The Okaloosa County School District’s (OCSD) Career and Technical Education (CTE) program offers nineteen courses at the high and middle school level with rigorous career pathways for all facets of the workforce, ranging from Architecture and Construction, Engineering/Technology Education, and Health Science to Hospitality/Tourism, Information Technology, and Manufacturing. CTE education prepares students to explore, compete, and succeed as lifelong learners in careers that are available in our area as well as the entire state of Florida. Our CTE programs provide hands-on, work-based learning that is relevant to student interests and responsive to the needs of employers and the economy.
The Okaloosa County School District works closely with CareerSource Okaloosa/Walton to identify key industries with a future need for skilled workers and collaborates with One Okaloosa EDC, TeCMEN Organization, and various industry partners to ensure our programs align with industry demands.
Approximately 8,200 students county-wide are enrolled in OCSD CTE courses. 2,251 students earned Industry Certifications and 2,221 earned Digital Tool certifications during the 2022-2023 school year. 54% of OCSD students in grades 6-12 enrolled in a CTE course and 72% of all OCSD CTE courses are honors or AP weighted credit.
In partnership with the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation, OCSD CTE hosted eleven Summer Camps to inspire upcoming 5th graders to pursue CTE courses as part of their future academic path. The camps exposed young students to the many opportunities available for them to pursue CTE courses, skills, and careers. Impacting students, parents, schools, and teachers, the camps served as excellent public relations opportunities for the district to engage all stakeholders. Summer camps allow parents and students an opportunity to see CTE programs firsthand as they make future decisions about enrolling in classes and share their positive experiences with others in the community.
For more information on the OCSD CTE program, visit https://www.mycteworks.com.
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