Welcome to the CTE Career Hub!

Discover Your Passion. Build Your Skills. Launch Your Career.

High school is about more than just sitting at a desk—it’s about getting your hands dirty, solving real-world problems, and earning professional certifications before you even graduate.

Explore our pathways below to see how you can turn your interests in technology, building, medicine, or business into a high-paying career.

💡 Why Choose CTE? (The Quick Facts)

• Higher Success: CTE students in North Carolina have a 98% graduation rate, compared to the state average of roughly 87%.

• Head Start: In 2024 alone, NC students earned over 350,000 professional credentials—meaning they graduated ready for a job.

• Real Money: Many CTE careers (like electricians, welders, and health tech) pay $45,000 to $70,000+ per year right out of the gate.

💻 Digital Media & Computer Science

Adobe Graphic Design Pathway

• Adobe Visual Design I

  • Learn to use professional tools like Photoshop and Illustrator. You will learn how to edit photos, create logos, and design graphics for businesses.

• Adobe Visual Design II

  • Take your skills to the next level with professional page layouts in Adobe InDesign. Create high-quality magazines, digital books, and posters.

  • The Goal: Become an Adobe Certified Professional.

Computer Science

• AP Computer Science Principles

  • A college-level look at how computers work. You’ll learn to write code, build apps, and understand how the internet and data affect our world.

🎮 Minecraft Expert Coding

• This is the "boss level" of coding in Minecraft. You will stop using drag-and-drop blocks and start writing real code in Python or JavaScript. You’ll learn how to build complex systems, create automated "bots" to do work for you, and write programs that can handle errors or process large amounts of game data.

• What You’ll Learn:

  • Real Languages: How to type professional code in Python or JavaScript.

  • Complex Logic: Using "If" statements and "Loops" to make smart, repeating programs.

  • Problem Solving: How to "debug" (fix) your code when it doesn't work the first time.

• The Big Goal: Pass the capstone exam to earn an Industry-Recognized Credential in Expert Coding. This proves to colleges and employers that you can code in a real-world programming language.

🛠️ Engineering & Inventions

Technology Engineering and Design Pathway

• Technology Engineering and Design

  • Learn how products are made using the Engineering Design Process. Brainstorm, sketch, and build physical models of structures.

• Technological Design

  • This is the class for "makers" and "fixers." Solve real-world challenges—like building a bridge or a cleaner energy source—by brainstorming, building, and testing your own original invention.

  • The Goal: Learn to think like an engineer and use high-tech tools to turn ideas into physical objects.

🌱 Agriculture & Natural Resources

Agricultural Mechanics Pathway

• Agricultural Mechanics I

  • Hands-on experience with farm tools. Learn to build with wood and metal, fix equipment, and keep machines running safely.

• Agricultural Mechanics II

  • Become a pro at metalwork. Learn advanced welding, precision cutting, and complex systems like hydraulics and plumbing.

  • The Goal: Prepare for a Certified Welder credential.

Sustainable Agriculture Pathway

• Sustainable Agriculture Production I

  • Explore how to grow food for the world without hurting the planet. Study nature and learn smart ways to use soil, water, and plants.

• Sustainable Agriculture Production II

  • Dive into the high-tech future of food: aquaponics (fish and plants), hydroponics (water growing), and even beekeeping.

  • The Goal: Use drones and biotech to grow food while keeping the Earth healthy.

🏗️ Skilled Trades & Construction

Carpentry Pathway

• Carpentry I

  • Start building! Learn to read blueprints and use tools to build floors, walls, and stairways for houses.

• Carpentry II

  • Build the "envelope" of a house, including roofs, windows, doors, and siding.

  • The Goal: Earn the NCCER Carpentry II credential, recognized by builders nationwide.

Electrical Trades Pathway

• Electrical Trades I

  • Learn how electricity works and wire a building safely. Practice installing light boxes and pipes for wires.

• Electrical Trades II

  • Wire complex systems like breaker boxes and meters. Learn to fix electrical problems in motors and big commercial buildings.

  • The Goal: Earn the NCCER Electrical certification.

🍳 Human Services & Culinary

Early Childhood Pathway

• Child Development

  • Study how babies grow into five-year-olds. Learn how brains develop and how toys and food help them learn.

• Early Childhood Education I & II

  • The professional side of teaching kids. Create lesson plans and manage a real classroom or daycare setting.

  • The Goal: Earn the NC Early Childhood Credential to work in childcare right after graduation.

Culinary Arts Pathway

• Food and Nutrition I

  • Learn to cook healthy meals! Practice kitchen safety, food handling, and nutrition basics.

• Foods II

  • Run a restaurant or catering business. Learn global baking, advanced cooking, and kitchen management.

  • The Goal: Earn the ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification.

💼 Business & Education

Entrepreneurship Pathway

• Entrepreneurship I

  • Learn to be your own boss. Create a business idea, set prices, and learn how to market products.

• Entrepreneurship II

  • Launch your business! Create a full business plan, manage employees, and learn to handle financial risks.

  • The Goal: Earn an Entrepreneurship and Small Business certification.

Teaching Pathway

• Teaching as a Profession I

  • Find out what it’s like to be a teacher. Learn how to explain topics and use technology to organize a classroom.

• Teaching as a Profession II

  • Work in actual classrooms with younger students. Create lesson plans and gain real-world "field experience."

🏥 Health Sciences

• Health Science I

  • Discover how the human body works. Study diseases and practice first aid skills for emergencies.

• Health Science II

  • Learn to save lives. Practice taking blood pressure, using a stethoscope, and performing CPR.

  • The Goal: Get your CPR and First Aid certifications.

• Nursing Fundamentals and Practicum

  • Work in a real healthcare facility. Learn to take care of patients—from taking blood pressure to helping them move safely.

  • The Goal: Become a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA).