Career and College Readiness, Educating with Futures in Mind

Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 prioritizes developing opportunities that support our students’ ability to develop skills that will prepare them for their future successes. In addition, our district has developed programs of study within each of the career clusters which offer opportunities for students to learn foundational technical skills required in different careers. In addition, students are developing the professional skills that are required in any occupation. Each of our Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses are affiliated with a state or national Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO). CTSOs offer opportunities for students to practice both the professional and technical skills they are learning in their classes. Students develop leadership skills and their perspective of how academics relate to the “real world”. Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 offers the following programs of study:

Our Programs

Why CTE?

CTE FAQ

CTE FAQ

What is Career and Technical Education (CTE)? CTE provides students with opportunities to learn core academics and valuable workforce readiness skills. These opportunities involve hands-on learning, project based delivery models, industry connections, and work-based learning experiences. CTE works to connect what students learn in the classroom with real-world career skills.

Does CTE prepare students for College and Career Readiness? CTE prepares students for both Careers and College through a focus on overall Post-Secondary Readiness. A recent study by Georgetown University's Public Policy Institute found that by 2020, 65% of all jobs in the US Economy will require some form of post-secondary training following high school.

Who are CTE students? CTE students are high school and postsecondary students of all ages who are lifelong learners. They seek opportunities to connect their classroom work with their career goals.

Who creates CTE programs? Secondary and post-secondary schools collaborate with State CTE and industry partners to provide high-level instructional and career based opportunities for students.

What types of careers does CTE prepare students for? CTE programming in Colorado is ever changing. Within El Paso County, emerging and growing career opportunities are found in manufacturing, green energy, health care, and defense. CTE programming in Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 focuses on career fields with projected future growth in El Paso County, the State of Colorado, nation-wide, and internationally.

ACE CTE

CTE ACE - Alternative Cooperative Education

ACE•CTE

PROGRAM LOCATION(S):

FOUNTAIN-FORT CARSON HIGH SCHOOL

Alternative Cooperative Education (ACE) Career & Technical Education (CTE) is a multi-occupational pathway that facilitates individualized, developmentally appropriate programming necessary to support CTE students successfully. ACE CTE programming is developed through collaboration with educators, business representatives, and community stakeholders. The collaboration creates locally responsive, relevant work-based and school-based learning experiences. ACE CTE students will demonstrate competency in postsecondary workforce readiness that lead to technical skill attainment in any chosen occupation with a focus on high-wage occupations or high skill in-demand industries that promote self-sufficiency. There are multiple classes and levels that are offered through ACE programming. Some classes are catered to support students that need more guidance to access the community and a job; while others just need guidance in developing effective employability skills and access to the community. Below are the courses offered through ACE. More details can be located in the course catalog.

Successful Career Students of Colorado ((SC)²) is a career and technical student organization (CTSO) that provides students leadership opportunities while showcasing the skills they learn through ACE programming. Students will also be eligible to 'compete' at the annual student leadership conference. The ACE Student Leadership Conference, (SC)², includes competitive events for attendees. Attendance at the (SC)² Student Leadership Conference is not a mandate; rather, an exciting adventure for your students. The (SC)² conference is an event that provides professional development and recognition opportunities for your students.

The Ink Spot is a student-run business to support learning quality professional skills within a educational setting. The students print commercial-grade signs, banners, posters, stickers, etc. Students are not only learning the elements that are needed to run a sign shop, they are also learning how to run a business to include customer service, finance, marketing, quality control, and time-management.

BUSINESS & MARKETING

PROGRAM LOCATION(S):

FOUNTAIN-FORT CARSON HIGH SCHOOL

The Business and Marketing education programs are designed to meet the labor market needs of Colorado’s business and industry. Whether you are looking at careers in accounting, evolving your design skills for marketing, or becoming a business owner or entrepreneur, our Business and Marketing courses at Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 will support your growth and provide the foundational knowledge to support your success. You will learn the core foundations of business operations and functions while building a variety of leadership and management skills in this pathway. The Business and Marketing career pathways offer opportunities for credit to be articulated. This provides students with the opportunity to acquire college credit for high school course work in order to support an easy transition into a college career and technical education (CTE) program without having to repeat coursework. In addition, students in these classes are offered the opportunity to participate in student leadership opportunities through DECA and FBLA.

We are proud of our award-winning career and technical student organizations, DECA and FBLA. Our students have rocked the local, state, and national competitions that our DECA and FBLA members get to participate in to demonstrate their learning in a fun, exciting environment. As students enroll in our Business and Marketing pathway, they will be able to sign up to partake in the opportunities available through DECA and FBLA.

