FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs at Portsmouth High School

1. What is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program?

The Rhode Island Department of Education has recognized the need for hands on training and education in order to prepare students for post-secondary education institutions and to provide students with the skills that they will need to become productive members of the workforce in the State of Rhode Island. The great thing about schools that offer CTE programs is that Rhode Island regulations governing Career and Technical Education ensure that every student has the right to select an approved CTE program in any district. The student does not have to be a resident of that school’s city or town to become a member of that public school.

2. What CTE programs are available at Portsmouth High School?

Portsmouth High School currently offers four Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that are endorsed by the Rhode Island Department of Education: The Academy for Engineering Design, The Academy for Education, Child Development & Human Services, The Academy for Visual Arts & Design, and The Academy for Media, Communications & Digital Video Production.

3. What are the benefits of becoming a student within the CTE programs?

The Academy for Engineering Design provides students with the opportunity for hands on learning through the nationally recognized Project Lead the Way (PLTW) series of courses, www.pltw.org. Students who enroll in these courses will be exposed to the engineering design process as well as engineering strategies, methods, calculations, and visual representation of design that are used in the various engineering fields. The courses and activities are designed to challenge students with a wide variety of hands-on labs and projects where they will apply the strategies that they have learned to solve problems. This exposure prepares students for future careers in engineering or for the next level of education in the field of engineering.

The Academy of Education, Child Development, and Human Services is aligned to academic, technical and industry-based standards to ensure a rigorous state approved three-year career and technical education (CTE) program. During the second and third year of the program, the students enrolled in the program will experience a variety of internships where they will work directly with children at local childcare centers and elementary schools.

The Academy for Media Communications & Digital Video Production is a unique program that delivers specialized communication and video skills throughout a multi-year sequence of course offerings. The CTE program is proud to offer students an opportunity to work with industry professionals and industry standard film equipment.

The Academy for Visual Arts and Design is a rigorous program that is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a career in the arts. Students will learn the essential skills that are necessary to be prepared to enter the workforce or pursue a degree in the arts. The students will demonstrate their skills by learning to work with a broad range of materials such as pencil, charcoal, collage, paint, printmaking, digital media, sculpture, and product design. At all levels of the academy, the students will develop a global perspective of art history. The students will learn how to document and present their portfolio to art schools. Students will be introduced to and develop relationships with the Portsmouth Artist Guild, the DeBlois Gallery and the Newport Art Museum where they will learn about careers in art history, art education, architecture, museum education, curatorial work, and gallery exhibition.

Lastly, a student becomes a full member of the student body at Portsmouth High School! Students in the program will eligible to participate in all of the extra-curricular activities and clubs that are sponsored by Portsmouth High School. This includes our outstanding sports, music, and drama programs.

4. Who is eligible to become a member of either CTE program at Portsmouth High School (PHS)?

Any student who resides in Rhode Island may apply to attend. Please visit the PHS website and fill out the Google form that is located on the Career and Technical Education website. You will be contacted and sent an application for the CTE programs at PHS. All completed applications may be sent to Meg Ferreira via email (ferreiram@portsmouthschoolsri.org) or mailed to:

Portsmouth School Department

Office of the Deputy Superintendent

29 Middle Road

Portsmouth, RI 02871

5. What is the criteria for each program?

Our main criteria is that a student has a passion and high interest in the CTE program that they wish to be enrolled. There is a math requirement when applying to the Academy for Engineering Design. A student must have completed or be enrolled in Algebra 1 by grade 9. An art portfolio must also be shared with the CTE Advisory Committee before the student’s application is considered complete for the Academy for Visual Arts & Design.

6. Who pays the cost of tuition for the CTE program at PHS?

The school district in which the student resides will pay the tuition for the out of district student who is accepted into one of our CTE programs.

7. Who pays the cost of transportation to and from school for “out of district” students?

Transportation is provided at no cost to students who reside in the Region 5 Statewide Transportation System (Tiverton, Middletown, and Newport).

8. What types of courses will I be taking in each program?

Please refer to the web link for each CTE program located on the Portsmouth High School’s website for a complete list of the courses that will be required for each program.