Why CTE?

There are MANY benefits to enrolling in a CTE course! 

• Hands-on Learning: CTE programs provide students with hands-on, practical experience in their chosen field, which can help them better understand the concepts they are learning and prepare them for real-world work.

• Job Preparation: CTE programs are often designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in a specific career field. This can include technical skills, industry-specific knowledge, and employability skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.

• Career Advancement: CTE prepares students for college AND career.  Many of our CTE programs offer opportunities for students to earn industry certifications and credentials, which can improve their job prospects and earning potential.

• Diverse Career Options: CTE in Pamlico County encompasses a wide range of fields, from Emergency Medical Technology and Animal Science to Culinary Arts and Drone Technology. This means that students have a diverse range of career options to choose from and can pursue a career that aligns with their interests and strengths.

Overall, CTE can provide students with valuable skills and knowledge that can help them succeed in their chosen career field, and can be a great option for those who are looking for a more hands-on, practical approach to education. 

The mission of Career and Technical Education (CTE) is to empower students to be successful citizens, workers, and leaders in a global economy. CTE programs are designed to contribute to the broad educational achievement of students, including basic skills, as well as their ability to work independently and as part of a team, think creatively and solve problems, and utilize technology in the thinking and problem-solving process.

Career and Technical Education fulfills an increasingly significant role in school reform efforts. Students who concentrate in a CTE area, earning at least two related technical credits and meeting other criteria, are better prepared for the further education and advanced training required to be successful in 21st century careers. Career and Technical Educators at the state and local levels partner with business and industry and with community colleges and other postsecondary institutions to ensure Career and Technical Education serves the needs of individual students and of the state.

The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) provides the framework for Career and Technical Education. North Carolina’s Five-Year Plan for Career and Technical Education specifies how Career and Technical Education programs will be carried out in the state. Additional information about planning for Career and Technical Education is found in the CTE Planning Guide.

Career Clusters™ are broad groupings of occupations/career specialties, organized by common knowledge and skills required for career success. There are 16 Career Clusters™ and 79 related pathways (subgroupings of occupations/career specialties). Supported by the original 2006 Perkins legislation, Career Clusters™ are an organizing tool for curriculum design, school guidance, and a framework for seamless transition to career and college.

All NC CTE courses align to the Career Clusters™. Each course is placed in a Career Cluster based on a set of knowledge and skills common to all careers in the entire Career Cluster. Industry-validated knowledge and skills statements of student expectations identify what the student should know and be able to do. They prepare students for success in a broad range of occupations/career specialties. Some CTE courses cross over all 16 Career Clusters™.

Sixteen Career Clusters™

• Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

• Architecture and Construction

• Arts, A/V Technology and Communications

• Business Management and Administration

• Education and Training

• Finance

• Government and Public Administration

• Health Science

• Hospitality and Tourism

• Human Services

• Information Technology

• Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security

• Manufacturing

• Marketing

• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

• Transportation, Distribution and Logistics

Federal law requires each school receiving Perkins funds to offer at least one Program of Study (POS). A Program of Study provides a clear pathway for students to reach their career goals through secondary CTE courses, opportunities for postsecondary credit while in high school, and academic coursework, combined with a smooth transition to postsecondary education and advanced training. Students are to have a career development plan outlining courses to be taken that will move them toward their tentative career objective, meet high school graduation requirements, and provide a foundation for further education and advanced training.