What are Career Pathways/Programs?

A career pathway is a series of structured and aligned educational experiences designed to equip students with occupational exposure and the skill set necessary to succeed in those occupations. Targeted job industries are divided into 17 state and nationally recognized career clusters with 14 clusters represented in Pasco County Schools. Within each cluster are specific career and technical programs which are aligned to current labor market demand. Students are afforded the opportunity to increase employment marketability through industry certifications and robust work-based learning experiences. Career cluster pathways along with included programs are described in detail and identified below.

How do I enroll in Career and Technical Education Programs?

Students who live within the attendance boundary of a school with a specific Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program may enroll in that program. Students who are interested in these programs at their zoned school should contact the school’s administration for information on enrollment. Students who live outside of the zone may apply through the Pasco Pathways School Choice application. Out of zone applicants will be reviewed for meeting applicable program criteria as well as required prerequisites for the grade level for which they are applying. All students meeting criteria are eligible for program entry consideration. 

Specific criteria will be outlined in the Pasco Pathways School Choice application for each program. Preferences established in the Controlled Open Enrollment Plan will be followed when the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of seats open. Students residing in district will be given preference, followed by students outside the district. Applicants are randomized and seats are filled by the number of open opportunities designated during the seat setting process. Students not placed during the lottery process will be placed on a randomized waitlist.

Pathways/Programs:

Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources: This pathway allows students to discover new ways of growing food or finding better ways to use natural resources. This industry is a great career choice for those who like to work with the earth, animals or natural resources.

• Agricultural Communications: Prepares students to report agricultural information to stakeholders such as farmers and consumers. Location(s): Hudson High School, Pasco High School, Wesley Chapel High School, Zephyrhills High School
• Animal Science & Services: Prepares students with a broad range of knowledge and skills, including general agriculture knowledge; animal classification, breeding and feeding; animal marketing techniques and facilities management. Location(s): Pasco High School, Wesley Chapel High School
• Veterinary Assisting: Prepares students with the skills necessary to become veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers. Location(s): Hudson High School, Pasco High School, Zephyrhills High School

Architecture & Construction: This pathway prepares students for careers in building and construction. Such careers include electricians, construction managers and plumbers.

• Air-Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating Technology: Prepares students for employment in the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration industry. Location(s): Wendell Krinn Technical High School
• Building Trades & Construction Design Technology: Prepares students with skills necessary to work in the building industry. Location(s): Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation
• Electricity: Prepares students for employment or advanced training in the electrical construction industry. Location(s): Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, Pasco High School, Wendell Krinn Technical High School

Arts, A/V Technology & Communication: This pathway encompasses audio/video technology and film, journalism and broadcasting, performing arts, printing technology, telecommunications, and visual arts.

• Commercial Art Technology: Prepares students with content including basic art skills, lettering skills, layouts and illustration skills and camera-ready paste-up skills. Location(s): Wendell Krinn Technical High School
• Digital Cinema Production: Prepares students with aspects of digital video activities, including scripts, lighting, camera operation, field/studio production and video editing. Location(s): Wendell Krinn Technical High School
• Digital Design: Prepares students for careers such as information technology assistants, production assistants, digital assistant designers, graphic designers and multimedia designers. Location(s): James W. Mitchell High School, Land O’ Lakes High School, Sunlake High School, Wesley Chapel High School, Zephyrhills High School
• Digital Media/Multimedia Design: Prepares students for webpage design and interactive presentation development careers. Location(s): Gulf High School, Hudson High School, Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation
• Digital Video Technology: This program prepares students for initial employment as production assistants, audio/video equipment technician, video/TV camera operators, video editors, multimedia artists/animators and broadcast technicians. Location(s): James W. Mitchell High School, Wesley Chapel High School
• Journalism and Multimedia: Prepares students for careers or advanced training in journalistic writing, script writing, graphic communications, desktop publishing and photojournalism. Location(s): Cypress Creek High School, James W. Mitchell High School, River Ridge High School

Business Management & Administration: This pathway provides students with skills for organizing, directing and evaluating functions necessary for an efficient and productive business.

