In the Jamestown Public Schools District, a shift in curriculum has seen a prioritization of two post-graduation pathways: college and career readiness – especially during a time when higher education can be seen as a financial burden.

“There’s other kids,” said Michelle McDowell, JPS chief academic officer, of emphasizing career and college readiness equally.

Beginning at the start of the 2019-20 school year, Jamestown will offer three new career and technical education (CTE) pathways. The district has for awhile offered CTE courses, but an added emphasis emerged as the district is looking to align curriculum with local labor needs and requirements of local colleges and universities.

Additionally, Jamestown Public Schools’ middle schools are currently looking into attaining Career and Technical Education (CTE) accreditation for several technology courses. At the high school, students already select a certain academy that pertains to a specific career path. Additionally, the high school offers various CTE courses that focus around manufacturing, math and technology, which are consistent with STEAM.

The three new CTE pathways include drafting and design technology, manufacturing technology and business administration and management. Students who complete one of the CTE pathways receive a credential along with their diploma when they graduate.

The pathways are a series of courses students take in high school that are tailored to a potential career path. Some of the courses are Jamestown Community College accredited, allowing high school students to receive college credit ahead of enrollment. Additionally, the first course in each pathway are already offered at the high school prior to announcing the new programs.

Dr. Bret Apthorpe, JPS superintendent, has emphasized the district’s need to align its curriculum to accommodate career readiness, specifically for the manufacturing and health care industries in addition to being college ready. Apthorpe said the district administration created a committee tasked with updating the curriculum to respond to this alignment.

Additionally, local employers have been consulted by the school district to understand the need of the labor market.

“It’s crucial to have them as an advisory board,” McDowell said. “They know better than we would about what they actually need.”

She admitted that a college education and its expenses can be a burden to many students. While the district hasn’t seen a downward trend of students electing to not enroll in higher education, she said it was important to prepare students for alternatives.

“There are other options for students that can lead them to great careers in the community,” she said. “Not every child is cut out for college. It’s about where they want to end up.”

McDowell used the example of two students who could potentially become an electrical engineer or an electrician. She said while the two students may need similar base course-work initially, Jamestown seeks to better prepare both of them for when they graduate even though one will head to college and the other to workforce or a trade school.

“We’re allowing opportunities for every kid based on where they want to go,” she said.