Students in Northside’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs spend much of their time learning through a hands-on approach that prepares students for occupations and further study. CTE programs are available in middle school and high school and are available in many career areas of interest to students. Students interested in a particular field can look at the coherent sequence of courses to see the courses that will help them prepare for their chosen careers. Students may also wish to choose an academy or magnet school designed to prepare students for careers. Northside’s career oriented high schools and middle school magnet schools include Agriculture Academy, Construction Careers Academy, Health Careers High School, Jay Science and Engineering Academy, Jones STEM Middle School, Marshall Law & Medical Services High School, NSITE (Northside School of Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship), and Zachry Global Communication, Information Technology & Cybersecurity Middle School. Industry recognized certifications may be earned in some courses & some courses may even allow the students to earn college credit. Any student who is interested should talk with his or her CTE instructor or counselor.
Career Exploration
Here you will find the access information for Choices 360 Career Explorer which is NISD’s interest inventory program.There are many things to consider as you think about future occupations. Included are some lesson plans to follow if you or your child need guidance, as well as helpful login information.
College Credit Opportunities
High school students can earn college credits by signing up for CTE dual credit. Some courses are offered at specific campuses and others are offered at the college campus. Information about earning college credits may be obtained from the school’s counseling department.
Endorsements & Programs of Study
In support of the State of Texas’ college and career planning initiative, NISD has developed multiple Programs of Study (POS) which combine rigorous academics and relevant career and technical education to create a plan of study that has real focus and purpose for students. A POS consists of a recommended coherent sequence of courses based on the student’s interest, skills, and college and career goals and provides the student and his/her family with a seamless transition to employment and/or postsecondary education and to higher wage, higher skill, and higher demand jobs in the workforce.
Endorsements & Programs of Study by Campus
Prerequisites Required for CTE Courses
Industry Based Certifications
Northside offers students many opportunities to earn current industry based certifications through our CTE courses. These certifications will help students, as they exit high school, with gainful employment or assist in continuing their education.
NISD CTE Staff Contacts
Contact information for the NISD Career & Technical Education department staff can be found here.
Student Organizations for CTE
Career and Technical Student Organizations are comprised of 11 not-for-profit organizations, specifically authorized by the U.S. Congress in the Perkins Act which provides approximately $1.1 billion in state grants for CTE programs.
Nondiscrimination Notice for CTE
Northside Independent School District offers Career and Technical Education programs in Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources; Architecture and Construction; Arts, A/V Technology and Communications; Business Marketing and Finance; Education and Training; Health Science; Hospitality & Tourism; Human Services; Information Technology; Law and Public Service; Manufacturing; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; and Transportation, Distribution and Logistics. Admission to these programs is based on interest and aptitude, age appropriateness and class space available.
It is the policy of Northside Independent School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or handicap in its vocational programs, services or activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.
Northside Independent School District will take steps to assure that lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in all educational and vocational programs. For information about your rights or grievance procedures, contact the Title IX Coordinator, Stephen Daniel, at 5900 Evers Road, San Antonio, TX 78238, (210) 397-8639, and/or Director of Section 504 Joselyn Dudney at 5651 Grissom Road, San Antonio, TX 78238, (21 0) 397-8741.
El Distrito Escolar Independiente Northside ofrece programas de educación de carrera técnica en agricultura, alimentación y recursos naturales; arquitectura y construcción; artes, tecnología A/V y comunicaciones; marketing y finanzas empresariales; educación y capacitación; ciencias de la salud; hotelería y turismo; servicios humanos; tecnología informática; derecho y servicios públicos; fabricación; ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas; y transporte, distribución y logística. La admisión a estos programas se basa en el interés y la aptitud, la edecuación a la edad y el espacio disponible de la clase.
La política del Distrito Escolar Independiente Northside es no discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo o discapacidad en sus programas, servicios o actividades vocacionales, y proporcionar acceso equitativo a los Boy Scouts y a otros grupos juveniles designados tal como exige el Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles (Civil Rights Act) de 1964 y sus enmiendas, el Título IX de las Enmiendas Educativas (Education Amendments) de 1972 y la Sección 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitación (Rehabilitation Act) de 1973 y sus enmiendas.
El Distrito Escolar Independiente Northside tomará medidas para asegurar que la falta de habilidades en el idioma inglés no sea una barrera para la admisión y la participación en todos los programas educativos y vocacionales. Para obtener información sobre sus derechos o los procedimientos de queja, comuníquese con el coordinador del Título IX, Stephen Daniel, en 5900 Evers Road, San Antonio, TX 78238, (210) 397-8639 o con la directora de la Sección 504 Joselyn Dudney en 5651 Grissom Road, San Antonio, TX 78238, (21 0) 397-8741.
Career & Technical Education at O'Connor High School
Career & Technical Education (CTE) classes combine high-quality, rigorous instruction with real-life experiences to prepare students for the future. O'Connor High School CTE offers 13 programs of study that equip students to achieve at high levels whether they are starting college, attending a technical school, or entering the workforce after high school graduation.
Students are also offered opportunities to earn paid and unpaid work experience, state and nationally recognized professional certifications, and college credits through dual-credit programs. CTE courses help prepare students for a variety of real-world careers and the goal for our CTE program is to produce capable young adults who can think critically and independently, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively in today’s world.
Of the 3,118 O'Connor High School students, 2,074 students occupied seats in CTE classes for the 20-21 school year. Students also earned 285 industry based certifications during the 2020-2021 school year. Students with greater exposure to CTE are more likely to graduate from high school, enroll in college, be employed, and earn higher wages.
CTE will continue to provide students with hands-on opportunities, time to interact with professionals in their field of interest, and ideally find success using their skills, interests, and passion. We will also continue to research and develop programs that are relevant, correspond with job market demands, and evoke student interest.
Point of Contact: Shawna Dixon, Department Coordinator 210-397-4781
| Career and Technical Student Organizations | Contact |
| Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) | Sabrina Rendon |
| Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) | Valerie Avins |
| Robotics | Romeo Valdez |
| CLUB NAME | MEETING INFORMATION | CONTACT |
| Computer Science Club | 2nd & 4th Tuesday each month 4:20PM K104 | Raymond Castillo |
| Photography Club | Thursdays After School M109 | David Braddam |
| DECA | Thursdays 8:15am & Flex J212 | Sabrina Rendon |
| HOSA | Wednesdays 4:30pm J109 | Valerie Avins |
| Robotics | Romeo Valdez |
| COURSE NAME | CONTACT |
| Culinary Arts Dual Credit | Jennifer Parks |
