GUHSD opens new pathways to the careers of tomorrow

The Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) has once again expanded the number of its Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways that provide GUHSD students with the job-ready skills necessary for success in America’s growing industries.

Beginning this school year, GUHSD added Education/Child Development pathways at West Hills High School and Granite Hills High School, a Hospitality/Event Planning pathway at Granite Hills High School, and a Health Sciences/Community Health pathway at El Cajon Valley High School. These additions bring GUHSD’s grand total to 44 career pathways across 12 in-demand industry sectors including Engineering & Architecture, Information & Communication Technologies, and Agriculture & Natural Resources. Through CTE – a unique pillar of GUHSD’s award winning academic program – over – 4,000 students acquire cutting-edge career training for the jobs of tomorrow. Demonstrating the quality of GUHSD’s program, and the demand for the training offered through the new pathways, the newly offered classes were all fully enrolled when the semester began.

“With such a wide variety of career pathways, GUHSD students have countless opportunities to build their best future,” said GUHSD Superintendent Mary Beth Kastan. “We are excited to offer these new pathways so that we can make many career dreams a reality for our students,” said Kastan.

In addition to the diverse class offerings, CTE students are also supported by GUHSD’s CTE team who identify career fairs and hiring events for students. They also connect students with networking opportunities that can result in job opportunities.

“Our award-winning CTE programs provide students with world-class educational opportunities and have made GUHSD a destination school district,” said GUHSD Governing Board Member Dr. Gary Woods. “With these additional CTE pathways, we will be opening new paths for our students to the jobs of tomorrow,” he added.

GUHSD’s CTE pathways are designed to provide students of diverse interests with opportunities to explore careers in a variety of high-demand industries. Of particular interest to GUHSD Governing Board Member Elva Salinas – a successful salon owner – is the Cosmetology pathway offered at both Monte Vista and Mount Miguel High Schools. “The skills acquired in these classes can propel young students into careers as soon as they graduate,” said Salinas. “These programs prepare our graduates to work for top salons and can lead to owning businesses of their own. It’s an ideal launchpad for working in this creative, in-demand industry,” she added.

Information about all of the GUHSD career pathways across its family of schools and programs can be found here.

More GUHSD CTE Program Highlights:

According to a GUHSD’s Arts, Media & Entertainment pathway student, “we don’t pretend to be professional” filmmakers, “we are professionals.”

A local TV reporter saw Monte Vista High School students “working on a car, changing tires…it looks like any professional mechanic’s shop in town…but this is a high school.”

The West Hills Sports Medicine pathway and GUHSD’s Health Occupations Center provide realistic experience and “a pathway that has been identified…by the state of California to be one of the growing careers.”

El Capitan’s Agricultural pathway prepares students for futures in agriculture and business, and it equips them with skills that will be valuable throughout their life.

GUHSD’s Manufacturing and Building & Construction pathways give students the hands-on experience required to build the best future for themselves and their community.