Career & Technical Education
Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs offer students challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare them for further education and careers in current or emerging professions. CTE delivers real-world options and skills to students for college and career goals while allowing them to explore career options and personal passions through authentic and rigorous learning.
CTE programs impart meaningful information on careers in high-skill, high-wage or high-demand occupations; provides a rigorous and relevant pathway for students seeking immediate entry into a career or postsecondary education; allows students to achieve industry-based certifications and gain relevant technical knowledge and skills; and expands the high school experience by providing opportunities for work-based learning.
High-Quality CTE Program
A high-quality CTE program of study in Comal ISD prepares students for entry-level employment in a specific occupation and is aligned with business/industry standards.
- Consists of a coherent sequence of three or more CTE courses, including strong academic and career and technical courses
- May lead to an industry-recognized credential or certificate at the secondary level
- Incorporates opportunities to participate in structured learning experiences and career and technical student organizations (CTSO)
- Provides students with opportunities to earn college credit for college courses successfully completed during high school
- Incorporates applied, contextual, cross-curricular and interdisciplinary instructional strategies into the curricula
CTE Programs of Study
- Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
- Architecture & Construction
- Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communication
- Business, Marketing and Finance
- Education and Training
- Health Science
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Human Services
- Information Technology
- Law and Public Service
- Manufacturing
- Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
- Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
CTE in Action
The Health Science program helps students interested in a career in the medical profession and includes classes like Medical Terminology and Pharmacology and labs such as Phlebotomy and Clinical Rotations.
Through the Business, Marketing and Finance program at Smithson Valley and other high schools, students have the chance to learn what it takes to run a business – product development, business planning, risk management, price, place, promotion and more.
FACS students learn about careers in counseling, early childhood development, family and community services, education and training, nutrition and wellness, and the hospitality industry. But they also have a heart for service and want to make a difference in their school and community.
CTSOs
- Business Professionals of America (BPA)
- DECA, Texas Association
- Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)
- Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
- SkillsUSATexas
- Texas FFA Association
- Texas Technology Students Association (TSA)