• Accounting Applications: Prepares students for careers in or advanced training in accounting. The curriculum includes double-entry accounting principles, analysis of financial documents, accounting control systems and inventory methods. Location(s): Sunlake High School, Wiregrass Ranch High School
• Business Management & Analysis: This program includes content covering all aspects of business management, including organizational structures, accounting, leadership, business ethics, human resources and governmental regulations. Location(s): Cypress Creek High School, James W. Mitchell High School, Land O’ Lakes High School, Wiregrass Ranch High School
• Promotional Enterprise: Prepares students for digitally imprinted merchandise business careers. Experiences include digital layout and design, production of embroidered apparel and sublimation. Location(s): Anclote High School

Education and Training: This pathway offers students the opportunity to receive training and skills necessary for entry into public education services.

• Early Childhood Education: This program prepares students for entry into the early childhood education industry and includes content on planning, health, safety, environmental issues and developmentally appropriate practices for children from birth through age eight. Location(s): Gulf High School, Land O’ Lakes High School
• Principles of Teaching: This program prepares students for professions within the field of education. The program promotes skills necessary to support students’ learning activities, including working effectively with students, educational technology, classroom management, student assessment and communication skills. Location(s): River Ridge High School, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zephyrhills High School

Engineering & Technology Education: This pathway prepares students for careers as engineers and technologists.

• Aerospace Technologies: (Magnet Program) Prepares students for careers or advanced training in aircraft construction, testing and maintenance. Location(s): Sunlake High School
• Applied Robotics: Prepares students with the knowledge of design, construction, operation and application of robots and computer systems designed for their control. Location(s): Angeline Academy of Innovation, Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, Sunlake High School, Wendell Krinn Technical High School
• Electronics Technology: Prepares students for careers in electrical engineering. Location(s): Wendell Krinn Technical High School
• Engineering Pathways: Prepares students for careers and advanced training in engineering to include applied science and math, engineering and computer science. Location(s): Angeline Academy of Innovation, Cypress Creek High School, Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, River Ridge High School
• Technical Design: Prepares students for careers in software development. Location(s): Land O’Lakes High School

Health Science: This pathway prepares students for work in the health care field.

• Allied Health Assistant: Prepares students with skills required to work in a health care environment, including physical therapy, emergency, radiation, laboratory and respiratory medicine and occupational therapy. Successful program completers are eligible for certification as Certified Medical Administrative Assistants. Location(s): James W. Mitchell High School
• Biomedical Sciences: Prepares students through applying natural science to the medical profession. Content includes human body systems, medicine, critical biological concepts and research concepts. Location(s): Angeline Academy of Innovation, Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, Wendell Krinn Technical High School
• Electrocardiograph Technician: Prepares students for careers as EKG Technicians. Location(s): Wendell Krinn Technical High School
• Emergency Medical Responder: This program prepares individuals to provide initial care to sick or injured persons or as ambulance drivers and attendants. The Emergency Medical Responder is the first to arrive at the scene of an injury but does not have the primary responsibility for treating and transporting the injured person(s). Emergency Medical Responders may include law enforcement, lifeguard, fire services or basic life support non-licensed personnel.
• Nursing Assistant: Prepares students for employment as nursing assistants in health care facilities. Successful program completers are eligible to sit for the Florida Certified Nursing Assistant licensing exam. Location(s): Gulf High School, James W. Mitchell High School, Pasco High School, Sunlake High School, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zephyrhills High School
• Patient Care Technician: This program provides high school students with a dual enrollment model to prepare students for employment as advanced cross-trained nursing assistants in acute and long-term care health facilities. Location(s): Gulf High School, James W. Mitchell High School, Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, Pasco High School, Sunlake High School, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Zephyrhills High School
• Pharmacy Technician: Prepares students for employment as pharmacy technicians to include content covering medical terminology, medicinal drugs, maintenance of drug inventory, records control and drug packaging. Successful program completers are eligible to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam. Location(s): Wendell Krinn Technical High School

Hospitality and Tourism: This pathway provides career preparation for students in the field of restaurant and food/beverage services, lodging, travel, tourism and recreation and amusements and attractions.

