CCTE programs across San Diego Unified are featured are making a difference in a new KPBS News story highlighting the district’s efforts to prepare more students for life after high school. The segment showcases how Career & Technical Education (CTE) pathways are helping students gain hands-on experience, industry-aligned skills, and a clearer sense of their future college and career goals. Through expanded access, strong partnerships, and engaging real-world learning, SDUSD students are graduating more prepared than ever for the opportunities ahead.

Posted October 7th 2025

On October 3rd, students from Mira Mesa High School, Crawford High School, and San Diego High School spent the day at San Diego City College for FJMP360, an immersive experience designed to highlight the opportunities available in Film, Journalism, and Media Production.

Throughout the day, students rotated through hands-on sessions in professional labs and studio spaces, connected with the City College student outreach team, and engaged in conversations about the cost and value of a college education. These experiences helped students make direct connections between the skills they are building in their CCTE high school pathways and the programs, facilities, and career opportunities available through the City College FJMP department.

A key highlight of the day was when students learned about how the early college credit opportunities earned through their high school CCTE courses can save them both time and money once they transition to higher education. This realization added an extra layer of relevance to their pathway coursework and underscored the importance of the choices they are making in high school. By the end of the day, students left inspired, better informed about their next steps, and excited about the strong alignment between their high school learning and future college experiences.

A special thank you to the San Diego City College Film, Journalism, and Media Production team for creating such a welcoming and engaging day for our students.

Posted October 3rd 2025

San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) and California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that provides guaranteed admission to CSUSM for SDUSD students who meet specific academic requirements. This partnership is designed to increase access to higher education, particularly for first-generation and underrepresented students, by ensuring a clear and supportive pathway from high school to college. The agreement reflects a shared commitment to preparing students for success in college and beyond while supporting SDUSD’s vision for all graduates to be future-ready.

As part of this collaboration, Class of 2028 students (current 10th graders) visited CSUSM this week for an immersive introduction to college life. During these visits, students explored the campus through guided tours, met professors and current CSUSM students, and gained firsthand knowledge about the wide range of programs and majors offered. They also learned about academic support services, student life opportunities, and the unique resources available to help them thrive at CSUSM.

These campus visits provided students with valuable exposure to the possibilities of higher education and helped them begin envisioning themselves as future college students. By connecting with faculty, staff, and peers in a university setting, SDUSD students were able to see how the guaranteed admission pathway can translate into real opportunities for their academic and career goals.

Through the MOU and experiences like these, SDUSD and CSUSM continue to strengthen their partnership, ensuring that more students have the tools, knowledge, and confidence to pursue a college degree.

Posted September 23rd 2025

At San Diego Unified’s College, Career & Technical Education (CCTE) Office, we are proud to highlight the incredible work happening in our Food Truck Program. Recently, Sunset Bites, the student-run food truck from Mira Mesa High School, rolled onto campus to showcase its delicious smoked BBQ and the entrepreneurial skills of our students.

As Dr. Rick Cooke, CCTE Director, explains, this program is about more than great food. It provides students with real-world opportunities to develop the business, marketing, and engineering skills they need to thrive as future entrepreneurs.

Through the Intuit Food Truck Program, nearly 10,000 students across nine school districts have already gained hands-on learning experiences in eight different CTE pathways. These opportunities empower students to connect their classroom learning with practical applications that prepare them for college, career, and life.

We believe in the power of learning by doing. Districts can apply for the Intuit Food Truck Program today and join us in equipping students with skills that open doors to future success: https://lnkd.in/gqeuy3dx

Posted September 19th 2025

The interview with Kevin White, a technical education teacher at De Portola Middle School, highlights how San Diego Unified is expanding College, Career & Technical Education (CCTE) opportunities for middle schoolers through an engineering pathway that blends exposure to advanced technologies, computer science, and arts, media, and entertainment. Students in grades 6–8 gain hands-on skills with tools like 3D printers, CNC machines, and laser cutters, and they even design and build projects such as skateboards and custom electric guitars using CAD software.

Mr. White emphasized that these experiences help students make informed choices about high school pathways and prepare them for San Diego’s growing industries in biotech, biomedical, aerospace, and engineering. The program has doubled in size in one year, showing its popularity and relevance, and thanks to grants and donations, students can often take their high-quality creations home. Overall, the pathway gives students early access to real-world technical skills while reinforcing SDUSD’s commitment to preparing them for college, career, and life.

Posted September 8th 2025

At James Madison High School, students in the automotive training program are gaining valuable hands-on experience that prepares them for future success. The program allows students to earn Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification and uses Ford’s industry-standard training curriculum, giving them personal accounts that can follow them into the workforce if they pursue a career with Ford after graduation.

Automotive instructor Omar Sevilla highlights the importance of practical skills in helping students build confidence and career readiness. This program is part of San Diego Unified’s broader College, Career & Technical Education (CCTE) initiative, which offers 29 career pathways across 13 industry sectors and prepares students for college, career, and life through rigorous academics, industry-aligned training, certifications, and work-based learning opportunities.

Posted September 5th 2025

Summer time fun for our SDUSD students in collaboration with Qualcomm. Wearable Tech was the theme & these young inventors didn't disappoint us with their inventions! Hats off to our HS interns that assisted. Workshops lead by Mrs. Miranda, TK-12 CCTE Computer Science Resource Teacher and E2E Program Engineer. Mrs. Murphy, Head Counselor for CCTE,  lead workshops on Xello career exploration and as well as interest & strengths. Ms. Doerner, Resource Teacher from the Scripps Mesa STEM Lab, hosted our Qualcomm Thinkabit summer experience.

