New Name and Direction for Vocational Education

Star-Career-Center-MorningCareer and Technical Education is the new name today for vocational education. However, vocational education is far different today than in the past.

Today’s facilities are technical laboratories that mirror the workplace in both appearance and technology. Gender barriers in careers are fortunately rapidly disappearing, and we work hard to make our classes attractive to boys and girls.

CTE is where students discover the relevance of their general education. Good math skills and workplace behaviors are expected. We help students prepare for life after high school. We prepare students for college and careers. Last year, our students earned college credits in our programs that resulted in tuition savings of $154,755.

Because our programs involve collaboration among eight school corporation partners, we are able to significantly expand each school’s curriculum with many additional career options such as the following:

Auto Technology, Cisco Networking Academy, Computer Aided Design and Animation, Construction Technology, Cosmetology, Culinary Science, Dental Health, Diesel Technology, Education and Early Childhood Careers, Electronics and Computer Technology, Emergency Rescue Technology Academy, Fundamentals of Sports Medicine, Health Careers, Health Occupations, Industrial Mechanics, Landscaping/Horticulture Science, Law Enforcement Careers Academy, Marketing Education/Internship, Medical Terminology/Anatomy-Physiology, Modern Machine Technology, Printing Technology, Sports and Entertainment Marketing/Business Ownership, Video Production/Media Studies, Welding Technology and Work Study.

Today’s jobs and jobs of the future will continue to require technical skills in addition to the important workplace competencies of punctuality, quality, and teamwork. Students in our programs will perform internships, learn leadership skills through a student organization, be mentored by knowledgeable teachers, and gain the powerful technical experience that is in such high demand today by employers. Seventy percent of today’s skilled workforce will be retiring in the next 10 years, and our students will be prepared to fill these workforce needs.


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1005 N Franklin St
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Phone: 219-531-3170

Our program has grown to be one of the largest CTE programs in the state. We also boast about having the best CTE faculty in Indiana. Programs meet state and national certification criteria.

College credit, certification testing, and internships can help students qualify for the Technical Honors Diploma and also the Academic Honors Diploma. Nearly all of our classes also receive college credit, so students can get their college transcript started while still in high school.

VHS 2007 graduate and Career Center Health Occupations graduate, Alexandra Halkias, said that everyone should try to discover his or her passion before going to college. Ali credits her Health Occupations class with starting her on the path that now has her studying for her Doctorate of Practical Nursing at Valparaiso University.

All Porter County students interested in a CTE program who will be juniors or seniors in the 2012-13 school year should turn in their enrollment forms as soon as possible to their school counselors.