I want my child to go to college. Won't attending the Career Technical Center put her/him on the wrong track?
First, Career Technical studies do not discourage going to college. In fact, Career Technical programs at R. G. Drage can help students focus their career aspirations so that they will be better students in post-high school institutions. Moreover, some students are able to pay their way through college with part-time jobs for which their Career Technical studies prepared them!
All students should have options: to finish high school and go to college or go to work first and then attend college. School-to-Work is all about eliminating different tracks for different students and providing relevant academic and Career Technical instruction and career guidance for all students.
Do you have to take all of the suggested college-prep coursework to go on to college?
No. However, taking the suggested college prep coursework will not only improve the likelihood of being accepted into your college of choice, but it will also enhance your ability to be successful at the college level.
What option does my child have if he/she does not want to go to college?
National statistics tell us: less than half of all students who enroll in college earn a four-year degree. Job market analysts say that only 20 percent of America's jobs require a bachelor's degree or higher. But 65 percent of good jobs that can provide wonderful careers require less than four years of college. Only 15 percent of America's jobs are available to people without skill training. Many careers can be launched with a two-year college associate's degree - for example: manufacturing and service technicians, computer systems technicians, graphic arts designers, aircraft mechanics, and engineering technicians.
What evidence is there that graduates who have taken Career Technical studies have advantages in the job market over other graduates?
A recent large scale study of 13,000 Ohio Career Technical graduates found that seven years after high school, the Career Technical graduates earned significantly more money than a comparable group of Non-career Tech graduates, and the earnings gap between the two groups appeared to widen with time.
How does the Career Technical Center help a student successfully connect with job opportunities?
Many students who meet grade and attendance requirements are eligible for job placement in the senior year. Students fulfill their academic requirements at school and then leave the campus to go to work during their laboratory class time. These job opportunities are made available through the program instructor or the Career Technical Center Job Developer. These jobs often lead to full-time employment after graduation.