COMPUTER SCIENCE & ENGINEERING

AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

PROGRAM LOCATION(S):

FOUNTAIN-FORT CARSON HIGH SCHOOL

CARSON MIDDLE SCHOOL

Airplanes have revolutionize the way we travel. Just think, at any time, there are up to 20,000 plaines in the air. Aerospace engineering is an innovative career field that is consistently changing. Aerospace engineering is the process of designing, developing, and manufacturing aircraft and spacecraft. Sign up for Aerospace Engineering at Fountain-Fort Carson High School to develop insight of the career field and how this industry works on aircraft piloted within the Earth's atmosphere and how spacecraft is piloted outside the Earth's atmosphere.

The course deepens the skills and knowledge of an engineering student within the context of atmospheric and space flight.
Students explore the fundamentals of flight in air and space as they bring the concepts to life by designing and testing components related to flight such as an airfoil, propulsion system, and a rocket.
They learn orbital mechanics concepts and apply these by creating models using industry-standard software.
They apply aerospace concepts to alternative applications such as a wind turbine and parachute.
Students will have the opportunity to complete flight simulations to model in flight.

COMPUTER SCIENCE & ENGINEERING

PROGRAM LOCATION(S):

FOUNTAIN-FORT CARSON HIGH SCHOOL

CARSON MIDDLE SCHOOL

FOUNTAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Our Engineering classes follow the curriculum developed by Project Lead the Way. PLTW is a national STEM curriculum which has a four-year sequence of yearlong courses which, when combined with traditional college-bound high school mathematics and science courses, introduces students to the scope, rigor and discipline of engineering and technology prior to entering college.

The Intro to Computer Science and AP Computer Science courses uses the Amazon Future Engineer Program as its base curriculum. The AFE Program is a comprehensive childhood to career program to inspire, educate, and train to pursue careers in computer science.

IN both programs, students are introduced to the world of engineering and technology through hands-on activity -based, project-based, and problem-based learning.

Computer Science and Engineering picture

ROBOTICS

PROGRAM LOCATION(S):

FOUNTAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Computer Science for Innovators and Makers (CSIM) teaches students that programming goes beyond the virtual world into the physical world. Students are challenged to creatively use sensors and actuators to develop systems that interact with their environment. Designing algorithms and using computational thinking practices, they code (blocks programming) and upload programs to microcontrollers that per- form a variety of authentic tasks. The unit broadens students’ understanding of computer science concepts through meaningful applications. Teams select and solve a personally relevant problem related to wearable technology, interactive art, or mechanical devices. The second half of the semester will be spent building Tetrix Prime Robots. The robotics kits include Remote Control, Autonomous Operation, and Automation Manufacturing. Students are challenged to solve real-world problems using critical-thinking, collaboration, and innovation skills. Programming is primarily drag-and-drop based graphic coding (developed using Google Blockly) with the option to transition to syntax-based coding.

CULINARY ARTS

PROGRAM LOCATION(S):

FOUNTAIN-FORT CARSON HIGH SCHOOL

WELTE EDUCATION CENTER

The culinary industry is estimated to provide 50% of all meals eaten in the US today. Nationally, hospitality and tourism is the 3rd largest industry. In fact, Colorado Springs is one of the most visited cities in Colorado. Our goal at Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 is to provide students with the opportunity to develop their passion into a career that they can confidently step into when they leave high school or continue to build in culinary school.

The CTE Culinary Program offers our students a hands on experience preparing them for a career in Culinary Arts by offering students the foundational skills in restaurant and food services. As they begin their journey into developing culinary skills, they also learn about professionalism, integrity, and working collaboratively with fellow classmates. The classes cover safety and sanitation, cooking fundamentals, an introduction to baking, soups and sauces, plating technique, and help to build culinary confidence in our industry standard kitchen. Our instructors bring to the classroom years of professional kitchen experience and culinary expertise to help mentor these future culinarians.In addition, there are ample opportunities to practice their learned skills in local restaurants during job shadows and internships using their industry-recognized ServSafe certification. Talk to your counselor today to learn more about our courses that support the Culinary Arts Pathway.

Culinary Arts in Action

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a Career and Technical Student Organization that functions as an integral part of the Culinary Arts program at FFC8. Through participation in competitive events, becoming involved in community service opportunities, student leadership, and attending leadership conferences, members develop real world skills, explore Career Pathways, and become college- and career-ready.

Students cooking in their culinary class

Culinary students cooking in their class

DESIGN & MULTIMEDIA ARTS

Graphic Design

PROGRAM LOCATION(S):

FOUNTAIN-FORT CARSON HIGH SCHOOL

In graphic design, students analyze and assess current and emerging technologies, while designing and creating multimedia projects that address customer needs and resolve a problem. Students implement personal and interpersonal skills to prepare for a rapidly evolving workplace environment. The knowledge and skills acquired and practiced will enable students to successfully perform and interact in a technology-driven society. Visual communication and digital photography skills learned in these courses will be helpful for any future photographer, videographer, animator or advertiser. Students develop a portfolio to support their movement into industry.

