Intro to Career and Technical Education in Leander ISD

Do you know someone concerned that public education doesn’t provide students with real-world skills?

In Leander ISD classrooms, students can gain industry experience and certifications through dozens of programs, ranging from construction to applied agriculture engineering to digital communications. Over the past school year, students have been named Video Producer of the Year, finished first internationally for their marketing campaign, been named #1 JROTC company in Navy Area 10 and been awarded $5,000 scholarships from local industry partners – alongside dozens of other accomplishments.

Leander ISD offers an expansive Career and Technical Education Program, in addition to other supported elective opportunities, for high school and middle school students. On the high school level, there are 40 Programs of Study alongside career development and leadership opportunities.

All Leander ISD students have the opportunity to enroll in CTE courses along with their traditional core academic courses. CTE courses are designed to provide authentic learning experiences through academically rigorous and industry aligned curriculum. The goal is for students to create a balanced four-year plan that includes the best of both academic and CTE courses.

Students enrolled in certain CTE courses have the opportunity to participate in a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) appropriate to the course in which they are enrolled. CTSOs promote leadership development, job skill training, and can provide scholarship opportunities. Students have the opportunity to reach advanced level CTE courses to increase the rigor of their learning and complete a CTE program of study sequence for an endorsement and/or earn recognized industry certifications.

Leander ISD Career and Technical Education programs offer a sequence of courses that provides students rigorous curriculum with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in current or emerging professions. Leander ISD CTE programs offer students authentic work-based learning experiences, industry-based certifications and opportunities to participate in aligned student organizations.