Career Preparation

Career Technical Course Enrollment Grows 7%

Career technical education (CTE) integrates academic and technical skills, supporting educational goals, workforce development, and economic development. It offers students research-based, relevant curricula developed expressly for success in college and careers. For those reentering the workforce, changing careers, or needing on-the-job skill upgrades, CTE provides applicable skill-sets and increased career opportunities. This indicator shows enrollment in high school CTE courses, participation in work-based learning offered through the three Regional Occupational Programs serving the county, and placement rates among CTE graduates of one of the five community college districts in San Bernardino County.

Career technical education (CTE) integrates academic and technical skills, supporting educational goals, workforce development, and economic development.

How is San Bernardino County Doing?

Despite a drop in 2017/18, enrollment in high school CTE courses has grown over the past five years:

  • San Bernardino County CTE course enrollment rose 7% in the five-year period between 2013/14 and 2017/18.
  • There were a total of 53,707 CTE enrollments in 2017/18.
  • The fastest growing subject areas were Public Services (+139%), Health Science and Medical Technology (+28%), and Arts, Media and Entertainment (+24%).
  • Some of the change in course enrollment in 2017/18 is due to the addition of a new cross-disciplinary category, “Multiple Industry Sectors.”

Enrollment in Career Technical Education Courses by Subject Area

San Bernardino County, 2014-2018

Source: California Department of Education, DataQuest, Subject Area Courses (http://data1.cde.ca.gov/). Note: The “Services” category includes the subject areas of Business and Finance; Education, Child Development, and Family Services; Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation; Marketing, Sales, and Service; and Public Services. The “Arts” category includes Arts, Media, and Entertainment; and Fashion and Interior Design. “Manufacturing and Trades” includes Automotive/Transportation; Building and Construction Trades; and Manufacturing and Product Development. “Tech and Engineering” includes Information and Communication Technologies; Energy and Utilities; and Engineering and Architecture. “Health” includes Health Science and Medical Technology. “Multiple Industry Sectors” is a newly added cross-disciplinary category.

Work-based learning opportunities have increased for ROP students:

  • Between 2014/15 and 2017/18, signed agreements with business partners to provide work-based learning opportunities have increased 205%.
  • A total of 2,138 students participated in ROP “community classroom” work-based learning in 2017/18.
205%

Growth in ROP work-based business partnerships (2014/15 – 2017/18)

2,138

ROP students participating in community classroom learning (2017/18)

Sources: San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, Baldy View and Colton-Redlands-Yucaipa Regional Occupational Programs

For the third consecutive year, community college CTE student placement improved:

  • Within a year of completing their course of study in 2015/16, 80% of graduates were placed (pursued further education, found a job, or joined the military). This placement rate is the same as the statewide average.
  • San Bernardino County community colleges awarded CTE students 3,672 industry-recognized credentials, certificates or degrees (or the student was “transfer ready”) in 2015/16. This represents a completion rate of 85%, which is the highest rate in over 10 years.

Community College Placement Rates

San Bernardino County and California, 2012-2016

Post-Secondary Education: Universities, Colleges, and Career Training

San Bernardino County offers residents many opportunities for college and post-secondary career training, serving the educational needs of the county and developing a strong workforce. Within San Bernardino County, major universities and colleges include University of Redlands, California State University/San Bernardino, Loma Linda University, and University of La Verne College of Law. Community Colleges in the county include Barstow, Chaffey, Copper Mountain, Crafton Hills, Palo Verde Community College/Needles Campus, San Bernardino Valley, and Victor Valley. In addition, there are several private career and technical educational institutions that offer career-focused certificates and degrees.