The mission of the Office of Career and Technical Education is to prepare students to become productive citizens in a global workforce, by developing and delivering quality programs, which provide students with viable and authentic entry-level career skills, as well as the academic knowledge and life skills necessary for employment and/or post-secondary education.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) gives high school students the chance to get a head start on preparing for college and careers. In CTE programs, students learn how core school subjects like math, science, reading and writing are used in the workplace. Furthermore, CTE students are afforded the opportunity to participate in hands-on training in their chosen program and gain real-world experience through job shadows and cooperative education positions. Many of these programs offer students the opportunity to earn nationally recognized certifications, which will enable them to get a job that will help pay for college or begin their career upon graduation from high school.
For all CTE programs, in addition to taking all of the required core courses, students will take three CTE courses. In their sophomore year, the first course in their program will give a basic understanding of the field they have chosen and lay a solid foundation for the more advanced courses that they will take. In their junior year, students will take the training level course in their program. In this course, they will gain more advanced technical skills used in the field. Students may participate in competitions, earn industry-recognized certifications, and attend a job shadow. The last class that students will take in their program will be during their senior year. This class is an advanced training course that will build upon all of the knowledge and skills that students have gained in the previous two years. During this course, students earn certifications, participate in scholarship competitions, and hold a cooperative education position.
The CTE programs at Chester Upland School District are also part of Pennsylvania's SOAR (Students Occupationally and Academically Ready) program. The SOAR program helps students by:
- Saving money on college tuition
- Saving time by shortening college attendance
- Getting on the right career pathway
- Preparing them for the job market
- Getting a consistent education
For more information, see your counselor or the CTE staff at your school.
The CTE programs offered at Chester High School are:
- Automotive Technology
- Business Office Specialist
- Cosmetology
- Culinary Arts
- Sports and Entertainment Marketing
The CTE programs offered at STEM High School are:
- Communications Technologies
- Engineering Technologies
Attention Chester Upland School District Graduates:
Were you a former student in one of Chester Upland School District's CTE programs? We want to hear from you! Download the Graduate Follow-Up Survey, complete it, and mail it to Chester Upland School District, c/o Career and Technical Education at 200 West 9th Street, Chester PA, 19013.
Annual Public Notice of Nondiscrimination
The Chester Upland School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. Inquiries may be directed to Chester Upland School District’s Title IX/504 Coordinator, located at 232 West 9th Street, First Floor, Chester, PA 19013 or by calling 610-447-3637.
