June 16, 2025
While most high school students are still figuring out their next steps, Alex Perez and Ismael Rayos have their careers mapped out. Thanks to specialized Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, they’ll graduate from high school industry-certified and career-ready.
“I don’t have to pay for [a single] class straight out of high school,” said Perez, a 17-year-old student in Pasadena ISD’s Dr. Kirk Lewis Career and Technical High School. “Once I graduate, I can go straight into working as an EMT.”
Across Texas, CTE programs are reshaping what it means to graduate high school ready for success. These career pathways are producing graduates who can earn competitive salaries immediately, often matching or exceeding what college graduates make after four years of study and debt. It’s a model that’s gaining momentum as employers struggle to fill skilled positions and students seek alternatives to traditional higher education.
Building Skills, Creating Futures
At Pasadena ISD, students like Perez, who is training to become an emergency medical technician, and Rayos, who is pursuing welding, are gaining hands-on experience in their chosen fields. The district offers 26 programs of study and 92 industry certifications across six high schools.
“I love welding because it kind of makes you feel like you’re building something from the bottom up,” said Rayos. “You’re creating something in a way.”
For Rayos, welding was a natural choice. His sister works in a petrochemical refinery and encouraged him to pursue the trade. Now he’s developing skills that will lead directly to employment after graduation.
“Having certifications in different positions for welding is really helpful because it gives you a name once you go out and get a job,” said Rayos. “They look at everything you’ve done; they like you more; they want to pull you in.”
Regional Support and Results
Region 4 Education Service Center supports these programs across 89 school systems, providing essential training and industry connections for districts like Pasadena ISD.
“Just working through Region 4—getting suggestions on how to make sure that our students have the best opportunity to earn those credits—has been huge,” said Tanya Hagar, CTE Executive Director for Pasadena ISD. “They offer many trainings for administrators, for counselors, for teachers, as well as CTE conferences.”
Current labor market data shows that even though Texas leads the nation in CTE programming, there’s still a 12% gap between students who are work-ready and available high-skill, high-wage careers.
“Our goal is to fill that gap by offering these different options to them,” said Pri Desai, Regional Coordinator of College, Career, and Military Readiness for Region 4, who facilitates connections between districts and industry partners.
Pasadena ISD stands out as a success story. Last year, Pasadena ISD students earned over 5,900 industry certifications. The district partners with more than 400 businesses to provide students with real-world experience.
“Their kids are actually committed to [the program]. They finish it. They’re passing those tests and they’re working in the industries,” said Desai.
Breaking Cycles, Building Futures
For many students, CTE programs represent an opportunity to break cycles of poverty.
“One of the reasons that we focus so hard on industry-based certifications is because we are trying hard to break that cycle of poverty for our students,” said Hagar. “When they can leave with the certification and a job offer that is going to truly change not just their life but the life of their entire family, it is amazing.”
Construction management teacher Lupe Garza has seen how early success can change the trajectory of a student’s life. One recent graduate won the SkillsUSA Championships in carpentry, earning a scholarship to pursue construction management at Texas State Technical College.
“[He planned] to just go to work. . . Now he’s in school, learning how to take that education further,” said Garza.
Ready for Success
For students like Perez and Rayos, the future is taking shape now. Perez has earned his CPR certification and completed Community Emergency Response Team training, with his EMT certification on track to be earned before graduation. Rayos plans to head straight into the petrochemical industry as a structural welder.
By graduation, they’ll have what many college students spend years and thousands of dollars trying to achieve: a clear path to financial stability.