Career academies and career technical education (CTE) programs in middle and high schools across Greater Palm Springs challenge the traditional, one-size-fits-all model of secondary education.
Vocational careers have emerged as reliable alternatives to “knowledge economy” jobs vulnerable to automation, artificial intelligence, and offshoring. Trades such as auto repair, plumbing, and electrical work typically require less schooling and lower tuition than a traditional college degree yet can offer wages comparable to those of professionals in healthcare and technology.
“We offer 55 industry certifications and 25 CTE programs in our district that can help students land a job,” says Marcus Wood, EdD, assistant superintendent of educational services at Desert Sands Unified School District (DSUSD). “Nearly all of them are linked with a dual enrollment course [at College of the Desert], which means students earn both high school and college credit.” COD allows high school students to earn up to 11 units per semester tuition-free through its dual and concurrent enrollment program.
Palm Desert High School students can enroll in career academies for arts and engineering.
Students in CTE programs tend to show high engagement and few behavioral issues, and view their teachers more as mentors.
Photo courtesy adobe stock photo
The terms “career academies” and “CTE” are often used interchangeably, but they are different. CTE programs focus on teaching technical skills through individual courses and programs. In contrast, career academies offer a more integrated experience, combining academic classes and technical training around a specific career theme.
CTE programs offered in DSUSD include automotive technology at Amistad High, engineering at Palm Desert High, and culinary arts at La Quinta High. Career academies include the Aztec Arts Academy at Palm Desert High, the Technology & Landscape Management Academy at Shadow Hills High, and the Public Service Academy at La Quinta High. Palm Springs Unified School District’s (PSUSD) career academies include the Digital Arts Technology Academy (DATA) and the Health and Environmental Health Academy of Learning at Cathedral City High, the Renewable Energy Academy of Learning at Desert Hot Springs High, and the Culinary Academy for Food Education at Rancho Mirage High.
What programs are most popular with students? “Our largest academies are the health and digital arts as well as culinary and automotive,” says Karen Dimick, EdD, PSUSD’s director of college and career readiness.
“We offer 55 industry certifications and 25 CTE programs in our district that can help students land a job.” —Marcus Wood, EdD
“There’s tons of stuff around the arts,” Wood adds. “Palm Desert High School has CTE-credentialed teachers for their performing arts program. Those students are going all over the place because there’s funding for them to compete in theater. Another top interest is in film and video, and then culinary and health. We’ve heard from Eisenhower [Health] and Desert [Care Network] about the shortage of nurses. So, we’re doing our part.”
Wood says students can participate in a vocational program offered at a high school other than their own by requesting a transfer: “We are an open enrollment district, so students can attend as long as there’s space — and there typically is — but they must provide their own transportation.”
That commute can pose a barrier for students. Only about 25 percent of minors have a driver’s license, and carpooling options are limited. However, SunLine Transit Agency offers a teen-friendly on-demand ride service called SunRide.
“Many students utilize SunRide every day,” says Jill Plaza, SunLine’s taxi and contracted transportation services administrator. “We use smaller vehicles that allow teens to book their ride on demand. It’s kind of like Uber or Lyft. They’d go into an app and indicate their pickup location, the number of people traveling, and their destination, and then pay for the ride. It’s $3 per person per trip, and it includes a transfer to the fixed-route bus network.”
SunLine’s Haul Pass program allows students to ride for free, seven days
a week.
Photo courtesy visit greater palm springs
Additionally, SunLine’s Haul Pass program allows students to ride fixed-route buses for free, seven days a week.
Schools provide transportation to CTE programs that take place off campus, such as the program at Elite Cosmetology at The Shops at Palm Desert. “The students meet every day for about three hours, working toward the 1,000 hours required to take the board exam,” says Kevin Bibo, DSUSD’s director of college and career readiness. “This is our third year running the program. Each year, we add a new cohort of 24 students, with a maximum of 48 students participating at a time.”
First-year students begin in a classroom, building foundational skills. In their second year, students work in a salon, gaining hands-on experience under professional supervision.
“Our first cohort is now taking their exams and earning their licenses,” Bibo says. “From here, they have the opportunity to begin working in a salon or barbershop.”
Media arts academies — an alternative to California’s foreign language requirement for graduation — immerse students in practical, creative fields such as video production, graphic design, animation, and journalism, equipping them with valuable, real-world skills.
Palm Springs Unified School District offers career academies in the digital arts, health and environmental health, renewable energy, and culinary arts.
Photo by stuart funk
“There are a lot of entry-level positions for high school and college students,” says Levi Vincent, CEO of Greater Palm Springs Film Alliance & Film Office. “There are job opportunities at local TV stations and with indie filmmakers. There’s a growing demand for social media creators, either through ad agencies or in-house marketing departments. I work with a couple of producers who are solely focused on creating social media content.”
Vincent takes Cathedral City High’s DATA students on field trips to a local movie backlot. “We take them to the movie ranch in two trips,” he explains. “The first is a scouting trip, where we show them the property. Then, they go back to school and write their scripts. In groups of five, they return to shoot a short video — so they end up with a portfolio piece.”
Visit Greater Palm Springs, the local destination marketing agency, periodically assembles local industry leaders to discuss hiring needs and how to connect students
to the workforce pipeline. “By fostering these connections,” says Lauren Bruggemans, the agency’s director of sustainability and
community engagement, “we’re helping to uplift future leaders and ensuring a robust and skilled workforce for the vibrant industries of Greater Palm Springs.”
Students enrolled in career academies and CTE programs show greater engagement and fewer behavioral issues, and they view instructors as mentors more than authority figures.
“This is our third year running the [cosmetology] program. Each year, we add a new cohort of 24 students, with a maximum of 48 students participating
at a time.” — Kevin Bibo
“We’re deepening our focus on real-world readiness, ensuring every student builds the communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and work-ethic skills needed to thrive in college, career, and life.” — Karen Dimick, EdD
“All of these academies share strong industry connections and foster a sense of belonging,” Dimick says. “I was on a nine-day college culture tour with 48 students, and one of the trends that I heard from every student was this sense of community and the confidence that they got from just nine days. So, you can imagine, when students share academy interests over multiple years, there really is a strong sense of community.”
Many certifications that high schools offer for free or at a low cost through CTE programs would be far more expensive — thousands of dollars — to earn at a private institute.
“We’re deepening our focus on real-world readiness, ensuring every student builds the communication, collaboration, problem-
solving, and work-ethic skills needed to thrive in college, career, and life,” Dimick says.
Incidentally, Desert Sands and Palm Springs Unified school districts report 100 percent graduation rates for students enrolled in career academies.
