STUDENTS SUCCEEDING IN FUTURE CAREERS
Magnets and career and technical education at Alachua County Public Schools gives students a head-start toward their chosen career paths
There are so many great careers that do not require a four-year degree, and Alachua County Public Schools is creating dynamic educational programs to give every student in Greater Gainesville a chance for success.
These magnet and CTE programs give students early experience in the career field that is best suited to their personal talents and interests, preparing them for life after graduation.
What is CTE?
CTE, Career and Technical Education, is a program of study involving a multiyear sequence of courses integrating core academic knowledge with technical and occupational knowledge. Students have access to a career focused curriculum, highly qualified teachers and outstanding facilities and equipment. This combined approach teaches the basics, like math, science and writing, and how they are used in real life. Through these programs, students are provided with experience to kickstart their careers or with an alternative pathway for obtaining a postsecondary education.
Career Academies vs. CTE Programs at Schools
- Career Academies are CTE Magnet programs located on various campuses throughout the district.
- Students can apply to a Career Academy of their choosing, regardless of where they are zoned.
- CTE programs are offered at every middle school and high school:
- If accepted into a Career Academy, students are given a zoning exemption and attend that high school for all their academic and magnet courses. In other words, that school becomes their school.
- If a student decides to attend their zoned school, there are still options to take CTE courses.
- CTE courses contain rigorous academic curriculum and performance standards and may be designated the same as honors courses.
- Some courses count toward science, economics or practical arts credits required for high school graduation.
- Many CTE students can earn industry certifications, which makes them more employable.
- Industry certifications may be used to meet requirements for high school graduation or count as college credits.
CTE Academies by High School
- Buchholz High School
- Academy of Entrepreneurship
- Academy of Finance
- Applied Engineering Technology
- Digital Media/Multimedia Design
- Principles of Food/Nutrition & Wellness
- Eastside High School
- Institute of Culinary Arts
- Digital Media Technology
- Medical Skills Program
- Gainesville High School
- Academy of Future Teachers
- Academy of Health Professions
- Digital Media/Multimedia Design
- Digital Video Technology
- Journalism and Multimedia
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Principles of Food/Nutrition and Wellness
- Hawthorne Middle/High School
- Academy of Agribusiness
- Entrepreneurship
- Principles of Food/Nutrition & Wellness
- Loften High School
- Academy of Automotive Technology
- Academy of Fire & Emergency Medical Services
- Academy of Gaming & Mobile Apps
- Academy of Robotics & Engineering
- Institute of Graphic Art & Design
- The Academy of Media Production Technology –– coming August 2023
- Newberry High School
- Academy of Criminal Justice
- Agritechnology and Agricultural Communications
- Culinary Arts
- Digital Design
- Santa Fe High School
- Academy of Agriscience
- Academy of Veterinary Assisting
- Institute of Biotechnology
- Television Production Technology
- Digital Design
- Principles of Food Prep/Nutrition & Wellness
CTE by the numbers:
- Support 50 Teachers
- Over 5,000 students take at least one CTE course
- 16 Career Academy Magnets
- 11 Advisory Boards
- 144 CTE courses
- 35 programs of study
- 3,500 certifications earned in 2021–2022
Shannon Ritter is the Director of College and Career Pathways for the Career and Technical Education Department at Alachua County Public Schools. She said the district works closely with local employers in key industry clusters. There are 11 total advisory boards made up of industry professionals, who work with teachers to ensure the curricula includes real-world applications and the latest industry trends.
The benefit of these partnerships is twofold: Students gain knowledge and skills, and form connections with local employers, while businesses benefit from the direct access to local talent. Because students are able to work with these employers throughout high school, many are hired upon graduation.
What are Magnets?
Magnets offer a specialized curriculum that may include a particular theme or focus such as math, science, technology, communications, international affairs, business or performing arts. Similar to CTE, students must apply and be accepted into these programs, which allows for zoning exemptions. Unlike CTE, which are only available at the middle and high school levels, Magnets can be available K–12.
About Our Magnets
The primary goals of magnet programs are to provide challenging academic environments, foster creativity and innovation and enable students to achieve their academic and professional goals. These programs also provide students with the opportunity to explore their interests in a unique, individualized way through field trips, special projects and hands-on internships or apprenticeships.
Magnet programs are available in public and private schools, as well as in online and charter schools.
How to Enroll in a Magnet
There are certain requirements students need to meet before they are considered for a magnet. These requirements, as well as videos of virtual open houses through which families and students can learn more about each magnet, are available at sbac.edu/Page/29448.