#SDUSDCCTE #Futureready #Careerready #Collegeready

Posted June 12th 2025

We are proud to celebrate Kevin White, De Portola Middle School’s Engineering CTE teacher, who has been recognized as a 2025 San Diego County Teacher of the Year!

Mr. White’s classroom is a hands-on hub of innovation where students explore engineering concepts, develop real-world skills, and build confidence through creativity and collaboration. His commitment to empowering middle school students through Career and Technical Education is transforming lives and setting them on a path toward future success.

Please join us in congratulating Mr. White on this well-deserved honor. San Diego Unified is proud to have such an inspiring educator representing our district!

#CTE #EngineeringEducation #SanDiegoUnified #TeacherOfTheYear #DePortolaMiddle #MiddleSchoolCTE #CareerReady #FutureReady #EducationExcellence

Posted May 24th 2025

San Diego Unified’s 2025 Project-Based Learning (PBL) Institute is currently taking place from June 3rd through June 13 at De Portola Middle School. This two-week professional development experience brings together teacher teams from across the district, including educators from elementary, middle, and high schools. Participants represent all academic areas, including College, Career, and Technical Education (CCTE) teachers. Together, they are designing interdisciplinary projects and learning experiences that will be introduced to students during the 2025–26 school year.

Co-facilitated by the Office of College, Career, and Technical Education and the Community Schools team, the PBL Institute emphasizes student-centered, inquiry-based learning that connects academic content to real-world problems. Students who engage in Project-Based Learning develop critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills while building deeper understanding through hands-on, meaningful work. The projects being designed during this institute reflect the district’s commitment to equity, engagement, and preparing every student for success in college, career, and life.

We are currently in our second week of project design and look forward to an exciting Project Pitch session this Friday, June 13, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in Weiner Hall at De Portola Middle School!!

Posted June 5th 2025

One of the hottest tracks to hit the SDUSD charts this summer is “Level Up,” a high-energy collaboration between Mr. Burke’s Multimedia 3-4 students and the talented staff of University City High School. This music video masterpiece is a perfect example of what happens when creativity, collaboration, and school pride come together. A special shoutout goes to senior Maverick Mattingly, who played a key role as video editor while preparing to graduate this spring.

Mr. Burke brings years of real-world experience in the Arts, Media, and Entertainment industry into his classroom, creating a dynamic and inspiring space where students thrive. His classes go far beyond the basics. Students gain hands-on experience with professional-grade video editing software and digital audio workstations (DAWs), learning how to produce high-quality media content from start to finish. They also explore how to build their personal brand and present their work through portfolios. In Mr. Burke’s class, students don’t just complete assignments, they level up! Congratulations to the UCHS Class of 2025!

Posted May 22nd 2025

What an unforgettable afternoon at the 2025 CCTE Innovation Showcase! This year’s event was a vibrant celebration of student innovation, creativity, and collaboration. Held annually, the Showcase brings together students, educators, industry leaders, and community partners to honor the incredible work taking place across San Diego Unified’s College, Career, and Technical Education pathways. From cutting-edge CTE projects to interdisciplinary PBL experiences and powerful Community Schools initiatives, the event was a testament to the impact of real-world learning on student engagement and achievement.

Congratulations to our standout competition winners from Lewis Middle School, Point Loma High School, with Kearny’s Digital Media and Design Small School taking home the first place trophy! Attendees were also treated to a dynamic student film screening and a live acoustic performance, both shining examples of the talent and dedication found in our schools. A heartfelt thank you to the students who courageously shared their work, the educators who supported them, and the CCTE and Community Schools teams who brought this vision to life. It’s moments like these that remind us why we do this work. I’m honored to be part of a district that is deeply committed to preparing students for college, career, and life through meaningful, hands-on learning.

#CTE #ProjectBasedLearning #CommunitySchools #SanDiegoUnified #CollegeAndCareerReady #StudentSuccess #InnovationShowcase2025 #CCTE

Posted May 15th 2025

Jenna Stray, a proud member of the graduating class of 2025, and a student in her school’s Patient Care CTE Pathway, credits her success to a “Never Give Up” mindset and the support of San Diego Unified programs. As a participant in the First Gen summer program, Jenna gained early insight into the college application process, explored which colleges best fit her goals, and developed leadership skills she now shares with others through her school’s First Gen club.

“I feel like that mindset helped me a lot throughout high school,” Jenna reflects. “Everything I learned through the summer program, I’m now giving back to other students—so they know what we know.”

The Patient Care CTE Pathway is part of the health Sciences and Medical Technology Industry Sector, one of the many career-connected learning options supported by San Diego Unified. The pathway allowed her to gain hands-on experience aligned with her future career in nursing.

“San Diego Unified helped by providing my school with small school pathways. I basically got a head start on nursing school.”

This fall, Jenna will begin her studies at San Diego State University, majoring in Nursing.

Thanks to programs like First Gen and the Health Sciences pathway, Jenna says she’s confident in her next steps:

College Ready. Career Ready. Future Ready.

That’s a San Diego Unified graduate!

Posted May 10th 2025