As the 2025-26 school year gets underway, junior high counselors in Gilbert Public Schools are learning about programs their students may pursue in high school.
Counselors from Desert Ridge, Greenfield, Highland, Mesquite, South Valley, and GPS Global Academy toured several career and technical education, or CTE, programs at Gilbert High School in August to see how the classes combine academics with hands-on skills.
Career and technical education allows students to explore career fields, earn industry certifications, participate in industry tours, and earn college credit while completing their high school diploma.
“When our junior high counselors know the opportunities available in CTE, they can help students connect their passions to possible careers, earn college credit and industry-recognized certifications and launch into the workforce, regardless of pathway, with confidence and experience,” said Renita Miller, program and workforce development coordinator for Gilbert Public Schools.
Gilbert Public Schools offers 21 CTE programs serving more than 5,500 high school students in Gilbert and Mesa.
Classes are located on the district’s five comprehensive high school campuses.
By learning more about these programs, junior high counselors can better guide students toward courses that align with their interests.
High school students in Gilbert are required to complete at least two CTE or fine arts credits to graduate, along with core academic subjects such as math and English.
District officials say CTE courses appeal to students who prefer hands-on learning and help them connect academic concepts with real-world applications.
For example, students in Gilbert High School’s agriscience program said they found geometry more engaging after applying mathematical concepts to welding projects.
The agriscience program offers certifications such as OSHA 10, Arizona Landscape Contractors Association, BASF Plant Science and Elanco Fundamentals of Agriscience.
It also provides dual-enrollment courses that allow students to earn community college credits during the school day.
Students in the district’s CTE programs have a graduation rate exceeding 97%, above the state average.
More than 75% of students in these programs go on to postsecondary education, advanced training, military service, or employment within six months of completing their program.
District leaders say the goal of CTE is to help students develop technical and interpersonal skills to prepare them for future education and careers.
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