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Grieshaber: CTE gives students more choices

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In comparing schools and educational choices, something that is sometimes overlooked are Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. 

CTE programs provide much-needed and unique opportunities to many students in our community, whether they are seeking to go to college or prepare directly for a career.

The Dysart Unified School District offers 19 CTE programs at four high schools and partners with West-MEC to provide additional programs off-campus.

Next year, we are expanding to offer introductory CTE courses as electives to students at our newly formed middle schools, to give them a glimpse of what programs they could choose in high school based on their interests.

Programs offered include architecture, automotive technology, business and marketing, computer animation, computer maintenance, culinary arts, digital communications, digital photography, education professions, engineering, film and TV production, fire science, graphic design, lab assisting, law enforcement, network security, stagecraft design and production, software and coding and sports medicine.  

Students who participate in CTE even tend to have a greater success rate in high school.

Statistics show that students that take two or more years of a CTE program and pass the technical skills assessment have a graduation rate of 98%, well above the average state of Arizona graduation rate of 87%.

Additionally, CTE programs provide additional opportunities for personal and professional growth through internships, industry certifications and student organizations, and can give participants a head-start to a great career.

Annually, Dysart has nearly 4,800 students that choose to participate in CTE classes. 

I encourage anyone interested in learning more about Career and Technical Education programs to visit Dysart.org/CTE to learn more.

There are so many great opportunities to consider.

Editor’s Note: Jim Grieshaber is the director of career and technical education for the Dysart Unified School District.