Elementary School Academic Magnets
- Archer Elementary School – The Center for Gifted and Talented Studies
- Metcalfe Elementary School – The STEAM Magnet
- Rawlings Elementary School – Center for Fine Arts
- Stephen Foster Elementary School – The STEM Magnet
- Terwilliger Elementary School – Dual Language Immersion Magnet
- Williams Elementary School – Williams Magnet Program
Middle School Academic Magnets
- Howard Bishop Middle School – Academy of Technology & Advanced Studies
- Lincoln Middle School – The Lyceum: Center for Advanced Studies
- Mebane Middle School – Biomedical Mustangs
- Oak View Middle School – Center for Advanced Academics & Technology
High School Academic Magnets
- Eastside High School – The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program
- Gainesville High School – The Cambridge Program
Student Testimonials
Students at Loften High School’s Institute of Graphic Art and Design believe that by engaging with teachers and students with similar interests, they can better appreciate each other’s unique ways of learning.
Iyanna Gay, 10th grade
I believe attending magnet programs helped me find like-minded individuals and surrounded me with support from a wider community
that keeps me focused on my career and future. My magnet program also educates me on what’s important for my specific goals and exemplifies the skills needed to achieve them.
Kenji Alers-Pacheco, 12th Grade
Attending a magnet is really a unique experience because it allows for different people of diverse backgrounds to come to one place and share common endeavors. One thing about being in a magnet school like Loften High School, is that there are many professional outlets and opportunities for students who are steadfast in their goals within their desired field.
Loften High School’s Institute of Graphic Art and Design has also taught future educators like Mandy St. Peter. She graduated from the IGAD program before going on to advance her degree from the University of Florida, with a specialization in Art Education. St. Peter now teaches at the IGAD program and is enthusiastic about guiding students through the creative process to explore the world, improving their problem-solving skills and strengthening their communication techniques.
“Graduating from a magnet program gave me the skills and certifications to go right into my field of interest. Students can choose to graduate and begin working in their field or they can pursue higher education with the confidence to succeed,” said St. Peter. “The previous art educator at the school became my mentor and inspired me to turn my dreams into a reality. It is my goal to cultivate an atmosphere where students can grow individually, professionally and academically.”
STEM and STEAM
While magnet and CTE programs cover countless fields, STE(A)M –– science, technology, engineering, arts, math –– programs are increasing in popularity. With Gainesville winning Top STEM City in Florida for 2019 and 2020, Greater Gainesville and Alachua County Public Schools have adopted this integrative educational programming, promoting inquiry-based learning.
STEM programming teaches students to think creatively, use critical thinking, be innovative, problem solve and collaborate, among many other skills.
However, some students had trouble thinking critically and using multiple methods of inquiry and investigation. The arts were then added to enhance and enrich classrooms, turning STEM into STEAM.
STEAM fosters the natural innovation that comes with converging the mind of an artist or designer with that of a scientist or engineer. STEAM encourages students to collaborate by leveraging soft and hard skills. This out-of-the-box thinking uses tools such as fine art imagery or data visualization to deepen students’ understanding of the curriculum.
Alachua County Public Schools recently implemented three new I.A.M. STEAM programs at Irby Elementary, Alachua Elementary and Mebane Middle. These programs aim to prepare students for a postsecondary education and a range of new, in-demand career skills through their various STEM programs and magnets.
The students in these programs received laptops or iPads to aid in homework and assignments under the new STEAM initiative.
One such program is the biomedical magnet at Mebane Middle. Students were able to utilize their devices with hands-on learning to study forensics, biomechanics, prosthetics, infectious diseases and more. The program sought to pave the way for students interested in participating in Santa Fe High School’s biomedical magnet.
Other early STEM/STEAM programs in GG:
- Archer Elementary School – The Center for Gifted and Talented Studies
- Metcalfe Elementary School – The STEAM Magnet
- Rawlings Elementary School – Center for Fine Arts
- Stephen Foster Elementary School – The STEM Magnet
- Terwilliger Elementary School – Dual Language Immersion Magnet
- Williams Elementary School – Williams Magnet Program
Regardless of which path a student decides to take, GG has plenty of options that ensure the best education and experience to prepare them for their future as an engineer, artist, technician or scientist.
Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award
- Students who take at least three courses in a program may be eligible for the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award.
- Students earning particular industry certifications may be eligible for the Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholarship.
- Information about both of these programs can be found at floridastudentfinancialaid.org.
- CTE students have the opportunity to participate in Career and Technical Student Organizations (such as DECA, FBLA, FFA, FPSA, HOSA and SkillsUSA) through which they develop valuable leadership skills and participate in competitions at the regional, state and national level.