Four County Career Center

Four County Career Center is an associate school for students in grades 11 and 12 in the Four County area.  Four County offers vocational programs in 22 different areas. Students remain Wauseon students but attend the Four County Career Center for the entire day.  Wauseon students who wish to apply to Four County must submit an application to the WHS Guidance Office by January 31st. Applications usually open the first day of December and are available on the Four County Website.

      To view  more information about Four County, click HERE.

A handful of the programs they offer include...

Accounting and Business Management
Agricultural Diesel Mechanics
Chef Training
Early Childhood Education
Cosmetology
Computer Programming
Graphic Arts
HVAC and Plumbing
Powersport Engine Technology
Welding Fabrication
....and many more!

For a complete list of programs, click HERE.

Commonly Asked Questions

1.  What is an "associate" or "vocational school?"

•  A vocational school is a way for students to fast-track into skilled and well-paying jobs. The focus  at a vocational (or trade) school is usually on practical application of skills as opposed to academic rigor. Students spend part of the day in academic classes and part of the day in a lab, where they learn valuable skills that make them marketable in the workplace.

2. What are the benefits of attending a vocational school?

•  Students learn valuable skills right away that make them more likely to find a job right after high school.

• Many skilled trades require certain certifications, and vocational school curriculum is designed to prepare students interested in certain trades for those certification exams. 

• Some vocational schools have transfer programs which allow students to transfer some or all of their credits to a 2 or 4 year college.

• Some students struggle with academics, and a vocational school gives them an opportunity to develop strengths they may not have had the opportunity to develop at a traditional high school.

• Many vocational school teachers have connections in the community and the workforce that can assist students in finding employment after they graduate. 

3. When/How do I apply for admission to vocational school? 

• Students usually apply to Four County in the middle of their sophomore year. Applications are always due by February 1st.  Students must have a minimum of 8 credits to be considered for admission, 5 of which need to be in core academic courses. Additionally, some programs have specific GPA requirements (ex: C or better in Biology required for some health programs). For a detailed description of which courses are required for admission, visit THIS PAGE. Interested individuals should contact Mrs. Vorwerk or Mrs. Westfall. 

4. What if I decide after I start my junior year at WHS that I would really like to go to Four County after all?

• If this is the case, please see either Mrs. Vorwerk or Mrs. Westfall. They can help you determine whether this is a possibility for your unique situation.

5. Who is my counselor at Four County Career Center?

• Mr. Steve Inkrott is the WHS student counselor at Four County Career center. You can find him in the Four County Career Center guidance office or reach him via email at sinkrott@fcanywhere.net

6. What if I go to Four County and don't like it? Can I come back to WHS?

• Technically yes, but once a student enrolls at the Four County Career Center it is extremely difficult for the student to return to the home high school. The curriculum at Four County differs greatly from the junior/senior curriculum at Wauseon High School. It is nearly impossible to match up the yearlong core classes that the student was taking at Four County with the courses at WHS. Students who choose to return at the end of the first or second semester of their junior year may face the risk of not graduating due to a lack of credits. Before being permitted to return to the home school, the student and parent must have a conference with the Four County counselors as well as with the home high school counselor. Students returning must have a full schedule of classes.

• Mrs. Westfall and Mrs. Vorwerk encourage students to stay at Four County for at least a full semester. Although it can be an adjustment, many times students end up enjoying their courses and labs at Four County after giving it some time. 

• Students with this concern should contact either Mrs. Vorwerk or Mrs. Westfall.