Career Academies and Pathways

There are several different CTE pathways (Career and Technical Education) available to students across the VCUSD High Schools.

In the past, each High School was broken up into 4 or 5 vertical academies which essentially required students to stay within one pathway. Now students can access a variety of CTE courses, from more than one pathway, as long as they complete at least 2 years from one of the pathways. This flexibility allows students to take classes in various industry sectors.

Four students work together on a construction project

A Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway are course programs that provide students with the academic, technical, and real world knowledge, skills and experience they need to be prepared for a variety of career options. Generally, CTE pathways have a sequence of two or more CTE courses within a student’s area of career interest.

Courses

Browse Academy and CTE Pathway Courses

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Pathways

Pathways Offered at Vallejo High

Construction Pathway

Course Progressions

Course Progression

Biotechnology Pathway

California has always been considered the birthplace of biotechnology. Currently, it is not only considered as the generative force in the industry but is also home to three out of the four largest biotechnology companies in the nation and 40-55% of the nation’s total biotechnology presence. Vallejo High School’s Biotechnology Academy is geared toward providing students with laboratory and technical skills in biotechnology that will allow them to either go directly to the biotechnology workforce or pursue higher education at a community college and/or university with a biotechnology emphasis.

Biotechnology Academy Suggested Course Sequence

Grade 9	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12
English 9P	English 10P	English 11P	English 12P
Algebra 1P	Geometry P	Algebra 2P	Elective/Pre-Calculus
Biology 1P	Biotechnology 1	Biotechnology 2	Chemistry for Biotechnology
Elective	World History	US History	Government/ Economics
PE 9	PE 10	Elective	Elective/Medical Science
World Language	World Language	Elective / World Language	Elective

Biotechnology
CTE Pathways
VHS

Engineering Academy

Take a look around you. Virtually everything within arm’s reach — your cell phone, TV, iPod, car, computer (big or small), the building you’re in, the clothes you wear – was designed, developed or created using engineering. It’s everywhere. Engineers from all disciplines – electrical, civil, industrial, manufacturing, computer and more – are responsible for conceiving and producing just about every product imaginable. The Engineering Academy takes all of your classroom knowledge and teaches you how to use it to engineer real products and processes and present them to the world at large. It isn’t a program; it is a multi-year “small learning community” designed to be fun, exciting, challenging and rewarding.

Engineering Academy Suggested Course Sequence

Grade 9	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12
English 9P	English 10P	English 11P	English 12P
Algebra 1P	Geometry P	Algebra 2P	Government/Economics
Biology 1P	Chemistry P	US History	Elective/Physics
Elective	World History	PE Recreation	Elective
PE 9	Introduction to Design	Principles of Engineering	Engineering Design & Development or Civil Engineering Architecture
World Language	World Language	Elective/World Language	Elective

CTE Pathways
Engineering
VHS

Hospitality Pathway

The Hospitality Academy prepares students for post-secondary education and careers through a theme- based curriculum approach. The Academy provides students with the requisite knowledge and skills for a successful career through a curriculum that provides an in-depth look at all aspects of the hospitality, tourism and recreation business. Articulation with Solano Community College allows students to earn college credits while enrolled in the Academy. The Academy provides hands-on learning opportunities, field trips, internships/work experience, scholarships, and job skills for any career.

Hospitality Pathway Suggested Course Sequence

English 9P	English 10P	English 11P	English 12P
Algebra 1P	Geometry P	Algebra 2P	Government/Economics
Biology 1P	Chemistry P	US History	Elective/PE Recreation
Elective	World History	Elective/PE Recreation	Elective
PE 9	Principles of Hospitality and Tourism	Delivering Great Customer Service (Sem) + Event Planning (Sem)	Hospitality Marketing (Sem)+ Entrepreneurship (Sem)
World Language	World Language	Elective	Elective

CTE Pathways
Hospitality
VHS

Multimedia Pathway

Recognizing the engaging and transformative power of the Arts within our Learning Environment and the long standing creative legacy of noted contributions that Vallejo’s diverse community has made to this multifaceted and ever expanding field, we have launched our Visual and Performing Arts Academy. Students will have the opportunity to connect and enrich that tradition by experiencing, exploring, creating and designing projects that will showcase their talents, hopes and dreams in the process.

Multimedia Pathway Suggested Course Sequence

English 9P	English 10P	English 11P	English 12P
Algebra 1P	Geometry P	Algebra 2P	Government/Economics
Biology 1P	Chemistry P	US History	Elective
PE 9	World History	PE Recreation	Elective
Visual and Performing Arts/ Elective	Multimedia 1	Multimedia 2	Multimedia Production and Design 2
World Language	World Language	Elective/World Language	Elective

CTE Pathways
JBHS
Multimedia
VHS

Academies vs Pathways

Academies vs. Pathways

The terms academy and pathway can be used synonymously, however, in regards to Career Technical Education (CTE), the terms describe different types of high school career programs. Academy students are together in a cohort group for a sequence of special-focus classes and also for at least one core subject class. (Core subject classes include English, Math, History, or Science.) Pathway students take a sequence of special-focus classes together, but are scheduled for their other classes independently. VCUSD academies received additional funding from the California Partnership Academy (CPA) grant from the California Department of Education. Several high school career programs have the title ‘academy’ because of formerly being CPA-funded, but no longer receive the grant award, but have maintained the term academy in their program name for marketing purposes.

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