Rockingham County Launches Innovative CTE High School for Future Careers

WENTWORTH – Rockingham County has officially opened its new CTE Innovative High School, marking a significant development in vocational education. This institution, the first of its kind in North Carolina, is a collaboration between Rockingham Community College and Rockingham County Schools. It aims to provide students with practical pathways into high-demand careers.

The school offers three primary pathways for students: Advanced Manufacturing, Health Science, and Construction. Each pathway is designed to equip students with necessary credentials and workforce certifications, preparing them for immediate entry into the job market. Principal Laura Carter emphasized the importance of aligning educational offerings with labor market needs, stating, “The labor markets data demonstrated a need in the pathways offered, allowing our students to be ‘choice ready’ upon graduation.”

Hands-On Learning Opportunities

The mission of the CTE Innovative High School is to empower students through innovative, hands-on education. Students can earn post-secondary certifications, industry credentials, and potentially an associate degree with an additional year of study. The school will also facilitate internships and apprenticeships with leading companies, providing essential career placement assistance.

“Through rigorous academics, state-of-the-art training, and industry partnerships, we prepare students to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s workforce with confidence, competence, and purpose,” Carter added. Classes will take place on the Rockingham Community College campus, where students will be dually enrolled in both high school and college classes.

Current enrollment stands at 38 ninth-grade students. Principal Carter is optimistic about future growth, indicating that the school typically accepts around 80 students per year in its cooperative programs. “We are contemplating a transfer option in the future,” she said. The program can accommodate up to 100 students per grade level, with an overall cap of 500 students across grades 9-13.

Experienced Educators and Leadership

The teaching staff comprises educators from both the local school district and external instructors from Rockingham Community College. Carter, who previously led Rockingham County High School and Leaksville Spray Elementary School, expressed her enthusiasm about this new venture. “I felt this was a wonderful opportunity to prepare students in the multiple facets of being choice ready through the Early College and CTE Innovative High School experiences,” she noted.

Carter’s leadership has been recognized, as she was named the Rockingham County Schools Principal of the Year last year. The establishment of the CTE Innovative High School is expected to significantly enhance educational opportunities for students in the region, providing them with valuable skills and resources for their future careers. The community eagerly anticipates the impact of this initiative on local economic development and workforce readiness.