Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs can play a critical role in helping students prepare for further education or moving directly into the workforce after high school. That’s because they equip students with a wide variety of skills, practical knowledge, and hands-on experience.
Today, we’ll take a closer look at some of the reasons why CTE programs are so important for a student’s future success, both in and out of the workplace.
4 Ways That Career and Technical Education Programs Assist Students in Preparing for Future Careers
1. CTE classes offer students real-world, hands-on experience.
One of the best ways to keep students engaged in school is to provide opportunities that showcase how what they’re learning can be applied to real-life situations. Career and Technical Education programs are especially good at this because of the hands-on experiences they provide. Students are able to learn basic and complex concepts in the classroom and then put their book learning to use.
This type of learning atmosphere can be especially helpful for students who are visual learners. It’s also a great opportunity to learn marketable skills. This is especially true for students wanting to enter the workforce immediately after graduation vs. pursuing a higher education.
2. Career and Technical Education programs provide career exploration opportunities for particular fields of interest.
In a traditional high school setting, teens may have a general idea of the career they’d like to pursue. But, the coursework they take doesn’t necessarily relate to that specific field. With CTE programs, however, students can take classes that are directly related to their area of interest. For example, those who are interested in the building trades may take courses related to plumbing, electrical work, framing, or general carpentry.
Here at Rising Aviation High School, our unique location at the Addison Airport (KADS) as well as an aviation-based STEM curriculum enables students to get a behind-the-scenes look at various aviation related careers. This, combined with hands-on experiences, provides Dallas area teens with the skills and knowledge to pursue an aviation career after high school. They can even get their fixed wing pilot’s license while still enrolled in our private high school.
3. CTE courses teach students valuable skills that can be used in any workplace.
Career and Technical Education programs are known for their ability to prepare students for future careers in a specific field of interest. But that’s not the only area where they shine. These programs also equip students with a variety of skills that can be used anywhere they choose to work in the future.
These skills include:
- Time and project management
- Written and verbal communication
- How to collaborate with other team members effectively
- Problem-solving methods
- Decision making and task delegation
- Planning and organization
- Networking and leadership
4. Career and Technical Education programs help students be more marketable to future employers.
Equipped with a toolbox of practical, technical, and real-life skills, CTE graduates are often more appealing to potential employers than those with a less specialized education. They may require less training to be effective members of the workforce. And, they may even be presented with higher starting pay or greater opportunities for career advancement.
Aviation High School and Training for Dallas-Fort Worth Area Teens
At Rising Aviation High School in Addison, TX, we’re proud to be equipping the next generation of students with valuable skills they can use in aviation careers or other occupations. Our academic program is STEM-based with the addition of aviation-related studies. This unique STEAM approach gives students the science, technology, engineering, and math skills needed to excel in today’s competitive job market. And, they graduate with an accredited high school diploma that has a STEM endorsement. However, they also learn a wide variety of aviation-related skills that can benefit them in a future aviation career. In addition, they have access to our Fixed Wing Pilot Program and our Drone Pilot Program. This means they can get their pilot’s license or remote pilot’s certificate while still in high school.
If your Dallas area teen has a love for aviation and is interested in Career and Technical Education that will prepare them for future success, contact us today!