• Culinary Arts: Prepares students for further education and careers such as food preparation workers, cooks, and food service managers. Location(s): Anclote High School, Fivay High School, Land O’ Lakes High School, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Wendell Krinn Technical High School

Human Services: This pathway prepares students for careers in consumer services.

• Cosmetology: Prepares students for employment as licensed hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists Locations(s): Wendell Krinn Technical High School

Information Technology: This pathway studies the design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware.

• Applied Cybersecurity: Prepares students with the knowledge and skills in computer and network security, security vulnerabilities, attack mechanisms and techniques, intrusion detection and prevention, cryptographic systems, system hardening, risk identification, incidence response, penetration testing, key management, access control, and recover. Location(s): Angeline Academy of Innovation, Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, Wendell Krinn Technical High School
• Computer Systems & Information Technology: Prepares students for careers in information technology which is the use of any computer, storage, networking or other physical devices to create, process, store, secure and exchange all forms of electronic data. Locations(s): Wendell Krinn Technical High School
• Game/Simulation/Animation Visual Design: Prepares students for careers or advanced training in game/simulation creation, design and production. Locations(s): Gulf High School

Law, Public Safety & Security: This pathway provides training for entry into corrections, emergency and fire management, law enforcement, and legal and security protection.

• Criminal Justice Operations: Prepares students for careers in law enforcement, the court system, corrections and victim advocacy. Location(s): Cypress Creek High School, Fivay High School, Zephyrhills High School
• Introduction to Fire Fighting: (Magnet Program) Prepares students for entry into or advanced training in fire science. Program content includes orientation to the fire service, fire alarms and communication, vehicles, apparatus and equipment, fire behavior, portable extinguishers, fire streams, fundamentals of extinguishment, ladders, hoses, tools and equipment, forcible entry, salvage, overhaul, ventilation, rescue, protective breathing equipment, first responder emergency, medical techniques, water supplies, principles of in-service inspections, safety, controlled burning. Locations(s): Fivay High School

Manufacturing: This pathway prepares students for careers in manufacturing to include production; manufacturing production process development; maintenance, installation & repair; quality assurance; logistics & inventory control, and health, safety & environmental assurance

• Advanced Manufacturing Technology: Locations(s): Anclote High School
• Welding Technology Fundamentals: Locations(s): Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, Wendell Krinn Technical High School

Marketing, Sales & Service: This pathway prepares students for career planning, managing and performing marketing activities to reach organizational goals.

• E-Commerce Marketing: Prepares students for careers in marketing businesses that sell its product or service electronically. Location(s): River Ridge High School
• Sports, Recreation and Entertainment Marketing: Prepares students for careers in marketing businesses that promote public relations and publicity.  Location(s): Pasco High School

Transportation, Distribution & Logistics: This pathway prepares students for careers of planning, managing and moving people, materials and goods by road, pipeline, air, rail and water.

• Automotive Maintenance & Light Repair Technician: Prepares students for careers in the automotive industry. Location(s): Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, Wendell Krinn Technical High School, Wesley Chapel High School
• Diesel Maintenance Technician: Prepares students for entry into the Diesel Engine Service industry, with a focus on safety skills, basic diesel components, tools and equipment, occupational safety, and engine operation. Locations(s): Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation
• Marine Service Technologies: Prepares students with skills to service, repair and overhaul boat motors. Locations(s): Wendell Krinn Technical High School

 

Prior to applying for school choice, you must have a Parent Portal account set up in our student information system (myStudent). Please visit Enrollment Services for additional information.

Sign up to receive more info via email and get a friendly reminder once the Pasco Pathways school choice application window opens later this school year.

 

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