While traditional classrooms prepare students for college, the Frisco ISD Career and Technology Education Center prepares students for everything that comes after. With over 5,000 active students, the CTE Center proves to be not only a gateway for success but also a home for students who share similar interests. It offers career-focused courses and exclusive opportunities that most students won’t be able to experience from their high school campus. Ultimately, the CTE Center’s commitment to job readiness, student accessibility, and diversity all contribute to why students continue to return each year.
The CTE Center encourages high school students to explore potential career paths by offering over 30 vocational courses. Class options range from agriculture and construction to hospitality and tourism. These courses aim to create authentic experiences by incorporating interactive learning practices to simulate the occupation it mirrors. For most high school seniors, the whole ideation of planning your future and knowing what you want to do for the next four years can feel overwhelming. Architecture teacher, Rocio Martinez, believes that the CTE Center gives students a valuable opportunity to explore different fields, especially for those unsure about their plans after high school.”
“I think there is something here for everyone at the CTE [Center]. I believe that for students who are not really sure of what they want to do for college, or even what they want to do after high school, that it’s great for them to try different classes here,” Martinez said. “Even if they take a class for one year and then go off to college, they tell us how well prepared they feel.”
In addition to being a hub for career-focused learning, the CTE Center also serves as an accessible resource for students throughout FISD. On most high school campuses, access to specialized equipment and commercial facilities is limited—but the CTE Center bridges that gap by providing students with hands-on experiences in professional-grade environments. The experiences at the CTE Center are not only unique because they’re career-based but also because they offer a level of quality that typically goes beyond what’s available at students’ home campuses. Jullian Whitehead, 12, is one of 65 students in the Culinary Arts program, eagerly waiting to participate in this week’s bake sale.
“We can actually cook! We can’t do that on a day-to-day basis and serve it to people at our school. Here we actually get the chance to expand our expertise and show what we can do.” Whitehead said.
While the CTE Center is known for its unique career and course opportunities, its ability to unite students from diverse backgrounds in a collaborative environment is what motivates students to return year after year. The CTE Center houses students from all across FISD, and all 12 of its high schools. Each class provides the chance to interact with students from different high schools and form meaningful relationships throughout the year. The collaboration and project-based learning foundation of the CTE Center is what ultimately enriches these relationships. Cybersecurity student, Siri Ganapathineedi, 12, is one of the students which has benefited from this dynamic.
“I feel like the CTE Center has allowed me to create relationships with other students by encouraging me to work with others to figure out the solutions for each of our assignments,” Ganapathineedi said. “The class has encouraged me to work with others and ask for help from my peers, allowing me to foster friendships with my peers in and out of school.”
Although your average high school may give you the basic tools, the CTE Center goes above and beyond. It serves as a testament to Frisco ISD’s vision and demonstrates its commitment to preparing students for real-world success. The Career and Technology Education Center offers accessible, hands-on vocational courses that meet the passions of a diverse student body—and this is why students continue to return.
