At Cabarrus County Schools, Career & Technical Education (CTE) supports all students in their quest to find their right and purposeful career direction. The vision for the CCS CTE Department is to produce students ready to pursue their life’s purpose. If that purpose takes them directly into the workforce, to a trade school or community college, or to a four-year institution, our goal is to help them get there. Our mission is to help each child move their future forward, in the most productive way possible.
Partnerships with the community are critical and reciprocal. CCS has a rich history partnering with various industries, establishing long-standing community/school collaborations. For the business leader, CTE is an opportunity to partner with a local school district in a structured process that creates a pipeline of employees. Through a variety of work-based learning opportunities, guest speaking events, and advisory council opportunities, the business leader can participate in the education process and help students who may one day be their employees. CTE students receive tangible, real-life experience within some of the best local organizations they may already be familiar with in an area of study they are most interested in.
Data shows that when students complete a four-course program of study in a Career & Technical Education pathway, they are more likely to graduate, while also finding the career that makes them happy. Students can also leave high school with a credential that gives them a leg up on other applicants, ultimately, moving their futures forward at an unexpected pace.