Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides students the opportunity to explore multiple career fields across 17 Career Clusters. Students can specialize in a career area that aligns with their passion. CTE programs are available to students at the middle and high school levels, as well as both campuses of the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center (Courthouse and Hull).Â
CTE offers students the opportunity to earn industry recognized certifications related to their coursework, and to participate and take leadership positions in their Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO). Students also have the opportunity for experiential learning opportunities, known as Work-Based Learning (WBL) experiences, which are related to a specific occupational area. In specific CTE courses, students also have the opportunity to earn dual enrollment credit aligned towards earning an Associate’s Degree.
CTE Annual Performance Reports
Career and Technical Education Career Clusters
The National Career Clusters® Framework serves as an organizing tool for Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, curriculum design, and instruction. There are 16 Career Clusters in the National Career Clusters Framework, a 17th, Energy and Power, in Virginia effective as of July 1, 2019, representing 79 Career Pathways to help learners navigate their way to greater success in college and career. The framework also functions as a useful guide in developing programs of study bridging secondary and postsecondary systems, and for creating individual student plans of study for a complete range of career options. As such, it helps learners discover their interests and their passions, and empowers them to choose the educational pathway that may lead to success in high school, college, and career.
Chesterfield County Public Schools offers programs of study in each career cluster, though, not all of the nationally identified Pathways are available due to our local business economy alignment.Â