What is Career Technical Education (CTE)?

• CTE provides students of all ages with the academic and technical skills, knowledge and training necessary to succeed in future careers and to become lifelong learners.

• In total, about 12.5 million high school and college students are enrolled in CTE programs across the nation.

• CTE Pathways are a way for students to prepare themselves to be college and career ready when they graduate from Willits High School. Students who focus on a pathway acquire the skills necessary for entry into well-paid careers with high potential for rapid financial growth, increased levels of responsibility, and a high degree of personal satisfaction.

Why should you be interested in CTE?

California Department of Education Goal: All graduates will meet the prepared level for “College/Career Indicator Performance Levels”

In addition to earning a high school diploma, all students will fulfill one of the following: 

• Option A: A-G Completion: and one of the following:

  • CTE Pathway completion.

  • Completion of one semester of a Dual Enrollment class with a passing grade (Academic, or CTE subjects).

  • Passing one AP exam

• Option B: CTE Pathway Completion and Completion of one semester of a Dual Enrollment class with a passing grade (Academic, or CTE subjects).

• Option C: Dual Enrollment - Completion of two semesters of Dual Enrollment classes with a passing grade (Academic, or CTE subjects).A student may also meet the above goal by earning a high school diploma and achieving a level 3 on both SBAC (CAASPP) tests or passing 2 AP exams. Because these tests are administered primarily in later grades and test achievement cannot be guaranteed, this method of achieving the “prepared” performance level should not be considered.

What is the skills gap?