Overview
Career Academies are workforce-focused high school programs that lead to certificates in high-demand workforce fields. High school students can earn an entry-level career certificate in addition to their high school diploma. Career Academies focus on construction, education, manufacturing, health sciences, automotive, and information technology.
Accomplishments
- Enrollment in Career Academies has grown from 86 students in 2018 to our rising 300+ students currently participating in opportunities to earn Level 1 certificates.
- Growth in the Automotive Academy has doubled, and this is a career field many districts would like to develop. The Automotive Academy currently serves four districts (Bastrop ISD, Hays CISD, Round Rock ISD, and Pflugerville ISD).
- The Electrical Academy is now offered at two Austin ISD campuses.
- ACC launched the first Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Academy at Leander High School in Leander ISD.
Impact
These workforce certificates allow students to go directly into the workforce or continue their education post-high school graduation. The connections ACC is making with area high school, community, and industry partners are impacting the workforce programs schools are bringing into the classroom. As we continue to grow partnerships with districts and industry partners, supporting increased numbers of employable, job-ready students at high school graduation helps our communities and meets Central Texas workforce needs.
Next Steps
We are continuing to collaborate with our Career and Technical Education (CTE) directors to build more articulation-to-dual credit programs through our CTE connections. Implementing articulation-to-dual credit sequences allows students to understand the courses they are taking in high school in their endorsement area before they take the classes for dual credit in the workforce area. ACC will continue to survey high-interest and high-demand areas to create pathways that can work best for students and secondary partners.
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