Across Rhode Island and across the country, students and families are realizing more than ever, the overwhelming benefits of Career and Technical Education (CTE) as part of the high school educational experience.

Gone are the days when CTE meant “Vo-Tech,” which was designed for students who weren’t going to college and wanted to go directly into the workforce, oftentimes into more blue-collar jobs. Today, CTE means hands-on, experiential learning, college credits, industry certifications, and students are paying close attention to the benefits that are gained from getting CTE education in addition to their traditional high school academics. Having a high school diploma is now enhanced greatly by having a “pathways” education as well; a small classroom setting with a focused multi-year program of study focused on a particular career pathway, whether it be in the medical field, in marine biology, in education, whether having an artistic focus, a construction focus, or a computer science or engineering focus, having this targeted career training allows a student to delve deeper into their interests and to leave high school with more than just an academic diploma. It gives them more than a leg up for college credits, for career experience, for internship opportunities and for academic knowledge when taking college classes in their major after high school. Many can work their way through their post-secondary education, benefiting from the industry certifications they’ve earned through their CTE programs, such as EMT, CNA, computer science or teaching assistant certifications, or can even go right into a job in their field.

Cranston has always been well-aware of the benefits of CTE, as the Cranston Area Career and Technical Center (CACTC) is housed on the Cranston High School West campus, draws in students from all over the state for its popular pathways programs, and whose students win multiple awards each year both locally and nationally.

According to school statistics, 49 percent of Cranston High School West students, or 60 percent of those students in grades ten through twelve who are eligible, are enrolled in a career pathways program at CACTC. Last year, more than half the graduating class graduated with a CACTC certificate as well as their high school diploma.

Now, what was already a strong pathways education from CACTC is about to get even better, as Director Gerry Auth recently shared the news that the pathways programs will be expanding from three years (gr. 10, 11 and 12) to four years ( gr. 9, 10, 11, 12) with the start of the 2018-2019 school year.

“We are very excited to be transitioning to a four year program in all of our pathways programs, starting next school year,” Auth said. “This gives students more opportunities to obtain additional industry credentials and college credits and to delve more deeply into their programs.”

Auth will be visiting the middle schools in Cranston this year to talk to the eighth-grade students about enrolling as ninth-graders at CACTC, as well as the application process. Each program is capped at approximately 20 students, depending on the program, and oftentimes application to a CACTC program is the first real competitive application process that the high school students experience. The programs can be taken at the honors level upon teacher recommendation after the first year has been completed. Students wishing to apply for a program must have good attendance, good behavior, complete the application and an interview and ideally should list their top three choices of pathways programs, as enrollment caps out every year in each program.

“Statistics have shown that graduation rates and attendance rates are better for students who are enrolled in career and technical education programs,” Auth said. “A lot of programs are transitioning to four year programs because of those types of benefits. Our programs are desirable and we accept applications from out-of-district students from all over the state.”

Now, statewide when giving out school effectiveness ratings, more of attention is being paid to the types of credentials and credits that are offered to students at the high school level. Students also have more choice in which public school they choose to attend, and oftentimes students are choosing schools which offer a wider variety of options beyond core academic courses, or which offer a particular career focus they’d like to further explore before going on to college.

It is that support, from the top down, which Auth said has been a key force in strengthening and expanding the programs and curriculum at CACTC in time for next year’s transition.

“We’ve received immense support from RIDE and from the superintendent here in Cranston,” Auth said. “The Department of Education and our administration recognize the value of career and technical education and of the credentials that our students can receive from it.”

The pathways programs at CACTC are Aquaculture, Child Development, CISCO Cyber Security and Digital Forensics, Computer Aided Design/Drafting, Culinary Arts, Entrepreneurship, Graphic Communications, Interactive Digital Media, Medical Pathways, Pre-Engineering/Robotics, and Residential Repair, Remodeling and Construction.

For more information, visit the school’s website at cpsed.net/cactc.