What is Career-Technical Education?
The Link Between Students and What's Next
Dispelling common misconceptions, today's career-technical education (CTE) is not a detour from college. It is a pathway that demands the same academic rigor as traditional high school programs. Ohio high school students enrolled in CTE meet standard academic requirements while gaining hands-on experience in fields such as engineering, healthcare, computer graphics, automotive technology, and culinary arts, with 15 career fields available.
Contrary to common belief, data from the Ohio Department of Education shows that approximately 50% of CTE students pursue further education after high school. Every Ohio high school student has the opportunity to enroll in a CTE program aligned with their career interests through a dedicated career center or their local high school. Beyond the classroom, many CTE programs also serve regional residents by providing education and training that prepares learners for post-high school opportunities.
Career-technical education is available to all Ohio high school students through three delivery models designed to meet the needs of local communities and learners:
Contrary to common belief, data from the Ohio Department of Education shows that approximately 50% of CTE students pursue further education after high school. Every Ohio high school student has the opportunity to enroll in a CTE program aligned with their career interests through a dedicated career center or their local high school. Beyond the classroom, many CTE programs also serve regional residents by providing education and training that prepares learners for post-high school opportunities.
Career-technical education is available to all Ohio high school students through three delivery models designed to meet the needs of local communities and learners:
- Compact Partner Districts: School districts collaborate to offer a variety of career-technical programs to students across participating districts.
- Comprehensive High Schools: Career-technical education is integrated into the high school's course offerings.
- Joint Vocational School Districts (JVSDs): Students attend a career center for all or part of the school day to participate in career-technical education.
Compact Partner Districts
- Alliance City**
- Canton Local**
- Centerville City
- Four City Compact
- Lakeshore Compact**
- Lakewood City**
- Maple Heights/Bedford
- Mayfield
- Meigs Local
- Millstream Career
- Parma City
- Plain Local
- Six District Compact
- Sylvania City
- Tri-Height C.P.C.
- Tri-Star Compact
Comprehensive Schools
(MAJOR CITY)
(SINGLE DISTRICT)
- Akron City
- Canton City
- Cincinnati City**
- Cleveland City
- Columbus City**
- Dayton City
- Toledo City
- Youngstown City**
(SINGLE DISTRICT)
- East Cleveland City**
- East Liverpool City**
- Greenville City
- Hamilton City
- Lancaster City
- Lima City
- Lorain City
- Mad River Local**
- Madison Local
- Mansfield City
- Marion City**
- Massillon City**
- Morgan Local
- Ohio Valley Local
- Oregon City
- Sandusky City**
- South-Western City**
- Switzerland of Ohio
- Washington Local**
Joint Vocational School Districts
- Apollo Career Center**
- Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center
- Ashtabula County JVS**
- Auburn Career Center**
- Belmont-Harrison Career Centers**
- Buckeye Career Center**
- Buckeye Hills Career Center
- Butler Technology & Career Development Schools**
- Career & Technology Education Centers of Licking County
- Collins Career Center
- Columbiana County Career Center
- Coshocton County Career Center
- Cuyahoga Valley Career Center**
- Delaware Area Career Center
- Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools
- Ehove Career Center
- Four County Career Center
- Grant Career Center**
- Great Oaks Career Campuses**
- Greene County Career Center
- Jefferson County JVS**
- Knox County Career Center**
- Lorain County JVS
- Mahoning County Career & Technical Center**
- Maplewood Career Center
- Medina County Career Center**
- Miami Valley Career Technology Center**
- Mid-East Career & Technology Centers**
- Ohio Hi-Point Career Center
- Penta Career Center**
- Pickaway-Ross JVS and Circleville Annex
- Pike County JVS**
- Pioneer Career and Technology
- Polaris Career Center**
- Portage Lakes Career Center
- R.G. Drage Career Center**
- Scioto County JVS
- Southern Hills Career & Technical Center
- Springfield-Clark County JVS
- Tolles Technical Center**
- Tri-County Career Center**
- Tri-Rivers Career Center**
- Trumbull Career & Technical Center**
- Upper Valley JVS
- Vanguard-Sentinel Career Center**
- Vantage Career Center**
- Warren County Career Center**
- Washington County Career Center
- Wayne County Schools Career Center**
Ohio, viewed from a state standpoint, is segmented into Career-Technical Planning Districts (CTPDs), each contributing to the dynamic landscape of CTE opportunities. Explore the map below for an overview of these districts and their impact on shaping the educational journey for Ohio's high school students.
