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Enrollment in career and technical education programs has steadily grown in Argyle and Lewisville ISDs, according to data from the Texas Education Agency. AISD’s CTE participation has grown by 237% since the 2014-15 school year, and LISD has grown by 10.6% since the 2014-15 school year. CAREER EDUCATION GROWING

High school CTE enrollment

Total high school enrollment

3.5K

2.5K

1.5K

500

2014-15

2015-16 2016-17

2017-18 2018-19

2019-20

2014-15

2015-16 2016-17

2017-18 2018-19

2019-20

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

have multiple standalone career cen- ters,” LISD’s CTE Executive Director Jason Cooper said in an email. “We are very fortunate to have two state-of- the-art facilities.” LISD oers 14 programs of study, including architecture, information technology and manufacturing. In Argyle, district ocials want to continue to add one CTE program “every couple of years,” said Dawn Jordan, AISD assistant superinten- dent of curriculum and instruction. The district had 1,256 high school stu- dents and 282 middle school students enrolled in CTE courses in 2022-23, with the percentage of enrollment being 86% at the high school—1,466, total enrollment—and 24% at the mid- dle school, which has enrollment of 1,190, as of May. Meanwhile, at LISD’s career centers, a total of 2,882 students were enrolled at both TECC West and TECC East last year, according to district data. Local businesses collaborate with the districts to help students get hands-on experience, ocials said. Both districts oer industry-based cer- tications that allow students to obtain workforce-ready skills by graduation. Health sciences and cosmetology are popular in LISD, Cooper said. Cos- metology is housed at both career cen- ters because of its popularity. Waitlists for in-demand programs have grown over the years, according

to district data. For example, the waitlist for Welding I and II was the district’s largest last year with 120 students. Automotive technology had the second largest waitlist with 77 students. “Nearly all of our career center pro- grams are at maximum capacity due to student interest and [the] popularity of the programs,” Cooper said. “At the main high school campuses, we have a high interest in our money matters and food science courses.” LISD’s rapid growth led to the open- ing of TECC West in 2020. The center was made possible by the passage of LISD’s 2017 bond package. CTE courses have been widely dis- cussed within the last decade partly due to the TEA’s College, Career and Military Readiness initiative, Cooper said. Its purpose is to ensure all Texas high school students are adequately prepared for life after graduation. “[It] has become more and more evi- dent within the last ve years of the need to train the next generation in the workforce,” Cooper said. Local businesses also collaborate with the districts to help students get hands-on experience, ocials said. For example, seniors enrolled in LISD’s automotive courses can shadow professionals at one of Avon- dale Group’s dealerships. By interning, students gain experience and deter- mine their interest before investing

IN-DEMAND OCCUPATIONS

EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS:

The Texas Workforce Commission projects hundreds of annual openings through 2030 in occupations that require some postsecondary education, but not a full degree. This list is not comprehensive and shows careers in the North Central Texas region.

2020

2030 (projected)

247

HVAC mechanics and installers Bus and truck mechanics, and diesel engine specialists Air transportation workers

+36.03%

336

1,639 2,150

+31.18%

1,903

+27.17%

2,420

SOURCE: NORTH CENTRAL WORKFORCE BOARD COMMUNITY IMPACT

3,428

+31.97%

Welders

4,524

2,923

Pharmacy technicians

+28.02%

3,742

3,487

+45.14%

Dental assistants

5,061

4,856

Licensed practical, vocational nurses

+29.88%

6,307

5,047

+44.13%

Medical assistants

7,274

Automotive service technicians and mechanics

5,020

23.29%

6,189

6,032

Nursing assistants

+25.23%

7,554

Hairdressers, hairstylists, cosmetologists Software and applications developers

7,558

+35.04%

10,206

19,593

+52.56%

29,891

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM