ASCEND

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

At Oregon Charter Academy we understand that there is not one educational path that fits the needs of all students, and we want to help students gain the skills they need as they move beyond high school and into college or a career. ASCEND is our Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program, designed to provide ORCA students with career-relevant knowledge and skills.

ORCA currently has five career pathways that high school students can participate in: Business + Management, Computer Science, Hospitality + Tourism Management, Medical Science, and Ag/Veterinary Science. ASCEND students will be part of a smaller group of ORCA students that will have a unique high school journey. While they will have some extra expectations during high school, they will have the close support of teachers that have worked in the industry.

ASCEND students will have the opportunities for hands-on learning and will be expected to take part in an internship, or some outside-the-walls learning, during their senior year. They will have the opportunity to be a part of national student organizations while in high school. In many cases, ASCEND students may be able to obtain industry certificates and participate in college level courses in their field of study.

Students can apply for the CTE program in the 9th, 10th, or 11th grades. 

ASCEND Career and Technical Student Organizations

A Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) is an extracurricular group for students in Career Technical Education pathways to further their knowledge and skills by participating in activities, events, and competitions.

To become a nationally recognized CTSO, an organization must meet the membership criteria indicated by the National Coordinating Council for Career and Technical Student Organizations (NCC-CTSO). 

Interested in joining? 

If you have any questions about the program please contact the Career Advisory Teachers, or fill out the Interested in Joining form below. 

ORCA’s Career Pathways

Learn about each pathway and its teachers by clicking the links below!

WHY ASCEND?

ASCEND students will be part of a smaller group of ORCA students that will have a unique high school journey. While they will have some extra expectations during high school, they will have the close support of teachers that have worked in the industry that they are teaching.

ASCEND students will have the opportunities for more hands-on learning and will be expected to take part in an internship, or some outside-the-walls learning, during their senior year. They will also have opportunities to be a part of national student organizations while in high school.

In many cases, ASCEND students will have the opportunities to obtain industry certificates and participate in college level courses in their field of study. Students can apply for the CTE program during their freshman and sophomore years. 

DID YOU KNOW?

The average high school graduation rate for students concentrating in CTE programs is 93 percent, compared to an average national freshman graduation rate of 80 percent.  

(According to ACTEonline.org)