What is a pathway?
A pathway is a sequence of three to four Career & Technical Education (CTE) courses within a career field. CTE helps prepare students discover their career interests, unleash their talents and soar into the future.
What is an industry credential?
When a student completes the courses in a CTE pathway, they have the opportunity to take industry certification exams and obtain certifications. These certifications are highly esteemed within each career field and help students to display their knowledge and to be more sought after by employers.
What are the new pathways?
The new pathways that are being offered for the 2021-2022 school year are Digital Marketing and Customer Relationship Management.
Why have new pathways been developed?
In working with our business and industry partners, we redesigned our pathways to align with high demand employment opportunities in Mecklenburg County and to build positive economic mobility for all students.
When can students sign up for courses in these pathways?
Students can sign up for the courses in these pathways during the registration process for the 2021-2022 school year. Pathway Development Coordinators (PDCs) from each high school are available to assist students and counselors with course offerings and pathways at their respective schools.
Will courses in the discontinued pathways be available?
Courses associated with pathways that are expiring at the end of the 2019-2020 school year may still be offered as CTE elective courses. For example: The Fashion Design pathway is no longer available but some schools offer Apparel I or Apparel I and II as electives for their students.
What happens to students who are currently enrolled in the pathways going away? Will they be able to obtain certifications?
Students who are currently enrolled in pathways that are being removed at the end of the 2020-2021 school year still have the opportunity to earn industry certifications based on the course they are currently enrolled in. Students also have the option of gaining certifications if the school is offering a course from the old pathway sequence as an elective.
How do students sign up for these courses?
High school counselors will start meeting with grade level cohorts regarding course registration during the second semester of the 2020-2021 school year. Students will get a registration card and will have the option to choose courses of their interest. High school counselors will be reaching out to middle schools to meet students and assist them in completing their registration cards.
What if a pathway isn’t offered at my home school?
Pathways that aren’t offered at a student’s home school can be accessible through the School Choice Lottery. In this lottery, students apply for a seat at a different high school with programs and pathways of interest to them. Contact the School Choice office for availability.