Charlotte County Public Schools

Career and Technical Education (CTE) prepares Charlotte County students for a wide range of careers, from nurses to computer technicians and hundreds of careers in between! When community visioning sessions were conducted several years ago, it became apparent that parents, students, and community business partners wanted to enhance the CTE programs in all schools. CTE was seen as a direct link to careers, post-secondary training, or the military, and it helped to give students clear goals for their future. Research from 1950 to the present clearly indicates that 70% of jobs do not require a four-year degree. However, about 30% of jobs require training or education beyond high school but less than a four-year degree. A one-to-two-year career technical certification opens the door to many career fields and may serve as a stepping stone to higher-level careers or further education.

This long-range vision has now become a reality. Every school in the district has CTE programs in place. These programs are based on the 17 career clusters that the state of Florida uses to plan course offerings:

• Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
• Architecture & Construction
• Arts, A/V Technology & Communication
• Business, Management & Administration
• Education & Training
• Energy
• Engineering & Technology Education
• Finance
• Government & Public Administration
• Health Science
• Hospitality & Tourism
• Human Services
• Information Technology
• Law, Public Safety & Security
• Manufacturing
• Marketing, Sales & Service
• Transportation, Distribution & Logistic

As early as Kindergarten, students begin working in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math labs (Elementary STEM). The curriculum in these labs leads to the Middle School career exploration opportunities. In 8th grade, students study all the career clusters and then develop a four-year plan based on the clusters and their specific area of interest. An invaluable website for parents and students to use is Xello. Xello is an online platform designed to help students prepare for their future by building self-knowledge, exploring career options, and creating actionable plans. For families, Xello provides a Family Portal where parents and guardians can view their childundefineds progress, support future goals, and stay involved. This platform bridges the gap between school and home, ensuring that students have a strong support system as they plan for their future.

Each high school has Career Clusters that feature a wide array of course selections and career paths. Counselors meet with students each year of high school to modify the plan as students' career interests change.

There is also an opportunity for students to attend Charlotte Technical College (CTC) as a dual enrollment student. CTC specializes in CTE courses, licensure and certificate programs, and job placement for students upon program completion. Students may articulate certifications into college credit at the Florida State and Technical Colleges. Be sure to speak to your child's counselor for more details. Furthermore, CTE students can earn the Florida Gold Seal Scholar Award to assist with post-secondary school tuition.