Tomorrow’s Workforce Needs You.
Connecticut’s Technical High Schools Will Get You Ready.
Connecticut’s technical high schools offer students the best of both worlds — a true high school experience, including academics, opportunities to earn college credit, athletics, and clubs; and the chance to gain employability skills in high-demand career fields like manufacturing. Plus, attending is free for Connecticut residents!
Our manufacturing students graduate with a high school diploma in addition to a career technical education certificate in their field of study, and multiple, industry-recognized certifications and licenses that give them the competitive edge. Graduates are prepared to step into a high-paying manufacturing career or pursue further training or education. In fact, most of our Grade-12 students are offered full-time employment in the fall of their senior year.
What jobs do our graduates get hired for? Examples of job placements after graduation include CNC machine tool programmers and operators, tool and die apprentices, mechanical engineering technicians, mechanical drafters, welders and metal fabricators.
Imagine a career making parts for the aerospace, medical, sports, electronics, fashion or even food industry. That’s right — manufacturers even help make the machines that produce your favorite chocolate. The possibilities are almost endless in manufacturing!
Unique to the technical high school experience is the Work-Based Learning (WBL) program. Eligible students can gain hands-on career development experience in partnership with local manufacturing companies. WBL takes place during the school day. So, you not only receive credit toward your high school classes — you may also get paid. Through the Student Workforce program, meanwhile, students can make real products for real customers here in Connecticut. Both experiences prepare students to transition from high school to the workforce.
So is manufacturing a good fit for you? If you enjoy being creative, solving problems, building things, inventing solutions and utilizing STEM — it just might be. And if you decide you don’t want to pursue the manufacturing path, technical high schools have over 30 other trades to choose from!
We invite you to explore manufacturing and all of the options Connecticut’s technical high schools have to offer at cttech.org/learnmore. There, you will find application instructions, a full list of trades offered and contact information for a school near you.
Employers: Make Connections Here
The Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTECS) understands the urgency to build a skilled manufacturing workforce; we actively partner with business and industry — companies like yours — to make that happen.
Students experience project-based learning aligned to Connecticut’s manufacturing needs and learn relevant skills from a curriculum that’s driven by industry input. The CTECS goal is to ensure that our students are properly equipped with skills to be successful in a 21st century economy to support the labor needs of Connecticut industry.
Want to get your company involved?
Each technical high school has long-standing partnerships through Career Technical Education Advisory Committees, or CTEACs. CTEACs are comprised of businesses, industry leaders, school administrators and teachers. These committees ensure that CTECS is meeting and exceeding current industry standards in our program curricula, facilities, technology, occupational outlook, employability skills and workplace credentials. We rely on up-to-date industry input to ensure we are meeting our mission of preparing students for the world of work.
In our Work-Based Learning (WBL) program, local employers like you can hire juniors and seniors, providing them with real-world work experience. WBL connects employers with highly motivated, experienced, responsible student workers who can contribute up to 21 hours a week to your company, — unlimited hours in Semester 2 of their senior year.
One of the more significant advantages of hiring a student for your company? The opportunity to develop future talent — with greater advancement potential — with extensive experience built right in.
“How much do you want to invest in yourself? When you come to a tech school, you do everything that a typical high school student has to accomplish and you also need to learn a trade. There are so many options. I’m building my career now — at 18 years old. Doors open up when you go to a tech school.”
– Jason G., Manufacturing Student
“I had the opportunity to graduate, work in the manufacturing trade and buy my first home — all by 20 years old. This was all made possible by Connecticut’s technical high schools. Now I have come full circle and have had the opportunity to not only instruct my students, but also place them in high-paying manufacturing careers where they can become successful and financially independent. In today’s industry, the career opportunities are endless. Our school system is the perfect place to train and educate today’s students and connect them with industry partners.”
– Steven Orloski, Teacher,
Precision Machining Technology