VIDEO PRODUCTION

PROGRAM LOCATION(S):

FOUNTAIN-FORT CARSON HIGH SCHOOL

FOUNTAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Fountain-Fort Carson District 8 offers a robust audio/video production program the includes classes such as Audio/Video Production 1 and 2, Trojan News, and Sports Broadcasting. The audio/video production program offers training in using production equipment such as cameras, lighting, audio and utilizes the Adobe Creative Cloud programs such as Adobe Premiere, Audition, After Effects, Photo Shop and Lightroom to teach students how to edit video, audio, photos and create motion graphics. Students in the FFCHS audio/video production program get the opportunity to create various projects throughout the year. The program also supports the school and community by producing the Weekly Trojan News, providing support for sporting events, and partnering with the community to provide content for local businesses.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

TEACHER CADET

PROGRAM LOCATION(S):

FOUNTAIN-FORT CARSON HIGH SCHOOL

FOUNTAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Teacher Cadet is an honors-level CTE course at FFCHS that offers an in-depth look at teaching from an historical, political, social, legal, and cultural lens. We are learning firsthand how challenges within the broader community can impact education. The Teacher Cadet Program’s Mission Statement reads:

The primary goal of the Teacher Cadet Program is to encourage academically able students who possess exemplary interpersonal and leadership skills to consider teaching as a career. An important secondary goal of the program is to provide these talented future community leaders with insights about teachers and schools so that they will be civic advocates of education.

The Teacher Cadet Program uses an innovative approach designed to attract talented young people to the teaching profession through a challenging introduction to teaching. It seeks to provide high school students with insight into the nature of teaching, the problems of schooling, and the critical issues affecting the quality of education in America’s schools.

Teacher Cadet is an Interactive Program that…

Studies growth and development of the learner
Examines the diversity, cultural, historical, social, political, and legal forces that shape education in the US public school system
Explores the role of the teacher and philosophy that guides teaching
Examines the Colorado teacher licensure process and Colorado university teacher education programs
Provides a six-week mini-teaching internship, a professional shadow experience, and observations of learners at all age groups
Delivers rigorous curriculum demonstrated with a year-end portfolio of a body of work
Opportunity for college credit to community colleges and universities
English high school credit offered in some districts
Student admission criteria include 3.0 GPA, application process, and three teacher recommendation

HEALTH SCIENCES

PLTW: BIOMED

PROGRAM LOCATION(S):

FOUNTAIN-FORT CARSON HIGH SCHOOL

WELTE EDUCATION CENTER

By immersing students in activities like practicing suturing and constructing body structures from clay, PLTW Biomedical Science empowers students to build knowledge and skills in biomedical science, as well as in-demand, transportable skills like problem solving, critical and creative thinking, communication, and collaboration. In addition, students in these classes participate in HOSA-Future Health Professionals. HOSA is an international student organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Education (HSE) Division of ACTE. HOSA's two-fold mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people.

PRINCIPLES OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE (9th or 10th grade)

HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS (10th or 11th grade)

MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS (11th or 12th grade)

BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION (12th grade)

Fountain Fort-Carson's latest upgrade is a modern manikin that was designed to meet educational requirements for clinical nursing skills, from task training through advanced patient care scenarios. Juno can speak and interact with the students through a technological system in which the advisor can control. Recently our schools fourth year class in the Biomedical Pathway learned how to draw blood, give subcutaneous Injections, and take vitals on Juno such as the pulse, and the blood pressure. This manikin can be used for years to come to prepare our students for future medical pathways.

"Juno could be creepy looking at times, but is an educational tool that I wish we could have experienced for longer." -Bailey Knudsen

"Our school is very privileged and fortunate to have such a great educational tool such as Juno" -Albina Han

Colorado HOSA is a "student leadership organization that focuses on providing leadership, service and competition opportunities for students who are interested in the medical field" - coloradohosa.org

HOSA at Fountain Fort-Carson began in the 2020-2021 school year. The advisors (Jessica Threadgill and Sean Fogarty) added HOSA into their biomedical pathway classes. HOSA hosted multiple fundraisers, held an educational opportunity, and competed at the state wide conference this year.

In addition to competing individually, we had a team qualify for a tournament hosted by the company Amatomage. This team had to pass through a qualifying round in order to compete in the live finals at HOSA conference. This tournament was identifying different parts of the body (nerves, muscles, organs, bones, etc.) The questions got much more difficult as the teams progressed through the rounds.

SKILLED TRADES

PROGRAM LOCATION(S):

FOUNTAIN-FORT CARSON HIGH SCHOOL

CARSON MIDDLE SCHOOL

Did you know that there are over 85 contractors who support a single home build. The construction industry is ripe with opportunity. Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 is working with Careers in Construction, Colorado to help students learn skills that apply to the trades. Using curriculum designed by the Home Builders Association, both our middle and high school are aligned to teach students aspects of construction and wood technology. The intent of the program is to have the students achieve a level of competencies outlined in the course descriptions for a seamless transition to the high school and ultimately postsecondary workforce training and occupation.