Career and Technical Education

Career and Technical Education (CTE) is a college program aimed at equipping students with the essential knowledge, skills, and expertise required to pursue specific career paths and become well-prepared for postsecondary education and the workforce. These programs are designed to offer hands-on learning experiences that foster academic, technical, and professional skill development for future careers. CTE motivates and engages students by providing real-world knowledge and opportunities for leadership, college credits through concurrent enrollment, industry-recognized credentials, and meaningful work-based learning experiences.

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Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) provide students in CTE courses with valuable chances to develop practical skills and contribute positively to their community. Led by students themselves, these organizations offer a variety of activities, such as leadership roles, participation in competitions, attendance at career and leadership conferences, community projects, and collaboration with business partners. Involvement in a CTSO enhances academic motivation and engagement, fosters college aspirations, leads to improved grades, and equips students with employable skills.

CTSOs in Durango High Schools CTE programs include:

• DECA: Students enrolled in the Business Management and Marketing program can participate in DECA. This national organization prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for career and college.

• FCCLA: Students enrolled in the Early Childhood Education, Education and Training, Hospitality and Food Production, and/or Interior and Fashion Design programs can participate in FCCLA. This national organization prepares students for careers in family and community services.

• FFA: Students enrolled in the Agriculture program can participate in FFA. This national organization fosters premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agriculture education.

• HOSA: Students enrolled in the Health Science program can participate in HOSA. This national organization equips students with technical and people skills for health occupations.

• SkillsUSA: Students enrolled in the Construction Trades and/or Welding programs can participate in SkillUSA. This national organization prepares students for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations.

• TSA: Students enrolled in the Computer and Digital Technologies, Design and Multimedia Arts, Digital Media and Communications, and/or Engineering programs can participate in TSA. This national organization prepares students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

• FTC Robotics: Students enrolled in the Engineering program can participate in FTC Robotics. This organization prepares students to learn how to think like engineers through designing, building, and coding robots for team competitions.

Work-Based Learning is an advanced course that enables students to enhance their existing knowledge and skills in a specific pathway. It focuses on developing both employability and technical skills, preparing students for future careers and post-secondary education. This learning approach incorporates various strategies to provide hands-on experiences, allowing students to explore potential career paths.

Capstone is an advanced course tailored to each student's specific program of study. It involves individualized and specialized work, which can be project-based or focused on industry certification. The instructor and student collaborate to determine the course's content and design.

PCC represents a Pueblo Community College course taught by DHS teachers at DHS. Each semester-long course allows students to earn 3 to 6 college credit hours.

A/B represents a year-long course.

L1, L2, L3, and L4 denote the successive levels of courses within a program. Students are required to follow the prescribed order, beginning with Level 1 (L1) and advancing through to the ultimate level, Level 4 (L4).