By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Seattle Public Schools is providing students with hands-on career training through its Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, offering pathways into fields such as health care, construction, automotive technology and firefighting while students are still in high school.
The programs are designed to help students prepare for life after graduation by connecting classroom instruction with practical skills, career exploration and opportunities to work with industry professionals. For students considering careers that do not necessarily require a traditional four-year college degree, CTE offers another way to explore their interests and prepare for the workforce.
According to CTE officials, Seattle Public Schools’ Career and Technical Education programs are designed to prepare students for both college and careers after high school. Through hands-on, problem-based learning, students can explore career pathways that match their interests while developing practical skills and gaining exposure to industries that are seeking qualified workers.
A key component of the programs is their connection to industry partners, which helps students understand how classroom instruction applies to the workplace. These relationships also introduce students to career possibilities they may not otherwise encounter and provide opportunities to learn about the education, training and experience required for different occupations.
Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Ben Shuldiner said the district offers career and college preparation opportunities that many families may not realize are available, including programs that can help students transition from high school into the workforce.
“We have a ton of kids that are graduating, going to amazing colleges,” Shuldiner notes. “I think our CTE programs, we have a firefighter academy, we have medical programming. And these are high school kids that leave high school and immediately get to go into the workforce. We have building trades programs. Those are really cool and not a lot of people know about.”
The district’s approach to career exploration begins well before students reach high school. At the elementary level, students can be introduced to technical subjects through after-school activities such as robotics and computer science. As they progress through middle school, career exploration and educational planning help them begin identifying their interests and considering future opportunities.
The High School and Beyond Plan provides a framework for students to connect their academic experiences with their goals after graduation. By high school, students can pursue more specialized coursework and hands-on training in fields that interest them, building on the career awareness and planning introduced in earlier grades.
One of the district’s primary resources for advanced career training is the Seattle Skills Center, which provides specialized technical instruction to high school students at multiple locations throughout the city.
Shuldiner described the Skills Center as operating legally as a single school, with programs distributed across different campuses, including locations at Rainier Beach and near Washington Middle School. This arrangement allows students to participate in specialized training that may not be offered at their neighborhood high schools.
The Skills Center provides tuition-free career and technical training in fields such as automotive repair, medical sciences and firefighting. Through hands-on instruction, students can gain experience with industry-related equipment, workplace procedures and technical skills while continuing their high school education.
These programs give students an opportunity to explore career options before graduation, whether their next step involves entering the workforce, pursuing an apprenticeship or continuing their education at a college or technical institution.
For students interested in entering the workforce after graduation, career and technical programs can provide an introduction to apprenticeships, industry training and other employment pathways. Building trades programs, for example, can help students explore careers in construction and learn about opportunities to enter union apprenticeship programs.
Shuldiner said skilled trades can offer substantial earning potential as workers gain experience and professional credentials.
“When you get a kid who’s now a journeyman certified in the union, they’re gonna make more money than a teacher in their first year,” Shuldiner points out.
Although becoming a certified journeyman generally requires additional training and work experience beyond high school, exposure to the trades can help students understand the steps involved in pursuing those careers.
Career preparation is also taking on added importance as technological advances, including artificial intelligence, change the skills employers seek. By introducing students to different industries and allowing them to develop practical abilities, CTE programs offer opportunities to explore career options before making decisions about college, apprenticeships or employment.
The district’s approach to preparing students for life after high school extends beyond technical training. Seattle Public Schools also offers opportunities for students to earn college credit while completing their high school education.
Through College in the High School, eligible students can take courses that provide an opportunity to earn college credit, potentially giving them a head start on their postsecondary education.
Other options include Middle College at North Seattle College, an alternative high school setting that allows students to pursue their education in a college environment while exploring opportunities to earn college credits.
Together, these programs reflect the different routes students can take toward graduation and beyond. Some may choose four-year universities, while others may pursue community or technical colleges, apprenticeships or careers that build on skills developed during high school.
For Shuldiner, the district’s career and technical programs represent opportunities that deserve greater public awareness, particularly among families who may be unfamiliar with the training available to students.
As Seattle Public Schools prepares young people for an evolving workforce, programs such as the Seattle Skills Center provide students with opportunities to discover their interests, develop practical skills and consider what comes next after graduation.
