Career and Technical Education
Introduction
To prepare our graduates to be college and career ready, Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses merge academic knowledge and technical skills in real-world applications. CTE courses are not “your father’s old shop classes” but rather high-tech, experiential in nature, incorporating hands-on, problem-based learning. In addition to learning new skills, students who complete a two-year sequence in an area, have the opportunity to earn an industrial certification/credential that will give them an advantage when they look for jobs.
CTE is where students can find and pursue their passion for learning and work.
Program Description
CTE courses are elective courses available at GMS and GHS. At GMS, most of the courses are semester courses in the sixth and seventh grade and in the eighth grade there are full-year courses where certain courses carry high school credit.
There are sixteen career clusters identified for students and within each cluster there are numerous pathways for students to consider. For example, under the career cluster for Architecture and Construction, one of the pathways is for engineering. You may see more about career clusters and pathways here.
Work-Based Learning
Work-Based Learning (WBL) is comprised of school-coordinated workplace experiences that are related to students' career goals and/or interests, may be integrated with instruction, and are performed in partnership with local businesses and organizations.
WBL experiences reinforce Virginia's 5 Cs (i.e., critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creative thinking, and citizenship) and Goochland's Profile of a Graduate by allowing students to apply these skills in a real-world business or service-oriented work environment.
Congratulations to FIRST PLACE WINNERS Day 1 Team 5 - Tia, Owen, Maggie, & Nydja!