School district offering extensive career readiness pathways
New and established courses available for students
– The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District offers over 40 career technical education pathways to prepare students for future jobs and college readiness. Pathways include courses in welding, agriculture, journalism, and more.
“We want all PRJUSD students graduating to be college and career-ready,” said director of curriculum and instruction in secondary schools Anthony Overton. “This means students leave with the courses and skills needed to go to college or directly enter the workforce or both. A student who completes a CTE pathway will build a skill set in a high-wage, high-demand job sector, including industry knowledge, career exploration, work-based learning, and industry and recognized certifications,”
There are multiple pathways available, which include:
- Agriculture and natural resources
- Arts, media, and entertainment
- Building and construction trades
- Business and finance
- Education, child development, and family services
- Health science and medical technology
- Hospitality, tourism, and recreation
- Information and communication
- Transportation
The newest pathway for students is the Aviation Mechanics High School Program, which consists of two courses offered through a Cuesta College partnership.
The welding program, which consists of four courses, is part of the agriculture mechanics pathway. Students have shown their projects at the California Mid-State Fair Industrial Arts Auction, been featured on the National Future Farmers of America Organization Facebook page, competed in the California SkillsUSA Championships, and more.
Another pathway is the Culinary Arts Academy, which includes education on basic baking techniques, knife skills, and breakfast cookery; students work in a fully stocked kitchen located on Golden Hill Road.
“Every year, we work to evaluate and assess our CTE programs to ensure they are still meeting the needs of the students and the industry sectors they are preparing students for. Each year we host two industry partner dinners to collect feedback and integrate new and relevant experiences into our programs,” Overton said.
Students are also able to graduate with college credit, as some of the pathways fall under Cuesta College. These include coding and cyber operations, agricultural business, introduction to multimedia journalism, early childhood development, and more.
“Overall our student pathway completers find great value in the skills they learn through our CTE pathways. Even if they don’t get jobs in those sectors, they are learning skills that will be useful for the rest of their lives,” Overton said.
For more information, visit the PRHS college and career center website here.
