• CTE Overview

    Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Wydown Middle School and Clayton High School empowers students to explore, create and lead through authentic, real-world learning (RWL) experiences. CTE courses blend academic rigor with hands-on application, helping students discover their passions while developing the skills and confidence needed to thrive in college, careers, and life. CTE fosters student agency by giving learners voice and choice in their work, encouraging them to take ownership of their learning, pursue their interests and make meaningful connections between classroom experiences and the world beyond school.

    Mission/Philosophy
    The mission of the School District of Clayton is to educate, inspire and empower each student to love learning and embrace challenge within a rich and rigorous academic culture. CTE inspires engagement through authentic, hands-on experiences that mirror the environments students will encounter beyond school. Within the fields of broadcast, business, computer science, engineering, family & consumer sciences (FCS), and journalism, students explore creativity, collaboration, and leadership through real-world learning opportunities.

    CTE brings this mission to life by providing students with opportunities to take on leadership roles, collaborate with peers, problem-solve creatively, and design meaningful projects rooted in real-world learning. CTE classrooms offer the flexibility and inclusivity of mixed-age, mixed-ability, and project-based environments where students drive their own learning, guided by teachers who serve as mentors and facilitators. 

    Enduring Understandings
    The Enduring Understandings of the CTE program identify essential ideas and processes that hold lasting value beyond the classroom and connect directly to real-world learning.

    Technology
    Creativity and Innovation: Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using industry-standard equipment/software.

    Communication and Collaboration: Students use digital media to communicate and work collaboratively - both locally and remotely - to support learning and contribute to the success of others.

    Research and Information Fluency: Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and ethically use information.

    Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making: Students plan and manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

    Digital Citizenship: Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice responsible, ethical behavior.

    Careers
    Career Exploration: Students research, explore, and experience a variety of career pathways through real-world learning to make informed decisions about their futures.
    College and Career Readiness: Students learn to collaborate, communicate effectively, and apply academic and technical skills necessary for success in postsecondary education, the workforce, and life.

    Special School District of St. Louis County (SSD) provides career and technical education (CTE) for Clayton School District. SSD operates South Technical High School, which offers students experiential learning opportunities in more than 25 different programs. The CTE mission is college and career readiness - a commitment to preparing students for the increasing demands of the 21st-century workforce and ensuring that students are fully prepared for college and careers. Our engaging programs, including everything from Automotive Technology to Web & Computer Programming, are focused on developing real-world skills, providing hands-on experience, and connecting students to employers and mentors who will support them long after graduation.

    Through our shops and labs, shadowing, internships, complex projects, clinical rotations, and many other immersive experiences, South Tech students gain in-depth perspectives on career paths and college majors. Students discover where they excel, what motivates them, and what they enjoy doing before they begin their post-secondary education or career. Students leave South Tech with skills, knowledge,  experience, college credits, and certifications in the careers they explore.

    Interested in applying? Visit South Tech’s Admissions website for more details.

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