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CTE

Career Technical Education (CTE)

SMHS offers courses in 11 different CTE pathways. 1,645 students are currently enrolled in at least 1 CTE course. We are expected to graduate 359 CTE pathway by the end of the 2026 school year

  • Students presenting information on a stage
  • Students working on a woodworking project
  • Students giving CPR to a dummy
  • Two teachers at a conference
  • Students giving CPR to a dummy
  • Students giving CPR to a dummy

CTE Pathways and Goals

    • Agriculture
    • Game design
    • Business, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship
    • Graphic design
    • Computer science
    • Healthcare
    • Criminal Justice
    • Translation and interpretation
    • Engineering & Robotics
    • Woodworking/BITA
    • Filmmaking Academy

  • To give our 26 CTE Ambassadors a bigger purpose and role in a UNITED district-wide Ambassador Program 

    A group of people sit in a circle, likely engaged in a meeting or discussion.

  • To build our relationships with the middle schools and provide more middle school outreach and education regarding CTE courses at the high school level

    A large group of people gather outdoors near a building on a sunny day.

  • To increase SMHS students' sense of belonging by being involved in a CTE pathway course

    A group of five people in blue scrubs pose for a photo outside a building.

  • Students working with pt practitioner
  • poster that shows learning from a class
  • Student proud of their booth
  • Students listening and speaking in a big circle seated
  • Students and district admin with giant check
  • Students learning about a machine

Program Highlights

 

A group of people sit and listen in a well-lit room with large windows.

SMHS coordinated with Empowering Women Magazine to host the first annual Young Women's Business Conference, in which 55 Lady Knights were matched with successful local female entrepreneurs. The half-day seminar was topped off with the selection of two students who will go to Washington, D.C. for the National Women in Business Conference 

Graphic Design has done a lot of work within our own district, designing middle school band logos, our 2026 graduation program cover, and even designing our very own Knights football field!

An aerial view of a football field with yard markers.

SMHS Robotics competed this weekend at the State Championship! Ranked top 25% in CA and won the Spirit Award!

 

Our internship program placed over 100 students this year with 35 different community partners in the fields of healthcare, construction, finance, biomedical research, education, and more! We have placed over 500 students to date.

Two people pose for a photo in front of a large wave mural.

  •  

    A group of people sit and listen in a well-lit room with large windows.

    SMHS coordinated with Empowering Women Magazine to host the first annual Young Women's Business Conference, in which 55 Lady Knights were matched with successful local female entrepreneurs. The half-day seminar was topped off with the selection of two students who will go to Washington, D.C. for the National Women in Business Conference 

  • Graphic Design has done a lot of work within our own district, designing middle school band logos, our 2026 graduation program cover, and even designing our very own Knights football field!

    An aerial view of a football field with yard markers.

  • SMHS Robotics competed this weekend at the State Championship! Ranked top 25% in CA and won the Spirit Award!

  •  

  • Our internship program placed over 100 students this year with 35 different community partners in the fields of healthcare, construction, finance, biomedical research, education, and more! We have placed over 500 students to date.

    Two people pose for a photo in front of a large wave mural.

Two health pathway students smiling

CTE’s Impact on our Community

SMHS CTE is so much bigger than a course in school. It has established, grown, and sustained relationships within our community that impacts our students, citizens, businesses, and community leaders well beyond graduation. All of this has provided opportunity for our SMUSD students to leave us as Future Ready, Responsible, and Professional Citizens.

Pictures of students conducting CPR on dummies

Health Pathway

All students in our introductory course of the healthcare pathway are CPR Certified

A group of young people pose together, wearing matching shirts and orange sunglasses.

Filmmaking Academy

Students traveled to Tampa, Florida, to take part in the Student Television Network Convention

A group of people stand on a stage in front of a screen.

Translation & Interpretation Pathway

Translation/Interpretation students who are now trained interpreters have interpreted publicly at District and school events. At the Celebration of Bilingualism and Biliteracy, at the Discover San Marcos family event, and at the Know Your Rights community outreach event in the Future Center. We have interpretation equipment that made the process seamless.