Career Technical Education

ACS Career Technical Education

The Athens High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculum empowers students with the work-readiness skills necessary for success in the twenty-first century. Career-empowered students are productive citizens who are prepared with the knowledge and skills for postsecondary education or for employment. The CTE classroom provides an opportunity for all students to combine academics with other high-caliber learning experiences. The program is designed to keep abreast of the rapid changes in business and industry by offering students a rigorous array of coursework to help prepare them for advanced learning and a wide range of career opportunities. Rigor in the course of study is derived from two primary sources—academic and industry-specific workplace knowledge and skills.

Rigor in the workplace is evidenced by the knowledge and skills required for students to achieve, maintain, and advance in employment in a particular pathway. The level of academic and workplace rigor is a function of the degree to which each career and technical education program prepares students for highskill, high-wage, or high-demand careers. For select career opportunities, credentials and certifications have been established that validate the rigor of the curriculum to parents, students, and business and industry. In addition, articulation agreements in partnership with postsecondary institutions have been developed to allow for a seamless transition for students pursuing opportunities for continued education.

AHS students may take several CTE courses on site at the high school as part of their daily schedule or they can enroll in some programs that are taught on-site at the Limestone County Career and Technical Center. Transportation to and from the center is provided to students free of charge. The Career Preparedness Course is required of all students; however, additional career technical courses may be taken as elective credits.

An extended opportunity for the pursuit of training in the area of CTE is available through the Dual Enrollment Program with Calhoun Community College. More details regarding these opportunities are available in the AHS Course Catalog.