February is Career & Technical Education (CTE) Month, and HHS is celebrating a significant milestone. With 738 students enrolled in CTE job readiness courses across the fall and spring semesters, this year marks the highest CTE enrollment in the school’s history.
Career & Technical Education classes offer job readiness skills and opportunities to compete in hands-on trades competitions. In the January 2025 regional SkillsUSA competitions, Hockinson High School senior Renner James placed 1st in plumbing and 4th in carpentry. Tenth grade student Lars Sarkinen earned 2nd place in carpentry and 3rd place in plumbing. Both students will advance to state-wide SkillsUSA competitions to compete in multiple events this year.
“Classes like architecture and woods have been really helpful to get industry experience,” said Renner James, senior at HHS. James earned worksite learning credits by working part time at a local Computer Numerical Control company, and has also landed a competitive 90-hour internship with the Design CoMission program at LSW Architects in Vancouver, WA this year.
HHS offers 21 CTE courses including personal finance, engineering, construction, computer science, small business management, and woods classes. Many of these courses also fulfill high school math or English requirements and offer dual-credit opportunities through Clark College.
Trades on the Rise Among Gen Z
38% of Gen Z currently work in the trades, and that number is only projected to rise (source).
Exposure to Different Careers
Students can explore various fields before committing to a college major or trade, helping them make informed decisions about their future.
Hands-On Practice for Real-World Careers
CTE students get a chance to apply concepts in hands-on simulations, like Kennedy Terrill's bracelet marketing project for Entrepreneurship.