-Party Certifications Earned**
  • **COVID-19 Impacted Certifications Earned

For a more in-depth breakdown of these statistics, click here.

Students can start classes for direct pathways in:

• Food Science, Dietetics & Nutrition
• Business Information Management
• Graphic Design & Communication
• Health Science
• Broadcasting & Digital Media
• Engineering
• Plant Science
  • And more!

How do I get involved?

You can determine what courses might interest you by checking out the Interest Profiler, matching student interests to job fields. Click here to check out the Interest Profiler.

We also wrote several pieces on CTE Teachers, Courses, and Students in Graphics and Screen-Printing, Architectural Drafting and Engineering, Automotive Mechanics, Woodworking, Metalworking, Business, Foods, and more. Use the articles on the District website for a deep dive on these topics!

Once you’ve chosen a few courses, check out the CTE Course List that reviews each course, high-school and UVU credit counts, skill certifications, and chart a route of discovery and post-graduate success!

Reach out to your school’s academic advisors for more information, who are always happy to help. CTE Month may be over, but your CTE journey begins now. Good luck, and happy trails ahead!