Career and Technical Education — CTE — is one of the most valuable and underutilized resources available to high school students. Here's what parents need to know.
What CTE Is
CTE refers to courses and programs that combine academic learning with real-world technical skills. Modern CTE programs include cybersecurity, healthcare simulation labs, engineering design, culinary arts, early childhood education, and much more — across 16 career clusters defined by the U.S. Department of Education.
Why CTE Matters for Your Child
Students who complete CTE programs may graduate with:
- Industry certifications (CNA, CompTIA, ServSafe, OSHA)
- College credits through dual enrollment
- Direct pathways to apprenticeships or employment
- Hands-on experience before graduation
Research shows CTE students have higher graduation rates, lower dropout rates, and stronger post-secondary outcomes than non-CTE peers.
How to Find Out What Your School Offers
- Call your school counselor and ask: "What CTE pathways does our school offer?"
- Look for course names like Health Science, Computer Science Principles, Engineering Design, or Business Management in the course catalog
- Ask whether your school has dual enrollment agreements with local community colleges
The PathMagnet Connection
PathMagnet's free career assessment helps students identify which career clusters match their interests — making the CTE course selection conversation with their counselor much more focused.