CTE

Department Vision

The Lancaster ISD Department of Career and Technical Education (CTE) is an innovative and career-focused organization, whose purpose is to equip students with 21st century industry knowledge and skills, while supporting and encouraging creativity, strong work ethics and self-sustainability. We believe by empowering our students through diverse experiences and certifiable training, we will successfully prepare students to secure gainful employment in this global economy.

Highlights

Career Clusters, Programs of Study, and Endorsements 
Lancaster ISD offers 13 Statewide Programs of Study and one Regional Program of Study with many different Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses across the 14 Career Clusters in three Endorsement areas: Business & Industry, Public Services and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).  At Lancaster ISD CTE, career clusters include Architecture and Construction, Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communications, Business Marketing & Finance, Education and Training, Health Science, Hospitality and Tourism; Human Services; Manufacturing; and Science, Technology, and Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).  Lancaster ISD continuously broadens its CTE Programs of Study to give students access to high wage, high-demand employment opportunities.

Industry Certifications offered
Over 1,000 Industry Based Certifications that impact TEA  (Texas Education Agency) A-F Accountability results have been earned by students enrolled in CTE courses. Certifications earned include Certified Patient Care Technician, Certified Pharmacy Technician, Google Cloud Certified Professional G-Suite, Google Analytics Individual Qualifications (GAIQ), ServSafe Food Manager, American Welding Society (AWS) D9.1, Microsoft Office Specialist Word, Microsoft Office Word Expert, Adobe Certified Premier Pro, OSHA 30, and Entrepreneurship Small Business.  Non-TEA Industry Certifications earned by Lancaster ISD CTE Students include:  ServSafe Food Handler, FEMA Emergency Management Institute Introduction to Hazardous Materials, Ever-Fi Financial Literacy, Ever-Fi Marketplaces Investing Basics,Ever-Fi Prescription Drug Safety, and Ever-Fi Alcohol EDU.

Our District will continue to strive to broaden certification offerings to students to include Certified SolidWorks Associate, CompTIA IT Fundamentals+, Adobe Certified Associate PhotoShop, MSSC (Manufacturing Skills Standards Council) Certified Production Technician,  and MSSC Certified Logistics Technician.  

Internship and Work-Based Learning Opportunities
Lancaster ISD CTE students are afforded the opportunity to participate in virtual and face-to-face Internship opportunities including ESposure ESports, ESTE2M Dreambuilders, Lancaster ISD Departments, PassAssured Pharmacy Technician Program, OneLeg StageCoach Food Truck. CitiGroup works with our District to identify female students interested in pursuing careers in Technology.  Toyota offers workshops in dynamic areas such as the Toyota Way Problem Solving Process, AutoCad, OSHA 30 CoHE, etc. to help students apply classroom skills and knowledge in a practical manner. Several classes work with both the Perot Museum and Frontiers of Flight Museum to connect with STEM industry professionals to gain current and relevant technical skills. Business students learn the latest on Data Analytics by connecting to Ever-Fi resources. 

Our goal is to ensure each graduate of Lancaster ISD leaves with one or more of the following:  

  • College Credits 

  • Associates Degree

  • Industry Based Certification

  • Military Readiness

  • CTE Coherent Sequence Completion

Professional Organizations
Students have the opportunity to participate in several Career Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) as well as other professional organizations:  Skills USA Texas, DECA, ProStart, Texas Alliance of Minority Engineering (TAME), National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).  These organizations present numerous competitive and educational events designed to prepare students for outstanding college experiences and career opportunities.  CTE students also participate in meaningful work based learning and field experiences throughout the school year including Eastfield College Tech Expo, Amazon Fulfillment Tour, MFHA (Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance) Showcase of the Stars at El Centro College, STEM Innovators-in-Training Experience Dallas, to name a few. 

Colleges and Universities
Continuous collaborative work is being done to ensure students in Lancaster ISD CTE programs understand how their high school studies in their respective pathways can easily transition to post-secondary educational institutions. Throughout the school year, CTE students will work with advisors from institutions such as SMU, University of Texas-Dallas, Prairie View A&M University, Dallas College Cedar Valley Campus, Paul Quinn College, El Centro College and many others.

All students in Lancaster ISD CTE programs can count on rich and rewarding classroom and work-based learning experiences.  Lancaster ISD CTE programs are all about preparing students for bright futures which will positively impact their families, the community and the world at large.  

CTE Programs of Study

CTE Tiger News

  • ESTe2M Builders has produced their very first film.  “STEM Roots” Ancestry Documentary features students from the Best Southwest on their journey to discover their ancestral roots using science, technology, engineering and math skills.  One of our very own students, Chancey Applewhite, is in this film.  Chancey is a National Honor Society senior and also serves as one of the Student District Inters in the Instructional Services Department.  Lancaster ISD provided the site for the filming of some of this project at LHS. 

2022 Lancaster ISD CTE Business Mixer